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/Oct. 14
</b>Practice Your English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
<b>Friday/Oct. 15
</b>Kingstowne Farmers Market. 4-7 p.m. at Kingstowne Town Center, 5955 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 16
</b>Canoe the Marsh With a Naturalist. 8 a.m. at Pohick Bay Regional Park, Gunston Road, Lorton. Age 16 and up. $25 per person. Reserve at 703-528-5406.
AppleFest. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Silverbrook United Methodist Church, 8616 Silverbrook Road, Lorton. Yard sale, bake sale and chicken B-B-Q lunch. All proceeds used to send local needy kids to summer camp. 703-690-4159 or silverbrook-umc.org
Burke Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 noon, at 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke.
<b>Sunday/Oct. 17
</b>Vipay Dashami (Dushehra) Mela: Triumph of Good Over Evil. 4-7 p.m. at Durga Temple, 8400 Durga Place, Fairfax Station. Cultural program, food, boutique, jewelry and more, followed by Ravan Dahan and Garba. 703-690-9355 or www.durgatemple.org.
Lorton Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton.
Northern Virginia NTRAK Show. 1-4 p.m. at Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Operation of model train displays. $3 adults, $1 children. 703-425-9225 or www.fairfax-station.org.
<b>Monday/Oct. 18
</b>St. Bernadette School PTO Golf Outing. 11:30 a.m. at Springfield Golf and Country Club, 8301 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Prizes, Raffles, Range Balls, Gifts, and refreshments and dinner. $185. Proceeds to be used for art room restoration. 703-451-9969.
Book Bunch. 3:30 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Book discussion and book-related activities. Title: “Julian, Secret Agent” by Ann Cameron. Ages 7-8 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Bears, Bears, Bears. 10:30 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Age 13 to 23 months with adult. 703-339-4610.
Read to the Dog. 4:30-5:15 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read to a reading therapy dog. Sign up online or call to register for one 15-minute slot. Register at703-339-4610.
Amazing Amphibians: The Hidden World of Frogs and Toads. 2:30 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Meet and learn about the frogs and toads living all around us. Presented by the staff of Hidden Pond Nature Center. Age 6-12. 703-451-8055.
<b>Tuesday/Oct. 19
</b>Sleepytime Stories. 7 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Songs and books about bedtime. Pajamas welcome. Age 2-5 with adult. 703-249-1520.
Kristin Levine. 6 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Local author Kristin Levine will talk about her book The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had. Age 8 and up. 703-971-0010.
Lullaby Stories. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Stories and activities. Pajamas and stuffed animals welcome. Age 1-5 with adult. 703-339-4610.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Practice and improve your English. Adults. 703-451-8055.
<b>Wednesday/Oct. 20
</b>Teen Read Week: Crime Scene Investigation. 4 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. How good are your skills of observation? Learn first-hand as the Fairfax County Police Department presents "hands-on" investigation techniques. For ages 13-18. Register at 703-339-7385 or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.
Wakefield Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. at 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale.
P.A.L. Read to the Dog. 4:30-5:15 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Practice reading skills with a trained therapy dog. Register for a 15-minute session at703-249-1520.
Fun for Twos and Threes. 10:30 a.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Stories and activities. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Practice Your English. 10:15 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Pigeon Madness. 10:30 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Stories and activities. Age 2-5 with adult. 703-451-8055.
<b>Thursday/Oct. 21
</b>Book Discussion Group. 6:30 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Adults. 703-971-0010.
Practice Your English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Lorton Book Club. 7 p.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Adults. 703-339-7385.
Springfield Writers' Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Share your work, give and receive feedback in a supportive setting. Adults. 703-451-8055.
<b>Friday/Oct. 22
</b>Suits for Vets Concert. 8 p.m. at JAXX Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. John Eddie and his band in a benefit for Suits for Vets, providing business clothing to wounded warriors transitioning from the military into a civilian career. Opening act is the Northern Virginia band, The Road Ducks. $17 in advance, $20 at the door. Age 18 or older. www.TicketMaster.com or 703-987-8890.
