October 25 through October 31
SPOTLIGHT:
Manor House Madness
Oct. 28, 8-11 p.m. Are you afraid of the dark? The haunted house is back again this year, so grab some friends and hold on tight as your tour guide leads you through the eerie three levels of this old Underground Railroad house. You never know who’s lurking in the shadows. The thrill will send chills up your spine! / Greenway Manor House, 25 Greenway Drive, Leesburg; http://www.facebook.com/edgeleesburg#!/event.php?eid=223521571037347; free
SOUND
‘A Symphonic Spooktacular’ • oct 29 @ 7:30 PM. “A Symphonic Spooktacular” is the NoVA Manassas Symphony Orchestra’s fun and exciting look at Halloween with great music, both mysterious and whimsical. Andrew Sords, an internationally renowned young violinist, is the symphony’s featured soloist for the evening. The audience is invited to wear tasteful costumes. A best costume contest will be held for children in the lobby during intermission. / Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Merchant Hall, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas; 888-945-2468; www.hyltoncenter.org; $12-$18, children and GMU students free.
‘Music From The Big Screen’ • oct 29 @ 7:30 PM. Vienna Choral Society will perform “Music From The Big Screen,” at the UU Congregation of Fairfax. Come hear an evening of music worthy of an Oscar with songs from movie dramas, comedies and action/adventure favorites. Including the Lord of the Rings, Shrek, Superman, O Brother Where Art Thou, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and more! / www.viennachoralsociety.org
Vicente Fernandez • oct 30 @ 7 PM. Featuring Edith Marquez. For more than 40 years now, Vicente Fernández has been thrilling audiences with his powerful and unmistakable ranchera style. Now he’s back out on the road and touring once again! “El rey de la canción ranchera” is a brilliant and charismatic vocalist who has become a cultural idol and has sold an astounding 50 million records around the world. Don’t miss your chance to experience his magnificent voice and magnetic stage presence live and in concert! / Patriot Center at George Mason University; 4500 Patriot Circle Fairfax; 703-573-SEAT; www.patriotcenter.com; $63-$143.STAGE
Compañia Flamenca José Porcel ‘Gypsy Fire’ • OCT 30 @ 4 PM. Spain’s premier flamenco dancer and choreographer, José Porcel, and his company of gifted dancers and musicians dazzle audiences with an explosion of passionate rhythms, powerful movement, vibrant colors and breathtaking choreography. / Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Merchant Hall, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas; 888-945-2468; www.hyltoncenter.org; $28-44.
‘Saturday Night’ • OCT 19–30; times vary. Unproduced for almost 45 years, ‘Saturday Night’ is the first musical Mr. Sondheim ever wrote. This romantic comedy surges with the composer’s unique musical voice and sophisticated lyrics. On the eve of the 1929 stock market crash, a group of Brooklyn boys despair their dateless Saturday nights. One of them dreams of Manhattan society life and hatches a get-rich-quick scheme which ultimately backfires. / Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington; 703-820-9771; www.signature-theatre.org; $40-$50.
FRAME
Art on the Rocks • oct 26 from 6–9 pm. The Art League hosts this annual art-inspired cocktail competition. During this festive event, several local mixologists will each select a work of art from the Oct. juried exhibit as inspiration to whip up a creative cocktail. Ticket holders may sample the cocktails and vote for their favorite as they enjoy appetizers from the mixologists’ restaurants. / Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Art League Gallery, Room 21, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria; 703-838-4565; www.torpedofactory.org; $35.
“Get Sparked! Art inspired by writing” art exhibit • Oct 7-30. Each participating artist received one written inspiration piece, then created new art using the assigned story or poem as a jumping off point. Also, Greenbriar East Elementary students created artwork inspired by selected writers. / Opening reception: October 7. SPARK reading: October 14. Student reception: October 21. Show and events are free and open to the public. Details at: www.TheDelRayArtisans.org.
COLLAGE WITH LORI K GORDON Workshop • Oct 29-30, 9-4 PM. Nationally recognized, Mississippi Gulf Coast artist Lori K. Gordon will provide a workshop at the Del Ray Artisans (Alexandria VA). Register for one or both days. Day one: Small-scale organic collages. Day 2: Larger scale collage. Registration required. / Including supplies, DRA members pay $130 (1 day) or $235 (both days); non-members pay $145 or $265. For details, visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org/collage or contact Linda Hill at 703-521-7623 or Programs@TheDelRayArtisans.org.
‘Masks’ • Throughout october. Masks have long served as a symbol and a tool for concealment, protection, amusement, and performance. Artists are asked to create work based on the theme of masks, literally and conceptually. This is an all-media exhibition, which will be open to all artists nationally and internationally. The juror will be Brittany Yam, Director of Project 4 Gallery in Washington, D.C. There is also a special reception on Oct. 13 from 6 to 8 PM. / Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria; 703-838-4565; www.torpedofactory.org; free.
TOTS
Trick or Treat Through the Haunted Woods • oct 28-29, 6:30-9:30 p.m. All your favorite ghosts and goblins are back again this year, along with two new, tantalizingly scary treat stations. Kids ages 6 to 14 are invited and must be accompanied by a parent. / Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna; $10 per person ($7 for Meadowlark members) must be pre-paid at 703.255.3631 x 0.
OctoberBlast! Flashlight Candy Hunt! • oct 29, 6-8:30 p.m. Destiny Church will host a huge flashlight candy hunt! The event will also include popcorn, cotton candy, moon bounces, music by DJ 1.OH.1.3., puppets and a costume contest. Win awesome prizes like an Xbox 360, an iPod and lots of candy! Children through 5th grade and their parents are invited. / Greenway Manor House, 25 Greenway Drive, Leesburg; http://www.wix.com/joshcarte3/octoberblast; free.
