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.
The September 2008 edition of "Inside Loudoun County" features segments on energy efficiency and volunteering.
The guests for the first segment of the television show are Loudoun County energy manager Najib Salehi and Diane O'Grady of the Office of the County Administrator. In the show's second segment features Lisa Rose and Karen Krei of Volunteer Loudoun, formerly Loudoun Volunteer Services.
"Inside Loudoun County" is a 30-minute cable television program airing Mondays-Fridays, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. The show is hosted by Nancy McCormick of the Loudoun County Office of Public Information and is produced by Comcast.
Fall Harvest Festival, Sept. 27-Oct. 31, Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, includes hayrides, you-pick pumpkins, Oinkintucky Derby pig races, P-Rex the Pumpkin Munchin' Dinosaur, the Pumpkin Princess, the Rooster Wrangler and activities. Admission: $8 per person, Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day Monday; $6 per person Mondays-Fridays. Additional charge for evening bonfire/hayrides and pumpkin picking. Call 540-554-2073.
Teen Reading Buddies Story Time, Tuesdays, Oct. 7, 21, 4:30 p.m., Rust Library at 34D Catoctin Circle, Leesburg. One-on-one reading time for children as they buddy up with teen volunteers who will read picture books to them. Recommended for ages 3-6.
All Loudoun County public libraries are accepting entries, through Oct. 10, for a film competition: Book Trailers. Teens can pick up an entry form and borrow a "FLIP" camera in the library to make a mini commercial about a book. Prizes will be awarded and the winning book trailer will be posted to the library's Web site during Teen Read Week, October 12-18. Visit http://library.loudoun.gov.
2009 WrestleMania Reading Challenge, Oct. 12-Jan. 12, Ashburn, Cascades and Sterling libraries. Teens and tweens read 10 books and create a bookmark for a chance to win prizes from WWE in the 2009 WrestleMania Reading Challenge. Could win a trip to Houston for WrestleMania 25. Contact a participating library for more information or visit http://library.loudoun.gov.
Big Apple Circus, through Oct. 13, at Dulles Town Center, intersection of routes 7 and 28, Dulles. Performance times vary. This circus features one ring with no seat more than 50 feet away. This year's show features acrobatic ballerinas, trapeze artists, the world's fastest fashion show, stylish Italian dogs and much more. Cost: $18-$52 per person. Call 703-828-9014 or visit http://www.bigapplecircus.org.
Teen Reading Buddies Story Time, Mondays, through Oct. 27, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. One-on-one reading time for children as they buddy up with teen volunteers who will read picture books to them. Recommended for ages 3-6. Closed Oct. 13.
Leesburg Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, at Virginia Village Shopping Center on Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg. Runs from May 3-Oct. 25. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/Leesburg.
Cascades Farmers Market, Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Runs from May 4-Oct. 26. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/Cascades.
Ashburn Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, at 43480 Yukon Drive, Kaiser Permanente parking lot at Ryan Park Shopping Center. Runs from June 7-Oct. 25. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/Ashburn.
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park's Corn MAiZE and Barnyard Fun, through Nov. 2, at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg. Activities are family-fun oriented and include day and night "MAiZEs," food, hayrides, moon bounces, pony rides, cow train, corn cannon, water wars and pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Hours are Fridays, 4-10 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $10 per person 12 years old or older, $8 per child 6-11, free for child under 5. Call 703-779-9372 or visit http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/themaize.
Pumpkinville Festival, through Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Leesburg Animal Park, 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. Explore the park and enjoy unlimited hay and tractor rides, pumpkin painting and many other activities. Visit the farm market for exotic pumpkins. Cost: $7 per person on weekdays, $12 on weekends, free for children under 2. Visit www.LeesburgAnimalPark.com/pumpkinville.htm.
The Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., offers fall concerts the first and third Fridays and second and fourth Saturdays of each month. No concert Oct. 11. All ages. Call 703-430-9480 for schedule.
The Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of Leesburg in 1758 with its new exhibition, Leesburg: Crossroads of Tradition and Transition. Explore the history of Leesburg through a selection objects, photographs, postcards, and maps. The exhibition will be on view from through May 2009. The museum is open Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, from 1-5 p.m. Call 703-777-7427.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St, Sterling, continuing children's story times. 703-430-9500.
* Mother Goose Story Time, 18-24 months, Wednesday, 11:15 a.m.
* Preschool Story Time, 3-5 years, Fridays, 11 a.m.
* Family Story Times, 3-10 years, Saturdays, 11 a.m.
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn, continuing children's story times. 703-737-8100.
* Baby Lapsit, 0-18 months, Mondays, 10 a.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m.
* Mother Goose Nursery Time, 18-24 months, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.
* Terrific 2s, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.
* Preschool Story Time, 3-5 years, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.
* Wonderful Wednesday Stories, 3-5 years, Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.
* Pajama Story Time, 3-5 years, Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
* Saturday Family Story Time, 2-5 years. Saturdays, 10 a.m.
Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, continuing children's story times. 703-444-3228.
* Lapsits for 2s, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Baby Lapsit, 0-18 months, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Pajama Story Time, 2-5 years, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
* Story Time for 3s, 4s and 5s, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
* Mother Goose Nursery Time, 18-24 months, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
* Terrific 3s, Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.
* Saturday Family Story Time, 2-6 years, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
Leesburg Farmers Winter Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, at Virginia Village Shopping Center on Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg. Runs from Nov. 3-April 26. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/Winter.