Val Cushing “Vessels” Exhibition and Reception. 7-9 p.m. in Gallery W-16, Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Works by master potter Val Cushing, with a talk and slide show presentation that evening. Free. 703-584-2900.
Kingstowne Farmers Market. 4-7 p.m. at Kingstowne Town Center, 5955 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 23
</b>Third Annual Arts and Craft Show. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at South Run RECenter, 7550 Reservation Drive Springfield. Jewelry, woodworking, photography, painting, glasswork, clothing, pottery and more. Door prizes awarded throughout the day. $2, free ages 12 and under. 703-866-0566.
Art Auction. Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, 8508 Hooes Road, Springfield. Preview at 6 p.m., auction at 7 p.m. Art, refreshments, door prizes and more. $10 per person, $15 per couple, children free. Tickets available at 703-455-5124.
Burke Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke.
Consignment Sale. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 7434 Bath St., Springfield. Maternity and children’s items. Sponsored by Grace Weekday Preschool and the MOMS Club of Springfield. 703-451-3314.
<b>Sunday/Oct. 24
</b>Third Annual Arts and Craft Show. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at South Run RECenter, 7550 Reservation Drive Springfield. Jewelry, woodworking, photography, painting, glasswork, clothing, pottery and more. Door prizes awarded throughout the day. $2, free ages 12 and under. 703-866-0566.
Lorton Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton.
<b>Monday/Oct. 25
</b>P is for Pumpkin. 10:30 a.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Stories and songs about pumpkins. Age 3-5 with adult. 703-249-1520.
Halloween Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch for Halloween stories. Costumes encouraged. Age birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Trick or Treat Tales. 10:30 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Fall fun for ages 24 months to 5 years with adult. Wear a costume and join a parade. 703-339-4610.
Read to the Dog. 4:30-5:15 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read to a reading therapy dog. Sign up online or call to register for one 15-minute slot. Register at 703-339-4610.
<b>Tuesday/Oct. 26
</b>Book Beat Contest. 7:30 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Create a music video, poetry slam, or publicity poster based on a favorite story or poem during Teen Read Week, Oct 17-23. 703-249-1520.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Practice and improve your English. Adults. 703-451-8055.
<b>Wednesday/Oct. 27
</b>Moms On The Run. 10 a.m. at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 8336 Carrieigh Parkway, Springfield. With Fran Kashchy, director of programs for children and families. Discover how to invest in your children and develop lasting character qualities. Children welcome. $5. Momsontherun4@aol.com.
Wakefield Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. at 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale.
Good Night, Sleep Tight. 10:30 a.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Stories about sleeping. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-339-7385.
Travel Club. 1 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Bring lunch and enjoy a lively discussion. 703-451-8055.
<b>Thursday/Oct. 28
</b>Tales from the Pumpkin Patch. 2 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Stories and activities celebrating the season. Age 2-5 with adult. 703-451-8055.
<b>Friday/Oct. 29
</b>Kingstowne Farmers Market. 4-7 p.m. at Kingstowne Town Center, 5955 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 30
</b>Harvest Parade and Fun Fair. 12-3 p.m. in Historic Occoquan. The costume parade starts at 12 p.m., check in no later than 11:45 p.m. Dogs in costume welcome. $2 per family, all proceeds to be donated to a local food bank. Children’s activities, pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, story time and a book signing, face painting, petting zoo, games and crafts. Trick or treating available at participating businesses. janemernst@verizon.net.
Clifton Haunted Train. 7-10 p.m. in Buckley Park, Clifton. Re-enactments, scary movie scenes and freighting lighting and props. Parents should accompany children along the trail. No flashlights permitted. Monster Movies Under the Stars, hayrides, hot apple cider, cookies and snacks. All proceeds go towards Save Clifton Elementary Project. $10. rossj@RuderFinn.com.
Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association High School Marching Band Festival, Northeast Division. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. Marching bands and color guard units from 18 area high schools will perform. Tickets $5, reduced for senior citizens. Food available for purchase. ladesio@verizon.net.
Burke Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke.