Fireworks are often used to celebrate special events and holidays. However, that does not mean they are safe to use. Every year fireworks cause thousands of burns and eye injuries.

The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) wants you to begin planning for a safe holiday by choosing to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals.

Public Fireworks Displays

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. The list below includes information about public displays in the area. Information about private displays is included for situational awareness.

• 6/9/2023 - Loudoun United, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg
• 6/24/2023 - Brambleton, Evergreen Mills Rd. @ Loudoun County Pkwy, Ashburn
• 6/25/2023 - Hillsboro, 37110 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville
• 6/30/2023 - Sterling Park Golf, 333 South Sterling Blvd., Sterling
• 6/30/2023 - Greens at Willowsford, 41085 Willowsford Lane, Aldie
• 6/30/2023 - South Riding, 43237 Golf View Drive, Chantilly
• 7/1/2023 - Greene Mill Preserve HOA, 41192 Black Branch Parkway, Leesburg (Private)
• 7/2/2023 - Lansdowne Resort, 44050 Woodridge Parkway, Leesburg
• 7/3/2023 - Trump National Golf - 20391 Lowes Island Blvd., Sterling (Private)
• 7/3/2023 - Waterford - 40266 Water Street, Waterford
• 7/3/2023 - Lovettsville, 57 East Broad Street, Lovettsville
• 7/3/2023 - Loudoun United, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg
• 7/4/2023 - Creighton Farms, 22050 Farms Drive, Aldie (Private)
• 7/4/2023 - Middleburg, 500 North Pendleton Street, Middleburg
• 7/4/2023 - Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville
• 7/4/2023 - Ida Lee, 60 Ida Lee Drive, Leesburg
• 7/22/2023 - Raspberry Plain Manor, 16500 Agape Lane, Leesburg (Private)
• 10/7/2023 - Loudoun United, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg

Doing Your Own Fireworks

If you choose to purchase your own fireworks, the FMO provides important information about fireworks, including annual lists of approved fireworks stands (PDF) and approved fireworks (PDF). If you choose to use fireworks, proceed with caution and follow these safety tips! 



• Consumer fireworks, namely sparklers and ground based fountains, are legal to possess and use on private property. You should only purchase legal consumer fireworks from a local business or roadside stand possessing a fireworks retail permit from the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office. These fireworks have been tested to ensure they meet the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s requirements.

• Consumer fireworks that rise into the air, explode, travel laterally on the ground or emit projectiles are illegal to possess or use anywhere in Virginia. Possession and/or use of these materials is a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

• For backyard displays using legal consumer fireworks, wet down the area before use to prevent accidental fires. Ground based fireworks should be placed on open, stable, flat surfaces, keeping onlookers 20 feet. from the display.

• Adult supervision is critical! Only competent adults should ignite and supervise the use of fireworks. Adults should supervise the use of sparklers as they burn at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees, hot enough to cause severe burns and ignite clothing. Keep children from running while using sparklers.

• Used fireworks should be placed in a metal container, soaked with water, and allowed to cool overnight in a location that is at least 15 feet. away from any building or structure. Re-check the container in the morning to ensure nothing is smoldering, then properly dispose of the wet materials.

• Never pick up fireworks that were "duds’ or did not fire, as they may still be active! Wait 20 minutes and treat as spent fireworks, soaking overnight and placing in a metal container with a lid, away from any structure.

Get More Information

The next Loudoun County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event is scheduled for Saturday, June 24, 2023, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., at Freedom High School, 25450 Riding Center Drive in South Riding. Loudoun residents are welcome to bring HHW from their homes to the event, free of charge.

Event Procedures

Because of safety concerns related to the handling of various types of hazardous materials, the events feature a drive-through process in which residents are instructed to remain in their vehicles and allow event staff to unload any items accepted for disposal. To ensure everyone remains in their vehicle while at the point of service, items must not be in sealed or tied plastic bags. Staff are not allowed to open any plastic bag containing HHW.  

Future Loudoun County HHW Events (All events are from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.)

• Saturday, July 29, 2023, Lovettsville Elementary School, 29 South Loudoun St., Lovettsville
• Saturday, September 9, 2023, Harmony Park and Ride, 39464 East Colonial Highway, Hamilton 
• View the 2023 schedule of HHW events.

HHW Contact Information

For more information about the Loudoun County Household Hazardous Waste Program, call 703-771-5500 or visit loudoun.gov/hhw. 

The waste disposal fee at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility is scheduled to increase to $71 a ton effective Saturday, July 1, 2023. 

The waste disposal fee at the gate will increase from $68 to $71 per ton; all other fees will remain the same, including the minimum charge for waste disposal of $7 per customer. A complete list of landfill fees, including surcharges for specific items including tires, propane tanks and refrigerated appliances, is available at loudoun.gov/landfill.

