Over the weekend, May 6-7, George Washington's Mount Vernon is turning into a military encampment from the Revolutionary War period. Look in calendar for more activities in Alexandria and Mount Vernon.
Opens May 3
Mount Vernon Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Wednesdays, through Dec. 14. Fresh local food, artisan crafts. Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/mtvernonmkt.htm for more.
Thursday/May 4
First Thursdays. 6 p.m.-dusk along Mount Vernon Avenue every Thursday through September. First theme is "Dog Days in Del Ray," and pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs. Visit www.visitdelray.com for more.
Mariachi Band. 6 p.m. at Spring Hills Mount Vernon Assisted Living, 3709 Shannons Green Way. West Potomac High School students formed a Mariachi Band and will perform for the seniors at Spring Hills Mt. Vernon Assisted Living the night before Cinco de Mayo. Visit www.springhillsmountvernon.com for more.
The United States Navy Band. 7:30 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at the Alexandria Campus, 4915 East Campus Drive. Free. Visit www.navyband.navy.mil/ for more.
May 4-5
Disney’s “High School Musical.” 7-10 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road. Mount Vernon High School Theatre Arts presents Disney’s “High School Musical” with characters from the movie, plus some new friends, as they navigate first love, friends and family, their classes, and extracurricular activities.Visit mvhstheatrearts.com for more.
May 4-June 11
“Master Class” on Stage. 7 p.m. at Metrostage, 1201 N. Royal St. Music direction by Joseph Walsh, featuring Ilona Dulaski as Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s valentine to “La Divina.” Call 703-548-9044 or visit www.metrostage.org.
Friday/May 5
Taste of Cinco de Mayo. 6 p.m. at the Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St. The evening will showcase Mexican food, music and dance. $10 resident, $15 non-resident. Call 703-746-5565, or visit www.alexandriava.gov/Arts for more.
T.C. Williams Debate. 6:30 p.m. at the Hermitage, 5000 Fairbanks Ave. AgendaAlexandria Topic: “A Formal Debate on Gun Control” featuring Victoria Peace and Jay Falk, members of the T.C. Williams High School Varsity Debate Team, coached by Laurel Taylor. Members $37, nonmembers $42. Email agendaalexandria@aol.com for more.
Opening Reception. 7-9 p.m. at the at Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. In this “Speak Your Mind,” exhibit, May 5-28, artists express the message of what they see, feel or think through art. Visit www.DelRayArtisans.org/exhibits for more.
Family Game Night. 7-10 p.m. at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 5614 Old Mill Road. Bring your favorite game and a snack to share. Call 703-780-3081 or email office@stjamesmv.org.
Saturday/May 6
Spring Art Market. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Del Ray Artisans’ Spring Art Market showcases original artwork from local artists in a wide range of mediums. Visit www.DelRayArtisans.org/ArtMarket for more.
Water Discovery Day. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1500 Limerick St. Water Discovery Day is a free, family-focused, community event that will give attendees the opportunity to go behind the water cycle scene to explore, learn and create through a series of hands-on activities. Visit alexrenew.com/ for more.
Java Jolt Lecture. 10 a.m.-noon at Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N. Union Street, #327. Jay Roberts will discuss his new book, “Lost Alexandria: An Illustrated History of Sixteen Destroyed Homes in and Around Alexandria.” Learn about the houses and their environs, as well as the owners and dwellers including Col. William Fairfax, Benjamin Hallowell, Portia Lee Hodgson, and John “Jacky” Parke Curtis. A book signing will follow the lecture. Email archaeology@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-4399 for more.
Disney’s “High School Musical.” 2 and 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road. Mount Vernon High School Theatre Arts presents Disney’s “High School Musical” with characters from the movie, plus some new friends, as they navigate first love, friends and family, their classes, and extracurricular activities.Visit mvhstheatrearts.com for more.
Meet the Author. 4-5:30 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Meet author Fred Knops while he discusses his new book “Historical Tours: Alexandria, Virginia: Walk the Path of America’s Founding Fathers.” All profits from this book will be donated to Alexandria charities: ACT for Alexandria, The Alexandria Library, Christ Church and Boy Scout Troop 1515. Email pamela.larson@actforalexandria.org or call 703-739-7778 for more.
Hyland Humanitarian Award. 6 p.m. in the Madison Building Atrium, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, 600 Dulany St. Celebrate Honorary Co-Chair Gerry Hyland, Former Supervisor, Mount Vernon District Fairfax County, with the inaugural Gerald W. Hyland Humanitarian Award. Event emcee will be David Culver, NBC4 News4 Reporter. Visit www.ucmagency.org for more.
Country-Western Dance. 6-9:30 p.m. at Lincolnia Senior Center, 4710 N. Chambliss St. The Northern Virginia Country-Western Dance Association event. NVCWDA members $10; non-members $12; children under 18 accompanied by a paying adult $5. Visit www.nvcwda.org or call 703-860-4941.
Seminary Organ Concert. 7:30 p.m. at Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary, 3737 Seminary Road. Featuring organists Julie Vidrick Evans, Michael Lodico, and Benjamin Straley. Music of Bach, Duruflé, Langlais, Persichetti, Phillips, Sowerby, and Wammes. Free. Email clm@vts.edu, or call 703-461-1792 for more.
Saturday-Sunday/May 6-7
Revolutionary War Encampments. Various times at at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Meet more than 300 hundred Revolutionary War military re-enactors, learn more about life in the 18th-century, discuss military techniques, and watch battle re-enactments. Visit www.mountvernon.org/revwar for more.
