<b>Thursday/Dec. 18
</b>3 Doors Down featuring Switchfoot. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50-$55, available online at www.ticketmaster.com or at 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Visit www.3doorsdown.com.
Starlight, Starbright. 10:30 a.m. Songs and stories about stars. Age 2-5 with adult. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Stories and Science. 4 p.m. Stories and activities with an age-appropriate science experiment. Age 4-6 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
American Red Cross Blood Drive beginning at 8 a.m. at CALIBRE, 6354 Walker Lane in Metro Park. Contact Bob Montcalm at 703-797-8751.
Jack Hidle. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Friday/Dec. 19
</b>Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Amanda Murphy & The Lost Indian’s. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Dec. 20
</b>Oasis Dig Out Your Soul World Tour, featuring Ryan Adams. 7 p.m. at the George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Tickets are $49.50 and $69.50, available through www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com.
"Over the North Pole," 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Harris Theatre, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
Pet Pictures with Santa Claws. 1-2 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Lake Accotink Road, Springfield. 703-569-0285.
Santa’s Hayride 3:30-8:30 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Lake Accotink Road, Springfield. Enjoy a horse-drawn or tractor wagon ride and have a picture take with Santa. 703-569-3464.
December to Remember with This Time It's War, In Alcatraz 1962 and more. 4 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
A Classical Christmas with Jubilant Sykes and Christopher Parkening. 8 p.m. at George Mason Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Holiday classics, sacred songs and hymns. Tickets are $22-$44. Charge at 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Amanda Murphy & The Lost Indian’s. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Sunday/Dec. 21
</b>"Over the North Pole," 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Harris Theatre, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $17 adults, $15 students and seniors 703-222-5511 or www.encore-tap.org.
Fairfax Station Violist Kaleigh Elizabeth Acord will perform with Russian pianist Irina Kats, 7:30 p.m. at The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. The program will include Bartok, Bach and Brahms. Free admission and lot parking. 703-838-4994 or recitalprogramsandpromotions@verizon.net.
Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Monday/Dec. 22
</b>Writer’s Group. 7 p.m. Read aloud for feedback. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Open Mic Night. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Friday/Dec. 26
</b>Don Cobert. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Dec. 27
</b>Virginia Ballet Company’s 59th "Nutcracker," 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Cultural Center Theater, Annandale Campus. Tickets $30 adults, $20 children, students and seniors. 703 249-8227 or www.virginiaballetcompany.org.
Don Cobert. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Sunday/Dec. 28
</b>Virginia Ballet Company’s 59th "Nutcracker," 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Cultural Center Theater, Annandale Campus. Tickets $30 adults, $20 children, students and seniors. 703 249-8227 or www.virginiaballetcompany.org.
Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Monday/Dec. 29
</b>Fairfax High School Theatre Department Winter Break Drama Camp for grades 1-8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax. $75 for three half-day sessions or $165 for the full three-day camp. Activities include musical theater and puppetry. 703/818-0926 or www.fxplayers.org.
Open Mic. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Virginia Ballet Company’s 59th "Nutcracker," 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Cultural Center Theater, Annandale Campus. Tickets $30 adults, $20 children, students and seniors. 703 249-8227 or www.virginiaballetcompany.org.
<b>Friday/Jan. 2
</b>Jeff Dunham ‘Spark of Insanity’ tour. 8 p.m. Ventriloquism with his featured character puppets. Tickets $49.50, at www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com. Visit www.jeffdunham.com.
Johnny 3 Legs, Frayz, John Cerda, BLVD and more. 8:30 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Terry Lee Ryan. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 3
</b>Concert for Cancer Awareness, hosted by D-Rock with Members of the Monster Madness TV Show. Roadducks, Not-Liable, Sordid, Bitter, Dirtydawgs, Punk Rodgers, GI9, Unskilled Professionals, Engulfed in Flames, Bucket and Undisputed. 2 p.m. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Terry Lee Ryan. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Sunday/Jan. 4
</b>Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Monday/Jan. 5
</b>Open Mic Night. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Tuesday/Jan. 6
</b>Computer Tutoring, 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Teen Book Club, 7 p.m. Enjoy fun, food and great book discussions. Age 12-18. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Snowflakes 10:30 a.m. Stories, activities and a craft. Age 2-3 with adult. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
<b>Wednesday/Jan. 7
</b>Rotting Christ with Mantic Ritual, Epicurean, Apothys, The Red Horse of War and more. 7 p.m. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Practice Your English Conversation Group, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Girls Night Out book group, 7 p.m. Call for title. Age 12-15 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Lunch Bunnies, 12 p.m. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Age 1-5 with adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/Jan. 8
</b>Puppy Tales, 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and activities about puppies. Age 13-23 months with parent. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Daytime Book Discussion Group, 12:15 p.m. "Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.Adults.
Don Cobert. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Friday/Jan. 9
</b>Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. Bring lunch and join us for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Localpalooza, Violet Says 5, Noo Shots for Ben, Pain! and more. 6:15 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 day of show Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Don Cobert. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 10
</b>Friends Book Sale, 10 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Flu Vaccinations, 12 p.m. Shots $25 or Medicare Part B; must be 18 or older. Call Inova for details at 703-698-2424. Adults. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Tales To Take Hold Of, 2 p.m. Juggling and folk tales from around the world with juggling storyteller Renee Brachfeld. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Don Cobert. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Sunday/Jan. 11
</b>Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.