Send announcements to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks prior to event; photos/artwork encouraged. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 4
<cal2>Holiday Show and Sale. 6-9 p.m. Art students at the Loudoun Academy of the Arts will display their work at Gallery 222's Holiday Show and Sale. Artwork will include watercolor, pastel and oil paintings, drawings and sculpture. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or www.gallery222.com or call 703-777-5498.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 5
<cal2>Breakfast With Santa. 8:30 a.m. to noon. Hosted by the Arcola-Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department. At Arcola United Methodist Church, 24757 Evergreen Mills Road, Sterling. Call 703-542-6839.
Winter Coffeehouse. 2 p.m. An afternoon of live family-friendly music, holiday sing-alongs and a magic show for kids presented by the Sterling Library Teen Advisory Board. At the Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise Street, Sterling.
Preventing Diabetes. 10 a.m. to noon. Type 2 diabetes can be delayed and prevented with healthier habits during the pre-diabetes stage. In these two-hour classes, certified diabetes educators will provide information on physical activity, an improved diet and other positive lifestyle changes that can stall or prevent type 2 diabetes. $50 registration. At the Diabetes Center, Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Parkway, Leesburg. Call 703-750-8800 or go to www.inova.org/healthclasses.
Make Holiday Cards. 10 a.m. to noon. Nature and art come together in this workshop where children will create holiday-themed, original artwork and cards for sending to family and friends. At the Loudoun Academy of the Arts, 222 South King Street in Historic Leesburg. Cost is $20 plus $10 supply fee. For ages 5-10. Register on-line at www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
Cedar Lane Winter Festival and Holiday Shop. Free. Vendors include Silpada, Pampered Chef, Scentimental Scents and Mary Kay. At Cedar Lane Elementary School, 43700 Tolamac Drive, Ashburn.
<cal1>Dec. 5-6
<cal2>A Collection of Holiday Carols. $10 admission; $8/seniors; and $5/youth. Presented by the Loudoun Chorale. Joining the Chorale will be the Sycolin Creek Elementary School 5th Grade Chorus. On Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, 43600 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn; On Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 West Market Street, Leesburg. Call 571-236-5734 or visit www.loudounchorale.org.
Treasures for Life Rummage Sale. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale features furniture, household items, clothing, office equipment, books, artwork, electronics, outdoor equipment, toys, and many other items for sale. Sponsored by the IYS Corporation to Support Mothers Against Drunk Driving. At 23465 Rock Haven Way, Suite 125, Dulles. Anyone wishing to arrange for a donation and free pickup of items for the sale may call 703-779-7534. Visit: http://www.TreasuresforLife.net
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 6
<cal2>Nutcracker Tea Party. 1 p.m. Loudoun Ballet Company performs The Nutcracker Tea Party at River Creek Country Club, 43404 Westchester Square, Leesburg. Children ages 3-12 is $25; adults 13 and up is $35. Performances will be at Park View High School, 400 W. Laurel Ave., Sterling, on Saturday, Dec. 12 and 19, at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13 and 20 at 2:30 p.m. Call 703-771-8074. Go to www.loudounballet.org/teapartytickets.
Concert. 3 p.m. Ensemble a la Carte, featuring bassoonist Robin Gelman. The group will perform Serenade, opus 14, for seven winds by Julius Roentgen and the Sextet, opus 271, by Carl Reinecke. At Congregation Sha'are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, across from Heritage High School. Call 703-737-6500 or visit www.sha-areshalom.org.
Birding Hotspots in Loudoun. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join Joe Coleman and Laura Weidner of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a daylong search for sparrows, hawks, waterfowl, and other seasonal birds at some of Loudoun County's richest birding destinations. The group will meet at the Audubon Naturalist Society’s Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg. Registration required. Members (ANS & LWC): $30; Non-members: $42. To register contact ANS at 301-652-9188 x16.
<cal1>Tuesday/Dec. 8
<cal2>Holiday Open House. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also collecting non-perishable food for Loudoun Interfaith Relief. At the Visit Loudoun Office, 112-G South Street, SE, Market Station, Leesburg. Snow Date: Monday, Dec. 14.
Holiday Party and Toy Drive. 3-5 p.m. The east and west chapters of the MOMS Club of Sterling will host a joint annual Holiday Party and Monthly Meeting. At the Stone House in Cascades at 20670 Fernbank Court, Sterling. Visit www.momsclubofsterlingva.org.
<cal1>Wednesday/Dec. 9
<cal2>Meet the Author. 7 p.m. Author Sharon K. Solomon will read from her bilingual book, A Walk with Grandpa — Un Paseo con Abuelo. At Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn.
Winter Meet and Greet. 10 a.m. With the MOMS Club of Ashburn Farm. Get information about the club and meet new members at the Ashburn Library. They'll be collecting mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for the Loudoun County Holiday Coalition. Call Jenny Morrill at 703-338-2732, email membership_mcaf@yahoo.com or visit wwwmomsclubofashburnfarm.webs.com.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 10
<cal2>ServSafe Food Sanitation Course. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the Loudoun Extension Office in Leesburg. Cost is $150, includes text, examination and certification. Call 703-777-0373.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 11
<cal2>Battle of the Bands. 6:30 p.m. $3. The Loudoun County Youth Advisory Council and Loudoun Youth Inc. will host the second in a series of Battle of the Band events. All bands that want to play at YouthFest 2010 must compete in a Battle of the Bands event. To be held at AV-COM Visual Arts, 45965 Nokes Blvd. in Sterling. Visit http://www.loudounteens.org or call 703-737-8335.
