Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.
All cats adopted from the Loudoun County Animal Shelter through Nov. 30 will go home with a "Kitty Care Kit" including necessities like a litter box, scoop, food and water bowls, and toys. Plus, all cat adopters will be eligible to win a Kitty Play Center. Visit www.loudoun.gov/animals. The Loudoun County Animal Shelter is located at 39820 Charles Town Pike, Waterford.
Loudoun County Public Schools Student Art Exhibit hosted by The George Washington University Virginia Campus, through Jan. 25. The winter exhibit features two-dimensional, mixed-media works by 75 LCPS students from Emerick Elementary School, Hamilton Elementary School, Harmony Intermediate School and Loudoun Valley High School.
Artist recognition reception Monday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8 p.m. Gallery hours 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Mondays-Fridays, The George Washington University Virginia Campus, Gallery Lounge 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn. The reception is free and open to the public. RSVP for the reception by Tuesday, Nov. 28, via e-mail to reservations@va.gwu.edu or by telephone at 703-726-3650.
Aurora Studio Theatre presents an original adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s romantic comedy "Arms and the Man," called "Arms and the Highlander," written and directed by playwright Meredith Bean McMath.
Performances run through Nov. 26, Fridays and Saturdays, at 8 p.m. and Sundays, at 3 p.m., at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and only $5 for students. All tickets at the door with the exception of block tickets an special needs, call 540-338-3493. Visit www.aurorastudiotheatre.org.
Babygarten, a program for infants and their parents or caregivers recommended for children from birth to 18 months. Babygarten classes focus on how nursery rhymes, songs and books can enrich a child's life from the very beginning and provide them with a foundation for the future.
Each Babygarten session lasts for six weeks.
Babygarten will run at Ashburn Library, Wednesdays, through Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m. and Fridays, through Dec. 29. Registration required. Call 703-737-8105.
Babygarten will run at Cascades Library Mondays, through Dec., 11 a.m. and Tuesdays, from through Dec. 19. Registration required. Call 703-444-3228 Ext. 309.
The 7th annual Pumpkinville fall festival, runs through Nov. 30, at the Leesburg Animal Park, 19720 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, and includes a hay maze, giant hill slides, straw tunnels, rope swings, moon bounces, all-you-can-eat apples, fresh cider and pick-your-own pumpkin. Explore the 20 acre park featuring Fort Pumpkin and the new spooky pirate ship. Additional weekend activities include camel rides, face and pumpkin painting, all-you-can-eat popcorn, mini tractor rides and more. Free weekend entertainment includes nationally renowned comedians, magicians and puppeteers.
Open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Nov. 6. Weekday admission is $6.50 per person; weekends are $10 per person. Children under 2 are free. Call 703-433-0002 or visit www.LeesburgAnimalPark.com.
Santa makes house calls, Dec. 13-21, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Register at Arcola Community Center, 24244 Gum Springs Road or call 703-327-3111. Cost $30 for 15-minute visit, $60 for 30-minute visit.
Oatlands Plantation, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, will be holding "For Season Teas" throughout the year. Includes autumn leaf teas, Thursday, teddy bear tea, Sunday, Dec. 17. Cost $24.95 plus tax per person; children 8 and under are $15.95 plus tax. Seating at 1 p.m.
Fall teas are served Thursdays-Saturdays, from through Nov. 30, except Thanksgiving Day. Holiday teas are served Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, from Dec. 1-22 and Dec. 27-29, except Dec. 24. Cost $21.95 plus tax per person; children 8 and under are $12.95 plus tax. Seating are at 1 p.m. Reservations required for all the teas, call 703-777-3174 or visit www.oatlands.org.
Christmas at Oatlands, through Dec. 29, Oatlands Plantation, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg. The mansion is adorned with holiday decorations that evoke a sense of the abundant, luxurious and romantic past of the Oatlands. Daytime tours Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $10 adults, $9 seniors, $7 for children 6-16, children 5 and under free. Evening tours Dec. 15, 16, 22 and 23, 5-8 p.m. Cost $12 for adults and seniors, $8 for children 6-16 and children 5 and younger free. Call 703-777-3174 or visit www.oatlands.org.
