New Franconia Governmental Center and Kingstowne Regional Library
There are many great ways to celebrate summer this year in the Franconia District! One of the most exciting additions this year is two free children’s concerts being held in Springfield, sponsored by my office. The “Kids’ Concert on the Green” series is hosted at Springfield Overlook, the new community space located on the roof of the Springfield CBC Commuter Garage. It was wonderful to see so many folks join us at the first event, which was held Saturday, June 14 and featured “Munit & Z Love Bugs.” The next concert is on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and will feature “Rocknoceros,” a local Fairfax County band that has released six children’s albums since 2005 and won 10 Washington Area Music Awards. This exciting pilot demonstrates just one potential use of the green space atop the garage.
Springfield Overlook, located at the Springfield CBC Commuter Garage rooftop
The Kingstowne Farmers Market opened on Friday, May 2, and will be open every Friday through Oct. 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. There are several new vendors this year, ranging from produce and flowers to prepared foods and baked goods.
Head to the Springfield Town Center for the 3rd Annual Pride Night Out on June 25 between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for family-friendly entertainment celebrating Pride Month and to raise funds for LGBTQ+ youth in Northern Virginia. Also at the Springfield Town center is the free Foodees Food and Culture Festival held each day between June 27-29 at various times, which include 40+ Food Trucks and vendors. More at www.foodeesfest.com/springfield.
Family Skate Night is back again this year at the Franconia Rec Center on June 21 from 6-9 p.m.. Learn more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/reccenter/franconia. Additionally, the annual Franconia Nights concert series will begin on Wednesday, July 2, at the Franconia District Park. This free concert series features a variety of different musical acts, such as jazz, ska, blues, and cultural performances.
Franconia Nights concert series
To round off the summer, the annual Springfield BridgeWalk located at the Amherst Avenue Veterans Bridge and American Legion Post 176 is scheduled this year for Saturday, Aug. 30. This event began in 2009 and celebrates and reaffirms the close connection between Springfield, veterans, military families, and nearby Fort Belvoir. The event is open to all and will feature music, games, refreshments, and vendors. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon!
This year we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Huntley Meadows Park, the 200th anniversary of Historic Huntley, and the 75th anniversary of the Fairfax County Park Authority. Celebrate by visiting Huntley Meadows or Historic Huntley any time from dawn to dusk or by signing up for special events like the early morning Birding for Beginners or a late evening Firefly Walk. More information at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows.
The new Franconia Governmental Center and Kingstowne Regional Library is expected to open to the public this Fall and will be located near the corner of Manchester Blvd and Beulah Street. Several local government services will be co-located there, including the Franconia Police Station, the Kingstowne Regional Library, the Franconia Supervisor’s office, the Franconia Museum, an Active Adult Center, and a new childcare center.
Lastly, the Fairfax County FY 2026 Budget begins July 1. This budget eliminates the previously proposed 1.5-cent real estate tax rate increase and instead reduces the rate by a quarter-cent from the current $1.125 per $100 of assessed value, delivering targeted relief to homeowners while investing in key services and retaining popular programs like the Middle School After School Program.
Additionally, the Board adopted a 4% Food and Beverage Tax. It is important to note that 34% of the revenue is estimated to come from the 267,000 daily visitors to Fairfax County, and 87.5% of the expected funds generated were used to lower the real estate tax rate. The Food and Beverage Tax will be effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Looking forward to future years, I believe the Board must invest more in the growth of our commercial sector, which in certain areas is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic and now faces challenges from tariffs and economic uncertainty. The Board should take additional steps to attract businesses in high-growth industries, such as artificial intelligence, aerospace and space technologies, and quantum computing. At the same time, we must continue to expand and support our startup ecosystem for existing businesses. This will ensure the future success of our commercial sector, build economic resiliency by broadening and growing our non-residential tax base, and reduce our overreliance on residential property taxes.
As always, please feel free to contact my office at Franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 971-6262 if we can help you in any way. It is both an honor and a privilege for me to serve as your representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. I wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable summer.