<cal1>Dec. 11, 12, 13
<cal2>DECA Holiday House. Potomac Falls High School DECA students will give tours of the home of Rhoda Matts who decorates 70-plus trees and every room for the holidays. This ALS fund-raiser will take place Friday, Dec. 11 from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 12 from 1-9 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1-6 p.m. House located at 234 Markwood Drive, Sterling.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 12
<cal2>TubaChristmas Concert. 6 p.m. With the Loudoun Valley High School Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble. At Franklin Park Arts Center. Tickets are $5. Visit
www.franklinparkartscenter.org. Call 540-338-7973.
Loudoun Symphony Concert. 8 p.m. Tickets are $18/door, $15/advance. Featuring jazz, pops, Broadway, Sousa March, ballet, classical and seasonal favorites. Featured solosits are Carole McNeil, vocalist, and Jason Greco, pianist. Pre-concert lecture by Maestro Mark Allen McCoy at 7:15 p.m. At Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn. Visit www.loudounsymphony.org or call 703-771-8287.
Loudoun Symphonic Winds Concert. 7:30 p.m. The program will include selections from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," "Silver Bells," and "Greensleeves". Admission is a new, unwrapped toy to be delivered to Toys for Tots. At Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive in Sterling. Visit the Loudoun Symphonic Winds web site at www.lcbandinc.org or call 703-777-7985.
Birding Banshee. 8 a.m. Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for a monthly bird walk. Contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.
Ashburn Classics Christmas Luncheon. 11 a.m. The Ashburn Classics is a social club for seniors age 50 and over in the Ashburn area. At the Holiday Inn, Leesburg. Reservations are required and entertainment will be provided. Call 703-858-1313.
Master Singers of Virginia. 8 p.m. (7:15 p.m. lecture). Holiday performance from chant to carol. A 34-member a cappella ensemble under the direction of Dr. Erik Jones. Tickets are $18/adults and $15/students/seniors (65+) in advance. Go to www.msva.org or call 703-655-7809. At Our Savior's Way Lutheran Church, 43115 Waxpool Road, Ashburn.
Loudoun Symphony Performs. 8 p.m. "Celebrate the Season" features Christmas, Hanukkah and winter music. At Stone Bridge High School, Claibourne Parkway and Hay Road in Ashburn. For tickets, call 703-771-8287 or visit www.loudounsymphony.org.
Pet Pictures with Santa. 1-3 p.m. Ashburn Village Animal Hospital is hosting pet pictures with Santa. At 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, Ashburn, in the Giant Shopping Center across from the Ashburn Village Sports Pavilion. To schedule an appointment, call 703-729-0700.
Holiday Open House. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dodona Manor is decorated for the holidays as it was during George C. Marshall's life there in the 1950s. Free admission to the museum and abbreviated tours. At 217 Edwards Ferry Road Leesburg. Call 703-777-1880.
Master Singers of Virginia. 8 p.m. Holiday performance from Chant to Carol — Christmas music based on Gregorian chants and plainsongs. Tickets are $18/adults; $15/seniors and students. At Our Saviors Way Lutheran Church, 43115 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Visit www.msva.org or call 703-655-7809.
<cal1>Dec. 12-13
<cal2>Treasures for Life Rummage Sale. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale features furniture, household items, clothing, office equipment, books, artwork, electronics, outdoor equipment, toys, and many other items for sale. Sponsored by the IYS Corporation to Support Mothers Against Drunk Driving. At 23465 Rock Haven Way, Suite 125, Dulles. Anyone wishing to arrange for a donation and free pickup of items for the sale may call 703-779-7534. Visit: http://www.TreasuresforLife.net
<cal1>Wednesday/Dec. 16
<cal2>Holiday Open House. 6-9 p.m. Occasions Inc. showcases new Dulles Golf Club in a one-stop shopping for event services and vendors. At 45120 Waxpool Road, Sterling. Register at http://www.occasionsinc.com/2009_holiday.html. Email info@ocasionsinc.com.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 17
<cal2>Member's Meet & Greet. 10 a.m. Sponsored by MOMS Club of Ashburn Village for potential members. The MOMS Club is a group of at-home mothers (including those who work out of their home or part-time) who have fun and support each other through playgroups, field trips, Moms Night Out, and more. Visit http://avmomsclub.50webs.com/ or email ashburnmomsclub@yahoo.com
Winter Concert. 7:30 p.m. Tchaikovsky meets the Beatles at Potomac Falls High School Winter Concert. Under the direction of Tim Niebergall, the program will feature performances by the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Flute Choir, and Combined Bands of Potomac Falls. At 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling. Call 571-434-3200 or visit http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/pfhs.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 19
<cal2>Breakfast With Santa. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost is $4.95 for ages 3-11; $6.95 for ages 12-up. Sterling Park Seahawks Swim Team is sponsoring a Breakfast With Santa at the Sterling Golf Swim and tennis Club, 333 S. Sterling Blvd. Sterling. Call 703-430-1400, ext. 1 to RSVP.
<cal1>Dec. 20-22
<cal2>"A Christmas Carol." 7 p.m. Presented by Oatlands Carriage House Theater. Cost is $15/adults and $5/children ages 12 and under. To purchase tickets, call 703-777-3174, ext., 110. Call 703-777-3174 or visit www.oatlands.org.
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 27
<cal2>Christmas Bird Count. The count-circle has a 15-mile diameter and covers 177 square miles of Loudoun's countryside: north to Waterford, south to Aldie, east to Ashburn and west to Purcellville. To take part, contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org