<sh>Nutcracker Ballets
<lst>Nutcracker in a Shell — All Jazzed Up will be presented Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1:30 and 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3:30 p.m. at Farmwell Station Middle School in Ashburn. This production is sponsored by Creative Dance Center I in Chantilly (IPAY) and Creative Dance Center II in Ashburn. It is a shortened version of the Nutcracker, which includes jazz, lyrical dance, tap and ballet. Group rates available. Tickets are $8/adults, $6/children 3-10, and $6/seniors, with children 2 and under free. Call Ginny Frye at 703-378-1800 or Margaret Otto at 703-724-4900.
Nutcracker in a Nutshell. The Center for Ballet Arts will present a condensed version of the classic Hoffman Christmas tale on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Fairfax High School Theatre, 3500 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Tickets: $10/adults, $9/students, $8/children 12 and under and seniors 60 and over. Advance tickets are available by calling 703-273-5344.
Mia Saunders School of Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Centreville High School Theatre, located at 6001 Union Mill Road, Clifton. Sponsored by the Centreville High School PTSA with proceeds to benefit CVHS arts scholarship fund and the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries Emergency Relief Fund. Tickets are $10/adults, $8/seniors and $6/students. For reservations, call Francine Fuhrer at 703-830-2558 or Christine Marshall at 703-222-5730.
<sh>Holiday Calendar
<lst>At Fair Oaks Mall, the North Polestal Station is back by popular demand. The state-of-the art "Kringle 9000" allows youngsters to "scan" their Santa letters into a super computer that will beam their dreams to Santa's North Pole satellite dish. There is no charge for the service, located on the upper level near Mastercraft Interiors.
Children can also pose for pictures with Santa; packages start at $10.99. Call 703-591-6548.
Miracle of Lights — Northern Virginia's drive-thru holiday light show and one of the largest of its kind in the country — is now opened through Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003 (closed on New Year’s Eve). Hosted by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, the Miracle of Lights is being shown at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, and offers more than two miles of lighted entertainment and five holiday theme groups with dozens of twinkling and animated displays in each. On display are Victorian Virginia, Noah’s Ark, Santa’s Woods, The Angel’s Playground, and the 2002 show brings The Return of The Aliens. Cost of admission is $12 per car load (1-14 people), $25 per commercial van (15-34 people) and $50 per bus (35 people or more). Call 703-709-KIDS (5437).
The 8th Annual Christmas Homespun Collection will be held Dec. 5-7 in Chantilly. The hand-selected collection of 50 craft vendors include country folk art, painted wood, quilted fabric, dried and silk floral arrangements, baskets, bears, dolls, jewelry, baked and canned goods and more. The show will be held at 13908 Quietway Court in Chantilly. Hours are Thursday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Directions: Route 50 west, left at Lees Corner Road, right on Fillingame Drive, right on Quietway Court. Admission is free. Call 703-222-3236.
The Enchanted Forest, a festival of trees, will be held on Dec. 6-8, at Dulles Expo Center. This holiday festival will feature 300 displays of decorated trees and gingerbread houses. Local decorators, artists and chefs will be creating these displays. All of the displays will be available for purchase through a silent auction.
Take the family to stroll through the displays and listen to the musical entertainment throughout the weekend.
The Enchanted Forest will also be the setting for Santa's Workshop children's events which features craft making, face painting, sing-a-longs, story telling and pictures with Santa.
For the adults, check out the Spirits in the Forest Wine Tasting Party, which features wines from the top Virginia wineries, appetizers and music. In addition, there will be a live auction of dining, travel and entertainment packages.
The Enchanted Forest is hosted by the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV), an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
* Friday, Dec. 6 — Preview Party from 7:30-10 p.m. Tickets: $15.
* Saturday, Dec. 7 — General admission from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets: $8/adults, $5/children and seniors.
* Santa's Workshop Children's Events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets: $20 (first child), $10 (each additional child).
* Spirits in the Forest Wine Tasting Party from 8-11 p.m. Tickets: $55/each, $100/couples.
* Sunday, Dec. 8 — General admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets: $8/adults, $5/children and seniors.
* Santa's Workshop Children's Events from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets: $20/first child, $10/each additional child. Includes general admission.
The Westfields Marriott has scheduled these holiday events:
* Saturday, Dec. 7 — Breakfast with Santa! Bring the family and enjoy breakfast and a visit from Santa at your table. Complimentary photos and a special gift from Santa for each child. Served between 7-11 a.m. Reservations are required. Call 703-818-3522.
* Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Christmas Day Brunch with live entertainment. Spectacular brunch is served with a culinary selection of seafood, meats, gourmet salads, pastries, and more. Reservations are required. Call 703-818-3520.
* Tuesday, Dec. 31 — New Year's Eve Gala in the Palm Court Restaurant. Live entertainment, five-course dinner and dancing, champagne and more. Call 703-818-0361.
* Tuesday, Dec. 31 — New Year's Eve celebrations in the Wellingtons Pub. Join deejay Chris Beckett to bring in the New Year with tunes, an appetizer buffet, party favors, complimentary champagne toast and more. Call 703-818-3500.
<lst>Christmas in Old Town Manassas. Local police chiefs Charles Moose of Montgomery County, Charles Deane of Prince William County and John Skinner of the Manassas City Police will kick off the "Merry Old Town" festivities on Friday, Dec. 6, at the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Old Town Manassas. It begins at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Manassas Museum on Prince William Street. After the ceremony, there will be free hayrides around Old Town and Santa will visit with children. The 7th annual Gingerbread House Contest will start with 25 handmade gingerbread creations on display in the shops of Old Town.
On Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m., the 57th Annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade marches through the streets of Old Town Manassas and features more than 100 participants from the region, including Santa Claus, marching groups and bands, antique cars, fire and rescue equipment, floats, show horses and other entries. Call 703-361-6599.
The annual Christmas Caroling on Horseback event will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. in the Town of Clifton. Members of the Clifton Horse Society will ride in costume through the town, singing holiday tunes along the way. They'll end up in King's field, at the end of Chapel Street, where the public is welcome to join them for refreshments and more caroling.
Clifton's Candlelight Homes Tour will follow, from 4-8 p.m. Visitors will be able to see some of the town's loveliest houses, all decorated for the holidays, and choral groups will perform at two local churches. Tickets are $15/adults; $5/age 12 and under; free, age 3 and under and are available at Clifton shops and restaurants, the Temptations stores at the Colonnade at Union Mill and in Burke, and at Burke Florist at University Mall.
Celebrate the season at Gray's Ghost's annual Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy seasonal hors d'oeuvres paired with your favorite Gray Ghost wines in a festive setting, complete with the famous Gray Ghost Cork Christmas Tree. Collect the eighth in a series of commemorative holiday wine glasses. Admission is $15/adults, $7/under 21 and designated drivers. Gray Ghost Winery is located west of Warrenton at 14706 Lee Highway, Amissville, and can be contacted at 1-540-937-4869.
The GMU Music Holiday Concert will be held Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., at the George Mason University Concert Hall. $12 adults; $7 students/seniors. Call tickets.com at 703-218-6500 or online at www.tickets.com.
The 75th anniversary Birmingham Green Open House and Craft Show will be held Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. A special announcement and program will be held at this nursing home/assisted living facility at 2:30 p.m. All crafts are handmade by the residents, staff, family members and friends. Refreshments will be served in the main dining rooms. A bake sale will be held in the main lobby. The proceeds will be used to supplement the resident activity program. Birmingham Green is located at 8605 Centreville Road in Manassas. Call 703-257-0935.
Chantilly High School's Performing Arts Department will present its Tiny Tots Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The shows are at 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $3. Call Beth Frook at 703-631-2046 or email bfrook@littlehands.com.
Santa is coming to the Centreville McDonald's on Thursday, Dec. 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Children can have their meals with Santa and he will be giving away surprises. Children can also make holiday ornaments with Miss Heidi.
Amid the glow of natural candlelight, experience the spirit of Christmas past at Sully Historic Site on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14. Tours begin at 4:30 p.m. with the last tour at 7:15 p.m. Spend a delightful holiday evening at the 1794 home of Northern Virginia's first congressman, Richard Bland Lee. Meet 18th and 19th century characters as you tour the house and grounds. The program includes Christmas in the field with Civil War troops, a Victorian family gathered around the Christmas tree festooned with toys, angels and popcorn, according to a little girl's recollections from 1885. Join in the caroling and warm up by the fire while enjoying hot cider and cookies. Holiday shopping opportunities await you at Sully's loghouse museum store featuring the new 2002 Sully ornament. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. Reservations required; call 703-437-1794.
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m., at the George Mason University Concert Hall. Cost is $40-$18. Call tickets.com at 703-218-6500 or online at www.tickets.com.
Encore Theatrical Arts Project (ETAP) will thrill its audience with "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," a new, musical holiday extravaganza, choreographed and directed by the Raynor van der Merwe. It will be performed on Saturdays, Dec. 14 and 21 at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Dec. 15 and 22 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Ernst Cultural Center at the Annandale campus of the Northern Virginia Community College.
The show is the tale of what happens to Christmas elves Ruby and Roscoe when Santa and Mrs. Claus decide they enjoy their Hawaiian vacation and might make it permanent. The story is full of spectacular dancing and singing, with special effects that will dazzle every audience member. The show is enjoyable for all audiences. Tickets are $12 for seniors and children, $15 for adults. Group rates are available. For more information or ticket reservations, call 703-222-5511.
Santa will be visiting the Greenbriar McDonald's on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 6-8 p.m., located at 13003 Lee Jackson Highway. Children can have their meals with Santa and he will be giving away surprises. Children can also make holiday ornaments with Miss Heidi.
Holiday Musical Spectacular. John Lyon will host a holiday concert featuring The City of Fairfax Band, soprano Barbara DeMaio Caprilli and The Fairfax Choral Society. To be held Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., at Fairfax High School Auditorium, 3500 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Free. Call 703-757-0220 or visit www.fairfaxband.org.
New Year's Eve Ball, sponsored by Spotlight on the Arts. To be held Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m., at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax. Dance to the sound of NightMusic. Midnight champagne toast. Hors d'oeuvres and dessert. $75 per person. Call 703-352-ARTS or visit www.fairfaxspotlight.org.