Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Friday/Sept. 19
</b> Workhouse Arts Center Grand Opening. Ribbon cutting at 11 a.m.; guests to include Fairfax County dignitaries, community leaders, and arts administrators. Learn about the history of the former prison, visit artists’ studios, purchase fine art and enjoy musical and theater performances. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
Classical Concert with Pedja Muzijevic, concert pianist and director of Music Programming at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, with French horn soloist Eric Ruske and violinist Jessica Lee. Reception 7 p.m., concert 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $20 for Workhouse members, $25 for non-members. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. 703-495-0001. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring Lunch and come for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
Monkey Business. 10:30 a.m. Have fun with favorite monkey friends. Age 3-5 with adults. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.
Special Love’s Dancing for the Stars. 7:30-12 p.m. Performance and presentation by recording artist and cancer survivor Kevin Sharp. Dancing, country western barbecue buffet, cash bar, raffle and silent auction prizes Tickets $50 each. Waterford Receptions, 6715 Commerce St., Springfield. 888-930-2707 or www.specialove.org/SpecialEvents.htm.
<b>Saturday/Sept. 20
</b>Battle of the Bands, with a $1,000 Grand Prize. 12:15 p.m. All ages; $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
Northern Virginia Senior Olympics. $10 for the first event; additional events $1. The NVSO will run from Sept. 20-Oct. 2, for 50 year olds and up. Track and field events will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. 2nd St., Arlington. A health fair will also be held on opening day, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Other events, beginning Monday, Sept. 22, will be held at various locations in Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William. Registration deadline Sept. 5; registration forms are available at senior centers. Call 703-228-3600 ext. 9996 or visit www.novaseniorolympics.com.
Children’s Theatre Performances of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," based on the book by Judith Viorst. 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. $12 for adults, $10 for children. Festival of Arts and Art Under the Arches, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. www.Workhouse.org.
Hoppers. 10:30 a.m. Meet some critters that hop. All ages. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.
Train Show. See N-Scale model trains running in the community room and caboose at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum. The Northern Virginia NTRAK model train club will host its monthly display from 1-4 p.m. $2 for adults, $1 for children. The museum is located at 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Call 703-425-9225.
Artisans United Art Swap. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. Sell unwanted art supplies to other artists. Artisans United Gallery, 4022 Hummer Road, Annandale. 703-941-0202
Doug Halper, Hammered Dulcimer Master in Concert. 7 p.m. Vocalist and instrumentalist on hammered dulcimer, guitar, keyboard and woodwinds. Adults $20, ages 11-18 $10, children 10 and under free. New World Unity Church, 8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. 703-913-8560 or newworldunity@verizon.net.
Grand Opening of Artists in Motion Gallery and Studio at the New Lorton Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Gallery 1010, Lorton. Opening festivities from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The artists of AIM will be featured in an outdoor tent during the grand-opening weekend, and members will be there to discuss art and how their co-operative efforts strengthen the creative process.
<b>Sunday/Sept. 21
</b> Children’s Theatre Performances of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," based on the book by Judith Viorst. 2:30 p.m. Tickets, $12 for adults, $10 for children. Festival of Arts and Fireworks on the Quad, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free performance by Mount Vernon Band and Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, 7 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
George Mason University presents pianist Jeffrey Siegel. 7 p.m. Tickets are $38, $30, $19. Children 12 and under, half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. The Center for the Arts complex is located on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Virginia Chamber Orchestra presents "Music in the Life of George Washington." 4 p.m. Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. John Harris, costumed George Washington interpreter, will link the orchestra’s selections to music performed at public concerts, which Washington attended as president in New York City and Philadelphia, the nation’s early capitals. Harris will also discuss keyboard arrangements of orchestral works in the Washington family’s music collections. At the door: seniors and groups, $12; adults, $18. Advance purchase: seniors and groups, $10; adults, $15. 703-758-0179 or www.virginiachamberorchestra.org.
<b>Monday/Sept. 22
</b>Practice English. 7 p.m. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
Writer’s group. 7 p.m. For all writers. Read you material aloud for feedback. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Practice English. 3 p.m. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.
<b>Tuesday/Sept. 23
</b>Kingstowne Library Writer’s Review. 7 p.m. Review peers’ works and receive in-depth feedback on your own work. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Tell it Again. 7 p.m. Come and enjoy stories and activities in Spanish and English. Age 6-10. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.
