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Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Thursday/Oct. 21
</b>Book Discussion Group. 6:30 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Adults. 703-971-0010.
Practice Your English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Lorton Book Club. 7 p.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Adults. 703-339-7385.
Springfield Writers' Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Share your work, give and receive feedback in a supportive setting. Adults. 703-451-8055.
<b>Friday/Oct. 22
</b>Suits for Vets Concert. 8 p.m. at JAXX Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. John Eddie and his band in a benefit for Suits for Vets, providing business clothing to wounded warriors transitioning from the military into a civilian career. Opening act is the Northern Virginia band, The Road Ducks. $17 in advance, $20 at the door. Age 18 or older. www.TicketMaster.com or 703-987-8890.
Val Cushing “Vessels” Exhibition and Reception. 7-9 p.m. in Gallery W-16, Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Works by master potter Val Cushing, with a talk and slide show presentation that evening. Free. 703-584-2900.
Kingstowne Farmers Market. 4-7 p.m. at Kingstowne Town Center, 5955 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 23
</b>Third Annual Arts and Craft Show. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at South Run RECenter, 7550 Reservation Drive Springfield. Jewelry, woodworking, photography, painting, glasswork, clothing, pottery and more. Door prizes awarded throughout the day. $2, free ages 12 and under. 703-866-0566.
Art Auction. Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, 8508 Hooes Road, Springfield. Preview at 6 p.m., auction at 7 p.m. Art, refreshments, door prizes and more. $10 per person, $15 per couple, children free. Tickets available at 703-455-5124.
Burke Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke.
Consignment Sale. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 7434 Bath St., Springfield. Maternity and children’s items. Sponsored by Grace Weekday Preschool and the MOMS Club of Springfield. 703-451-3314.
Kingstowne Area Artists Association Exhibit and Sale. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. at the Snyder Center, 6450 South Van Dorn St., Kingstowne. Acrylics, oils, watercolor, mixed media, pastels, photography, pen and ink, digital media and more. Free admission, refreshments served. www.kingstowne.org, duchessducky@msn.com or nhannans@cox.net.
Misfits, JuiceheaD, So Damn Thirsty, Chainsaw Baby, Dead End Kidz, Dead Kings Rising, Idle Minds and The More You Know. 6:30 p.m. Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. All Ages. $23 advance, $25 at the door. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Sunday/Oct. 24
</b>Third Annual Arts and Craft Show. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at South Run RECenter, 7550 Reservation Drive Springfield. Jewelry, woodworking, photography, painting, glasswork, clothing, pottery and more. Door prizes awarded throughout the day. $2, free ages 12 and under. 703-866-0566.
Lorton Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton.
Kingstowne Area Artists Association Exhibit and Sale. 12-5 p.m. at the Snyder Center, 6450 South Van Dorn St., Kingstowne. Acrylics, oils, watercolor, mixed media, pastels, photography, pen and ink, digital media and more. Free admission, refreshments served. www.kingstowne.org, duchessducky@msn.com or nhannans@cox.net.
<b>Monday/Oct. 25
</b>P is for Pumpkin. 10:30 a.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Stories and songs about pumpkins. Age 3-5 with adult. 703-249-1520.
Halloween Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch for Halloween stories. Costumes encouraged. Age birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Trick or Treat Tales. 10:30 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Fall fun for ages 24 months to 5 years with adult. Wear a costume and join a parade. 703-339-4610.
Read to the Dog. 4:30-5:15 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read to a reading therapy dog. Sign up online or call to register for one 15-minute slot. Register at 703-339-4610.
<b>Tuesday/Oct. 26
</b>Book Beat Contest. 7:30 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Create a music video, poetry slam, or publicity poster based on a favorite story or poem during Teen Read Week, Oct 17-23. 703-249-1520.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Practice and improve your English. Adults. 703-451-8055.
<b>Wednesday/Oct. 27
</b>Moms On The Run. 10 a.m. at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 8336 Carrieigh Parkway, Springfield. With Fran Kashchy, director of programs for children and families. Discover how to invest in your children and develop lasting character qualities. Children welcome. $5. Momsontherun4@aol.com.
Wakefield Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. at 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale.
Good Night, Sleep Tight. 10:30 a.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Stories about sleeping. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-339-7385.
Travel Club. 1 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Bring lunch and enjoy a lively discussion. 703-451-8055.
