Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 4
<cal2>HOLIDAY CRAFTS. 4 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Library staff will help children ages 6-11 make holiday crafts. Register at library.loudoun.gov or 703-430-9500.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 5
<cal2>TREE LIGHTING. 6-7 p.m., Leesburg Town Green. Includes local choirs and tree illumination. Call the Leesburg Parks & Recreation Department at 703-777-1368 or visit www.idalee.org. For inclement weather cancellations during the events, call the Inclement Weather Line at 703-737-7166.
CARD WORKSHOP. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market St., Leesburg. Children create holiday cards. Includes 10 greeting cards with personalized signature from your child. Ages 3-13. Cost: $40 per child. Advance registration required; call 703-771-5913.
CHARITABLE GIFT FAIR. 5-9 p.m., SonaBank at 1 E. Market St., Leesburg. St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church annual alternative gift fair. Includes ways to donate to local charities, live music and a visit from Santa or shop online through Dec. 31, www.SaintGabriels.net.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 6
<cal2>HOLIDAY PARADE. 5-8 p.m., Historic downtown Leesburg. Holiday Parade and Winter Festival, includes horse-drawn carriages, Santa, Frosty and Rudolph will pose for pictures, children’s hands-on games and art activities, local school choirs, ice sculpting demonstration, holiday merchandise and refreshments will be available for purchase. To register to be part of the parade, visit http://www.idalee.org/parks/events/holidays. For inclement weather cancellations during the events, call the Inclement Weather Line at 703-737-7166.
ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Drive, N.W., Leesburg. Includes handcrafted items from more than 90 local and regional artisans. Admission is free. Call the Leesburg Parks & Recreation Department at 703-777-1368 or visit www.idalee.org. For inclement weather cancellations during the events, call the Inclement Weather Line at 703-737-7166.
HOLIDAY IN THE PARK. 3:30-6 p.m., Claude Moore Park/Lanesville Heritage Area, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. Includes candlelight tour of the Lanesville House, crafts, a hayride through the park, roasting marshmallows and caroling. Free, donations of new mittens, scarves and/or hats are requested for the Winter Warmth Tree. Call 571-258-3700.
ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR. 12-4 p.m., Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Church, 22135 Davis Road, Sterling. Gifts can be purchased for $10-$15 and are donated to local charities and purchasers are given a holiday card to present to the recipient. Call 703-406-3068.
ADVENT FAIR. 2-4 p.m., Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church Road, Sterling. Make crafts and ornaments, trim a gingerbread house and take pictures with Santa. Recommended for the family. Free admission. Call 703-430-6455 or visit www.sterlingumc.org.
NUTCRACKER BRUNCH. 12:30 p.m., Lansdowne Resort Grand Ballroom, 44050 Woodbridge Parkway, Lansdowne. Ravel Dance Studio of Reston presents this holiday classic. Cost: $55 adults, $35 children, includes brunch. Call 703-437-9664 or e-mail Rhall1006@aol.com for tickets.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA. 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Arcola-Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 24757 Evergreen Mills Road, Sterling. Bring the family for breakfast and a visit with Santa. Cost: $9 adults, $7 seniors, $5 children age 3-8, children under 3 free. Bring a toy or canned good for donation. Call 703-327-2222 and leave a voice mail in box 29.
NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCE. 7:30 p.m., Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg. The Northern Virginia Performing Arts Company presents this classic ballet. Cost: $15 adults, $12 seniors and children 3-12, free for children under 3. Call 703-443-1093.
CHARITABLE GIFT FAIR. Noon-8 p.m., SonaBank at 1 E. Market St., Leesburg. See Dec. 5 item for details.
BALLET PERFORMANCE. 2 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Celebrate the holiday season with a performance of "The Nutcracker" by Ashburn Academy of Ballet. All ages. Visit http://library.loudoun.gov.
WINTER BAZAAR. 8 a.m.-noon, Countryside Elementary, 20624 Countryside Blvd., Sterling. Annual Winter Breakfast & Bazaar featuring silent auction, Scholastic Book Fair, prewrapped gifts in the Kids Only Secret Shoppe, musical performance, food and photos with a "special visitor."
