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.
Band Competition. CVHS Marching Band is participating in the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) State Marching Band Assessments. The event will be held in seven locations throughout the state. All groups will be assessed by seven judges. The Band has 15 minutes to run and complete their program. At Millbrook High School, 251 First Woods Dr., Winchester. Call 540-545-2800.
Monday-Tuesday/Oct. 30-31
Annual Goblin Gallop. Centreville High will host its second annual Goblin Gallop with a rain date of Nov. 1-2. It's again partnering with Lake Braddock Secondary in hopes of raising $50,000 for the Food for Others food bank. U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) will speak to the students, Oct. 30, at 11:30 a.m.
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.
Saturday/Nov. 10
A Holiday Bazaar & Craft Fair. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Centreville United Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Rd. More than 50 craft vendors will be on hand selling their wares. United Methodist Women are hosting a Silent Auction, Grandma’s Attic, White Elephant, Bake Sale, Book Nook, and luncheon at the event. Free Admission. All proceeds will go to charity. Contact 703-830-2684 or novemberbazaar@hotmail.com.
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.
Thursday/Nov. 15
Free Lung Cancer Event. 6-8:30 p.m. In honor of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Inova Thoracic Oncology Program, Inova Life with Cancer™ and the Lung Cancer Alliance are hosting a free lung cancer awareness event. At Dewberry Life with Cancer™ Family Center, 8411 Pennell St. Free parking. Dinner and refreshments served. Multidisciplinary discussion on current treatments in lung cancer will be presented. RSVP at 703-776-3777.
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.
Tuesday/Nov. 20
Shave Your Head. 5-8 p.m. Chantilly High School Academy's Cosmetology program is sponsoring a Shave Your Head event to benefit the Capital Caring Charity. Representatives from Capital Caring will be at this event to share information. Students can receive up to six community service hours by participating in this event. At Chantilly High School, Room 907. Call 703-222-7487 or email wwhite@fcps.edu.
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.
Thruough Dec. 5
Yogurt Lid Collection. Western Fairfax Alumnae of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity are collecting pink Yoplait yogurt lids. For each lid collected 10 cents will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Community drop off location is Centreville United Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Rd, Centreville. Call 703-631-8238.