Winter Farmers Market, every Saturday, through March 31, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Virginia Village Shopping Center, 20 Catoctin Circle, Leesburg. Buy fresh products from local farmers, including eggs, apples, fall vegetables, fresh breads and baked goods and meat products. Visit www.loudounfarmersmarkets.com.
The Douglass Community Center, in conjunction with the Leesburg Police Department, Leesburg Parks and Recreation and Loudoun PRCS Youth Services offers a youth program on Friday evenings called Midnight Madness., a recreational program for youth in grades sixth-12th. Open to any youth in the community free of charge. School bus transportation is provided to and from the community center to designated stops in northeast Leesburg. Activities include basketball, football, board games and movies.
Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail at dcc@loudoun.gov.
The Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, offers toddle story hour, every Tuesday, 9:15-10 a.m., for ages 1.5-5 years old. For caregiver and child and includes lively stories, movement, music and more. $6. Preregister by calling 703-771-5281.
Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, will hold the following ongoing story times. Lapsits for 2s, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.; Mother Goose Nursery Time, ages 18-24 months, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; Pajama Story Time, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; Story Time for 3s, 4s and 5s, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; After School Book Break, ages 5-8, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.; Terrific 3s, Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.; Saturday Family Story Time, ages 2-6, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-444-3228.
Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg, will hold the following story times. Mother Goose Nursery Time, ages 18-24 months, Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m., one-on-one with your child; Lapsits for 2s, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., caregivers are requested to stay with the child; Family Story Time for 3s, 4s & 5s, Thursdays, 7 p.m., sign interpreter present; Morning Story Time for 3s, 4s & 5s, Fridays, 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Saturday Family Story Time, ages 3-6 and their family, Saturdays, 11 a.m. Call 703-777-0323.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., will be holding the following ongoing story times. Preschool Story Times, ages 2-5, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Saturday Family Story Times, ages 2-5, second Saturdays of each month, 11 a.m. Call 703-430-9500.
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, offers the following ongoing story times. Mother Goose Nursery Time, ages 18-24 months, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.; Terrific 2s: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.; Preschool Story Time, ages 3-5, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.; Wonderful Wednesday Stories, ages 3-5, Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.; Pajama Story Time, ages 3-5, Wednesdays, 7 p.m.; Saturday Family Story Time, ages 2-5, Saturdays, 10 a.m. Call 703-737-8100.
On the last Friday of each month, at 7 p.m., teenagers from Loudoun and Fairfax counties are invited to the Dulles Town Center, in partnership with Next Level for Teens, for an evening devoted to teen issues and events, called Teens Talk at Dulles Town Center. Free. The Dulles Town Center is located at the intersection of routes 7 and 28. Visit ShopDullesTownCenter.com.
Leesburg Animal Park has several new animal exhibits including exotic and domestic animals, an expanded contact area to pet and feed animals, a new bird aviary, a safari ride to tour. The park will feature live entertainment on weekends.
The Leesburg Animal Park is located at 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. Admissions are $7.95 for children and seniors, $9.95 for adults. Free for children under two. Group rates are $6 with a 10-person minimum on Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays. Wild Wednesdays offer $2 off all admission rates, not valid with other offers. Hours are Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.LeesburgAnmialPark.com or call 703-433-0002.
Leesburg First Fridays. Galleries and shops open their doors on the first Friday of each month with special events, refreshments and entertainment, from 6-9 p.m. There is no First Friday in January. Free. Call 800-752-6118. Visit www.leesburgfirstfriday.com.
Guided Nature or History Hikes for all ages at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. Nature hikes, Frogshackle Cabin Nature Center, history hikes and special request programs for school groups, scouts, community organizations, adults and families are available on a variety of topics throughout the year. Programs designed to foster an appreciation of Loudoun County's natural and cultural resources in a fun and informative way. Cost is $3.50 per person for a group tour, with a minimum charge of $35. Call 703-444-1275 for reservations.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., will have a new story time, every second Saturday of the month, at 11 a.m. Includes stories, music and activities. The story time is recommended for ages 2-5. Visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.