Oct. 18-21
Centreville Regional Library Used Book Sale. The Friends of the Centreville Library will conduct their semi-annual used book sale at the Centreville Library, 14220 St. Germain Dr. A special preview sale will be held on Oct. 18 from 6-8:30 p.m. for members of the Friends of the Centreville Library. An annual membership fee of $15 will be collected from new members beginning at 5:30 p.m. before the preview sale. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Centreville Library and its patrons.
The sale will be open to the public on:
- Oct. 19, Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Oct. 20, Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Oct. 21, Sunday 1-3 p.m.
Friday-Saturday/Oct. 19-20
Rummage Sale. Friday evening sales (5-9 p.m.) will benefit NOVACO, an organization that helps victims of domestic abuse. $5 donation. Saturday sales (8 a.m.-1 p.m.) will benefit Fairfax FISH, an organization that supports local families who are in temporary need of life’s basic necessities such as food, clothing, and financial assistance for rent. Contact Michelle Sherman via msherman@csuinc.com or 703-926-0274. Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 13421 Twin Lakes Dr.
Saturday/Oct. 20
Gardening Just for Kids. 10 a.m. This seminar is ideal for kids (ages 6-12) who love to garden and get dirty. Each student will bring home a pumpkin that they’ve planted with flowers. Parents must be present. Pre-registration required. At Merrifield Gardens at Fair Oaks, 12101 Lee Hwy. Call 703-968-9600 or visit www.merrifieldgardencenter.com.
Historic All Hallows Eve. 5-7 p.m. Bring family for a lantern lit tour of the 1794 house and grounds and discover some of the origins of today’s Halloween traditions. $10. Call 703-437-1794 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully. Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way.
Gospel Concert by the Proclaimers. 6 p.m. No admission. A love offering will be taken. At Oakton Baptist Church, 14001 Sullyfield Circle. Call 703 631-1799.
Party in Pink Zumbathon. 7-9 p.m. Zumba to end breast cancer with a ladies night out. Tickets are $10 and all will be donated to Komen for the Cure. At Cheer Tyme in Chantilly. RSVP to gozumbafun@gmail.com Bring mothers and daughters (ages 12 and up) and have a blast.
Free Trick-or-Treat. The merchants of three local shopping centers are hosting free trick-or-treating, rain or shine. The events will feature Halloween entertainers, and all children in costumes will receive candy and other goodies from participating businesses from noon-2 p.m. at Franklin Farm Village Center in Herndon, from 1-3 p.m. at the Colonnade at Union Mill in Clifton and from 2-4 p.m. at Centrewood Plaza in Centreville. Franklin Farm Village Center is at the intersection of Franklin Farm Road and the Fairfax County Parkway. Colonnade at Union Mill is at Union Mill and Braddock roads. Just west of the Route 28/29 intersection, Centrewood Plaza is at 14125 St. Germaine Dr.
Enchanted Forest and Monster Dash. 2-4 p.m. Families are invited to bring their costumed ghouls and goblins to search the enchanted woods behind Cub Run RECenter for treats. Various characters will greet them on their way to hear stories read by the storybook princess in the amphitheater. Free admission. Cub Run RECenter is located at 4630 Stonecroft Blvd.
Sunday/Oct. 21
Annual Marty Shanton Golf Classic for ALS Patients. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. The tournament, including golf and a dinner with entertainment, costs $225 for individuals, will raise money for research to find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Westfields Golf Club, 13940 Balmoral Greens Ave. To register for the tournament, sign up online or contact Steve Shanton at 561-670-3625. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Monday/Oct. 22
Greenbriar Garden Club. 7:30 p.m. Greenbriar Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Rd. Barbara Glickman will talk about her new book, “Capital Splendor: Gardens and Parks of Washington, D.C.” Open to public. Contact Diane at 703-378-0994 or Kathy at 703-817-0708.
Monday-Tuesday/Oct. 22-23
Annual Haunted House. 6-8 p.m. Westfield High School Theatre will hold its annual haunted house. The event will be held in the school’s theatre. This community event provides a safe and fun environment for all ages, while raising money for the school’s award-winning theatre department. Costumes are encouraged and candy will be plentiful. This year’s Haunted House will be divided into two areas. Tickets are $3 for the Carn’Evil and $5 for access to both attractions. Concessions will be available for purchase.
Thursday/Oct. 25
Stitchers Session. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Centreville Stitchers welcome adults who enjoy knitting, crocheting, or other needlework crafts, and conversation to come to the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Dr. Admission is free. Contact Jo at 703-803-0595 or email joknitter@verizon.net.
Friday/Oct. 26
Haunted Meadow. 7-10 p.m. Children 8 and older are invited to take a wagon ride through the Haunted Meadow at E. C. Lawrence Park. There will also be scary movies to watch. The cost is $6 for children under 12, $8 for adults. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 703-631-0013. At Cabell’s Mill in the park at 5235 Walney Rd.
Friday-Sunday/Oct. 26-28
Chantilly Library Used Book Sale. 10 a.m.-6 p.m on Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Huge selection of adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction books, plus audio/video recordings. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chantilly Regional Library. Chantilly Regional Library, 4000 Stringfellow Rd. Call 703-502-3883 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events.
Saturday/Oct. 27
Layered Gardening. 10 a.m. David Culp will share his design techniques for color and interest throughout the year. He’ll also autograph copies of his new book, “The Layered Garden.” At Merrifield Gardens at Fair Oaks, 12101 Lee Hwy. Call 703-968-9600 or visit www.merrifieldgardencenter.com.
VolunteerFest®. An area-wide day of community service held in conjunction with national “Make a Difference Day” that mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to help nonprofits accomplish tasks that they would not have the time or resources to do on their own. Most projects begin mid-morning and end around lunch time. Projects take place throughout Northern Virginia at schools, libraries, parks and nonprofit organizations. Visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.
Fundraising Event. 2:30-6:30 p.m. The Humane Society of Fairfax County is having its annual fundraiser at Paradise Springs Winery, 13219 Yates Ford Rd. Bring the whole family — children and costumed dogs — for a day in the country with food, wines, vendors, music and silent auction. Discounted tickets are available on the website ($35) or at the door ($45). Visit www.hsfc.org.
Chantilly Haunted High School. 1–10 p.m. Chantilly Girls' Field Hockey and Soccer Teams present their third annual haunted house. $10 per ticket. Purchase tickets in advance, email: chantillyhauntedhighschool@gmail.com. Chantilly Haunted High School is located at 4201 Stringfellow Rd. 1-5 p.m.: Scary (11 years and under); 6-10 p.m.: Frightening (12 years and older).
Annual Party in Pink Zumbathon Event. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join the second annual event in support of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Project. All-star Instructors, music, giveaways and more. Free and open to the public, however a donation is requested. Proceeds go to the Cure project. Due to limited space registration is required. Register at bit.ly/PARTY2012. Call 703-817-0700 or send an email to womensclub@aol.com. The Women's Club, 14175 Sullyfield Circle.
Wednesday/Oct. 31
25th Anniversary of Mall-O-Ween. 6-8 p.m. Most of Fair Oaks’ 200 stores, services and dining options will treat from their storefronts while also providing sampling and coupon treats for those accompanying trick-or-treaters. Free and open to the public. Fair Oaks Mall (Immediately off I-66 at Route 50, Lee Jackson Memorial Parkway). Visit www.ShopFairOaksMall.com.
Through Oct. 31
The Fall Festival at Cox Farms. Hayrides, slides, rope swings, a farm chores play area, animal areas, and food will all be available for the last taste of the fall season. Fields of Fear, Cox Farms’ nighttime adventure, has returned for a fourth year with an expanded, half-mile haunted Cornightmare trail and bigger Dark Side hayride. Fields of Fear is open Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 27. Fields of Fear will also be open on Saturday, Nov. 3. Visit http://fieldsoffear.coxfarms.com/default.aspx.
Saturday & Sunday/Nov. 3 & 4
Pumpkin Madness at Cox Farms. Pumpkin Madness will once again serve as the grand finale to this year's festivities. Pumpkins will be launched, dropped from a high-lift crane, smashed, bashed, hurled, and trashed during two days of fun. Guests can bring pumpkins from home and choose a squashing method of their choice. Besides, hayrides, slides, rope swings, a farm chores play area, animal areas, and food will all be available for that last taste of the fall season. Visit www.coxfarms.com.
Monday & Tuesday/Nov. 5 & 6
Fall Festival at Cox Farms. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Fall Festival will open these bonus days. This year’s bonus days fall on teacher workdays for local kids and Election Day. Visit www.coxfarms.com.
Nov. 8 through Dec. 24
Fair Oaks Enchanted Ice Palace Holiday Tradition. Open during all Fair Oaks regular and holiday hours. Fair Oaks' Ice Palace features a 30-foot ice dome with falling snow, interactive multi-sensory elements, larger-than-life snow globes, Ice Throne and light show beneath twinkling icicles descending from Fair Oaks' 65-foot Grand Court atrium. New this year will be showcases of the beloved prehistoric herd from the family film Ice Age: Continental Drift. The 1,200 square foot Ice Palace will culminate with a visit to Santa and a complimentary Ice Age gift. Fair Oaks will also celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah with a display adjacent to the Ice Palace featuring the history and significance of the dreidel (sevivonim). Free and open to the public. Visit www.ShopFairOaksMall.com or call 703-279-2708. Fair Oaks Grand Court, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall.
Wednesday/Nov. 14
Author Discussion. 7:30 p.m. Author Don Hakenson will discuss his manuscript, "This Forgotten Land: A Tour of Civil War Sites & Other Historical Landmarks South of Alexandria, VA" at a Civil War Forum at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum. Free and open to the public. The Railroad Museum is located at 11200 Fairfax Station Rd. Call 703-425-9225 or visit www.fairfax-station.org.
Saturday/Nov. 17
Christmas Floral Designs. 10 a.m. Learn how to make beautiful and creative holiday arrangements with artificial greens, flowers and berries. At Merrifield Gardens at Fair Oaks, 12101 Lee Hwy. Call 703-968-9600 or visit www.merrifieldgardencenter.com.
Saturday/Dec. 1
Decorating with Holiday Greens. 10 a.m. Learn how to bring the beauty and fragrance of the holiday season indoors with fresh cut pine, holly, cedar, boxwood, magnolia and other plants. Peg Bier will share her ideas and displays. At Merrifield Gardens at Fair Oaks, 12101 Lee Hwy. Visit www.merrifieldgardencenter.com.
Toys for Tots Event. The Ed Lang Team and Re/Max Premier will be hosting their Annual Toys for Tots Charity Movie Event at the Centreville Multiplex theatres. The event is free to local residents with the donation of at least one unwrapped new toy per guest. This charity event has brought in over 10,000 gifts for the Toys for Tots Foundation over the past 15+ years. There is a broad base of support for the event; some of the past sponsors and participants include the Marines, Girl Scout Troops, Rocky Run Middle School Band and Choir, St. Timothy’s Conquest Boys Clubs, and many local community member volunteers.