<b>Thursday/Oct. 28
</b>Tales from the Pumpkin Patch. 2 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Stories and activities celebrating the season. Age 2-5 with adult. 703-451-8055.
<b>Friday/Oct. 29
</b>The Jake Rihaly Haunted House 2010. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. at 7213 Lamar Drive, Springfield. Recommended for age 10 and up. Free. www.alexanderrogge.net/hauntedhouse.
Kingstowne Farmers Market. 4-7 p.m. at Kingstowne Town Center, 5955 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 30
</b>Harvest Parade and Fun Fair. 12-3 p.m. in Historic Occoquan. The costume parade starts at 12 p.m., check in no later than 11:45 p.m. Dogs in costume welcome. $2 per family, all proceeds to be donated to a local food bank. Children’s activities, pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, story time and a book signing, face painting, petting zoo, games and crafts. Trick or treating available at participating businesses. janemernst@verizon.net.
Clifton Haunted Train. 7-10 p.m. in Buckley Park, Clifton. Re-enactments, scary movie scenes and freighting lighting and props. Parents should accompany children along the trail. No flashlights permitted. Monster Movies Under the Stars, hayrides, hot apple cider, cookies and snacks. All proceeds go towards Save Clifton Elementary Project. $10. rossj@RuderFinn.com.
Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association High School Marching Band Festival, Northeast Division. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. Marching bands and color guard units from 18 area high schools will perform. Tickets $5, reduced for senior citizens. Food available for purchase. ladesio@verizon.net.
Burke Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke.
The Jake Rihaly Haunted House 2010. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. at 7213 Lamar Drive, Springfield. Recommended for age 10 and up. Free. www.alexanderrogge.net/hauntedhouse.
<b>Sunday/Oct. 31
</b>Safe Youth Coalition 5K Fun Run/Walk. 12:30 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. A family event aimed at encouraging healthy life choices. Children are welcome to wear costumes, but appropriate tennis shoes are recommended. The first three winners in each of the non-timed events will be recognized. Proceeds benefit the Safe Youth Coalition, a non-profit organization that works with Fairfax County Public Schools Lee, South County, Edison and Hayfield pyramids. Register at www.active.com.
Canoe the Marsh With a Naturalist. 8 a.m. at Pohick Bay Regional Park, Gunston Road, Lorton. Age 16 and up. $25 per person. Reserve at 703-528-5406.
Lorton Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton.
The Jake Rihaly Haunted House 2010. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. at 7213 Lamar Drive, Springfield. Recommended for age 10 and up. Free. www.alexanderrogge.net/hauntedhouse.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 6
</b>Franconia Museum Annual History Day. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, 6300 Beulah St., Franconia. Honoring residents of the area who were killed in the Vietnam War, as part of a program recognizing all veterans. The Museum will release Volume VI in its series Franconia Remembers, this one featuring the life of Joe Davies, a local high school football star and Air Force pilot lost in 1968. Also included are recollections about seven others lost during the war, Paul M. Bayliss, Robert W. Cupp, Charles H. Elliott Jr., Kermit W. Holland Jr., Herman L. Judy Jr., Michael E. Ludwig and Michael L. Walker. Free. Food and soft drinks available for purchase, all proceeds benefit the Museum. franconiamuseum@yahoo.com.
Fall Festival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Olivet Episcopal Church, 6107 Franconia Road, Springfield. Moon bounce, pumpkin carving contest, games, food, cake walk and soup and bake sale. Basket Bingo begins at 2 p.m. All proceeds benefit "Build an Ark" project for Heifer International. 703-969-7159.
Burke Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke.
Sixth Annual Fairfax County History Conference. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church. Local authors and historians, history groups’ plans for 2010-2011, Civil War Sesquicentennial programs, exhibits, lectures and more. $20. Pre-registration required with Michelle Alexander, Resource Management Division, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 936, Fairfax 22035-1118. Contact Lynn Garvey-Hodge, 703-322-1811 or lghassoc@erols.com.
Virginia Storytelling Alliance. 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. A full day of workshops for beginning and experienced storytelling artists. $10-$25. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
<b>Wednesday/Nov. 10
</b>Fairfax Station Railroad Museum Civil War Forum. 7:30 p.m. at11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Jenee Lindner will discuss "One Nation, Two Flags, Three Women," about Julia Ward Howe, Clara Barton and Sarah Tracy. Free admission. www.Fairfax-Station.org or 703-425-9225.