Ticonderoga Farm • Through October, 9AM to 6PM. Pumpkin Patch: Celebrate the fall season with Ticonderoga Farms! The Fall Festival features Pick Your Own pumpkins from their patch plus hayrides, hillside slides, a bamboo maze, log cabins, hay forts, a tee pee village, swings, farm animals and more! Shop their farm store for organic, antibiotic-free eggs, local honey from their own hives, jams, jellies, pine cones, straw bales, seasonal fruits, firewood and more. Make your own S’mores over fire pits (available at concessions), and enjoy popcorn, hot dogs, pizza, cider, cotton candy and other treats. / Ticonderoga Farm, 26469 Ticonderoga Road, South Riding/Chantilly; 703-327-4424; www.ticonderoga.com; $8.95-$14.95.
Cox Farms Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch • Through Oct FROM 10 AM–6 PM daily. One of the largest fall festivals in Virginia, activities include unlimited hayrides, giant slides, rope swings, farm animal feeding, pumpkin patch, live entertainment and much more, all on a 90-acre property. A fun activity that was introduced last year is “Farm Chores,” which provides interactive farm chores for kids, such as water pumps, cow milking, a corn crib and a chicken coop. / Cox Farms, 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville; 703-830-4121; www.coxfarms.com; $9-$15.
Burke Nursery and Garden Center • Through Oct FROM 9 AM–9 PM daily. This is the 16th annual Fall Festival and Pumpkin Playground. Children of all ages can enjoy activities including a pirate’s ship, pirate’s camp, pumpkin fort, Ghost Tunnel Slide, Western Town, Money Mountain, Teepee, Mary Aponte the Cherokee storyteller, farm animals, numerous slides, tubes, swings and more. / Burke Nursery and Garden Center, 9401 Burke Road, Burke; 703-323-1188; www.pumpkinplayground.com; $9-$12.
ODDS
Reston Challenge’s 2011 Fall Festival • oct 29, 11 AM-4 PM. This year’s annual charity fundraiser features local craft breweries, Reston-based restaurants, a corn hole tournament, and local music. The Reston Jaycees will also be organizing a costume contest and scavenger hunt to help raise money for the cause. / This year’s event will be held at the Lake Anne Plaza; Net proceeds benefit the 4Paws Rescue Team, the community nonprofit chosen by Northern Virginia residents.
Sunday Soiree Series: Halloween Masquerade • Oct 30 FROM 3–5 PM. Dance or just listen to the music of The Wayne Tympanick Trio. Dancers come and practice their steps with plenty of room to move about, and others come just to have a bite to eat and hear the band. The Wayne Tympanick Trio has been very well-received by attendees for their excellent musicianship and the way they make each event special. / McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean; 703-790-0123; www.mcleancenter.org; $5.
OUT OF TOWN
D.C. Drag Queen Race • Oct 25 @ 9 PM. The D.C. Drag Queen Race is one of the area’s more unique Halloween events. Each year on the Tuesday before Halloween, thousands of spectators flock to Dupont Circle to watch costumed drag queens show off their elaborate outfits and race down 17th Street. The informal block party lasts a few hours and attracts a diverse crowd. / 17th St., between P and S Streets NW, near Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.; free.
‘The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful and Her Dog!’ • Oct 15–29; times vary. There are no puzzles in space, right? Wrong! Space is one giant puzzle waiting to be put together by physicists, astronomers and a brainy girl who goes by the name Dr. Wonderful. Fly through the solar system with Dr. Wonderful and her amazing adventure team of Newton (the dog) and Ben (the human) in this all-new musical! For ages 6 and up. / The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Family Theater, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.; 800-444-1324; www.kennedy-center.org; $18.
‘the crucible’ • Oct 22-Nov 19; times vary. Arthur Miller’s classic portrait of one man’s struggle toward grace is set in the scorching context of the 17th-century Salem witch trials. A community is glavanized by fear and suspicion, a wife betrayed by lust, an orphan girl blind with passion and possessed by revenge, ruthless prosecutors, deluded holy men and covetous neighbors. “The Crucible” pulses with the destructiveness of socially sanctioned violence, power of hysteria and rancor, the blindeness of zealots and the heart of one tortured man trying to find good. / Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St., Washington, D.C.; 703-892-0202; www.keegantheatre.com; $30-$35.
Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion • Select evenings throughout October @ 7 PM. Kings Dominion offers a variety of Halloween events, including the Halloween Haunt with scary nighttime entertainment. This is a PG-13-style attraction. For kids, the Howl-O-Fest provides daytime, appropriate Halloween fun—nine mazes, five scare zones and more monsters and creepers than ever before. Plus, you’re admitted to the park so you can enjoy all the usual rides and activities. / Kings Dominion, 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell; 804-876-5134; www.kingsdominion.com; park admission.
Six Flags Halloween Fright Fest • Throughout October, on weekends; Times vary. It’s Thrills by Day, Fright by Night at Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®. Six Flags America will be totally transformed into a Halloween playground, weekends from Oct. 1-30. You’ll have a ghoulish good time with hair-raising shows, electrifying street entertainment and thrilling haunted attractions. Plus, experience all your favorite rides in the dark. / Six Flags America, 13710 Central Ave., Bowie/ Mitchellville, MD; 301-249-1500; www.sixflags.com/america; $37-$55 admission; $15 parking daily.Keegan Theatre at Church Street, 1742 Church St. NW, Washington, D.C.; 703-892-0202; www.keegantheatre.com