To have community events listed free in the Connection, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail Lea Mae Rice at lrice@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks prior to the date of the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call 703-917-6459.
Thursday/July 6
Outdoor Music Performance. The Crawdaddies perform Cajun-infused grooves 7:30 p.m. at Ossian Hall Park, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale as part of Braddock District Nights. Free, cancelled if rain. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) for weather or information.
Major League! Meet a Washington Nationals baseball player and get an autograph starting at 11 a.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Sponsored by the Washington Nationals. 703-978-5600.
Fairytale Times. Make a story come alive 2 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Age 6-12. 703-339-6410.
Book Discussion. “Before You Know Kindness” by Chris Bohjalian 12:15 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-6410.
Thursday Theater. See an afternoon film 2:30 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 6-12. 703-339-7385.
Summer Concert Series. Fairfax Swing Band performs 8 p.m. on the lawn of the Veterans Amphitheater at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax. Free. Bring seating. Call 703-273-1776 for cancellation and updates.
Outdoor Music Performance. The Crawdaddies will perform 7:30 p.m. at Ossian Hall Park, on the corner of Heritage Drive and Four Year Run in Annandale as part of Braddock Nights. Free.
Friday/July 7
Outdoor Music Performance. The United States Navy Band’s bluegrass group Country Current performs 7:30 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield as part of Braddock Nights. Free. Cancelled if rain. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) for cancellation information.
Outdoor Band Performance. Deanna Bogart, a roots and blues band, performs at 7:30 p.m. at 5955 Kingstowne Blvd. in Alexandria at the Kingstowne Towne Center. Free. 703-922-9514.
Outdoor Music Performance. DC Soul performs Motown music 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park, 5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax as part of Braddock Nights. Free. Cancelled if rain. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) for cancellation information.
Wildlife Myths: The Truth Behind the Tails. Learn about nature secrets 10:30 a.m. with the Wildlife Center of Virginia at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Ages 6-12. 703-293-6227.
Just Imagine. Activities 2:30 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 6-12. 703-339-7385.
Band Performance. Dragonlord and Withersoul perform 6:30 p.m. at Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Doors open 6 p.m. All ages. Tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door. 703-569-5940.
Singles Dance. Dance at the Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Blvd. Dressy Attire. Cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, and social mixers by D.J. Kevin. Call 703-560-2188 or visit www.Elks2188.com.
Saturday/July 8
Brain Benders. See everyday objects through scientific eyes 10:30 a.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 6-12. 703-978-5600.
Localpalooza. Dead Syndicate, Krass Judgment and others perform starting at 4:15 p.m. at Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Doors open 4 p.m. All ages. Tickets $10 in advance and $11 at the door. 703-569-5940.
Obon Festival. The Ekoji Buddhist Temple hosts its 25th annual Obon Festival from 5:30-9 p.m. at the temple, 6500 Lake Haven Lane, Fairfax Station. Festival activities include music, Bon-odori dancing, a silent auction and traditional Japanese food dishes. Temple tours and short lectures on Buddhism offered as well. Visit www.ekoji.org.
Rose Care. The Arlington Rose Foundation offers a panel discussion on the summer care of roses at 2 p.m. at the Merrifield Garden Center, 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax. Free, no reservations required. 703-860-0071.
Sunday/July 9
Historic House Restoration Tours. Tour the first floor of the circa-1858 Blenheim House, see new discoveries of Civil War soldier inscriptions and learn more about restoration plans for this 12-acre site from 2-4 p.m. at 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Free. 703-385-8414.
Monday/July 10
Jonathan Austin. Juggling, magic, and unicycling fun. Ages 6-12. 2:30 p.m. at Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. 703-644-7333.
Picture This. Learn basic photo composition and techniques 7 p.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 12-18. 703-978-5600.
Welcome to Pirate Island. Stories of island adventure for little seafarers 10:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-339-6410.
SteveSongs Music Fun. Sing and dance 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Tuesday/July 11
Tacky's Bedtime. Bring a lunch and enjoy videos. Ages 3-6 with an adult. 7 p.m. at Pohick Regional Library located at 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. 703-644-7333.
Catch a Dragon by the Tale. Stories, facts and a craft 2 p.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 6-12. 703-978-5600.
Jonathan Austin. Juggling, magic and unicycling 10:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Age 6-12. 703-339-6410.
