<cal1>NOV. 27 to JAN. 4
<cal2>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 and will run 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 over 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).
<cal1>NOV. 29-DEC. 1
<cal2>Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild will hold its 20th Annual Art & Craft Showcase (formerly known as the Christmas Craft Show) on Thanksgiving Weekend at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., SE, Vienna. Show hours are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 from noon to 5 p.m. Food available. Admission $1 donation to the scholarship fund. Some 75 juried NVHG members will display and sell their creations in six areas of the community center. There will be stained glass, quilling, decorative painting, pencil drawings, photography, porcelain, calligraphy, jewelry, pottery, turned wood, leather, watercolors, metal sculpture and more. Artists participating from Clifton are Alice and Bob Bearinger (woodworking and painted folk art), Jack and Bette Conley (stained glass), and Bill Harrah (pencil drawings. From Centreville: Jenni Huang (pearl jewelry), Susan Miller (bead jewelry) and Clare Nykolyszyn (fused glass.) Call 703-938-8306.
<cal1>MONDAY/DEC. 2
<cal2>Explorers — Tracking Animals in Winter will take place on Monday, Dec. 2 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at E.C. Lawrence Park, Walney. Which animals stick around this time of year and where are they hiding? Reservations required. Cost is $3. Call 703-631-0013.
<cal1>DEC. 5-7
<cal2>The 8th Annual Christmas Homespun Collection will be held on 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. 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. Directions: Take Route 50 west, left at Lees Corner Road, right on Fillingame Drive, right on Quietway Court. Admission is free. Call 703-222-3236.
<cal1>SATURDAY, DEC. 7
<cal2>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.
<cal2>The 13th Annual Model Train Display, sponsored by the Friends of Fairfax Station, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 4 p.m., at the railroad museum (11200 Fairfax Station Road Fairfax Station.) Many different gauges, all moving. Bring your model train problems to the Loco Doctor. Caboose and gift shop open. Refreshments. Cost/$3 adults, $1 children. Call 703-425-9225.
The Lane's Mill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will meet on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. at the Centreville Regional Library. Members will present a program on National Defense and the Korean War. Lane's Mill is an active chapter that offers a broad range of programs on historic and natural conservation and preservation, education of our nation's youth, and promotion of patriotism and love of country. All prospective members and guests are encouraged to attend a meeting. Refreshments are available at 12:30 p.m. Call Lorraine Sims, Chapter Regent, at 703-815-2802, for more information or browse the chapter Web site at www.dar.org. under Chapters.
<cal1>MONDAY/DEC. 9
<cal2>Centreville Toastmasters is the place to improve your communication and leadership skills. The club will be meeting from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. These meetings will be held at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive.
<cal2>Jr. Naturalists — Tracking Animals in Winter will be held on Monday, Dec. 9 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at E.C. Lawrence Park, Walney. Which animals stick around this time of year and where are they hiding? Reservations required. Cost is $3. Call 703-631-0013.
<cal1>TUESDAY/DEC. 10
<cal2>Bird Hike at E.C. Lawrence Park on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 8:30-10 a.m. Walk the park's woodlands and fields with a naturalist in search of resident and migratory bird species. Call 703-631-0013.
Amnesty International, Fairfax Chapter, will meet for dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., Human Rights Day, at Le Grille Restaurant in Herndon. The group will leave a place for a "missing guest" in honor of the victims of human rights abuses around the world. A particular focus is Father Ly, imprisoned in Vietnam because of his religious views. Visitors are welcome to join in this Human Rights event. Le Grille is located at 2545 Centreville Road in Herndon. For additional information, email aigroup528@lycos.com, or call 703-830-4194.
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area will kick off the local process of planning the Virginia and National Capital Area League program for the next two years at the group's regular unit meetings in December. Any person of voting age who wants to find out more about the League and the grass roots nature of the League's study and action on issues of public policy is welcome and encouraged to attend.
League meetings will be held at 15 locations throughout the Fairfax area during the second week of December, including the McLean Community Center at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10; the Reston Museum at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11; and the Kings Park Library at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. The public is invited to call 703-658-9150 or visit the League's Web site at www.lwv-fairfax.org to obtain information about the League and the location and time of the other meetings.
The League is a non-partisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. Guests are always welcome at League meetings.
<cal1>DEC. 13-14
<cal2>Tour Sully Historic Site by candlelight and discover the spirit of Christmas past through Sully's 200-year history. Admire the delicate 18th century style decorations while engaging costumed characters. Enjoy the Victorian Christmas tree in the exhibit room. Outside, visit with Confederate troops by campfire as they recreate Christmas in the field. Learn how Sully's enslaved community spent the holidays as you visit the buildings they worked in. Refreshments will be served. Tours begin at 4:30 p.m., and the last house tour begins at 7:15 p.m.. Prepaid reservations are required, $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>SATURDAY/DEC. 14
<cal2>Holidays at Walney Farm will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 1-2 p.m. at E.C. Lawrence Park, Walney. Discover the food eaten and gifts exchanged by the Machen family during the holidays at Walney Farm in the mid-1800s. Drink hot apple cider to drive away the cold while walking to the smokehouse and other outbuildings to see where food was stored or prepared. Reservations required. Free. Call 703-631-0013.
<cal1>DEC. 27-30
<cal2>Enjoy traditional seasonal music of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries while seated by the Christmas tree in Sully Historic Site's East Wing exhibit area. Two separate seatings each day at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.; seating is limited. Performances by Ship's Company Chanteymen. House tour included. Refreshments served in the original 18th century kitchen. Prepaid reservations are required, to purchase tickets for $6/seat, call 703-708-0861.
<cal1>SATURDAY/DEC. 28
<cal2>A Woods in Winter stroll will be held on Saturday, Dec. 28 from 9:30-11 a.m. at E.C. Lawrence Park, Walney. Take a leisurely stroll with a naturalist. Uncover interesting information about this least talked about season. Reservations required. Free. Call 703-631-0013.
<cal1>MONDAY/DEC. 30
<cal2>Sully Holiday Concert — IONA — will be held on Monday, Dec. 30 at 2 and 3 p.m. at Sully Historic Site. This popular Celtic group combines powerful vocals, compelling flute and whistle and unique harp to bring the music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and France, blending songs, dance tunes and airs into a rich and stunning tapestry. Bagpipes and Scottish dancing add to the excitement of this unique group. Prepaid reservations required. Cost is $6/seat. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>JAN. 27, 2003
<cal2>The Greenbriar Garden Club will hold the following meetings:
* Jan. 27, 2003 — The art of the topiary has been practiced for centuries. Today, the use of topiaries is becoming more popular both in landscaping and interior decorating. From the formal to the whimsical, these living forms are easy to create. Doug Brock, a plant specialist from Betty's Azalea Ranch, will demonstrate how to make sphagnum topiaries using pre-made topiary forms, sphagnum moss and a variety of plants.
The Greenbriar Garden Club meets on the fourth Monday of each month (except June, July, August and December) at 7:45 p.m. in the Greenbriar Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, and is open to all from Greenbriar and surrounding communities. Call 703-449-0168.
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<cal2>The New Mothers Luncheon Group in Northern Virginia is into its Fall 2002 series. It's an opportunity for mothers and their infants (up to 8 months old) to get together for lunch, a speaker and fun. The group meets every Tuesday at Seasons Restaurant in the City of Fairfax with a different program each week. Reservations are required for all luncheons. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at 703-961-9179 or at eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
The schedule is as follows: