<b>Thursday/Dec. 11
</b>Sesame Street Live "Elmo’s Green Thumb." 7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$75 at www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com. Visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.
<b>Friday/Dec. 12
</b>Christmas at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. 703-550-9220 or www.gunstonhall.org.
* Yuletide Dinner, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Full complement of courses served in a candlelit setting. $39.95 for adults, $19.95 for ages 6-10. The dinner cost includes admission to Plantation Christmas. Reservations required for dinner, call 703-550-9220.
* Plantation Christmas. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage and sample period recipes. Reenactors will engage in seasonal activities throughout the site. $14 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, under 6 free.
Sesame Street Live "Elmo’s Green Thumb." 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$75 at www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com. Visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.
"Oklahoma!," 7 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandra. 703-750-7500 or www.tjhsst.edu.
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
"Over the North Pole," 8 p.m. at the Richard J. Ernst Theatre, Northern Virgina Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
"Home for the Holidays," featuring Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, 8 p.m. at the George Mason Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax Campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, will be at 7:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $22-$44, children 12 and under half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or at www.tickets.com. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Workhouse Arts Center’s Collector's Showcase Event, with IONA performing pan-Celtic music, 6-9 p.m. in Gallery W-16 of the Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Each ticket holder will receive a 10"X10" original piece of work. Tickets $150 at tickets@lortonarts.org or 703-584-2900.
Pat Travers and Stephen Pearcy with Britny Fox, Swirl and Fuzz Box. 8 p.m. Age 21 and over only. $20 in advance, $23 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Saturday/Dec. 13
</b>New Hope Church Bluegrass Christmas Extravaganza with The Bluegrass Gospel Express, All4Hym and Sonrise. 7 p.m. at 8905 Ox Road, Lorton. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. 703-971-4673 or info@newhope.org.
Christmas at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. 703-550-9220 or www.gunstonhall.org.
* Yuletide Dinner, at 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. $39.95 for adults, $19.95 for ages 6-10. The dinner cost includes admission to Plantation Christmas. Reservations required for dinner, call 703-550-9220.
* Plantation Christmas. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $14 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, under 6 free.
Sesame Street Live "Elmo’s Green Thumb." 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.Tickets are $15-$75 at www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com. Visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.
Island Creek Elementary PTA Fourth Annual Holiday Craft and Gift show from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the school, 7855 Morning View Lane, Kingstowne. Entertainment by the Island Creek Crocs. Contact glasscutter99@yahoo.com.
"Oklahoma!," 7 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandra. 703-750-7500 or www.tjhsst.edu.
Classy Glass. 1 p.m. Make decorative, reusable window clings. Age 12-18. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Sing-A-Long with Miss Belle. 10:30 a.m. All ages. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Friends of the Library Book Sale. 10 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
"Over the North Pole," 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Richard J. Ernst Theatre, Northern Virgina Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
Fairfax County Kinship Respite Day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. will provide relatives who are raising a child for another family member a day off while providing fun for the children, who can be part of a theatrical production or participate in a variety of games, arts and crafts. Fairfax County children ages 3 -15 can be dropped off at one of three community centers, and the children will be bused to James Lee Community Center, 2855-A Annandale Road in Falls Church. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. 703-324-3517, TTY 703-449-1186. Transportation will be available from:
* Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria.
* Mott Community Center, 12111 Braddock Road, Fairfax.
* Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston.
Chinese Corner, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Improve Chinese speaking and learn about Chinese traditional culture. West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield. Free Admission. 703-868-1509 or www.AsianServiceCenter.org.
<b>Sunday/Dec. 14
</b>Sesame Street Live "Elmo’s Green Thumb." 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.Tickets are $15-$75 at www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com. Visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.
"Oklahoma!," 2 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandra. 703-750-7500 or www.tjhsst.edu.
"Over the North Pole," 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Richard J. Ernst Theatre, Northern Virgina Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
Sunday Night Drop-In Ballroom Dancing, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Workhouse Art Center, Gallery W-16, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. To reserve tickets contact tickets@lortonarts.org or call 703-584-2900. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Pops Concert, with the Fairfax Choral Society and W. T. Woodson High School Select Vocal Ensemble, 3 p.m. at George Mason University's Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. www.fairfaxsymphony.org.
Christmas Carnage with Arsony, Our Story Spent, Sor Fingr, Lifted Down, The Deadend Dropouts, Cerca Trova, The Royalty Must Die, Catatonic State, Left, Drunken Banshees, Visigoth and more. 1 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Monday/Dec. 15
</b>Sophie the Performing Dog. 10:30 a.m. Sophie, a Cairn terrier, performs tricks and stunts. All ages. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Early Reader Book Discussion. 3:30 p.m. Call for title. Age 6-8 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
<b>Tuesday/Dec. 16
</b>Book Discussion Group. 7:30 p.m. "Water for Elephants," by Sara Gruen. Adults. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Mother-Daughter Book Group. 7 p.m. Call for title. Age 9-11 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Put on a Sweater. 10:30 a.m. Chilly stories and activities. Age 13-23 months with adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
<b>Wednesday/Dec. 17
</b>Needlework Group. 10:30 a.m. Bring a project to work on. Adults. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Small Wonders. 10:15 a.m. Stories and fingerplays. Age 13-23 months with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Mother-Daughter Book Club. 7 p.m. For girls age 9-11 and their mothers. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Book Discussion Group. 7:15 p.m. Call for title. Adults. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Lorton Book Club. 7:30 p.m. "Run" by Ann Patchett. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
<b>Thursday/Dec. 18
</b>3 Doors Down featuring Switchfoot. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50-$55, available online at www.ticketmaster.com or at 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Visit www.3doorsdown.com.
Starlight, Starbright. 10:30 a.m. Songs and stories about stars. Age 2-5 with adult. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Stories and Science. 4 p.m. Stories and activities with an age-appropriate science experiment. Age 4-6 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
American Red Cross Blood Drive beginning at 8 a.m. at CALIBRE, 6354 Walker Lane in Metro Park. Contact Bob Montcalm at 703-797-8751.
<b>Friday/Dec. 19
</b>Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
<b>Saturday/Dec. 20
</b>Oasis Dig Out Your Soul World Tour, featuring Ryan Adams. 7 p.m. at the George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Tickets are $49.50 and $69.50, available through www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com.
"Over the North Pole," 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Harris Theatre, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
Pet Pictures with Santa Claws. 1-2 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Lake Accotink Road, Springfield. 703-569-0285.
Santa’s Hayride 3:30-8:30 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Lake Accotink Road, Springfield. Enjoy a horse-drawn or tractor wagon ride and have a picture take with Santa. 703-569-3464.
December to Remember with This Time It's War, In Alcatraz 1962 and more. 4 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
A Classical Christmas with Jubilant Sykes and Christopher Parkening. 8 p.m. at George Mason Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Holiday classics, sacred songs and hymns. Tickets are $22-$44. Charge at 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
<b>Sunday/Dec. 21
</b>"Over the North Pole," 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Harris Theatre, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
Fairfax Station Violist Kaleigh Elizabeth Acord will perform with Russian pianist Irina Kats, 7:30 p.m. at The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. The program will include Bartok, Bach and Brahms. Free admission and lot parking. 703-838-4994 or recitalprogramsandpromotions@verizon.net.
<b>Monday/Dec. 22
</b>Writer’s Group. 7 p.m. Read aloud for feedback. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.