CANDY CANE HUNT. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Claude Moore Community Center, 46111 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling. Ages 2-10. Go on a candy cane hunt, have lunch with Santa and play games. Bring camera for a picture with Santa. Cost: $10, $3 for parent lunch. Preregistration required, call 571-258-3500.
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 7
<cal2>ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Ida Lee Park Recreation Center. See Dec. 6 item for details.
NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCE. 3 p.m., Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg. See Dec. 6 item for details.
LANESVILLE HOLIDAY Open House. 1-3 p.m., 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. All ages. Candlelight tours of the holiday decorated Lanesville house will highlight a Lane family Christmas of the 1780s in one parlor and the 1870s in the second parlor. An adult must accompany children. Free.
<cal1>Monday/Dec. 8
<cal2>SCIENCE SHOW. 4 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. HolidaZe Spectacular Science Show presented by Mad Science of Washington. Ages 5 and up. Visit http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Tuesday/Dec. 9
<cal2>HOLIDAY CRAFTS. 4 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. For ages 5-7, make holiday crafts. Register online at http://library.loudoun.gov or phone 703-444-3228.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 11
<cal2>LUNCH WIT SANTA. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market St., Leesburg. All ages. Have lunch with Santa and create holiday art. Bring a camera. Cost: $5. Advance registration required, call 703-771-5913.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 13
<cal2>ALDERSGATE CHOIR. 7 p.m., Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church Road, Sterling. The Aldersgate Choir is holding its annual Christmas Music Event. The choir will perform John Rutter's Lessons and Carols with a live orchestra. Tickets not required. Call 703-430-6455 or visit www.sterlingumc.org.
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 14
<cal2>THEATER TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Columbia, Md., to Toby's Dinner Theatre for the production of "A Christmas Carol." Cost: $58 for members, $60 for nonmembers, includes transportation, show, champagne brunch and tip. Minimum walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
NATURE CRAFTS. 2-3:30 p.m., Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. All ages. Make holiday nature crafts as gifts or decorations. Limit three crafts per person. Adult must accompany children. Cost: $4. Call 571-258-3700 to register.
SING-A-LONG. 7:30 p.m., 21015 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be presenting Handel's "Messiah" sing-a-long concert. Free admission; features a 60-voice choir, orchestra and featured soloists. Anyone with a Messiah score is welcomed to bring it. Call 703-728-9830.
<cal1>Monday/Dec. 15
<cal2>HOLIDAY LIGHTS TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Washington, D.C., for dinner on own at Union Station, viewing of Pageant of Peace and visit to Mormon Temple Grounds and Visitors Center, including live Nativity scene. Cost: $23 for members, $25 for nonmembers, includes transportation with free admission. Extensive walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 18
<cal2>THEATER TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Columbia, Md., to Toby's Dinner Theatre for the production of "A Christmas Carol." Cost: $58 for members, $60 for nonmembers, includes transportation, show, champagne brunch and tip. Minimum walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 19
<cal2>NUTCRACKER. 7:30 p.m., Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, S.E., Leesburg. The Loudoun Ballet Company performs "The Nutcracker." Cost: advance tickets $20 for adult reserved seating, $15 for children 12 under and for seniors 60 above, premium reserved seats are $25; at the door are $25. Call the LBC box office at 703-771-8074 or visit www.loudounballet.org.
FIRESIDE CHRISTMAS. 7 p.m., Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church Road, Sterling. Fireside Christmas is a family evening of seasonal songs, skits, inspirational readings and other live entertainment. Free. Call 703-430-6455 or visit www.sterlingumc.org.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 20
<cal2>NUTCRACKER. 1 p.m. and 5:30, Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, S.E., Leesburg. See Dec. 19 item for details.
<cal1>Tuesday/Dec. 23
<cal2>GRINCH WHOBILATION. 1:30-3 p.m., Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. Ages 6-10. What is a Grinch? The Grinch is lurking in the park, can you find him? Cost: $4. Call 571-258-3700 to register.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 31
<cal2>NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE. 1-4 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Music by disc jockey Sky Dantinne, includes light snacks and refreshments and transportation afterwards. Cost: $5 for members in advance; $7 for nonmembers and day of event. Call 703-430-2397.