Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Thursday/Dec. 17
</b>Starlight, Starbright. 10:30 a.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Sparkly stories, songs and activities. Ages 2-5 with adult. Call for title. Adults. 703-249-1520.
<b>Friday/Dec. 18
</b>Natalie MacMaster: Christmas in Cape Breton. 8 p.m. at George Mason University's Center for the Arts Concert Hall, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Celtic melodies and classic Christmas carols. Tickets are $23-$46. Youth through grade 12, half price when accompanied by an adult. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch and come for stories. Birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Naturalist Boot Camp. Send Children ages 6 to 10 to a naturalist boot camp on at Hidden Pond Nature Center. Help them burn off that holiday excitement and focus on the adventure of learning about natural world from 6:30-10:30 p.m. They will hike, go critter watching, meet, feed and hold live animals. They will make a craft with natural items. The boot camp will conclude around a campfire with snacks, holiday songs, and ghost stories. The cost is $30 per child per day. Reservations are required. To reserve a child’s spot, call 703-451-9588. Hidden Pond Nature Center is located at 8511 Greeley Blvd. in Springfield.
<b>Saturday/Dec. 19
</b>Gallery After Hours: Point Blank. 7:30 p.m. at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Cover songs and dancing with Point Blank. Advance tickets $10 member, $8 non-member. www.workhousearts.org or 703-584-2900.
PAWS To Read. 11 a.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Read to Chance the therapy dog for a 10-minute session. Call to register. Arrive early to check in. 703-339-7385.
Santa at Lake Accotink. Santa wants to take pictures with visitors’ pets from 1-2 p.m. Take a photo of a dog, cat or other pet with Santa. Bring own camera and get the shot you want. The registration fee is $5 per pet. Santa offers hayrides from 3-8 p.m. Call early to get your preferred hayride time. The fee is $8 per person and babies on laps are free. Registrations must be made in advance. Call 703-569-0285 to make a reservation or for more information. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. For more information about Lake Accotink Park, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/.
Naturalist Boot Camp. Send Children ages 6 to 10 to a naturalist boot camp on at Hidden Pond Nature Center. Help them burn off that holiday excitement and focus on the adventure of learning about natural world from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. They will hike, go critter watching, meet, feed and hold live animals. They will make a craft with natural items. The boot camp will conclude around a campfire with snacks, holiday songs, and ghost stories. The cost is $30 per child per day. Reservations are required. To reserve a child’s spot, call 703-451-9588. Hidden Pond Nature Center is located at 8511 Greeley Blvd. in Springfield.
Cocoa and Crafts at Lake Accotink Park. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. For children ages 6-10. $23 per child. Crafts, hot chocolate and a movie. Reserve at 703-569-0285.
<b>Sunday/Dec. 20
</b>A Festival of Music. 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, 8508 Hooes Road, Springfield. Combined choirs, band and orchestra. Reception between the performances. 703-451-8221 or www.sumcdisciples.org.
Naturalist Boot Camp. Send Children ages 6 to 10 to a naturalist boot camp on at Hidden Pond Nature Center. Help them burn off that holiday excitement and focus on the adventure of learning about natural world from 1-5 p.m. They will hike, go critter watching, meet, feed and hold live animals. They will make a craft with natural items. The boot camp will conclude around a campfire with snacks, holiday songs, and ghost stories. The cost is $30 per child per day. Reservations are required. To reserve a child’s spot, call 703-451-9588. Hidden Pond Nature Center is located at 8511 Greeley Blvd. in Springfield.
<b>Monday/Dec. 21
</b>LifeLine Screening. 9 a.m. at American Legion Post #162, 8210 Legion Drive, Lorton. Five screenings available, for cardiovascular conditions, osteoporosis and more. Packages start at $139. 1-877-237-1287 or www.lifelinescreening.com.
Read to the Dog. 3:30-4:30 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Read aloud to a trained therapy dog. Call or sign up online for a 15-minute session. Age 6-12. 703-971-0010.
<b>Wednesday/Dec. 23
</b>Practice Your English. 6:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Travel Club. 1 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 6315 Backlick Road, Springfield. Bring lunch for a lively discussion. Adults. 703-451-8055.
<b>Thursday/Dec. 24
</b>Living Nativity and Holy Eucharist Service. 5 p.m. at St. Peter’s in the Woods, 5911 Fairview Woods Drive, Fairfax Station. Childcare available. 703-503-9210.
<b>Tuesday/Dec. 29
</b>Harlem Globetrotters. 7 p.m. at the George Mason University Patriot Center. Tickets are $22-$26.50, available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the venue box offices, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT. www.patriotcenter.com.
<b>Wednesday/Dec. 30
</b>Practice Your English. 6:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/Dec. 31
</b>New Year’s Eve Capital Hospice Benefit. 8:30 p.m. at The Waterford, 6715 Commerce St., Springfield. Food, open bar, live entertainment and a silent auction. $110 per person. All proceeds benefit nonprofit Capital Hospice. Reserve at 703-531-6209 or www.capitalhospice.org.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 2
</b>Arts Education Night & Film Screening. 4-10 p.m. at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Reception, 4-7 p.m., with information about classes and programs. Participate in an interactive game, win door prizes and more. Film Screening. “Class Act,” 7 p.m. Celebrating one man’s 50 years of teaching in the public school system. Free. www.classactthemovie.com. www.workhousearts.org or 703-584-2900.
<b>Tuesday/Jan. 5
</b>Wakefield Chorale Auditions. 7:30-9:30 pm at North Springfield Elementary School, 7602 Heming Ct, Springfield. 703-451-7917.
<b>Monday/Jan. 11
</b>Ultimate Fighting Championship, with Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz. 6:15 p.m. at George Mason University Patriot Center, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Tickets $43-$203, at www.ticketmaster.com or at 703-573-SEAT. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com.