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/July 17
Irish Cultural Heritage Night. Enjoy the heritage with traditional music, song and dance including the "Mise Eire" poem. 7:30 p.m. Ossian Hall Park, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. 6:30-11 p.m. Spooky movie film festival with Count Gore De Vol and Lloyd Kaufman. Cinema Arts Theatre, Fair City Mall, 9650 Main St., Fairfax. Call 703-968-6853 or visit www.cinemaartstheatre.com.
Friday/July 18
NVCC Annandale Symphony Orchestra Summer Pops collection. Under the leadership of Christopher Johnston. 7:30 p.m. Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Free. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances or call 703-324-7469.
Friday Flicks. Bring a lunch and enjoy stories and a short movie. Birth-5 with adult. Noon. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
Ones at a Time. Short stories and activities. Age 13-23 months with adult. 10:30 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Nature Photography Camp. Teens 12-16 will learn to use digital photography and printing. Images will be entered in the Friends of Huntley Meadows annual photo contest. Camp runs for five days, from 9 a.m.-1p.m. $100, reservations required. Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Call 703-768-2525.
Carnifex with A Stained Glass Romance, Knives Exchanging Hands, A Bloodbath In Boston, Rise Of Icarus, Bloodlines, Slaughter Of Innocence, and more. 5:15 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.
Saturday/July 19
Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Age 12-18. 2:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call to register 703-339-4610.
Crustaceans. Learn about all the crustaceans found here in Fairfax County, maybe even in your backyard. Meet these "locals" and the other live specimens that will be on hand. 10:30 a.m. All ages. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Kayak with the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. 7-10 a.m. Launching from 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. Call 703-354-5093.
Gold’s Gym Grand Opening in Fairfax Station. Food, prizes, free group exercise classes and membership offers will be available from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The new gym is located at 5620-A Ox Road, Fairfax Station.
Green Tree Frog Excursion. Look for green tree frogs, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $10 per family, reservations required. Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Road, Lorton. Call 703-631-0013.
Bat Watching. 8-9:30 p.m. Learn about the diversity of bats with a slide illustrated lecture, then search the sky for bats. $6 per adult, $4 per child. Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. To reserve call 703-768-2525.
L.A. Guns with Faster Pussycat, Bang Tango, High 4, Sinner's Trail. 8 p.m. Age 21+. $20 in advance, $22 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Monday/July 21
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. 7 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
Books: Passport to Adventure. Listen to stories about other countries and play games children play around the world. Age 6-12. 2 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call to register 703-339-4610.
A Tangle of Tales by Grey Seal Puppets. Colorful puppets present stories from around the world, including The Frog Prince. 2:30 p.m. All ages. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. 3 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.
Sunday/July 20
Huntley Meadows Offers Family Walks for Spanish Speakers. 3-4:30 p.m. Bring Spanish-speaking friends and family to stroll the 1 1/2-mile trail at Huntley Meadows Park with an interpreter in English and Spanish. The park has a rich history to share with participants walking along flat trails and a wooden boardwalk over the fresh-water wetland. After the walk, explore the exhibits in the Visitor Center. Free. Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Call 703-768-2525.
Tuesday/July 22
Books: Passport to Adventure. Enjoy stories, games and crafts from around the world. Age 6-12. 2:30 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
A Tangle of Tales by Grey Seal Puppets. Colorful puppets present stories from around the world, including The Frog Prince. All ages. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call to register 703-339-4610.
Evening Book Discussion Group. "Le Mariage" by Diane Johnson. 7:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Wednesday/July 23
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. 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 on your work. Call for more information on submitting work prior to meeting. 7:00 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Travel Club. Bring lunch and enjoy a lively discussion. 1 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Thursday/July 24
Mexican Cultural Heritage Night. Discover Mexico’s cultural heritage through music and dance from Aztec to Mariachi to comtemporary. 7:30 p.m. Ossian Hall Park, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
A Tango of Tales by Grey Seal Puppets. Colorful puppets present stories from around the world, including The Frog Prince. 10:30 a.m. All ages. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs. Songs and activities which feature bugs. Age 3-5 with adult. 1 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call to register 703-339-4610.
Does Lilly Have Her Purse? Storytime about Lilly and her purple plastic purse, with a visit from a special guest. Age 2-5 with adult. 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Call to register 703-339-7385.
Friday/July 25
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction of George Etheridge, showcasing the country’s best young musicians. 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 stories and a short movie. Birth-5 with adult. 12 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
Summer Bro Down Local Show. 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.
Naked Beggars and other bands. 11:15 p.m. Age 21+. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Saturday/July 26
"I Love You More than Rainbows" author Susan Crites signs copies of her children’s book, 2-4 p.m. at the Fairfax Barnes & Noble, Fair Lakes Promenade. Call the store at 703-278-0300.
Tell it Again. Story and activities in Spanish and English. Age 6-12 with adult. 3 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Go Fish. 9-11 a.m. Children age 6 and up with an adult will learn catch-and-release fishing. $15 per child; accompanying adult free. Reservations required. Lake Accotink Park, 7550 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-0285.
Sunset Cruise. 8-9 p.m. Cruise the shoreline of Lake Accotink and admire the sunset. Interpretive history of the area included in tour. Beverages served. $5 per person. Lake Accotink Park, 7550 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-0285.
Dog Day Afternoon. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Treat your canine companion to a cruise on a pontoon boat with glimpses of ducks, geese and other wildlife. $5 per adult, $3 per child; reservations required. Lake Accotink Park, 7550 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-0285.
Habitat Restoration. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Invasive plant removal workday. Participants must be at least 15, unless accompanied by an adult. Free. Call Megan Fellows at 703-324-8586.
Bug lover’s Paradise. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Stop by the classroom for self-guided activities, a craft and videos about grasshoppers, butterflies, ladybugs and leafhoppers. Suitable for children age 4 and older with an adult. $2 per child. Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Call 703-768-2525.
Kings X with Black Water Rising, ZO2, Gate1, Not-Liable. 7:30 p.m. Age 21+. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Sunday/July 27
I Saw A Ghost and more. 3:15 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.
Occoquan River Festival. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Events will be held at Occoquan Regional Park, the Historic Town of Occoquan, the Workhouse Arts Center, Rivergate Condominium and Belmont Bay. Features include a tall ship at Belmont Bay, a replica of John Smith’s shallop and an authentic 19th century oyster boat at Occoquan Regional Park, kayak classes, food, music, hot air balloon rides and the Science Museum of Virginia’s Space Travel Trailer. Call 703-690-2121 or visit www.occoquanrivercommunities.com.
Monday/July 28
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. 7 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
Writer's Group. For all writers-newcomers always welcome. Read your material aloud for feedback. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. 3 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055
Tuesday/July 29
Mother-Daughter Book Discussion. Participate in a lively discussion. Call for title. Age 9-11. 7 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
Wednesday/July 30
On the Ball. Spinny Johnson, former Harlem Globetrotter, performs fun and amazing basketball tricks. Age 6-12. 2:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call to register 703-339-4610
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
Thursday/July 31
Archie Edward’s Blues Night. Piedmont Blues blending elements from Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions. Influenced by ragtime, country string bands, traveling medicine shows and popular songs of the early 20th century. 7:30 p.m. Ossian Hall Park, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale. Free. Call 703-324-7469 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
A Day at the Beach with Under the Sea. See creatures you'd find at the shore and learn about sand, waves, tides and sun. Age 6-12. 10:30 a.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call to register 703-971-0010.
A Day at the Beach with Under the Sea. Learn about sand, waves, tides and sun. Age 6-12. 2:30 p.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Call to register 703-339-7385.
Lutindo. Traditional African music, dance and stories. 2:30 p.m. All ages. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call to register 703-451-8055.
Nature Detectives: Cool it. 10-10:45 a.m. Children ages 3-5 learn how animals stay cool in summer. Story, activity, crafts. $5 per child. Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Call 703-768-2525.