<b>Wednesday/Sept. 24
</b>Practice English. 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Travel Club. 1 p.m. Bring lunch and enjoy lively discussion. Adults. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055.
Wind Symphony Young People’s Concert. 10 a.m. Free. Concert Hall, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. 703-993-8794.
Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy, live at the George Mason University Patriot Center. 7 p.m. Tickets are from $15 to $75, and are available by Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Call 703-993-3000 or visit www.disneyonice.com or www.patriotcenter.com.
<b>Thursday, Sept. 25
</b>Stories and Science. 4 p.m. Stories, activities and an age-appropriate science experiment. Age 4-6 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
Things that Go! 1 p.m. Explore different types of transportation through stories and activities. Age 3-5 with adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
Australian Adventure. 1:30 p.m. Stories, activities and a craft. Age 4-5 with adult. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy 7 p.m., at the George Mason University Patriot Center. Tickets are from $15 to $75, and are available by Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Call 703-993-3000 or visit www.disneyonice.com or www.patriotcenter.com.
<b>Friday, Sept. 26
</b>Basic Gardening: Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Master Gardeners will explain the importance of pollinators to our lives and what can be done to provide a welcoming habitat. $12. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Call 703-642-5173 or visit www.greenspring.org.
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring lunch and come for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call 703-971-0010.
Richard Byrd Library Book Sale. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last sale before the library closes for renovations. Library discards, fiction, romance, mystery, science fiction, children’s and non-fiction. Richard Byrd Community Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield.
Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy, live at the George Mason University Patriot Center. 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are from $15 to $75, and are available by Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Call 703-993-3000 or visit www.disneyonice.com or www.patriotcenter.com.
<b>Saturday/Sept. 27
</b>Fall Garden Festival. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friends of Green Spring-sponsored fund raiser filled with adult and family activities, including a lecture by author Nancy Hugo, tea program on the subject of wood, silent auction and plant sale, including local artisans specializing in garden art and crafts. Proceeds help acquire plants and add to Green Spring’s educational efforts. Lecture $20. Tea Program $25. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Visit www.greenspring.org or call 703-642-5173.
An Evening with Barbara Cook, Tony-award winning singer and actress. A variety of songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Sondheim and other American favorites. Free valet parking provided. Reception at 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. Tickets, $75 for Workhouse members, $100 for non-members. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. 703-495-0001. www.Workhouse.org.
Richard Byrd Library Book Sale. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Library discards, fiction, romance, mystery, science fiction, children’s and non-fiction. Richard Byrd Community Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield.
George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts presents Arts By George!, a benefit event that supports student scholarships and the Great Performances at Mason series. The evening showcases the artistic talents of Mason students and faculty, and culminates in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall with a performance by Broadway artist Brian Stokes Mitchell. ARTS by George! takes place on Mason’s Fairfax campus on at 5 p.m. Tickets are $200 per person. Email dpaez@gmu.edu, call 703-993-4188 or visit www.artsbygeorge.com.
Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy, live at the George Mason University Patriot Center. 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are from $15 to $75, and are available by Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT. The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Call 703-993-3000 or visit www.disneyonice.com or www.patriotcenter.com.
Occoquan Regional Park Family Film Fun Night, showing “Surf’s Up” at 8 p.m. Park gates open at 7 p.m. Occoquan Park, on Route 123 one mile north of Interstate 395 in Lorton. $15 per car load. 703-690-2121 or www.NVRPA.org.
Dog Day Afternoon Cruise. Lake Accotink Park, 7550 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. 703-569-3464 or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lakefront.
Sunset Cruise. Lake Accotink Park, 7550 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. 703-569-3464 or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lakefront.
Fifth Annual Kit Callahan's Miracle Mile 10K Run/Walk. 7:30 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. race start. This event benefits brain injury services and celebrates the success stories of survivors of brain injuries, while educating the public about brain injury. The Miracle Mile will be timed by Pacers and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in various age categories. George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. www.kitsmiraclemile.org or 703-451-8881.
"It's All About the Cats" kitten and at adoption extravaganza at the Burke Centre Library, 5935 Fred's Oak Road, Burke. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. All of the Kittens and Cats can be selected on the adoption site, and many may be able to be taken home the same day. Others will be delivered to the adoptive families home within a day or two. 703-249-1520. Commonwealth Cat Rescue, Inc., A 501(c)3 No Kill Rescue.