The fee increase follows the annual financial review by an outside consultant of the landfill’s current and forecasted revenues, expenses and estimated tonnage receipts. The most recent analysis recommends the waste disposal fee be adjusted to remain market competitive and to ensure the long-term viability of the landfill.

 

More information about the services available at the landfill is online at loudoun.gov/landfill.

Below is a notice from Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services regarding the temporary close of the pedestrian bridge along Scout Trail in Claude Moore Park:

"On Friday, June 23, Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services will begin the replacement of the pedestrian bridge along Scout Trail in Claude Moore Park near West Church Road. Completion of the bridge is anticipated next week with the reopening of the trail on Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Residents from this area who wish to access the Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center on foot are asked to follow the alternative route marked in green on the provided map. From West Church Road take the access trail then a left on Scout Trail, continuing straight onto the Southern Woods Trail, right onto Little Stoney Mountain Trail, and finally a right onto Loudoun Park Lane to Claude Moore Recreation and Community Center.

We appreciate your understanding."

For more information and project updates, visit the PRCS Facebook page.

About the Contest

Write a short story based on the Loudoun County Public Library's Summer Reading theme: "Voyage Through Time." For example, it could be historical fiction, a science fiction tale, or even about a transportive travel experience. This is your chance to be creative!

Prizes

• 1st prize: $200
• 2nd prize: $100
• 3rd prize: $50

Participants must be 18 and older. Submit your entry beginning July 1 through Aug. 31. Winners will be announced Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. at Brambleton Library.

Submission Requirements

• Submissions are accepted July 1 through Aug. 31.
• Writers entering this contest must be at least 18 years old.
• Only one story per writer may be submitted.
• Only send the final draft. 
• Your work must be in English, original, and previously unpublished (including on the Internet) and not scheduled for publication anywhere before Aug. 31. 
• A story that is unpublished but has won a monetary award in any other contest is ineligible.
• Please keep your story content appropriate for wide audience.
• Your story should be no longer than 2,500 words.
• First page: Title page with story title only
• Font: Arial
• Font size: 12
• Document name: The document name should be the story’s title. Please do not include your name in the document name.
• Every page should have a header with the story’s title and page number.
• Last page: Title of story and your contact information (name, home address, phone number and email address). To help us, please include where you heard about the Write On! Contest.

Please follow directions carefully. Incorrect submissions may be disqualified. Questions? Email writeon@library.loudoun.gov.

Learn More

Visit Loudoun County parks in July in celebration of NRPA's Park and Recreation Month. Throughout the month, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park, Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center and Claude Moore Park will host programs for participation.

What is Park and Recreation Month?

Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the hundreds of thousands of park and recreation professionals and volunteers that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks. 

How To Get Your Passport

There are two ways to register:

1. Complete the registration form here to receive a confirmation email with your passport attached. 
2. Scan the QR code at any of the PRCS participating parks listed below. The QR code will take you to a registration form. Once you submit the form, you will receive a passport to keep with you as you complete programs. 

• Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve 
• Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park 
• Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center
• Claude Moore Park

How To Win Prizes

Participants must complete the Loudoun Parks Grand Slam by visiting all 4 participating parks to win a tier 1 prize pack*! 

If participants attend at least 6 programs (no more than 2 in each park), they will win a tier 2 prize pack*! 

Can't make it to scheduled programs at all the parks? No worries! There are plenty of passive activities at no cost that can also earn you a stamp in place of a program. 

*Prizes are limited to the first 100 participants to complete each tier.

Questions? Email PRCS or call 571-367-8360. 

Please see the press release below from Dominion Energy regarding an upcoming community outreach meeting for an electrical transmission project that is being proposed:

"Dominion Energy is committed to providing all our customers safe, reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean electricity. As such, we are moving forward with several electric transmission infrastructure projects designed to address the growing energy needs of Loudoun County and the region. We would like to provide more details following our postcard sent on May 25th. As a reminder, your involvement and input are important in developing these projects.

We would like to bring your attention to two projects currently being developed. Our first project – named the Aspen to Golden 500/230 kV Project – includes two new substations, Aspen and Golden, and newly proposed high voltage transmission lines between them. This project extends our highest voltage lines into northeast Loudoun County to maintain reliability for the area.

Additionally, due to new development and associated increased energy needs, new electric infrastructure – including four new substations and connecting transmission lines – is being studied west of Belmont Ridge Road, south and east of the Luck Stone quarry. This project is named Twin Creeks to Apollo 230 kV Electric Transmission Line.

The enclosed Loudoun Reliability Project map details the study area for these projects and includes initial routing options for your consideration and feedback.

You are invited to learn more about these projects at an upcoming open house.