Family Theater. Watch a film 10:30 a.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Wednesday/July 12
LaserFace. New Age mime Jerome "LaserFace" Benton entertains with puppets, juggling, music, and fiber optics. Ages 6-12. 2 p.m. at Pohick Regional Library Located at 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. 703-644-7333.
Outdoor Band Performance. Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (rock) performs at 7:30 p.m. at 6601 Telegraph Road in Franconia at Lee District Park Amphitheater. Free. 703-971-6262.
Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy. Stories and activities for preschoolers 10:30 a.m. at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Ages 3-5 with adult. 703-293-6227.
Children's Show. Flumpa and Friends Live! 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Springfield Mall. Wendy Whitten, "The Singing Scientist," and Flumpa the tree frog perform their free interactive musical science show. Call 615-646-3644 or e-mail flumpa@aol.com.
Band Performance. The U.S Navy Band's "Commodores" perform 7:30 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Lake Accotink Park. 202-433-2525 or visit www.navyband.navy.mil.
Thursday/July 13
Meet Tacky. Bring camera for pictures with Tacky. Ages 2-5 with adult. 10:30 a.m. at Pohick Regional Library located at 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. 703-644-7333.
Book Chat. Mother-daughter book discussion 7 p.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 12-18 with adult. 703-978-5600.
Cartooning with Chris Flick. A hands-on cartooning workshop 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 12-18. 703-339-7385.
Summer Concert Series. Children’s Concert with the City of Fairfax Band 7:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Veterans Amphitheater at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax. Free. Bring seating. Call 703-273-1776 for cancellation and updates.
Kids Cook! A colonial culinary school for children ages 8-12 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. Young people prepare foods at the open hearth with ingredients in the plantation’s herb garden. Space limited to seven registrants. $35. Contact the Education Department at 703-550-9220.
Lunch Presentation. The Springfield Exchange Community Lunch Series addresses housing programs and opportunities with a bag lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and a presentation from 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Free. Complimentary tea and coffee. Reservations not required. Call Paulette Whiteside at 703-324-5285 or Tilly Blanding at 703-324-5252.
Outdoor Band Performance. Yarawi, an Andean music group, performs at 7:30 p.m. at Ossian Hall Park, corner of Heritage Drive and Four Year Run. Free. 703-324-7469.
Friday/July 14
Outdoor Music Performance. The Annandale Symphony Orchestra will perform 7:30 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield as part of Braddock Nights. Free.
Outdoor Band Performance. Last Train Home, a country band, performs at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park, 5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax, as part of Braddock Nights. Free. 703-324-7469.
Friday/July 15
Wildlife Myths: The Truth Behind the Tails. Learn about wildlife with the Wildlife Center of Northern Virginia 2:30 p.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 6-12. 703-978-5600.
Animal Tales, Old & New. The Lorton Library Puppet Theatre brings folktales alive 11 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-6410.
Book Talk. Stevie Platt, local author of "The Last Servant" will be appearing at the Barnes and Noble in Fairfax located at 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive. Talk begins at 12 p.m. Call 703-278-0300.
Sunday/July 16
Band Performance. King's Park Concert Band presents a free concert 7:30 p.m., Parliament Pool, Kings Park. Visit www.kingsparkband.org or contact Richard Robison at 540-840-3641.
Medieval Times. Knights, damsels, art and more 2 p.m. at Pohick Regional Library located at 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. Sponsored by the society for Creative Anarchism. Age 6 and up. 703-644-7333.
Artist Reception. The Loft Gallery offers a reception for the "Surf and Sand" exhibition by Jackie Paetzold from 1-4 p.m. at 313 Mill Street in Occoquan. Show ends July 30. 703-490-1117.
Train Show. N Scale Model trains run from 1-4p.m. at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. The Northern Virginia NTRAK model train club offers their monthly display. $2/adult; Children 4-10: $1; Children 3 and under free. 703-425-9225.
Monday/July 17
Puppet Show. “Mr. Brian and the Boppets” puppet show 10:30 a.m. at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax. 703-293-6227.
Crafty Kids. Paper plate crafts 3 p.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 6-12. 703-978-5600.
Mr. Brian & the Boppets. See a puppet show 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Tuesday/July 18
Puppet Show. “Mr. Brian and the Boppets” puppet show 10:30 a.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. 703-978-5600.
