Falls Church Decks the Halls with Craft Show
The City of Falls Church will help residents deck the halls for the holidays with special gifts at the 17th Annual Holiday Craft Show. Over 60 crafters will be selling a variety of handmade items and baked goods on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The show will take place at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Admission costs $1.
Falls Church Decks the Halls with Craft Show
The City of Falls Church will help residents deck the halls for the holidays with special gifts at the 17th Annual Holiday Craft Show. Over 60 crafters will be selling a variety of handmade items and baked goods on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The show will take place at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Admission costs $1.
Lunch is sold each day of the show and children are invited to a breakfast with Santa, a puppet show and a craft corner. Children can also visit the Children’s Holiday Shoppe on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church) to purchase inexpensive gifts for $5 and under. Reservations are required for children’s activities. For more information, call 703-248-5001.
McLean Marches in WinterFest Parade
McLean invites the community to participate in McLean WinterFest, the 2nd annual holiday parade on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 4 – 6 p.m. The parade will start at the Sun Trust Bank (1301 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean) and proceed to the traffic island at Rocco’s Family Restaurant, where the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce will light the community holiday tree. To sign up for this event, visit www.mcleanwinterfest.com.
VSA of F.C. Participates in FIRSTfriday
In celebration of FIRSTfriday, the Falls Church Chapter of the Victorian Society in America (VSA) will present its latest tea blends and cookbook, Afternoon Tea in the Victorian Tradition on Friday, Dec. 4 at the Art of Frame of Falls Church (111 Park Ave., Falls Church). All are invited to come and pick up these unique tea blends as Christmas presents.
After the book signing, the VSA will go caroling through downtown Falls Church. For a full listing of FIRSTfriday events, visit www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com.
‘Christmas Cabin of Carnaween’ Premieres
On Saturday, Dec. 5, Creative Cauldron’s Learning Theater will premiere “Christmas Cabin of Carnaween,” a play based on an Irish folktale about a young girl’s desire for a place to call her own. The story is adapted for the stage, incorporating music, storytelling and dance.
The production is a tribute to the late Cay Wiant, an award-winning Falls Church City educator and Creative Cauldron teaching artist. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The show will continue through Sunday, Dec. 20. Tickets cost $10. To make a reservation, call 571-239-5288.
ArtSpace will also open “Christmas Wishes,” an exhibit featuring two-dimensional works by members of the Falls Church Arts that reflect themes in the play. The gallery opening will kick off with an artist reception on Friday, Dec. 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. The exhibit will be open before and between performances. Admission to the exhibit is free. The play and exhibit will both take place at the ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church). For more information, visit www.fallchurcharts.org.
Chefs Demonstrate at F.C. Farmers Market
The final Falls Church Farmers Market Chef Demonstration will be on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Falls Church Farmers Market (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). The demonstration will feature chefs Tracey O’Grady, Debra Rubin, Kate Jensen and Maeve Curtin from Willow Restaurant.
The chefs will be demonstrating how to make Mushroom Bisque and Apple Compote. Recipes and tastings will be available. For more information about the demonstration, e-mail fallschurchmarketchef@gmail.com.
Synetic Family Theater Presents ‘Snow Queen’
On Saturday, Dec. 5, the Synetic Family Theater will present “The Snow Queen,” a winter production that combines music, masks, pantomime, puppetry and live action. The story follows the journey of a young girl who tries to save her brother from the cold-hearted Snow Queen in Laplandia. Director Lilia Slavova invites all ages to this family-friendly play.
Performances are on Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Additional performances will be held on Dec. 20, 26, 27 and Jan. 1, 2, 3, 9, 10 at 3:30 p.m. and Dec. 24, 30 and Jan 1 at 12:30 p.m. All performances will take place at the Synetic Family Theater (4041 Campbell Ave., Arlington). Tickets cost $15. To order tickets, call 1-800-494-8497 or visit www.synetictheater.org.
MCC Hosts Craft Show for The Holidays
The McLean Community Center (MCC) is hosting a holiday craft show from Friday, Dec. 4 – Sunday, Dec. 6. More than 70 artisans will come together to offer holiday shoppers unique handmade gifts. Visitors can enjoy holiday music and food catered by Bertuccci’s Italian Restaurant while they shop.
