<lst>Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost. For additional ongoing events listings, visit our Web site at www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Santa makes house calls, through Dec. 21, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Register at Arcola Community Center, 24244 Gum Springs Road or call 703-327-3111. Cost $30 for 15-minute visit, $60 for 30-minute visit.
The Heritage Farm Museum announces "Model Tractors and Farm Equipment: Objects from The Philip Marshall Collection" a temporary exhibit on view Dec. 26-Jan. 28.
The collection represents more than 30 years of collecting and encompasses more than 50 model and toy tractors, combines, plows and other farm implements. These are toys and replicas modeled on actual farm equipment from top manufacturers such as John Deere, Allis Chalmers, International Harvester, Case and Ford. The museum is located off Route 28 and Route 7 in Claude Moore Park, Sterling. Tickets: adults, $5; children, $3; seniors $4.
Christmas at Oatlands, through Dec. 29, Oatlands Plantation, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg. The mansion is adorned with holiday decorations that evoke a sense of the abundant, luxurious and romantic past of the Oatlands. Daytime tours Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $10 adults, $9 seniors, $7 for children 6-16, children 5 and under free. Evening tours Dec. 15, 16, 22 and 23, 5-8 p.m. Cost $12 for adults and seniors, $8 for children 6-16 and children 5 and younger free. Call 703-777-3174 or visit www.oatlands.org.
Loudoun’s leading artists, as well as new talent from the area, will display their original paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramic art at Gallery 222 during the holiday season.
Features gallery regulars and four new artists.
The holiday exhibit runs through Jan. 20. An opening reception will be held Friday, Dec. 1, from 6-9 p.m. Gallery 222 is located at 222 South King St., Leesburg. Hours are Mondays–Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment. Call 703-777-5498.
Loudoun County Public Schools Student Art Exhibit hosted by The George Washington University Virginia Campus, through Jan. 25. The winter exhibit features two-dimensional, mixed-media works by 75 LCPS students from Emerick Elementary School, Hamilton Elementary School, Harmony Intermediate School and Loudoun Valley High School. Gallery hours 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Mondays-Fridays, The George Washington University Virginia Campus, Gallery Lounge 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn. The reception is free and open to the public.
The Loudoun Museum’s new exhibit, "Nighty Night, Loudoun" displays bedtime and bedchamber artifacts from the museum’s collections. These objects, some of which are on display for the first time, include a mid-19th century King Solomon’s Temple Pattern quilt, women’s night wear from the late 19th and an early 20th century and a man’s nightshirt made from feed sacks. Call Eric Larson at 703-777-7427 or elarson@loudoumuseum.org. The museum is located at 16 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg.
Winter Farmers Market, every Saturday, through March 31, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Virginia Village Shopping Center, 20 Catoctin Circle, Leesburg. Buy fresh products from local farmers, including eggs, apples, fall vegetables, fresh breads and baked goods and meat products. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.com.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, holds a potluck/bingo every second Tuesday, at 5:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share and a small gift bag to give away as prizes. 703-430-2397.
The Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, offers toddle story hour, every Tuesday, 9:15-10 a.m., for ages 1.5-5 years old. For caregiver and child and includes lively stories, movement, music and more. $6. Preregister by calling 703-771-5281.
Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, will hold the following ongoing story times. Lapsits for 2s, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.; Mother Goose Nursery Time, ages 18-24 months, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; Pajama Story Time, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; Story Time for 3s, 4s and 5s, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; After School Book Break, ages 5-8, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.; Terrific 3s, Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.; Saturday Family Story Time, ages 2-6, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-444-3228.
Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg, will hold the following story times. Mother Goose Nursery Time, ages 18-24 months, Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m., one-on-one with your child; Lapsits for 2s, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., caregivers are requested to stay with the child; Family Story Time for 3s, 4s & 5s, Thursdays, 7 p.m., sign interpreter present; Morning Story Time for 3s, 4s & 5s, Fridays, 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Saturday Family Story Time, ages 3-6 and their family, Saturdays, 11 a.m. Call 703-777-0323.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., will be holding the following ongoing story times. Preschool Story Times, ages 2-5, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Saturday Family Story Times, ages 2-5, second Saturdays of each month, 11 a.m. Call 703-430-9500.
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, offers the following ongoing story times. Mother Goose Nursery Time, ages 18-24 months, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.; Terrific 2s: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.; Preschool Story Time, ages 3-5, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.; Wonderful Wednesday Stories, ages 3-5, Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.; Pajama Story Time, ages 3-5, Wednesdays, 7 p.m.; Saturday Family Story Time, ages 2-5, Saturdays, 10 a.m. Call 703-737-8100.
On the last Friday of each month, at 7 p.m., teenagers from Loudoun and Fairfax counties are invited to the Dulles Town Center, in partnership with Next Level for Teens, for an evening devoted to teen issues and events, called Teens Talk at Dulles Town Center. Free. The Dulles Town Center is located at the intersection of routes 7 and 28. Visit ShopDullesTownCenter.com.
Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, is open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; as well as Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 2-12 and free for children under 2. On permanent display is "The Country People" where visitors travel through time and experience the past 300 years of agricultural history through 10 generations of Loudoun County residents. The Claude Moore children's Farm is an interactive exhibit area for children and their families. Visit www.loudounfarmmuseum.org or call 703-421-5322.
Leesburg First Fridays. Galleries and shops open their doors on the first Friday of each month with special events, refreshments and entertainment, from 6-9 p.m. There is no First Friday in January. Free. Call 800-752-6118. Visit www.leesburgfirstfriday.com.
Guided Nature or History Hikes for all ages at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. Nature hikes, Frogshackle Cabin Nature Center, history hikes and special request programs for school groups, scouts, community organizations, adults and families are available on a variety of topics throughout the year. Programs designed to foster an appreciation of Loudoun County's natural and cultural resources in a fun and informative way. Cost is $3.50 per person for a group tour, with a minimum charge of $35. Call 703-444-1275 for reservations.
Loudoun Bluegrass Association. Weekly acoustic jam session held every Tuesday night, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Morningside House Retirement Center, 316 Harrison St. in Leesburg. All bluegrass/country musicians, singers and spectators are welcome. Free. Call Randy Kenyon
703-777-9865, home.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., will have a new story time, every second Saturday of the month, at 11 a.m. Includes stories, music and activities. The story time is recommended for ages 2-5. Visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.