In-person Meeting details:

Thursday, June 29, 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Broad Run High School

21670 Ashburn Rd, Ashburn, VA 20147

Our subject matter experts will be available during the meetings to answer your questions about the need for this project, routing options, impacts, and construction timelines. We will also have preliminary route maps available for your feedback. These route options are not final but simply the next step in continuing the conversation with you and your neighbors. Ultimately, one route will be built (per project) based on the Virginia State Corporate Commission’s (SCC) review and approval.

You can view our proposed routes for the projects at DominionEnergy.com/NOVA. Click on the GeoVoice interactive mapping tool to explore the routes and provide location-based comments."

Metro crews are nearing the finish line to reopen two stations and restore normal Silver Line service following construction to lay down miles of new rail and fiber-optic cables. Beginning Monday, June 26, trains will resume service to the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.

This is the first of a two-phase rail replacement project on the Orange and Silver lines. The second phase continues on the Orange Line only through July 16, with the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations remaining closed.

Metro crews are nearing the finish line to reopen two stations and restore normal Silver Line service following construction to lay down miles of new rail and fiber-optic cables. Beginning Monday, June 26, trains will resume service to the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.



This is the first of a two-phase rail replacement project on the Orange and Silver lines. The second phase continues on the Orange Line only through July 16, with the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations remaining closed.

Visit wmata.com/2023majorconstruction for complete information, including travel alternatives, for upcoming planned construction work.

FREE Health Literacy Classes with the Loudoun Literacy Council are coming back this summer!

The classes will be held on Thursdays between June 15th and July 27th. Classes will be held at Douglass Community Center from 7:00 pm - 8:45 pm.

Join the Loudoun Literacy Council to learn how to communicate with your doctor, fill out medical forms, read and understand medical instructions, and more!

There are two ways to register. You can use your smartphone and scan the QR code located on the flyer that is attached, or you can use the following link:

https://bit.ly/SummerReg2023.

For questions and more information, please contact Maria Flores at healthliteracy@loudounliteracy.org or by calling 703-777-2205.

What’s the harm in invasive plants? Why should I care about invasive plants - are they really a problem? Are there ‘good’ invasive plants? Joanne Royaltey will help us examine the differences between native, non-native, and invasive plants. She will discuss how best to manage invasive plants in Northern Virginia.

Nuisance or Nonsense: What’s the Harm in Invasive Plants?

Part of VCE Loudoun Master Gardener's Free Lecture Series

• July 13, 2023
• 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Hosted by Loudoun County Public Library
• Sign Up for Event Reminders

Event Details:

• View the Event: Event URL
• Password: LCPL

Speaker Bio:

Joanne Royaltey is the Consumer Horticulture & Invasive Species Program Associate at VCE Frederick. Through her love of gardening, Joanne became an Extension Master Gardener in 2020. A native New Yorker, Joanne's called Northern Shenandoah Valley home since 1977. She is a ‘community change agent’ and spent years developing expertise in the healthcare and educational arena including helping to secure many millions of dollars to support initiatives that make our communities healthier places to live, work and thrive.

Other Upcoming Events:

• Jump Start Your Food Start Up – Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Rapidan, VA
• Procuring Local Foods for Schools & Child Nutrition Programs – Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Virtual Event
• Loudoun County Fair – Tuesday, July 25 - Saturday, July 29, 2023, Loudoun County Fairgrounds

Announcements:

• VCE Helps Afghan Nationals Develop Strategies for Sheep Production in US
• VCE Loudoun Master Gardeners Offer Gardening Help Desk, Garden Clinics

If you have any questions about these programs or would like to learn more, e-mail Jess Yon at jess.yon@loudoun.gov.



Loudoun County offers ongoing mental health education and substance abuse prevention programs. All programs are free, but seats are limited and registration is required, with the exception of Rapid REVIVE!

The schedule of upcoming classes for June 2023 is as follows:

Opioid Overdose Reversal

REVIVE! is the opioid overdose and naloxone education program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The training is free and anyone who uses opioids or knows someone who is using opioids is encouraged to attend a training. Loudoun County offers two versions of the program - Rapid REVIVE! and Virtual REVIVE! 

• Visit loudoun.gov/rapidrevive for Rapid REVIVE! in English.
• Visit loudoun.gov/reviveespanol for Rapid REVIVE! in Spanish. 

Virtual REVIVE! is a one-hour, scheduled training session that requires registration. The next scheduled training will be held: 

• June 26, 2023, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

REVIVE! trainings can also be scheduled upon request. For details about the training and to register, visit loudoun.gov/revive.

Suicide Prevention Training

The Question Persuade Refer program offers training to help people recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to refer someone for professional help.

The next class will be held: 

• June 27, 2023, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

For details and to register, visit loudoun.gov/suicidepreventiontraining.

For More Information

For more information on the prevention and intervention services offered by the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services, visit loudoun.gov/mhsadsprevention or send an email.