Encore’s Christmas Show
Featuring dancers from Centreville and Chantilly schools, Encore Theatrical Arts Project’s newest musical production, “All I Want for Christmas,” is for audiences of all ages.
Show times are Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 1, 4 and 8 p.m.; and Dec. 16 at 1 and 4 p.m. at NOVA’s Annandale campus at 8333 Little River Turnpike. Tickets range from $17-$30 at www.encore-tap.org/ or call 703-222-5511.
Animal Shelter Open House
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is holding a holiday open house Saturday, Dec. 22, from noon-5 p.m., at 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax. Attendees may meet new Director Tawny Hammond; tour the newly constructed, spacious animal-adoption wing, enjoy holiday refreshments and learn about the many opportunities to volunteer.
The shelter is also offering a free spay or neuter for the first 100 cats, kittens, dogs or puppies adopted from the shelter through Dec. 31. The special offer is part of the shelter’s annual Home for the Holidays adoption celebration to help homeless animals leave the shelter for stable, new homes in time for the holidays.
The shelter also has rabbits, small mammals, reptiles and birds. To view animals available for adoption, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/animalservices/ and click on adoption. Regular adoption hours are Tuesday-Friday, noon-6:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-830-1100.
Christmas Tree Fire Safety
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department crews distributed Christmas tree safety tags to holiday tree lot vendors during the week before Thanksgiving. These tags provide valuable, fire-safety tips for residents when purchasing a tree.
Residents should keep the tree base immersed in water; not allow smoking near the tree; use only lights approved by Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.); use flame-retardant decorations and paper; inspect lights for frayed or cracked wiring, broken plugs and defective sockets; unplug lights at night and when leaving the home; and remove the tree soon after the holidays, before the needles dry out.