Thursday/March 29
South County Battle of the Bands. 7 p.m. South County Secondary School, 8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton. Local rock bands compete for prizes. Raffle and door prizes. All proceeds benefiting the South County Class of 2012 All Night Graduation Party. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. 703-493-9146 or plstillman@msn.com.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Practice English and improve your skills. Adults. 703-249-1520.
Learning English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Friday/March 30
School Art Show. 6:30-8:30 p.m. St. Bernadette School, 7602 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Artwork by students in kindergarten-8th grade. cboneo@stbernschool.org.
March Into Spring with Native Run and Friends. 8 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave E Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
"The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee." 8 p.m. Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. $15-$20. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
Saturday/March 31
Virginia/DC Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. With drum set artist/historian Daniel Glass, marimbist Rebecca Kite, the US Airforce Band Percussion Section, the Washington Pipe Band, the Youth Orchestra of Prince William Percussion ensemble and more. Door prizes, exhibit hall and more. $7-$15. 571-335-4289 or www.pas.org/Chapters/VirginiaDC.
Children’s Shows: The Smithsonian and Jammin Java present Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
March Into Spring with Native Run and Marcus Hummon. 8 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
Mega Match-a-thon Adoption Event. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax. All cats and dogs will receive a free spay/neuter prior to being adopted. Dog adoptions for the event will cost $40 and cat adoption $20. Sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 703-830-1100.
Virginia Grand Military Band. 8 p.m. Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Performing works by Fillmore, von Suppe and Goldman. Adults $20, under 18 free. 703-426-4777 or www.vgmb.com.
Mac Miller with The Cool Kids and The Come Ups. 8 p.m. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. A rapper from Pittsburgh, Pa. Tickets $25-$35 at www.ticketmaster.com or 703-573-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities at 703-993-3035. www.patriotcenter.com.
Public Reception: Art…For a Change. 2-4 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. An artistic outreach program that focuses on the power of visual arts to enrich lives and evoke change. The exhibit will be open March 30-April 8. www.workhousearts.org.
VITA Tax Assistance. 10 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $50K. Adults. 703-339-4610.
VITA Tax Assistance. 10 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $50K. Adults. 703-451-8055.
"The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee." 8 p.m. Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. $15-$20. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
"Sinbad: the Untold Tale." 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. $8-$12.. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
Food Drive. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Giant #0798, 8941 Ox Rd., Shoppes at Lorton Valley, Lorton. Items collected during this event will be donated to the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged families and children in the Lorton, Virginia area. Sponsored by Jack and Jill of America Inc., Burke-Fairfax Chapter. 410-903-6253.
Sunday/April 1
TBS and Mercury Rising at 1:30 p.m.; An Evening With Willy Porter at 7:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
Real Security, Without the Blanket. 2 p.m. City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St., Fairfax. Kevin Graunke, CSB, on finding calm and security through practical prayer. Sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Fairfax. Free. www.christiansciencefairfax.com or 703-707-9641.
Mega Match-a-thon Adoption Event. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax. All cats and dogs will receive a free spay/neuter prior to being adopted. Dog adoptions for the event will cost $40 and cat adoption $20. Sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 703-830-1100.
Virginia Grand Military Band. 8 p.m. Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Performing works by Fillmore, von Suppe and Goldman. Adults $20, under 18 free. 703-426-4777 or www.vgmb.com.
Monday/April 2
Children’s Music Performance Series. 10:30 a.m. Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax. First and third Mondays of each month. Free admission. 703-352-2787 or www.fairfaxarts.org.
April Fools Stand-Up Show. 6:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
Mega Match-a-thon Adoption Event. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax. All cats and dogs will receive a free spay/neuter prior to being adopted. Dog adoptions for the event will cost $40 and cat adoption $20. Sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 703-830-1100.
Tuesday/April 3
"Down To The Islands" with Cody & Bj. 11 a.m. Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. Interactive music show for ages 2-11 years. Singing, limbo, play in the band. Meet Cheyenne, a live macaw parrot. Free. 703-644-7333.
Tom Lohrmann, Bandits & Beggars and Brightwork. 7 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
Wednesday/April 4
Bunny Bonanza. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Heritage Farm Museum, Claude Moore Park, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. Interact with live rabbits, meet the Easter Bunny, and enjoy hands-on exhibits and crafts for all ages. Discover opportunities to volunteer to work with animals in our area. $3-$5. www.heritagefarmmuseum.org.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. 7 p.m. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot circle, Fairfax. "Fully Charged." Pre-show Party one hour before show time, free to ticket holders. $14-$30. 800-551-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com.
Daughter of Stars and Westmain. 7 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
George Winston. 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. New Orleans R&B oriented, melodic folk piano and stride piano. Includes canned food drive. $35. www.wolftrap.org.
Thursday/April 5
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. 7 p.m. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot circle, Fairfax. "Fully Charged." Pre-show Party one hour before show time, free to ticket holders. $14-$30. 800-551-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com.
Aztec Two-Step 40th Anniversary Tour CD Release. 7:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. www.jamminjava.com.
George Winston. 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. New Orleans R&B oriented, melodic folk piano and stride piano. Includes canned food drive. $35. www.wolftrap.org.