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/May 5
</b>Art Show at Greenspring. 12-4 p.m. Greenspring, Hunter’s Crossing Conference Center, 7430 Spring Village Drive, Springfield. Paintings, photography, handmade cards, bead work, pottery and more, including works by Greenspring residents Sidney Foster and Gus Muller. 703-932-4690 or www.ericksonliving.com.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Practice and improve your English. Adults. 703-249-1520.
Practice Your English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
<b>Friday/May 6
</b>"Once Upon a Mattress.” 7 p.m. New Hope Church, 8905 Ox Road, Lorton. Northern Virginia Players presents the story of the Princess and the Pea in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. www.NVPlayers.com or 703-866-3546.
Art Show at Greenspring. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Greenspring, Hunter’s Crossing Conference Center, 7430 Spring Village Drive, Springfield. Paintings, photography, handmade cards, bead work, pottery and more, including works by Greenspring residents Sidney Foster and Gus Muller. 703-932-4690 or www.ericksonliving.com.
<b>Saturday/May 7
</b>New Hope Housing, Inc. Fundraiser. 7 p.m. Waterford Reception, 6715 Commerce St., Springfield. South-of-the-Border style reception, silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing to benefit New Hope, providing transitional and permanent housing, support services and more for the homeless. $150 per person. 703-799-2293 ext. 727 or www.newhopehousing.org.
"Once Upon a Mattress.” 7 p.m. New Hope Church, 8905 Ox Road, Lorton. Northern Virginia Players presents the story of the Princess and the Pea in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. www.NVPlayers.com or 703-866-3546.
<b>Sunday/May 8
</b>Operating Model Train Displays. 12-5 p.m. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. The Potomac Module Crew, Monty’s Legos and N-gauge model trains. $3 adults, $1 children. www.fairfax-station.org or 703-425-9225.
<b>Monday/May 9
</b>Giggles and Wiggles. 10:30 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Stories, songs, and fun for age 24 months-3 years with adult. 703-339-4610.
Read to the Dog. 4:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read to a reading therapy dog. Call to register for one 15-minute slot. Age 6-12 with adult. 703-339-4610.
Book Bunch. 3:30 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Book discussion. Call for title. Age 7-8 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Tuesday/May 10
</b>English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Practice and improve your English. Adults. 703-451-8055.
Second Tuesday Book Discussion. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin. June's title: “The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox- Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and Their Brothers” by John C. Waugh. 703-339-4610.
<b>Wednesday/May 11
</b>The Battle of Blackburns Ford, July 18, 1861: Prelude to First Manassas. 7:30 p.m. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. With Manassas National Battlefield Park ranger and museum specialist Jim Burgess. Free and open to the public. www.fairfax-station.org or 703-425-9225.
Paws for Reading. 4 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Practice reading skills with a trained therapy dog. First come, first serve. Sign ups start 4 p.m. day of the program. Age 6-12. 703-249-1520.
Read with Me. 10:30 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Storytime with activities. Age 1-2 with adult. 703-451-8055.
Practice Your English. 10:15 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Older Adults Book Group. 2 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Meet next door at Kingstowne Center for Active Adults (KNCAA.) Cosponsored by KNCAA. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Fun for Twos and Threes. 10:30 a.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Stories and activities. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Thursday/May 12
</b>All That Jazz. 7 p.m. West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. Jazz, pop and disco songs. $5. jeanabood@mac.com.
Practice Your English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. Adults. 703-339-4610.
<b>Friday/May 13
</b>Art & Design Senior Show Reception. 6-10:30 p.m. George Mason University School of Art, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Over 90 artists and performances by The Attractions, Ketura, Solace Sovay, Jelly Gums, Atlast and Stanley Cooley. Complimentary refreshments and food. Free admission and parking. dmoss@gmu.edu.
"Once Upon a Mattress.” 7 p.m. New Hope Church, 8905 Ox Road, Lorton. Northern Virginia Players presents the story of the Princess and the Pea in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. www.NVPlayers.com or 703-866-3546.
