You hear the blaring sirens before the antique fire engine comes into view. Santa Claus arrives in-style to Vienna during the 2012 Church Street Holiday Stroll. Photo by Donna Manz.
Friday/Nov. 22
Christmas Craft Show. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., at Oakton Church of the Brethren, 10025 Courthouse Road, Vienna. Variety of hand-made items and craft supplies for purchase, plus a soup and sandwich lunch and bake sale. More info: www.oaktonbrethren.org or call 703-281-4411.
Friday-Sunday/Nov. 22-24
Area-wide Art Exhibition. 7-9 p.m and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sunday noon-4 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna. Vienna's largest exhibition of the year features hundreds of original artworks by artists from around the region, to include Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Enjoy music and light refreshments while meeting the artists at two receptions. 703-319-3971 or www.ViennaArtsSociety.org.
Saturday/Nov. 23
Holiday Party at Lofty Boutique. 3-7 p.m. 354 W. Maple Avenue, Vienna. Makeup and hair demonstrations, a trunk show, pampering treatments and more.
Holiday Bazaar. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Paintings, photography, fused glass sculptures, jewelry, bird houses and more. More info contact: melarkins@verizon.net
Christmas Craft Show. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Oakton Church of the Brethren, 10025 Courthouse Road, Vienna. Variety of hand-made items and craft supplies for purchase, plus a soup and sandwich lunch and bake sale. More info: www.oaktonbrethren.org
Sunday/Nov. 24
2013 Vienna Turkey Trot. 8 a.m. Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center Street S., Vienna. Admission: $15-$35. http://www.viennaturkeytrot.com/
Stuff the Sleigh 5K Run / 1 Mile Run/Walk. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. At the entrance to 7925 Jones Branch Drive in Tysons.
Holiday Bazaar. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Paintings, photography, fused glass sculptures, jewelry, bird houses and more. More infor contact: melarkins@verizon.net
Wednesday/Nov. 27
Community Thanksgiving Eve Service. 7:30 p.m. United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston.
Thursday/Nov. 28
Thanksgiving Day Worship Service. 10 a.m. St. John’s Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean.
Thanksgiving Day Brunch. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean. Take part in traditional Thanksgiving fixings and festive selections of brunch favorites. $120 per adult; $40 per child, ages 4-12. Reservations required. 703-917-5498.
Four-Course Thanksgiving Dinner. Bazin's on Church, 111 Church Street, NW, Vienna. Admission: $39/person. Kids 10 and under $15.95. http://www.bazinsonchurch.com/
First Annual Fairfax Turkey Trot. 9 a.m. 9330 Pentland Place, Fairfax. Four mile turkey trot. http://www.fairfaxturkeytrot.com/
Thanksgiving Day Church Service. 11 a.m. Christian Science Church, 3725 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Bring family, kids, and friends (before feast and football games) for a Thanksgiving church service.
Friday/Nov. 29
Annual Gingerbread House Opening. 2 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean. Visit the life-sized gingerbread house. It is large enough for guests to walk around inside and explore the sugary construction. Reservations required. 703-917-5498.
Black Friday at the Workhouse. 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Discover the work of about 100 artists and find things at any price value. http://www.workhousearts.org/events/visual-arts/black-friday-workhouse
23rd Annual Reston Holiday Parade. 11 a.m. Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. Take part in the festive season with Macy’s-style balloons, musicians, dancers, antique cars, and more. This one-hour parade along Market Street will also welcome the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. www.restontowncenter.com/holidays.
Gingerbread Man Mile. 8 a.m. Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. The course covers a 1-mile loop around Reston Town Center. Registration: $5. http://www.prraces.com/gingerbread/
Tree Lighting and Sing Along. 6 p.m. Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. Join Santa to light up the Christmas tree and sing some festive carols.
The Thanksgiving Story. 11 a.m. Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon. Bring family and friends to this lively and interactive retelling of the Thanksgiving Story. Admission $4-$6.
Saturday/Nov. 30
"A Chanticleer Christmas." 8 p.m. GMU Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. A Chanticleer Christmas" will showcase ancient hymns, venerated and sacred songs, classical works and a selection of festive and familiar carols and spirituals from Europe and America. Tickets: $50, $42 and $25. http://cfa.gmu.edu/
Cookies with Santa: A Pre-Show Treat Before “In Santa, We Believe.” 11 a.m. Workhouse Arts, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Tickets: $8.50 Adults, $8 Children under 12 years old.
In Santa We Believe. 1 p.m. Workhouse Arts, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. LIVE onstage! Join for an afternoon of adventure with Vianlix Mestey's original story. Tickets: $8 Children, $10 Adults.
Sunday/Dec. 1
McLean's WinterFest. 3:30 p.m., starting from Old Chain Bridge Road. McLean's only community parade. www.mcleanwinterfest.org
Civil War "Christmas in Camp." 12-4 p.m. 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Participate in camp drills and learn about Civil War-era holiday customs with Company D, 17th Virginia Infantry, "Fairfax Rifles" C.S.A. 703-591-0560.
Chanukah on the Town Square. 5:30 p.m. Giant Menorah lighting, crafts, refreshments and more. Herndon Town Square, in front of Town Hall at 730 Elden Street, Herndon.
Monday/Dec. 2
Annual Church Street Holiday Stroll. 6-9 p.m. Church Street between Lawyers Road and Mill Street, Vienna. Visitors are invited to stroll along the streets amid the sights and sounds of the holiday season. 703-938-5187.
Breakfast with Santa. 9-10 a.m. Wildfire, Tysons Galleria, 3rd floor. Get into the holiday spirit early with a holiday breakfast buffet. Cost: 10.95 per child and $13.95 per adult. 703-442-9110.
Tuesday/Dec. 3
New York Festival of Song "Cubans in Paris, Cubans at Home." 8 p.m. CenterStage, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Features Cuban music that took the world by storm in the 1920s and 30s and found a special welcome in Paris. Tickets: $20-$40. http://restoncommunitycenter.com/centerstage-new-york-festival-of-song.shtml
Wednesday/Dec. 4
Annual Holiday Tunes for Tots Concert. 10 a.m. W.T. Woodson High School Gymnasium, 9525 Main Street, Fairfax. Tickets: $3 per person. Questions: 703-764-5820
Thursday/Dec. 5
John Medeski in Concert, Solo Piano. 8 p.m. Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Jazz pianist showcases original songs and improvised compositions from his debut solo album. Tickets: $25. http://www.wolftrap.org.
Annual Holiday Tunes for Tots Concert. 10 a.m. W.T. Woodson High School Gymnasium, 9525 Main Street, Fairfax. Tickets: $3 per person. Questions: 703-764-5820
Annual Holiday Tunes for the Young at Heart. 7 p.m. W.T. Woodson High School Gymnasium, 9525 Main Street, Fairfax. Tickets: $3 per person. Questions: 703-764-5820
"The Twelve Dates of Christmas." NextStop Theatre, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon. Tickets: $25. http://www.nextstoptheatre.org.