Sunday/May 7
Wetlands Awareness Day. noon-4 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd. Wetlands Awareness Day takes on new meaning this year as Huntley Meadows Park is honored with the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award Gold Medal for its successful wetlands restoration project. Call 703-324-8662 or email Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov for more.
Meet the Artist. 2-4 p.m. at Printmakers Inc., Studio 325 (third floor) of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. A one-artist show of etchings, lithographs, monotypes, paintings and ceramics by Alexandria and Loudoun artist Avis Fleming, opens May 1-June 28. Call 703-683-1342 for more.
Choral Arts Society of Washington. 5-7 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Join Scott Tucker, the conductor of the Choral Arts Chamber Singers for Music for Chamber Voices. 4:30 p.m. reception, wine and cheese served. $40. Visit www.nvfaa.org or call 703-548-0035.
Joe Crookston and Villa Palagonia. 7 p.m. at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. $18 in advance at www.focusmusic.org/buy-tickets and for members, $20 at the door.
Monday/May 8
Bottled Water Protest. 7-10 a.m. at the International Bottled Water Association, 1700 Diagonal Road. Friends of Little Hunting Creek and partner organizations have planned this protest. Visit www.accotink.org for more.
Seniors Only Golf Tournament. 8 a.m. at Greendale Golf Course, 6700 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Prizes for first and second place in each division and closest-to-the-pin. $45. Call 703- 971-6170 for more.
Community BBQ. 6-8:30 p.m. at Alexandria Waterfront, Vola's Dockside Grill & Hi-Tide Lounge, 101 N. Union St. ACT for Alexandria's fourth annual community BBQ.
ACT for Alexandria is a community foundation that seeks to turn ideas into action and resources into results. $50, children eat free Visit www.actforalexandria.org for more.
Tuesday/May 9
History Lecture. 6:30 p.m. at The Lyceum 201 S. Washington St. Dr. John Maass Speaks on George Washington’s Virginia. $10. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Lyceum or call 703-838-4994.
Wednesday/May 10
Mount Vernon at Home Fundraiser. 4:30-7 p.m. at George Washington's River Farm, American Horticultural Society, 7931 E. Boulevard Drive. Visit www.mountvernonathome.org for more.
Nature Lecture. 7 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park Visitors Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd. The Friends of Dyke Marsh presents a talk on “Forest Communities and Geology in Northern Virginia.” Call 703-768-2525 for more.
Thursday/May 11
Tory Cowles Sculptures. 5-8 p.m. in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Studio 7, 105 North Union St. Cowles turns old roofing, electrical wires, and found objects into something unpredictable. Visit ToryCowles.com or call 240 793-5425 for more.
Gardening Lecture. 7:30-9 p.m. at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road. Nancy Lawson gives a talk on “The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife.” Call 703-642-5173 for more.
Meet the Author. 6:30 p.m. at Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St. Join Alexandria historian Jay Roberts as he shares research from his newest publication, Lost Alexandria. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/historic/lloyd/ or call 703-746-4554 for more.
The Cat Jam of Bluegrass music. 7:30-10 p.m. at the Franconia Moose Lodge, 7701 Beulah Street. The Mount Vernon Evening Lions Club hosting local musicians donate their time and talent for charity. Proceeds will go to support a lunch program for local homeless people. Free, donations accepted. Call 703-339-7099 or email rebamorse@aol.com.
Friday/May 12
“Honoring Our Mothers with Poetry”. 6-8 p.m. at Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St. Local poets will read poetry that celebrates and honors mothers. The reading is hosted by Wendi R. Kaplan, Poet Laureate, and the Office of the Arts, City of Alexandria. Call 703-746-5560 for more.
Blessed Sacrament Piano Performance. 8 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. Braddock Road. John McCrary, director of music at Blessed Sacrament, will perform a program including the Sonata, Op. 101 by Beethoven and the Ballad in A Minor, Op. 28 by Chopin. Free, donations accepted. Email mcushmac@comcast.net or call 703-548-1176 for more.
Saturday/May 13
Car Boot Sale. 8 a.m.-noon at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 8009 Fort Hunt Road. A British style car boot sale. Similar to a yard sale but items are sold from the trunk or "boot" of a car. $20 to rent a parking spot, free to attend, open to the public. Email mcmillin23@cox.net for more.
Street Painting Festival. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the sidewalks of Mount Vernon Avenue between Bellefonte and Hume avenues. The Del Ray Montessori School will hold the second annual “La Bella Strada: An Italian Street Painting Festival” where more than 20 local artists will create large chalk paintings along the sidewalk. Visit www.labellastradadelray.com or email info@labellastradadelray.com for more.
Heroes for Moms Blood Drive. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Alexandria Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St. Mother’s Day weekend for a blood drive and maternal health awareness event dedicated to saving the lives of mothers. Visit www.heroesformoms.com for more.
Celtic Spring Fling. 3-7 p.m. at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 8531 Riverside Road. Games, crafts, food and drink, plenty of music and dance, face painting, and corn hole tournament. Email MBartel@bartelassociates.com or call 703-548-4250 for more.
Beethoven's Monumental Piano Concerto. 7 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E. Campus Drive. Featuring keyboard artist Todd Fickley, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass (Krönungsmesse), with orchestra. Soloists for the Mozart will be the winners of the 2016 Choralis Young Artists Competition: Abby Middleton, soprano; Elizabeth Sarian, alto; Patrick Kilbride, tenor; and Benjamin Curtis, baritone. $40-50; ages 23-29, $20; 13-22, $5; 12 and younger, free. Visit www.choralis.org for more.