Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
Thursday/Aug. 21
Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Night. Celebrate traditional and folk Vietnamese music and dance. 7:30 p.m. Ossian Hall Park, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
Springfield Writers’ Group. Share work, give and receive feedback in a supportive setting. No registration necessary. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055
Garden Sprouts: a Peck of Peppers. 9:30-10:30 a.m. $6 per child. Learn to make salsa. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Call 703-941-7987.
Friday/Aug. 22
Night Music. Classic rock and top 40s hits. 7:30 p.m. Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
Friday Flicks. Bring lunch and enjoy for stories and a short movie. Birth-5 with adult. 12 noon. John Marshall Library. 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
Finntroll with Warbringer, King of Heresy, Apothys, Dark Alliance. 7:30 p.m. All ages; $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
After Dark in the Park – Snakes. Children ages six and older meet snakes at Hidden Pond Nature Center from 8-9:30 p.m. and look for more on a hike. Weather permitting, enjoy a campfire and s’mores. Reservations required. $6 per child. Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Call 703-451-9588.
Saturday/Aug. 23
Glass Artist Alison Ruzsa, lecture and exhibit. 2:30 p.m., The Workhouse Arts Center at Lorton, 9601 Ox Road, Building W-16, Lorton. Call 703-495-0001 or visit www.workhousearts.org.
Book Signing. Lisa Hampton-Qualls will be signing her book "G* S.T.Y.L.E.: Developing a Passion for God's Fashion," 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Borders Express, 6725 Springfield Mall, Springfield. Contact Jana Gridley at 405-376-4900.
Sunday/Aug. 24
Alejandro Fernandez performs 8 p.m. at the George Mason University Patriot Center. Tickets range are $58-$203 per person and available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Patriot Center box office, or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT. For more, see www.patriotcenter.com.
Monday/Aug. 25
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. No registration necessary. 7 .p.m. John Marshall Library. 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. No registration necessary. Adults. 3 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055
Flora Fauna – Worms. Children ages two to five years meet worms at Hidden Pond Nature Center from 10 -10:30 a.m. Try out a worm stake clanger. Reservations required. $2 per child. Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Call 703-451-9588.
Tuesday/Aug. 26
Evening Book Discussion Group. “The Jane Austen Book Club” by Karen Joy Fowler. 7:30 p.m. No registration necessary. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Wednesday/Aug. 27
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. No registration necessary. 10;15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Kingstowne Library Writer's Peer Review Group. Review peers' works and receive in-depth feedback. Call for more information on submitting work prior to meeting. No registration necessary. 7:00 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Travel Club. Bring lunch and enjoy a lively discussion. No registration necessary. 1 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Flora Fauna – Worms. Children ages two to five years meet worms at Hidden Pond Nature Center from 10 -10:30 a.m. Try out a worm stake clanger. Reservations required. $2 per child. Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Call 703-451-9588.
Thursday/Aug. 28
Russian Cultural Heritage Night. Traditional Russian music played on traditional instruments such as the balalaika. 7:30 p.m. Ossian Hall Park, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
Time for School. Stories and activities about starting school. Age 3-5 with adult. 1 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call to register 703-339-4610.
The Wild Creatures of Fairfax County. Learn about the wildlife found at Hidden Pond Nature Center and other parts of Fairfax County, and meet some live critters. Presented by Hidden Pond Nature Center. 10:30 a.m. All ages. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Sonata Arctica with Blood Corps. 7 p.m. All ages; $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Friday/Aug. 29
City of Fairfax Alte Kameraden German Band. Featuring the Blaskapelle Alte Kameraden Bavarian band. You are invited to AUG-toberfest with authentic fest musik and “gemultichkeit”. 7:30 p.m. Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
Ponderings - Local Geology. Try panning for gold and use a microscope to spy on micro minerals at Hidden Pond Nature Center from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This program is suitable for children ages 6 to 10 years. Reservations are required. The cost is $6 per child. To reserve, Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. call 703-451-9588.
After Dark in the Park – Eels. Explore creek life at Hidden Pond Nature Center from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The program ends with a campfire and s’mores. Wear shoes that can get wet. For children ages six years and older. Reservations required. $8 per child. Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Call 703-451-9588.
Saturday/Aug. 30
Back to School Local Band Bash. 1:15 p.m. All ages; $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Sunday/Aug. 31
Potomac Hosta Club. 12 p.m. Picnic, Hostas auction and plant exchange. Heather Hills Nurseries at 8111 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. New members always welcome. For more information, call 703-866-2211 or visit hostaclub@gmail.com.
Krass Judgement Fest. All ages; $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Tuesday/Sept. 2
A is for Apple. 10:30 a.m. Stories, activities and a craft. Age 2-3 with adult. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Wednesday/Sept. 3
Practice your English. 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Thursday/Sept. 4
Daytime Book Discussion Group. 12:15 p.m. "Mohawk" by Richard Russo. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Back-to-School Beauty. Hair care and hairstyle tips for teens. 4 p.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Friday/Sept. 5
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring Lunch and come for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
On the Go. 10:30 a.m. Stories and activities about things on the move. Age 15-35 months with adult. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.