Send announcements to greatfalls@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday for the following week's paper. Photos/artwork encouraged.
Friday/May 4
Artists’ Reception. 4-9 p.m. Frame Factory, 212 Dominion Road N.E., Vienna. Lisa Neher, Barbara Wagner, Sarah Swart, Jackie Elwell, Elaine Florimonte, and Debbie Glakas in "Six Artists, Once Again." teresa@tlcillustration.com.
Super bob and Almost Kings. 10 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
ValeArts Spring Show. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Vale Schoolhouse, 3124 Fox Mill Road, Oakton. "Full Spectrum," featuring nine local artists. Reception, 7-9 p.m. Free admission. www.valearts.com.
"Deathtrap." 8 p.m. McLean Community Center Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Comedy-thriller about a play within a play. $14-$16, group rates available. 866-811-4111 or www.mcleanplayers.org.
"The Fantasticks." 8 p.m. Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Musical comedy. $14, $12 students and seniors. 703-255-6360 or www.viennatheatrecompany.org.
"How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying." 7:30 p.m. James Madison High School, 2500 James Madison Drive, Vienna. $10-$12. www.madisondrama.com.
An Art Affair. 7 p.m. Madeira School, Georgetown Roan, McLean. Art auction and exhibit. Proceeds benefit Freedom in Creation, providing art therapy to children in Uganda. www.freedomincreation.org.
Artist’s Reception. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Great Falls Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls. Paintings and works on paper by Roberta Pruett Beasley. Free admission. 703-994-3165.
Saturday/May 5
ValeArts Spring Show. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Vale Schoolhouse, 3124 Fox Mill Road, Oakton. "Full Spectrum," featuring nine local artists. Free admission. www.valearts.com.
"The Fantasticks." 8 p.m. Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Musical comedy. $14, $12 students and seniors. 703-255-6360 or www.viennatheatrecompany.org.
"Deathtrap." 8 p.m. McLean Community Center Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Comedy-thriller about a play within a play. $14-$16, group rates available. 866-811-4111 or www.mcleanplayers.org.
GFVFD Celebrates 70 Years of Service. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department, 9916 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Family food and fun plus tours of the new eco-friendly fire station. vsingh8651@aol.com.
New Dominion Chorale. 4 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Mendelssohn’s Elijah, featuring soprano Esther Heideman, alto Laura Zuiderveen, baritone Timothy LeFebvre, tenor Issachah Savage and the New Dominion Chorale. Tickets $5-$30, available at cfa.gmu.edu/tickets, 703-993-2787, www.tickets.com or 888-945-2468.
Fairfax Civil War Day. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Historic Blenheim Estate, 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Commemorating the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. $5 adult, $3 age 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the Historic Blenheim Estate. www.fairfaxva.gov or 703-591-0560.
*Demonstrations on blacksmithing with an 1862 traveling forge, railroads, naval artifacts, medicine, jewelry, toys, slave life and soldier research.
*Re-enactors will portray General Robert E. Lee, General Ulysses S. Grant, General George B. McClellan, Colonel John S. Mosby, photographer Matthew Brady and a "Yankee Schoolmarm."
*Talks on generals Lee, Grant and McClellan; Germans; and soldiers’ ID tags.
*Demonstrations of a Howitzer cannon artillery gun, "boot camps" for children, author/vendor tents and more.
*Wagon rides through soldier camps, period music by Southern Horizon and period dancing.
*Guided tours of the first floor of the Blenheim house, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
"How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying." 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. James Madison High School, 2500 James Madison Drive, Vienna. $10-$12. www.madisondrama.com.
Social Justice Yard Sale. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Proceeds benefit four charities. Cash only, no checks. www.uucf.org or lkozloff@verizon.net.
Ayr Hill Garden Club Plant Sale. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Vienna Town Green next to the Freeman Store, 131 Church St. N.E., Vienna. Featuring plants proven to grow well in Vienna because they come from local gardens. Species for sun and/or shade, deer resistant plants and drought tolerant plants. Proceeds help the AHGC to maintain five gardens in Vienna. 703-759-3899.
Northern Virginia Country Western Dance Association. Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Line dance lesson 7:30 p.m., couples lesson 8 p.m. Open dancing 8:30-11 p.m. $5-$12. www.nvcwda.org or 703-860-4941.
Ancient Technology Expo. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Road, Sterling. Discover ancient Native American technology as seen by Captain John Smith in 1608 with hands-on and Make & Take activities. Make an ancient style pot, grind corn, try spear-throwing (atlatl), create shell/bone jewelry and more. Enjoy archaeological artifact exhibits and photo galleries. $3, under age 5 free. 571-258-3700.
Riverbend Bird Stroll: Warblers. 9-11 a.m. Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. Bring binoculars. $7. Register at 703-759-9018.
Squirreling Around on a Spring Day. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly. Children age 6 and up. Find squirrels throughout the historic house. $5. 703-437-1794.
Living Wreath. 10 a.m. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna. Create a wreath using annuals on a moss frame. $30. Reservations required at 703-255-3631.
Sunday/May 6
Spring Fling. 4 p.m. Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna. The Main Street Community Band celebrates the arrival of spring as part of Fairfax’s "Spotlight on the Arts Festival." Adults $10, seniors $5, students free. www.fairfaxband.org.
ValeArts Spring Show. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Vale Schoolhouse, 3124 Fox Mill Road, Oakton. "Full Spectrum," featuring nine local artists. Free admission. www.valearts.com.
"The Fantasticks." 2 p.m. Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Musical comedy. $14, $12 students and seniors. 703-255-6360 or www.viennatheatrecompany.org.
City of Fairfax Band: Spring Fling. 4 p.m. Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna. Part of Fairfax’s "Spotlight on the Arts Festival." $10, seniors $5, students free. christinarbianchi@gmail.com.
Percussion Ensemble Spring Concert. 3 p.m. Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean. American Youth Percussion Ensemble, Doug Wallace, Director. $7 adult, $5 senior s, $5 student. www.aypo.org, events@aypo.org or 703-642-8051.
Grain Grinding and Blacksmith Demonstrations. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Colvin Run Mill, 10017 Colvin Run Road, McLean. $7 adult, $6 students, $5 child or senior. Free admission. 703-759-2771.
Tuesday/May 8
Dance Every Tuesday. 7:15 p.m. Colvin Run Dance Hall, 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls. Introductory dance lesson 7:15 p.m., dancing 8-10:30 p.m. Swing, Latin, waltz, country and more. $10 per person, includes lesson and snacks. No partner necessary. colvinrun.org. or Ed Cottrell@macp.org.
Battle of Ox Hill Lecture. 7 p.m. Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly. David Welker on the Sept. 1, 1862 Civil War battle near present-day Fair Oaks. $5. Register at 703-437-1794.
Wednesday/May 9
Jammin' Juniors. 12:30 p.m. McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Concert for age 2-5 with Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys. Free. sabrina.anwah@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Thursday/May 10
Candyrat Guitar Night with Trevor Gordon Hall, Sergio Altamura, Owen Van Larkins and Pino Forastiere. 7:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
Friday/May 11
An Evening with The Avett Brothers. 8 p.m. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. $39, available at www.ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities at 703-993-3035.
Melanie. 7:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
"The Happy Movie." 7 p.m. Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. 703-300-1857.