Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
Walk the Haunted Forest in the Halloween Woods at Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling, weekends through Nov. 1. The walk is open 7-11 p.m.; last tour starts at 10:30 p.m. Cost: $13 per person. Visit halloweenwoods.com.
The October edition of "Inside Loudoun County" features segments on volunteer recruitment for the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue system and the upcoming Loudoun County budget for Fiscal Year 2010.
"Inside Loudoun County" is a 30-minute cable television program airing Mondays and Fridays, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. The show is hosted by Nancy McCormick of the Loudoun County Office of Public Information and is produced by Comcast.
"The Flaming Oven Mitt and Other Endearing Stories from the Kitchen," a temporary exhibit, at the Thomas Balch Library, through Oct. 31, sponsored by the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. Students from Loudoun Valley High School collected kitchen stories from county residents in a book of oral histories featured in this temporary exhibit. Guest curator Susan Reid presents excerpts from the book along with historic kitchen tools and canning implements. Visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.org or call 571-258-3800.
Fall Harvest Festival, through Oct. 31, Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, includes hayrides, you-pick pumpkins, Oinkintucky Derby pig races, P-Rex the Pumpkin Munchin' Dinosaur, the Pumpkin Princess, the Rooster Wrangler and activities. Admission: $8 per person, Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day Monday; $6 per person Mondays-Fridays. Additional charge for evening bonfire/hayrides and pumpkin picking. Call 540-554-2073.
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park's Corn MAiZE and Barnyard Fun, through Nov. 2, at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg. Activities are family-fun oriented and include day and night "MAiZEs," food, hayrides, moon bounces, pony rides, cow train, corn cannon, water wars and pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Hours are Fridays, 4-10 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $10 per person 12 years old or older, $8 per child 6-11, free for child under 5. Call 703-779-9372 or visit http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/themaize.
Pumpkinville Festival, through Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Leesburg Animal Park, 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. Explore the park and enjoy unlimited hay and tractor rides, pumpkin painting and many other activities. Visit the farm market for exotic pumpkins. Cost: $7 per person on weekdays, $12 on weekends, free for children under 2. Visit www.LeesburgAnimalPark.com/pumpkinville.htm.
Leesburg Farmers Winter Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, at Virginia Village Shopping Center on Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg. Runs from Nov. 3-April 26. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/Winter.
Oatlands’ teas return with fall teas Nov. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 28-30. Seatings are at 1 p.m. and the cost is $24.95, plus tax. Teas are held in the Oatlands Carriage House. Reservations are required.
The mansion and gardens are open for fall tours. The mansion is open for touring, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., from Mondays-Saturdays, and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. House tours are conducted on the hour; cost is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $7 for students and free for children age 5 and younger.
Oatlands is located six miles south of Leesburg on US Route 15. Call 703-777-3174 or visit www.oatlands.org.
Living To Serve: Three Generations of FFA in Loudoun, a temporary exhibit, at the Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, Nov. 15-Dec. 7. Future Farmers of America guided generations of Loudoun farm children into careers in agriculture. Students from Loudoun Valley High School present the history of FFA in the county and its work to preserve the artifacts and documents from last Loudoun chapter. Visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.org or call 571-258-3800. Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Admission adults $5; children $3 and discounts for groups and seniors.
Model Tractors and Farm Equipment: Objects from the Philip And Wanda Marshall Collection, a temporary exhibit, at the Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, Dec. 13-Jan. 18, 2009. Toys and replicas modeled on actual farm equipment from top manufacturers such as John Deere, Allis Chalmers, International Harvester, Case and Ford. More than 30 models on display. Visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.org or call 571-258-3800. Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Admission adults $5; children $3 and discounts for groups and seniors.
2009 WrestleMania Reading Challenge, through Jan. 12, Ashburn, Cascades and Sterling libraries. Teens and tweens read 10 books and create a bookmark for a chance to win prizes from WWE in the 2009 WrestleMania Reading Challenge. Could win a trip to Houston for WrestleMania 25. Contact a participating library for more information or visit http://library.loudoun.gov.
The new exhibit at Dodona Manor, the house museum and former home to Gen. and Mrs. George C. Marshall, honors Katherine T. Marshall, First Lady of the Army. The exhibit runs through mid-February 2009 and is open to the public during regular museum hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Dodona Manor is located 215 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg. Contact the tours and events coordinator at 703-777-1301.
The Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of Leesburg in 1758 with its new exhibition, Leesburg: Crossroads of Tradition and Transition. Explore the history of Leesburg through a selection objects, photographs, postcards, and maps. The exhibition will be on view from through May 2009. The museum is open Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, from 1-5 p.m. Call 703-777-7427.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St, Sterling, continuing children's story times. 703-430-9500.
* Toddler Story Time, 18-24 months, Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Preschool Story Time, 3-5, Fridays, 11 a.m.
* Family Story Time, 2 and up with caregiver, Saturdays, 11 a.m.
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn, continuing children's story times. 703-737-8100.
* Baby Story Time, 0-18 months, Mondays, 10 a.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m.
* Toddler Story Time, 18-24 months, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.
* Terrific 2s, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.
* Preschool Story Time, 3-5, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
* Family Story Time, 2 and up with caregiver, Saturdays, 10 a.m.
Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, continuing children's story times. 703-444-3228.
Terrific 2s, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Baby Story Time, 0-18 months, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Family Story Time, 2 and up with caregiver, Tuesdays, 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
* Preschool Story Time, 3-5, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Toddler Story Time, 18 -24 months, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Rust Library, 34D Catoctin Circle, Leesburg, continuing children's story times. 703-777-0323.
* Terrific 2s, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.
* Toddler Story Time, 18-24 months, Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Preschool Story Time, 3-5s, Wednesdays, 4 p.m. and Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.