Dates and times for events are subject to change. Please call ahead before making travel plans.
washington
Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St., N.W.: Contemporary Music Forum, the Corcoran's new music ensemble in residence opens the season with several première works, Oct. 11, 8 p.m., $15-$20; Beautiful World of Icelandic Music Concert and Reception, Sigurdur Bragason, baritone and Hjalmur Sighvatsson, pianist, provide a musical Icelandic journey from the late Romantic movement to the tumultuous 20th century. Oct. 14, 7 p.m., $20-$25. 202/639-1770.
Explorers Hall, National Geographic Society Headquarters, 17th and M streets, N.W.: Passages: Photography of Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher. Rites of passage among various African cultures are depicted through the photography of Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher. In addition to the photographs, the exhibit includes artifacts, and masks and clothing featured in the ceremonies. Through Jan. 9. 202/857-7588.
Grace Church grounds and the block of Wisconsin Avenue between M and South streets: Taste of Georgetown Festival. Features 22 of Georgetown's finest restaurants, arts, crafts, children's activities and more. Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $20. 202/298-9222.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street, S.W.: Ana Mendieta: Earth Body, Sculpture and Performance, 1972-1985. This is the most comprehensive survey to date of more than 100 works by the Cuban-born artist. Oct. 14-Jan. 2. 202/633-1000 or hirshhorn.si.edu.
National Air and Space Museum, Sixth Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., New Art Exhibition. "Generous Friends: Building an Art Collection for the National Air and Space Museum" includes more than 4000 pieces of art, providing a visual history of the people and events associated with the development of powered flight and space exploration. Opens Oct. 8. 202/633-1000.
National Geographic Society, Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St, N.W., Anna Quindlen. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and prize-winning author discusses her new book, "Imagined London: A Tour of the World's Greatest Fictional City." Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. $30-$35. 202/857-7700.
Natural History Museum, Baird Auditorium, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.: Emerson String Quartet. Performance includes music by Shostakovich and Beethoven. Oct. 10. 6 p.m. 202/357-3030 or visit smithsonianassociates.org.
Thomas Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium, 10 First St., S.E.: Haven to Home: An American Journey. Complementing the new Library of Congress exhibit, which marks the 350th anniversary of Jewish settlement in America, the 45-minute play for ages 10 and up weaves together images and sound clips. Oct. 12 and 26, Nov. 2 and 18, and Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. Free. 202/ 707-1071.
northern virginia
Loudoun County: Dulles Town Center, intersection of State Routes 7 and 28, Picturesque. The Big Apple Circus presents a palette of movement, rhythm, color and sound, with acrobats, jugglers, horses and clowns. Through Oct. 11. 800/899-2775 or bigapplecircus.org.
Manassas: George C. Round Elementary School, 10100 Hastings Drive, Steel Magnolias. The Prince William Little Theatre presents Robert Harling's play that tells the story of six sassy women in a small town in Louisiana. Through Oct. 16. $10-$12. 703/330-7796 or pwlt.org.
Manassas: Youth For Tomorrow Campus, Youth For Tomorrow Country Fair and Auction. Hundreds of items auctioned in silent and live auction tents. Entertainment includes games, rides, children's activities, exhibits and more. Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-$10. 703/631-3360 or visit youthfortomorrow.org.
Manassas: Metz Middle School, 9700 Fairview Ave., Prince William Symphony Orchestra Performance. This concert features an all-Dvorak program, beginning with the "Seventh Symphony," followed by "Slavonic Dance" and "Violin Concerto." Oct. 9, 8 p.m. $7-$19. 703/580-8562.
Mount Vernon: George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, Grist Mill Tours. An illustration of George Washington's innovation in farming, open to the public daily. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., through Oct. 31. Adults $4, $2 when combined with admission to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. 703/780-2000 or visit mountvernon.org.
Reston: USGS National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, U.S. Geological Survey Open House. Includes demonstrations, exhibits and hands-on activities to celebrate 125 years of natural science. Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission and parking are free.Visit usgs.gov.
Woodbridge: Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre, Anything Goes. One of the all-time great musicals of the 1930s, this is an amusing comedy wrapped around a score by Cole Porter. Through Dec. 31. $20-$36.95. 703/494-6311.
richmond
Agecroft Hall, 4305 Sulgrave Road: Windsor Farms Walking Tour, discover how Agecroft's owner, T.C. Williams Jr., helped shape the vision for Windsor Farms, one of Richmond's most elegant neighborhoods, in this walking tour led by architectural historian and Agecroft tour guide, Chris Novelli, Oct. 9, 10 a.m.; Fall Foliage Tour, Agecroft manager of grounds Mark Dyson will discuss trees, shrubs and turf, Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m. 804/353-4241; agecrofthall.com.