<b>Saturday/May 14
</b>Franconia in the Civil War. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Robert E. Lee Recreation Center, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia. Two days of history, music, artifacts and information relating to the Franconia area during the Civil War, with artisans, historians and authors from Franconia and Fairfax County. Period music by elementary school groups. Adults $5 for both days, age 62 and up and age 14-18 $2.50, under age 14 free. dhakenson@cox.net or 703-971-4984.
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.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. More than 200 choristers, soloists and musicians performing Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection.” With Jeanine Thames, Janine Hawley, Fairfax Choral Society and The Reston Chorale. Pre-concert discussion at 7 p.m. free to ticketed patrons. Adults $25 - $55, ages 6-18 $5. 888-945-2468.
Sesquicentennial Civil War Tour of Fairfax County. 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Beginning at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Civil War historian John McAnaw will lead the tour to earth works in Centreville, Mt. Gilead and more as well as a tour of Civil War weapons at the National Firearms Museum. Space is limited. $25 for Fairfax Station Railroad members, $30 non-members. 703-278-8833 or www.fairfax-station.org.
Fifth Annual Fair Lakes SpringFest. 1-4 p.m. in the General Dynamics’ parking lot, 12450 Fair Lakes Circle, Fair Lakes. An annual gathering highlighting local businesses, county agencies and community groups, such as Whole Foods Market, Bikes for the World, the Fairfax County Division of Solid Waste and more. Inflatable fun zone, petting zoo, face painting, community police and rescue vehicles and more. Children’s performances include “Rainforest Alive,” featuring live animals at 1:30 p.m. and “Oh Susannah” interactive children’s music at 2:30 p.m. Bikes for the World will collect used bicycles to be cleaned and donated to people around the world. A donation of $10 is suggested to defray costs of shipping bicycles overseas. Free admission. www.fairlakes.com.
"Once Upon a Mattress.” 7 p.m. New Hope Church, 8905 Ox Road, Lorton. Northern Virginia Players presents the story of the Princess and the Pea in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. www.NVPlayers.com or 703-866-3546.
All That Jazz. 7 p.m. West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. Jazz, pop and disco songs. $5. jeanabood@mac.com.
Friends of the Library Book Sale. 10 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Gems and finds for all readers. All ages. 703-339-4610.
Paws to Read. 11 a.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Practice reading aloud to a trained therapy dog. 15-minute session available. Age 6-12. 703-339-7385.
<b>Sunday/May 15
</b>Franconia in the Civil War. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Robert E. Lee Recreation Center, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia. Two days of history, music, artifacts and information relating to the Franconia area during the Civil War, with artisans, historians and authors from Franconia and Fairfax County. Period music by elementary school groups. Adults $5 for both days, seniors and ages 14-18 $2.50, under age 14 free. dhakenson@cox.net or 703-971-4984.
Operating Model Train Displays. 12-5 p.m. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Northern Virginia Ntrak members and N-gauge model trains. $3 adults, $1 children. www.fairfax-station.org or 703-425-9225.
<b>Monday/May 16
</b>Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! 2:30 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Meet members of the largest and most diverse class in the animal kingdom. Presented by the staff of Hidden Pond Nature Center. 703-451-8055.
Books Are My Friends. 10:30 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Age 13-23 months with adult. Registration is not required; tickets will be distributed beginning 30 minutes before the event. 703-339-4610.
Read to the Dog. 4:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read to a reading therapy dog. Call to register for one 15-minute slot. Age 6-12 with adult. 703-339-4610.
<b>Tuesday/May 17
</b>Little White Duck. 2 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Stories and activities. Age 3-5 with adult. 703-451-8055.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Practice and improve your English. Adults. 703-451-8055.
Lullaby Stories. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Evening stories and activities. Pajamas and stuffed animals welcome. Age 1-5 with adult. 703-339-4610.
<b>Wednesday/May 18
</b>Practice Your English. 10:15 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Paint a Rainbow. 10:30 a.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Stories and activities about color. Age 2-4 with adult. 703-339-7385.