Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost. For additional ongoing events listings, visit our Web site at www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg, will hold a series, "Popcorn, Peanuts and Cracker Jacks" featuring author Tim Wendel. Refreshments will be served. The programs that are scheduled will be the following:
* Saturday, Aug. 26, 2 p.m., Sports Talk You Can Use. Learn solid sports writing and "sport speaking" while looking at the sports page and clips of films.
* Saturday, Sept. 2, 2 p.m., Globalization of Sports. Examine the "sport dream," and how that dream plays out today in a sport world that is as flat as the economic world.
Sterling glass artist, David Barnes, will be featured in the new exhibit "Summer Heat," running through Sept. 4, at the Artists' Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. Gallery open Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 703-494-0584.
Oatlands Plantation, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, will be holding "For Season Teas" throughout the year. Includes school days teas, Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9; autumn leaf teas, Thursday, Oct. 19 and Friday, Oct. 20; teddy bear tea, Sunday, Dec. 17. Cost $24.95 plus tax per person; children 8 and under are $15.95 plus tax. Seating at 1 p.m.
Fall teas are served Thursdays-Saturdays, from Nov. 9-30, except Thanksgiving Day. Holiday teas are served Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, from Dec. 1-22 and Dec. 27-29, except Dec. 24. Cost $21.95 plus tax per person; children 8 and under are $12.95 plus tax. Seating are at 1 p.m.
Reservations required for all the teas, call 703-777-3174 or visit www.oatlands.org.
Next Level 4 Teens Inc. (NXL) will be opening its doors to the community every Saturday through Sept. 9, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The nonprofit, youth organization is officially up and running at its new teen center, located at 44081 Pipeline Plaza, Suite 100, Ashburn. NXL is offering many different programs this fall for both teens and families, including an after-school program for middle-school students, one-on-one tutoring, comprehensive SAT prep, hands-on computer training, and a number of workshops and seminars.
A special grand opening ceremony will be held Saturday, Sept. 9. Visit www.NextLevel4Teens.org or call 703-724-0404.
Twilight tours of three Loudoun innovative farms, Endless Summer Harvest, Loudoun Nursery and Great Country Farms, have been planned. Each tour begins at 5 p.m., followed by a twilight dinner featuring locally produced meats.
The third tour will be at Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Sept. 14. Great Country FarmsÕ goal is to offer a way for everyone to experience farm life and enjoy the benefits of its bounty.
The registration fee of $20 per person per tour includes tour and dinner. Preregistration and payment two weeks prior to each tour is requested. Visit www.LoudounFarms.org or call 703-777-0426.
The Big Apple Circus returns to the Dulles Town Center in Dulles, Sept. 21-Oct. 9, with a new production, "Step Right Up!" Ð launching the 29th season of New York's original one-ring circus.
Tickets range in price from $16 to $40 for weekday evenings, $19 to $48 for weekend and Columbus Day performances, and from $16 to $24 for 11 a.m. weekday matinees.
Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.; weekday matinees take place Oct. 4-6, at 11 a.m. Columbus Day performances, Oct. 9, take place at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 703-573-SEAT or online at ticketmaster.com. For group ticket sales, call 877-407-8497. The circus box office, located in front of the Big Top at Dulles Town Center, will open Wednesday, Sept. 20.
The Great Arcola Camp Out, for all ages, at Arcola Community Center, 24328 Goshen Road. Bring the family for an evening of camping, fun and games. Call 703-327-3111 to sign up. Fee $5. Friday, Sept. 22--Saturday, Sept. 23, 5 p.m.-11 a.m.
The Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., holds a bilingual conversation groups, Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., for all ages. Practice English and Spanish in an informal conversation group, discussions can include music, movies, food, etc.
Espa–ol/InglŽs grupo conversacional: Venga a la biblioteca de Sterling y practique su inglŽs o espa–ol en grupos informales de conversaci—n. Hable de muscia, pel’culas, comida o el tiempo. Call 703-430-9500.
"Loudoun Landmarks," a new art exhibition featuring a variety of artwork by Loudoun County artists, is on display at the Loudoun County Government Center and the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum.
Features 24 artists showcasing 42 photographs, paintings, and mixed-media pieces of special county landmarks.
The exhibits can be viewed during business hours at both locations through September. Hours at the Loudoun County Government Center gallery are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Hours of operation at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, located within Claude Moore Park at 21668 Heritage Farm Lane in Sterling, are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
The Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Association (LVHMA) Leesburg and Cascades markets will have volunteers from the Loudoun County Master Gardeners program on hand to help identify plants or diagnose pests. The Master Gardeners will be at the Leesburg Market every Saturday, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and at the Cascades Market the second Sunday of each month, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The markets operate from May-October. Visit loudouncountymastergardeners.org.
The Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Association sponsors seven farmers markets in the county until the end of October, featuring home-grown, producer-only markets.
The seven locations and hours of operation are Cascades, Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., The Senior Center, 21060 Whitfield Place; Leesburg, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Virginia Village Shopping Center; Lovettsville, Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m., Game Protective Association, Route 287; Middleburg, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Marshall Street; Purcellville, Thursdays, 4- 7 p.m., 21st Street, across from the train station; South Riding, Saturdays, 2-5 p.m., Town Center Parking Lot; and Sterling, Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m., Briar Patch Park, 1400 block of Sterling Boulevard.
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, has the following ongoing story times: Baby lapsit, ages 0-18 months. Mondays, 7 p.m.; Mother Goose nursery time, 18-24 months, Tuesdays and Thursday, 10 a.m.; Terrific 2s, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.; Preschool story time, 3-5 years, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 a.m.; Wonderful Wednesdays, 3-5 years, Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.; and Pajama story time, 3-5 years, Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Family story time, 2-5 years, Saturdays at 10 a.m. Call 703-737-8100.
The Cascades Library 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, hosts the following ongoing story times: Lapsits for 2s, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.; Mother Goose nursery time, ages 18-24 months, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.; Pajama story time, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; Story time for 3s, 4s and 5s, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and Terrific 3s, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-444-3228.
The Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., has the following ongoing story times: Preschool story times, for 2-5 years old, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Call 703-430-9500.
On the last Friday of each month, at 7 p.m., teenagers from Loudoun and Fairfax counties are invited to the Dulles Town Center, in partnership with Next Level for Teens, for an evening devoted to teen issues and events, called Teens Talk at Dulles Town Center. Free. The Dulles Town Center is located at the intersection of routes 7 and 28. Visit ShopDullesTownCenter.com.
Dodona Manor, the restored home of Gen. and Mrs. George C. Marshall in Leesburg, is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. Tours are available from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., on Saturdays and from 1-5 p.m., on Sundays. Additional summer hours are from June -Aug., Mondays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The last tour for each day begins at 4 p.m.; and each tour is preceded by an introductory video exploring the professional career of Marshall, spanning more than 50 years of public service.
Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and group tours and $5 for students. Reservations are required for group tours. Visit www.georgecmarshall.org or call the tour reservation line at 703-777-1301.
Weekend and holiday free parking for Dodona Manor tours is available in the Loudoun County Government Building on Loudoun Street. Additional parking is available in the Leesburg municipal/court parking lot Ñ Red Lot Ñ off North Street.
Leesburg Animal Park has several new animal exhibits including exotic and domestic animals, an expanded contact area to pet and feed animals, a new bird aviary, a safari ride to tour. The park will feature live entertainment on weekends.
The Leesburg Animal Park is located at 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. Admissions are $7.95 for children and seniors, $9.95 for adults. Free for children under two. Group rates are $6 with a 10-person minimum on Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays. Wild Wednesdays offer $2 off all admission rates, not valid with other offers. Hours are Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.LeesburgAnmialPark.com or call 703-433-0002.
Temple Hall Farm is open for the 2006 season until October with new baby animals are arriving every week. Temple Hall Farm is open, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays. Contact Temple Hall Farm at 703-779-9372 or via e-mail at TempleHallFarm@NVRPA.org.
Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, is open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; as well as Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 2-12 and free for children under 2. On permanent display is "The Country People" where visitors travel through time and experience the past 300 years of agricultural history through 10 generations of Loudoun County residents. The Claude Moore children's Farm is an interactive exhibit area for children and their families. Visit www.loudounfarmmuseum.org or call 703-421-5322.
Leesburg First Fridays and First Fridays Jr. Galleries and shops open their doors on the first Friday of each month with special events, refreshments and entertainment, from 6-9 p.m. There is no First Friday in January. Free. Call 800-752-6118. Visit www.leesburgfirstfriday.com.
Guided Nature or History Hikes for all ages at Claude Moore park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. Nature hikes, Frogshackle Cabin Nature Center, history hikes and special request programs for school groups, scouts, community organizations, adults and families are available on a variety of topics throughout the year. Programs designed to foster an appreciation of Loudoun County's natural and cultural resources in a fun and informative way. Summer hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The park will be open free to the public Oct. 21 and 22 for the Loudon County Farm Tour Program. The park is free for individuals. Cost is $3.50 per person for a group tour, with a minimum charge of $35. Call 703-444-1275 for reservations.
Loudoun Bluegrass Association. Weekly acoustic jam session held every Tuesday night, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Morningside House Retirement Center, 316 Harrison St. in Leesburg. All bluegrass/country musicians, singers and spectators are welcome. Free. Call Randy Kenyon
703-777-9865, home.