Elegba Folklore Society, 101 E. Broad St.: African Dance and Cultural Traditions, this seven-week session runs Saturdays, Oct. 9-Nov. 20, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $9 per class or $60 per entire session; Heritage Holidays, international, multimedia show and sale with fine arts, crafts, baskets, wearable art, jewelry and accessories, through Dec. 31. 804/644-3900 or elegbafolklore societ.org.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave.: Butterflies LIVE! A walk-through exhibit of live butterflies with hundreds of jewel-winged beauties as they transform from chrysalis to emerging butterfly, plus lectures and children's activities. Through Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., $5-$9. Call 804/262-9887 or visit lewisginter.org.
Maymont, 2201 Shield's Lake Drive: At Your Service. See the Maymont House from the perspective of the turn-of-the-20th-century domestic staff employed by the Dooleys. Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. $4. 804/358-7166; maymont.org.
Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St.: Mini-Medical School, hear about the latest developments in infectious diseases in the Wednesday evening lecture series, through Oct. 13; Space Station, travel 220 miles above Earth at 17,500 mph to experience the space station, through Jan. 21; Mars Mania, discover the marvels of the Red Planet, as new information arrives every day, through Jan. 9; Forces of Nature, witness the spectacle of tornadoes, earthquakes and erupting volcanoes, and find out what is being done to predict and prepare for these events, through March 17. 800/659-1727 or smv.org.
Seventeenth Street Farmers Market, Autumn Harvest Jubilee. Activities include the Virginia Farm Bureau autumn Harvest Parade and Ukrop's Family Jubilee. Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ukrops.com or citycelebrations.org.
elsewhere
Charlottesville: Live Arts Theater, 123 E. Water St., Angels in America, Part 2: Perestroika, explores the sexual, racial, religious, political, and social issues confronting America, through the lens of the AIDS epidemic, through Oct. 16; subUrbia, the play features the sound and fury of "Generation Why?" through Oct. 16, $10. 434/977-4177.
Crownsville, Md., outside of Annapolis: Renaissance Festival. Entertainment, food, crafts, jousting and more in a 16th-century village. Runs weekends through Oct. 24. 800/296-7304.
Indian Neck: Rappahannock Indian Tribal Center, State Route 623, King and Queen County, Sixth annual Harvest Festival. Celebrate Native American culture, music and dance. Oct. 9, noon. 804/769-0260.
Leesburg: Oatlands, Afternoon Tea at Oatlands. Sandwiches, cookies, scones and tea. Thursday through Saturday, through Dec. 18, seatings at noon and 2 p.m. Reservations are required. Adults, $17.95; children 8 and under, $8.95. 703/777-3174 or oatlands.org.
Luray: Shenandoah National Park, Shenandoah Valley Cloggers, lively dances to traditional and current country music, in the Mountain Room of Skyland Resort, Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30 p.m.; Shenandoah Jubilee Music Show, 90 minutes of upbeat country and patriotic music, and a special tribute to Shenandoah National Park, held in Skyland Resort, Fridays in October, 8 p.m., $5-$10, reservations suggested; Basket Making Workshops at Big Meadows Lodge, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $40, all materials provided, reservations suggested. 540/999-2213, 800/999-4714 or visit shenan doah.com.
Middleburg: Willoughby Farm, Rock Hill Mill Road, State Route 702, Hunt Country Classic British Car Show. Includes classic British cars, legendary British bikes, British sports cars, upper-class touring sedans, race cars, hayrides, seminars, British pub food, log-cabin tours and more. Sponsored by champion race-car driver Bill Scott and his wife, Barbara, and the MG Car Club of Washington. Oct. 10, 703/933-0811 or mgcarclubdc.com.
Syria: Graves Mountain Lodge, State Route 670, Apple Harvest Festival. Includes bluegrass music, hayrides, hay maze, arts and crafts, food and more. Oct. 9-10 and 16-17. 540/923-4231 or visit graves mountain.com.
Williamsburg: Ramada Inn & Suites, 5351 Richmond Road, Murder at the Irish Wake. A comedy-mystery dinner show. Through March 19. $24.95-$34.95. 888/471-4802 or visit mysterydinner.com.