Get a foot ahead on those healthy New Years Resolutions with a charity run/walk this weekend. Start out New Year’s Eve with the Ringing in Hope 10k, 5k, and 1K Walk in Brambleton or wait until the first day of the new year and lace up the shoes for the 15th Annual REHAU Rotary Resolution Race: 10K Race & 4K Fun Run. The Ringing in Hope takes place around the Brambleton community while the REHAU is over the rolling hills of the historic Morven Park Estate. These events are not exclusively for runners—walkers and joggers are welcome to participate and there is a long list of family fun …

This weekend the Franklin Park Arts Center is holding a high-energy variety show that showcases local singers, dancers and celebrities. Proceeds from the North Pole Follies go to support local fire and rescue companies. Each night, fire departments will walk around the audience taking in donations that will assist local fire departments to meet their missions. The theme behind this family-friendly show is that it is the week before Christmas at the North Pole and the elves in Santa’s workshop have noticed Santa is sad. The elves team up together to put on a show to cheer up Santa. Through …

The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra is rosining up their bows and helping set the mood for the yuletide season with its Holiday Spectacular. The Dec. 10 event features the Washington Soloist Ensemble, vocalist Jason Labrador, Loudoun’s Got Talent Winner Somok Yoo and guest conductor Dr. Yeong Su Kim. Music director and conductor Mark Allen McCoy also will help lead the Holiday Spectacular. The evening’s program features Hovhaness’ Prayer of St. Gregory, Stephenson’s Holiday Overture, Hayden’s Cello Concerto in C Major, Beck’s Lullaby and Finnegan’s Christmas Sing-along in addition to several other…

Kicking off the first weekend in December, the Pickwick Players are performing the traditional Christmas tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. Yet in this version, the story of Scrooge is told through song. The Pickwick Players are putting on six performances of Scrooge: The Musical – three this weekend and three more next weekend. Scrooge: The Musical was written by Leslie Bricusse and won an Academy Award for song score. In addition to following the traditional story of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the stage musical is based off the 1970 film Scrooge starring Albert Finney. The story follows the…

Take a break from the turkey leftovers and shopping to check out a show by one of Loudoun’s most talented bluegrass groups, The Gold Heart Sisters at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center in Purcellville. The band features three sisters: Analise Gold, 21, on mandolin, Jocelyn, 18, on guitar and Shelby, 15, on fiddle. Throughout the fall, the Gold Heart Sisters toured extensively throughout Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio. During the tour, the sisters were joined by their father Trent on bass and Russ Carson on banjo. The Gold Heart Sisters formed in 2005 and by 2009 they …

Kick off the holiday season with the Institute of Performing Arts for Youth’s (IPAY) Nutcracker in a Shell: All Jazzed Up at Broad Run High School this weekend only. IPAY students from Ashburn and Chantilly perform in the child-friendly production, which is a shortened version of The Nutcracker. Geralyn Ward directs the performance – in its 13th year – which is designed to introduce younger audiences into the Nutcracker story. Eighty-five children from Loudoun and Fairfax counties have been cast in the show, including the cast: Clara – Erin Mattimiro, Maddie Kim, and Audrey Cooke The …

On Sunday, the Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES (Building Relationships for Interfaith Dialogue, Goodwill, Education and Service) is hosting its third annual Day of Thanks at the Baha’I Center in Sterling. This event is designed to acknowledge and celebrate all the cultural and religious diversity throughout Loudoun County. The Day of Thanks was first organized in the fall of 2009 by the BRIDGES organization to express their gratitude to the entire county for its openness and acceptance of religious and culture diversity. The Day of Thanks is an opportunity for individuals of varying faith …

The final production for the 2011 season at Taking Flight Theatre Company, Loose Knit starts this weekend. The sarcastic comedy, written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Haley Murphy, chronicles five women in the heart of New York City and their trials and tribulations – specifically with regard to dating – that they each face.  These women, two of whom are sisters, seek comfort from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple in a weekly knitting circle. As the sweaters pile up, these women’s lives seem to unravel. Take a large dose of witty humor and add in an affair, lost job and identity …

UPDATE: The Glow Night Scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until Sunday, Oct. 30, because of the anticipated snow storm. Please check the Great Country Farms website before heading out. Kick off the spooktacular weekend with Pumpkin Glow Night at Belmont’s Great Country Farms. This Friday and Saturday night, the farm features more than 2,000 carved and glowing jack-o-lanterns scattered throughout the property. To help create the event, various local schools, scouting troops, businesses and sports teams helped carve the pumpkins. Guests are encouraged to partake in the festivities by …

In the heart of Loudoun County, one of the earliest Civil War battles took place at Ball’s Bluff. Since 2004, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has undertaken a massive project to restore the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield to its  appearance in 1861 when the final battle was fought. Since restoration began, 12 acres of land have been cleared. Working to reuse much of their own debris, many of the tree tops and brush were ground up to be used as mulch throughout the finished park. All quality timber was sent to a local sawmill and transformed into lumber for use in local parks. Even tree…