Book Discussion. “The Fixer” by Bernard Malamud 11 a.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. 703-978-5600.
Wednesday/July 19
Water Fun. Stories, activities and a craft at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 3-5 with adult. 703-978-5600.
Science to Amaze & Intrigue. Learn about science 2:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Age 6-12. 703-339-6410.
Book Club. “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion 7:30 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Thursday/July 20
Tell Me a Story. Stories and activities for preschoolers 10:30 a.m. at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Ages 3-5 with adult. 703-293-6227.
Reptiles Alive! See live animals 2:30 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 6-12. 703-339-7385.
Summer Concert Series. Just Jazz Septet performs 8 p.m. on the lawn of the Veterans Amphitheater at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax. Free. Bring seating. Call 703-273-1776 for cancellation and updates.
Kids Cook! A colonial culinary school for children ages 8-12 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. Young people prepare foods at the open hearth with ingredients in the plantation’s herb garden. Space limited to seven registrants. $35. Contact the Education Department at 703-550-9220.
Outdoor Band Performance. Zydeco-A-Go-Go, a Zydeco band, performs at 7:30 p.m. at Ossian Hall Park, corner of Heritage Drive and Four Year Run. Free. 703-324-7469.
Friday/July 21
Outdoor Music Performance. The Swingin' Swamis perform 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park, 5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax as part of Braddock Nights. Free.
Outdoor Band Performance. The Swingin' Swamis, a Soul R&B band, performs at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park 5344, Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax as part of Barddock Nights. Free. 703-324-7469.
Outdoor Band Preformance. The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra "Summer Band" performs at 7:30 p.m. at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Free. 703-324-7469.
Outdoor Band Performance. Lesson Zero performs at 7 p.m. at The Coffee House of Occoquan, 202 Commerce St., Occoquan. 703-492-8976.
Monday/July 24
Yoga for Teens. Practice yoga with instructor Shakta Khalsa 7 p.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Ages 12-18. 703-978-5600.
Lunch Discussion. The New Moms Lunch Group presents a lunch with Leslie Morgan Steiner, author of “The Mommy Wars” 12-1 p.m. at Lupo’s Italian Restaurant, 4069 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. $20. Copies of “The Mommy Wars” can be preordered for $15.72. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at eventbuilders@hotmail.com or call 703-273-5593 during business hours to RSVP or preorder a copy of the book.
Tuesday/July 25
Book Discussion. “The Love Letter” by Cathleen Schine 7:30 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-6410.
Wednesday/July 26
Science to Amaze & Intrigue. Learn about science 7 p.m. at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Ages 6-12. 703-293-6227.
Thursday/July 27
Summer Concert Series. The City of Fairfax Band performs 8 p.m. on the lawn of the Veterans Amphitheater at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax. Free. Bring seating. Call 703-273-1776 for cancellation and updates.
Friday/July 28
Outdoor Band Performance. Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas perform at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park, 5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax as part of Braddock Nights. All ages. Free. For weather and cancellation information, call 703-324-SHOW.
Outdoor Band Performance. Ollantay, a group performing Andean music, performs at 7:30 p.m. at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Free. 703-324-7469.
Sunday/July 29
Groundbreaking Ceremony. In preparation for the building of a parking lot and new library in Burke. Contact Pat Riedinger, Friends of the Library President, to participate in planning for the event. 703-830-3705.
Tuesday/Aug. 1
Band Performance. King's Park Concert Band presents a free concert 7:30 p.m., Parliament Pool, Kings Park. Visit www.kingsparkband.org or contact Richard Robison at 540-840-3641.
Sunday/Aug. 6
Concert. Van Morrison performs live at the George Mason University Patriot Center. Tickets are $225, $125, $85, $65, and $45 plus service charges. Order by phone at 703-573-SEAT or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Wednesday/Aug. 23
Children's Show. Flumpa and Friends Live! 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at Fairfax Corner, Fairfax. Wendy Whitten, "The Singing Scientist," and Flumpa the tree frog perform their free interactive musical science show. Call 615-646-3644 or e-mail flumpa@aol.com.
Wednesday/Aug. 30
Choirs Auditions. Voce Chamber Singer openings in all voice parts. Schedule appointments by leaving a message at 703-288-7772.