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Thursday, Dec. 24

Christmas at Mount Vernon features themed Christmas trees, chocolate-making demonstrations, 18th-century dancing and house tours through Jan. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $7 for children 6 to 11 and free for children under 6. Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. Call 703-780-2000 or visit www.MountVernon.org.

Christmas Eve worship includes an abbreviated Eucharist with carols and a brief homily, suitable for children, at 3:30 and 5 p.m.; a service featuring the adult choir performing "Messe de Minuit pour Noel" at 8 p.m.; and Mass of the Nativity, featuring the adult choir and a professional string quartet at 11 p.m. St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Call 703-759-2082 or visit www.stfrancisgreatfalls.org.

Bull Run Festival of Lights features 2.5 miles of beautiful light displays and a Holiday Village complete with food and gift vendors, carnival rides and more through Jan. 10. Hours are Mondays to Thursdays, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Fridays to Sundays and holidays, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $15 to $30 per car or van; tickets for carnival rides sold separately. Call 703-359-4633 or visit www.nvrpa.org/parks/brfestoflights.

"Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come," a Christmas Eve service with candle lighting and communion, is at 7 p.m. Oakton Church of the Brethren, 10025 Courthouse Road, Vienna. Call 703-281-4411 or visit www.oaktonbrethren.org. 

Christmas Eve Candlelight worship includes communion, guest soloists, congregational carol singing, Scripture and the Christmas story for children at 7:30 p.m. The Historic Antioch Christian Church, 1860 Beulah Road, Vienna. Call 703-938-6753.

Friday, Dec. 25

Merry Christmas!

Worship service with Eucharist and carols is offered at 11 a.m. St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Call 703-759-2082 or visit www.stfrancisgreatfalls.org.

Saturday, Dec. 26

Natural Holiday Thank You Notes shows children 4 to 9 how to create nature-themed cards from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Cost is $5 per child. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce St., Annandale. To make a reservation, call 703-941-1065.

Creature Feature invites children of all ages to discover the variety of turtles found in Fairfax County, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Cost is $4 per person. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce St., Annandale. To make a reservation, call 703-941-1065.

Sunday, Dec. 27

Holiday Treats for Wildlife invites children to make delectable goodies for birds and squirrels from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Fee is $5 per child. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce St., Annandale. To make a reservation, call 703-941-1065.

Monday, Dec. 28

Holiday Art Camp for children 3 to 6 is from 9 a.m. to noon. The camp continues Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Class fee is $90 for Vienna residents, $113 for nonresidents; materials fee is $20. Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., SE. Call 703-255-6360 or visit www.viennava.gov.

Junior Park Naturalist Camp invites children 5 to 8 to feed animals, help build a campfire, check and repair trails, and make nature crafts. Camp continues daily through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $130 per camper. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly. To reserve, call 703-631-0013.

Mammal Camp invites children 8 to 12 to set a live trap line, check a tracking pit and set out a night camera, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Camp continues Tuesday for same hours. Cost is $50 per camper. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly. To reserve, call 703-631-0013.

Animal Vets workshop invites children 8 to 12 to spend the day with exhibit animals, checking their health, weight and size, and refreshing their tanks from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $75 for county residents, $90 for nonresidents. Riverbend Nature Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. Call 703-759-9018 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/classes.htm.

A series called "re:collection," by Burke painter Diane Shiely Frykman, is on display through Jan. 10. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Building 4, Workhouse for the Arts, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Call 703-584-2900 or visit www.workhousearts.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

"Zoology: The Science Behind Animal Lives" invites children 6 to 11 to study the biology and habits of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects of the mid-Atlantic region, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $75 for county residents, $90 for nonresidents. Riverbend Nature Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. Call 703-759-9018 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/classes.htm.

Bob Brown's Snow Show Puppets perform for two 40-minute shows, at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $4 per person; prepaid reservations recommended. Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Road, Herndon. Call 703-437-9101.

Three exhibits - "As Likely As Not:  Sculpture by Alex Bay and R. L. Croft," "Hybrids of Tutela: New Works by Melissa Dickenson" and "McLean Art Society Juried Exhibition" - are on display through Jan. 8. Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. McLean Project for the Arts, McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. Call 703-790-1953 or visit www.mpaart.org

"Home for the Holidays," a 20-year retrospective of Herndon photography by Jim Kirby, is on display through Jan. 17. Hours are Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. ArtSpace, 750 Center St., Herndon. Admission is free. Call 703-956-6590 or visit www.artspaceherndon.com.

IONA - which treats audiences to the high-energy entertainment of Scottish fiddling, driving percussion and strong vocals - presents the music of the Celtic countries in two holiday concerts, from 1 to 2 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. Cost is $10; house tour, refreshments included. Prepaid reservations required. Refunds require two-week written notice. Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly. Call 703-437-1794, e-mail fcpasullyevents@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully/calendar.htm

Weekly dances give participants the chance to boogie to contemporary and classic dance music -- West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Hustle, Shag, Latin and Country Western Two-Step -- from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Arrive early for a lesson from 7 to 8 p.m. No partner or dance experience needed. Admission is $10. Colvin Run Schoolhouse, 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls. E-mail edcottrell@macp.org or call 703-435-5620; e-mail gailcrum3@aol.com or call 703-450-6539.

Wednesday, Dec. 30

"Science and Astronomy Fun" invites children 8 to 12 to delve into the mysteries of the solar system and the science of space with experiments and to make a telescope, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $90 for county residents, $105 for nonresidents. Riverbend Nature Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. Call 703-759-9018 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/classes.htm.

"Visual Poetry," a deeper look at our inner and outer world, features the work of artists Maureen Wolford, Nancy Hannans and Hsi Mei Yates through Jan. 3. Hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Gallery in STUDIO 5, 9522 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Visit www.workhousearts.org.

"Songs of the Sea" presents Ship's Company Chanteymen singing hearty work songs of the sea and soulful ballads in two shows, from 1 to 2 p.m. and from 2 to 3 p.m. Cost is $10; house tour, refreshments included. Prepaid reservations required. Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly. Call 703-437-1794 or e-mail fcpasullyevents@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully/calendar.htm

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