There will be free performances by local music ensembles including Longfellow Middle School’s Choral Ensemble, McLean High School Ensemble, the McLean Youth Orchestra Flute Ensemble and the Chantilly High School Choir.
The show will take place at MCC (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) on Friday, Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission costs $2 for adults and $1 for children. For more information, call 703-790-0123.
St. Thomas More Presents Lessons and Carols
On Sunday, Dec. 6, the St. Thomas More Cathedral will carry on the Kings College tradition of music and scriptural readings during the Advent season with “Service of Lessons and Carols,” featuring clergy, lay readers, the Catherdral choir, the youth choir and the handbell ensemble.
The program will be led by the Bishop of Arlington and will feature Dr. Larry Young as guest organist.
The program will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral (3901 Cathedral Ln., Arlington). Admission is free. For more information, call 703-524-2815.
Arlington Artists Sponsor ‘Artful Weekend’
The Arlington Artists Alliance will celebrate the 7th Annual “Artful Weekend” from Friday, Dec. 4 – Sunday, Dec. 6. The show and sale will feature 40 artists who specialize in oil, pastel, water media, collage, ceramics, wood, textiles and glass.
There will be an opening reception on Friday, Dec. 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. The show will continue on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with a special performance by the Stardust Dance Band from 1 – 3 p.m. The last day of the show is on Sunday, Dec. 6 from noon – 4 p.m.
All events and festivities will take place at the Hendry House at Fort C.F. Smith Park (2411 N. 24th St., Arlington). Admission is free. For more information, visit www.arlingtonartistsalliance.org.
Mary Riley Styles Receives Top Honors
For the second year in a row, the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in the City of Falls Church has been named one of the best libraries in the U.S. by the Library Journal. It is one of only 258 libraries out of 7,268 public librares in the country to receive star ratings in a rating system similar to that used in the Michelin Guide.
Ratings are based four per-capita service indicators: library visits, circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer uses.
Dogwood Tavern Collects Toys for Tots
Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church) is now collecting toy donations for Toys for Tots. On Dec. 18, from 5 – 9 p.m., Marine Corps members will be at the tavern to collect the donation box and have a meet-and-greet. For more information, call 703-237-8333.
BG Healthcare Reports Successful Food Drive
BG Healthcare of Falls Church recently partnered with local senior living facilities to host its first annual food drive.
After gathering a large amount of non-perishable donations, BG Healthcare delivered them to Our Daily Bread, a non-profit organization that specializes in food donations.
Clay Café Supports Homeless Shelter
Clay Café Studios will host its 9th Annual Homeless Shelter FUNdraiser on Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 7 – 9 p.m. to raise funds for the Falls Church Emergency Homeless Shelter. For $25, participants can paint an ornament, plate, bowl or mug. Children and adults alike are invited to express themselves while making a contribution to the community. The painting will take place at Clay Café (101 N. Maple Ave., Falls Church). For more information, call 703-534-7600.
F.C. Readies Children for Gift Giving
On Saturday, Dec. 5, volunteers will lead a children’s holiday shop from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to help children purchase and wrap inexpensive holiday gifts for friends and family. All items are $5 and under. The shop will be located at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). For more information, call 703-248-5171.
The Culpepper Garden Senior Center will kick off the holidays with food and live music at its luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 3 from noon – 1 p.m. Director of the Cantini Singing Ensemble Donato Soranno will provide the music. All are invited to enjoy a meal, complete with a variety of desserts and drinks, all for $5.
The luncheon will be held at the Culpepper Garden Senior Center (4435 N. Pershing Dr., Arlington). For more information, call 703-228-4403.
LCC Begins Belly Dancing Series
A Belly Dancing Series will begin at the Lee Community Center (LCC) on Friday, Dec. 4 from 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. All are invited to get fit and learn about this dance form. In a series of five classes, students will explore posture, basic rhythms and graceful arm and hand movements. Classes meet Fridays, Dec. 4 – Jan. 15 at the LCC (5722 Lee Hwy., Falls Church). The series cost $25. To register, call 703-228-0555.
Arlingtonians Remove Invasive Plants
All are invited to join the Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment in removing English Ivy and honeysuckle bush at the Long Branch Nature Center (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington) on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1 – 3 p.m. To register, call 703-228-6406.
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