The Holidays

A late-season guide to some of what’s happening in Rappahannock, Culpeper and Fauquier counties.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 MUSICAL. The Fauquier Community Theatre presents “Sanders Family Christmas.”

The bluegrass gospel musical takes place on Christmas Eve 1941, as America and Dennis Sanders prepare to enter World War II. Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe and the rest of the Sanders family send Dennis off with hilarious, touching stories and 25 Southern gospel Christmas favorites. Tickets available online. Adults, $18; seniors 60+, $16; children 3 to 18 years old, $16. Performances Friday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. Located at 4225 Aiken Drive in Warrenton. Visit wr .fctstage.org or 540-3498760.

STORYTELLING. Santa Storytimes

at 10:30 a.m. Join in for holiday stories, songs, rhymes, a craft and brief personal visits with Santa Claus. For children and their caregivers. No registration necessary. Culpeper County Library, 271 Southgate Shopping Center. Contact Laini Bostian at 540-825-8691 or lbostian@cclva.org

FILM. The Library of Congress Packard Campus Theatre presents “White Christmas” (Paramount, 1954).

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star as a top song-and-dance act who accompanies Betty and Judy Haynes, a pair of sister entertainers (played by Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney) to the Columbia Inn in Vermont where the women are scheduled to perform during the Christmas holidays. Starts at 7:30 p.m. Free, at the Library of Congress Packard Campus Theater, located at 19053 Mt. Pony Rd. in Culpeper. No reservations required. For more information, call 202707-9994.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 RUN/WALK. Jingle Bell 5K.

Celebrate the holidays with a run/walk through Little Washington at the sixth annual Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the 4-H Community Club to benefit the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office “Shop with a Deputy” program. Registration opens 7:45 a.m. at the Washington School (567 Mt. Salem Ave.); walk starts at 8:45, chip-timed run at 9. Preregister by Dec. 15 at active.com (or download and print the race form) for $25 (it’s $30 on race day), or walk for $20 (includes jingle bells, shirts, awards, goodies and fun). For more information, call Amy Burnett at 540-6753873.

CONCERT. Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort perform a “Celtic Christmas Concert”

4 p.m. at Castleton Theatre House, located at 7 Castleton Meadows Lane in Castleton. Renowned Celtic musicians Linn Barnes and Allison Hampton, flutist Joseph Cunliffe and percussionist Steve Bloom offer music with Christmas readings by D.C. radio/TV personality Robert Aubrey Davis. Tickets ($20 to $40) are available at 540-9373454 or castletonfestival.org.

LIVE NATIVITY. The Rappahannock United Methodist Church’s annual Living Nativity

is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the little red shed beside the Rappahannock County Library located at 4 Library Road in Washington. Free and open to all. To take part, contact Judi Burke at 540-631-6103 or jnorthburke@gmail.com.

SINGING. Join in the Second Annual Holiday Sing-a-Long

from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Warrenton Community Center located at 430 East Shirley Avenue in Warrenton for a morning of celebrating the holiday season through singing, dancing, and merrymaking! Santa and his elf will be there for pictures. There will be lots of fun for the whole family. We will be collecting cans of soup for Fauquier Family Services as well as diapers and wipes for Fauquier YoungLives! Contact 571-408-3437 or CrescendoMusicLLC@gmail.com

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA. The American Heritage Girls and Trail Life sponsor this year’s Wreaths Across America

event at the Culpeper National Cemetery located at 305 US Avenue in Culpeper. Ceremony at noon with wreath laying at 12:30 p.m. on the Annex side this year on the Chandler Street side. Wreaths are laid to honor veterans. Contact Director Lance Pridemore at 540-8250027.

LIVE NATIVITY. Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church

will be portraying their 3rd annual ‘A Live Nativity’ at The Ole Country Store from 5 - 8 p.m. This free, outdoor, walk through event will include animals, narration, carolers, kids activity, homemade refreshments and much more. Warm up with hot chocolate and gather around the fire as you listen to Christmas carolers and talk with friends. The event will be held at 18019 Country Store Dr, Culpeper. Continues through Dec. 18. For more info, contact MLBC: 540-987-8354.

SOLD OUT. The “Martin Family Circus” live concert

at the Library of Congress Packard Campus Theatre in Culpeper.

HOLIDAY DANCE AND CONCERT. Hear the great music of the Big Band Era and beyond, played by the 17-piece Silvertones Swing Band,

featuring vocalists including an Andrews Sisters-style vocal trio! Come swing into the holidays at the Marshall Community Center located at 4133-A Rectortown Road, Marshall from 7 - 9:30 p.m. The band will playing holiday classics like Jingle Bells, Let It Snow, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, and Frosty the Snowman, plus many more. Dance lesson, promptly at 7 p.m., and refreshments included in $10 admission. Contact Program Coordinator Samantha Griffith at 540-4228580

GUMDROP SQUARE. GumDrop Square and Santa’s Secret Shop,

a Warrenton tradition, features beautiful decorations and a visit and one complimentary photo with Santa. Afterward, children can shop for $2 gifts and have them wrapped. Free admission. Open every weekend through Dec. 18. Friday, Dec. 16, 6 - 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Dec. 18, 1-3 p.m. Located at 2 Courthouse Square in Warrenton. Info at PartnershipForWarrenton.com

LIVE NATIVITY. Mount Horeb will be holding its annual Live Nativity

from 6-8 p.m. Indoor and outdoor activities. Costumes provided for children to dress up and become part of the Christmas story. Hot beverages and baked goods served along with indoor craft activities for the children and carol singing. 10867 Elk Run Road in Catlett. Phone 540-7889838 or mounthorebumc@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS AT ELLWOOD MANOR IN ORANGE COUNTY. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield will host the 8th annual event: “A 19th Century Christmas at Ellwood Manor.”