Lifetime Fitness will transform itself Saturday for a four-hour Zumba-Fest fundraising event. Zumba is an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, dance and fitness event that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.This family-fun event also includes information on health-related topics available in both English and Spanish. Lifetime Fitness will convert its two basketball courts into a large Zumba studio. Well-known Zumba instructor Vanessa Ledesma will demonstrate the routine along with a group of local instructors. Afterward, there will be an hour-long party with more dancing, …

On Saturday, the fourth annual Redskins Rides Car Show has been planned at Redskin Park. The event began as the Renaldo Winn Car Show and instantly garnered great success as a fundraiser and a fun community event. After Winn was traded, Eastern Motors Community Care Foundation took over the event, which was transformed into the Redskins Rides Car Show in 2008. The event features classic and exotic cars and provides a great chance to see Redskins players showing off their rides! All types of cars will be on display from classic cars, including a Model T, to exotics such as Lamborghinis and …

Inova Health System is teaming up with the Washington Mystics for “Get Movin’ Family Fun Day” in recognition of National Family Health & Fitness Day. The event aims to teach families to take charge of their health through group activities and healthy food choices that can help everyone live better. Held in the ProJet Aviation Hangar at the Leesburg Executive Airport, the free family-oriented, community event features Radio Disney’s “Shake It Up” Dance Zone, a fun, high-energy dance party. The event also includes a Radio Disney “warm up” zone for kids to practice and showcase their moves for a…

On Saturday, help the homeless in Loudoun County by participating in or donating to the Good Shepherd Alliance’s 7th Annual Walk for Shelter in Leesburg. The event includes a one-mile walk that begins at the Douglass Community Center and winds through historic downtown Leesburg, and a variety of family activities, such as face painting, a moon bounce and a free hot dog lunch. GSA works with hundreds of families each year to the gap for those who have become homeless, or are on the verge of becoming homeless. With the primary focus providing help and hope for the homeless and those in need …

UPDATE 10:55 a.m. Sept. 3 Event planners hope to go on with the Great Skedaddle walk/run around 11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m., hoping the storm will pass. The first Dominion Trail Mix Festival – a three-part event that culminates with a free community festival featuring Gloriana and appearances by personalities from WMZQ 98.7 and ABC 7/News Channel 8 – begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, with Hail the Trail. Hail the Trail is the largest community service project in the W&OD Trail’s history. The multifaceted event aims to beautify the trail while garnering charitable, community and civic …

The joys of the circus never change, no matter if you are still small or just a kid at heart. The Cole Brothers Circus has operating in the United States since 1884. According to its website, the Cole Brother’s Circus is currently the World’s Largest Circus Under the Big Top. Since 1884, three generations of Americans have been thrilled by the sights, smells, sounds and feats of skilled performers that typify the circus. The circus aims to provide wholesome entertainment in a friendly atmosphere that makes the entire family feel welcome. [Editor's note: With bad weather expected this weekend…

Come fly the Fortress! This weekend, the historic and restored B-17 Flying Fortress will be at the Leesburg Executive Airport for guided tours ... and even flights. The plane, which is part of the Salute to Veterans Tour, is a living link to aviation history and World War II. The aircraft serves as an example of the American heavy bomber that helped turn the tide of battle in World War II. Fly a mission back in time and feel the might of this magnificent aircraft, just as those brave young men did more than 50 years ago. Tours run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. The EAA, a …

Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons – and based on the book by Cressida Cowell – How to Train Your Dragon shows this weekend at the Starlight Cinema Drive-in. The action comedy tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s longstanding traditions of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup’s life is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view. In addition to the movie, children’s events begin at 6 p.m. Where: 5860 Trinity Parkway, …

This weekend, the Franklin Arts Center is hosting a unique 10-minute play festival with six plays that are a mix of stand-alone pieces and imaginative beginnings to future projects. There is one theme that ties all the plays together – at one in point in every play there will be the use of or a reference to a 1940s typewriter and table. Pay attention to this detail because audience members will be award prizes. Where: 36441 Blueridge View Ln, Purcellville, VA 20132 When: Aug. 5-6, 7:10pm and Aug. 7, 3:10pm Other events going on this weekend in Loudoun County: 5th Avenue Summer Sidewalk Sale …

In Between the Lines has partnered with the Washington Redskins to host the Pros Vs. Joes Charity Flag Football Game, which benefits Loudoun’s most needy children. The game features both current and alumni Redskins players competing against special guests. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Redskins alumni and the Hogettes, and bid in a silent auction featuring signed Washington Redskins memorabilia. The event also features great food from local vendors, children’s sports activities and live music performances. All proceeds benefit In Between the Lines, a nonprofit organization owned…