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/July 28
</b>English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Practice English and improve your English speaking skills. Adults. 703-249-1520.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
<b>Friday/July 29
</b>Stuntology. 2:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Sam Bartlett, musician, artist and author of Stuntology, presents pranks, tricks and stunts to amuse yourself and amaze your friends. 703-339-4610.
<b>Saturday/July 30
</b>Cocker Spaniel Adoption Show. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Alexandria Hybla Valley Petsmart, 7690 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Meet cockers of all ages available for adoption. All dogs are spayed or neutered. Volunteers will help potential adopters find a good match and answer questions. Sponsored by Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue. 703-533-2373 or www.cockerspanielrescue.com.
Charity’s Law Benefit & Fundraiser For Hope & Faith. 4 p.m. Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. With Krass Judgement, Hatred, Twisted Tower Dire and more. All ages. $10 advance, $12 at the door. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
Stuntology. 10:30 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Sam Bartlett, musician, artist and author of Stuntology, presents pranks, tricks and stunts to amuse yourself and amaze your friends. 703-451-8055.
<b>Sunday/July 31
</b>Civil War Rangers, Raiders, and Spies at Green Spring Gardens. 1-3 p.m. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Stories of Civil War spycraft and the men and women who served as agents for the Blue and the Gray. Learn about two important Civil War spies with close connections to Green Spring whose undercover exploits changed the course of the war. 703-642-5173.
<b>Wednesday/Aug. 3
</b>Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. 7 p.m. Lee District Park Amphitheater, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia. Bluegrass. 703-324-SHOW.
<b>Sunday/Aug. 7
</b>Artists’ Reception. 2-5 p.m. The Artists’ Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. The exhibit “reLeaf: An Exploration of Leaf and Tree Forms” features copper works by Anne Jordan of Fairfax and mixed media by Elisabeth Hudgins of Arlington. 703-494-0584 or www.theartistsundertaking.com.
Nitehawks Swing and Gregg Smith. 2 p.m. Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Big band dance arrangements, jump and jive tunes, ballads and rock & roll. Free. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
<b>Wednesday/Aug. 10
</b>Civil War History of the Hunter Mill Road Corridor. 7:30 p.m. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. With forum speaker Jim Lewis, a historian, tour guide and member of the Bull Run Civil War Round Table. Free. 703-425-9225.
<b>Saturday/Aug. 13
</b>2nd Saturday Art Walk. 6-9 p.m. Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Meet each building's featured artist, a reception in W-16 from 6-7 p.m. and more. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
<b>Wednesday/Aug. 17
</b>Creation's End, Seven Kingdoms, Widow, Artizan and more. 6:30 p.m. Jaxx, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. $10 advance, $12 at the door. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Thursday/Aug. 18
</b>Lionheart, I Declare War, Molotov Solution, Armor for the Broken and more. 5 p.m. Jaxx, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. $12 advance, $14 at the door. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Friday/Aug. 19
</b>Space Rock Invasion USA Tour with Nektar, Brainticket, Huw Lloyd Langton (Of Hawkwind) and more. 8 p.m. Jaxx, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Age 21 and up. $25 advance, $30 at the door. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Saturday/Aug. 20
</b>DC Fest with Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. 3 p.m. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Also with by Kutless, Big Daddy Weave, Matthew West, Sidewalk Prophets and Jonny Diaz. Tickets $15-$99, available at www.ticketmaster.com and 703-573-SEAT. www.patriotcenter.com.
<b>Sunday/Aug. 21
</b>Canine Cruises. 6 p.m. Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Cruise on the Park’s dog-friendly pontoon boat while your dog scans for ducks, geese, and other lake dwellers. $6 per person, no charge for the dog. One dog per person limit. Reservations and pre-payment required. 703-222-4664 or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/.
Northern Virginia NTRACK. 1-4 p.m. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Members will have a display and N gauge trains running. $3 adults, $1 children. www.fairfax-station.org or 703-425-9225.