The doors open at 9 a.m. and guests may visit until closing at 2 p.m. The

18th century home will be decorated for the Christmas season by the Fawn Lake Garden Club. Santa will welcome children of all ages from 9 a.m. - noon. See arts and crafts while you wait. Live music by Evergreen Shade from noon - 2 p.m. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield volunteers share history of the home. Free and open to the public. Directions from Culpeper: Take Virginia Route 3 eastbound about 18 miles to the stoplight at Virginia Route 20, where you will turn right. Then, in 0.6 miles, look carefully on the left for the “Ellwood” sign and the gravel drive. Turn left into the drive; the parking area is at the end, in 0.4 miles. Visit www.fowb.org or 540972-5668

SUNDAY, DEC. 18 THEATRICAL ARTISTS. Come hear this newly formed group of 12 young Culpeper singers — “Theatrical Artists do Christmas Carols”

aged 5-14 perform at IHOP located at 15271 Creativity Drive in Culpeper at 8:15 a.m. Directed by Adriana Bustamante who is Program Director of Arts Education at Windmore Foundation. Phone (240) 377-6432.

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE. At the Museum of Culpeper History, from 4 - 6 p.m.

Live music by the Country Troubadours, a wine bar, holiday goodies, and a huge sale of everything in the Museum Shop! Located at 113 S. Commerce Street in Culpeper. All invited; bring your friends to the Museum. Mrs. Santa will be on hand to give out candy-canes. Check out their new historic calendar. RSVP, 540-829-1749.

FILM. The Library of Congress Packard Campus Theatre presents “A Christmas Story” (MGM, 1983).

Humorist Jean Shepherd narrates this memoir of growing up in Hammond, Indiana, during the 1940s when his greatest ambition was to receive a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Starts at 2 p.m Free, at the Library of Congress Packard Campus Theater located at 19053 Mt. Pony Rd. in Culpeper. No reservations required. For more information, call 202707-9994.

POLAR EXPRESS INTERACTIVE. For children of all ages! Come and see "The Polar Express" on the big screen, but it's so much more than just a movie!

With "The Polar Express Interactive Experience" you get to participate in the movie. Hot chocolate and cookies are served at the famous scene, experience the thrills of the journey as the train travels its route, the dash through Santa's Workshop, the Celebration of the Elves, a Keepsake Mug that you can color, a Polar Express Bell, all sorts of fun, and a visit from Santa! Feel free to come in your pj’s and robe. Bring a blanket to sit on the floor. Held at Fauquier High School located at 705 Waterloo Road in Warrenton (enter through front doors). Starts at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. $6 admission/person. Children must be accompanied by parent/guardian at all times. Sponsored by FHS band and orchestra. Mugs and bells limited to children/supplies limited. First come-first served. Phone 540-422-7300, ext. 1150 or apaul@fcps1.org

FRIDAY, DEC. 23 CONCERT. Enjoy an evening with The Cabin

Raiders Old Time String Band featuring Kevin Roop, Jason Ashby, and Joe Herrman in the Listening Room at Drum & Strum

located at 102 Main Street in Warrenton to begin the Christmas weekend. Concert tickets are $10 at the door and seating is limited so advance purchase is recommended. Children 12 and under are admitted free with parent. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. For more information on the concert, please contact Drum & Strum at 540.347.7484 or info@drumnstrum.com

SATURDAY, DEC. 24 THEATRICAL ARTISTS. Come hear this newly formed group of 12 young Culpeper singers - “Theatrical Artists do Christmas Carols”

aged 5-14 perform at Lollipop Station located at 179 E. Davis Street in Culpeper at 10 a.m. Directed by Adriana Bustamante who is Program Director of Arts Education at Windmore Foundation. Phone (240) 3776432.

MONDAY, DEC. 26 HISTORY. Annual "Get Your Guests the Heck out of the House" Week.

Our 9th year of being open that quiet week between Christmas and New Years — Dec. 26th-30th, 1-5 p.m. daily. Send your guests down to the Museum of Culpeper History (half-price for all out of town guests; kids always free. Members and local residents are, as usual, free). Located at 113 S. Commerce St. in Culpeper. 540-829-1749.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31 FIRST NIGHT WARRENTON. A New Year’s Community Celebration of the Arts

features 50 live, indoor performances in various locations in Old Town Warrenton. Non-profit alcohol free event for the entire family. Sponsored by Bluemont Concert Series. $10/person, $8/ seniors 65+/$5/children 3-12, under 3 free. Starts at 7 p.m. until midnight. 540-955-8186 or info@bluemont.org