Things to do this weekend March 11-12-13

Friday, March 11
Mark Kroos, Two Neck Guitar Player and winner of Guitar Player Magazine’s 2011 international competition, in free concert, 7 p.m. St. Thomas United Methodist Church, 8899 Sudley Rd., Manassas. Open to all who play a guitar and those who enjoy listening to virtuosic guitar playing. Take your guitar to the concert where there will be a time to play with the artist in a medley of songs. Love offering will be taken. Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Hamburger/Cheeseburgers, Chili Dogs, French Fries, Onion Rings, Fried Pickles and Root Beer Floats. Donations accepted. Free

Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13
Model Train Show, 18th year, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, Saunders Middle School, 13557 Spriggs Road Manassas, VA.  One of the largest DCC-HO model train layouts in the Mid-Atlantic and train layouts in Z, N, HO, O and G scales, LEGO layouts, steam powered trains, children’s corner, numerous door prizes.  Refreshments available for purchase. Sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 964, Dale City, VA. Boy Scouts may earn the Railroading Merit Badge either day during classes from 12:30-4 p.m.  $25 fee per scout includes admissions and supplies.  Register for Merit Badge Class: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  Info: http://www.troop964.org Gener.al Admission: Adults $7. Students/Seniors $3, children under 5 free.

Saturday, March 12
• St. Patrick’s Parade, 11 a.m., Old Town Manassas. Parking is available at the City Municipal Parking lots located on Prince William Street (near train depot),  Across from the Train Station (Near Osbourn HS), City Hall and on Church Street. Please note additional Handicap parking space designated at Train Station and City Hall.

• 25th Annual Strikes for SERVE Bowl-a-Thon, 1 to 4 p.m. at Bowl America, Mathis Avenue, Manassas. This super fun event is full of music, prizes and bowling for a great cause.  More info: Pam at (571) 748-2537. Register: nvfs.org/bowlathon.

• Shamrock Shootout, starts 8 a.m., 3 on 3 basketball tournament for boys & girls ages 4-8, to benefit Battlefield High School Athletics.  Battlefield High School, 15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket VA 20169. Onsite childcare offered by BHS gymnastic team. Concessions open all day. http://www.bobcatathletics.org/main/boosters.

• Turkey & Oyster Dinner, 71st annual, dinner served 4-7 p.m., takeout available, Nokesville United Methodist Church, 12550 Aden Road, Nokesville VA. Music by Naked Mountain Boys, beginning at 5 p.m. Info: 703-594-2141. $20 adults, $8 child 12 & under

Sunday, March 13
• Silver Lake Regional Park Hike, casual two-mile-hike, 1-2:30 p.m., Silver Lake Park, 16198 Silver Lake Road, Haymarket, VA 20169. Park is across the dam and beyond Ronald Reagan Middle School, 16198 Silver Lake Road, Haymarket, VA 20169. Info/RSVP:Prince William Conservation Alliance at 703-499-4954, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or check online at http://www.pwconserve.org Princ.e William Conservation Alliance identifies itself as “a nonprofit watershed organization working to protect and enhance natural resources through stewardship, recreation and education.”

• Lake Ridge playright-actor Margie Tompros will star in an original performance she has written memorializing suffrage leader Alice Paul,  on Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. Performing with Tompros will be Ellen Hart McKinstrie, who teaches and directs the theatre program at Woodbridge Middle School, Paul E. Tompros, professional actor and director for the Capitol Steps and Amelia K. Tompros, an eighth grade student at Woodbridge Middle School.Lorton Workhouse Arts Center is located at 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton. For more information, see http://www.workhousearts.org/event/deeds-not-words/ or call 703-584-2900.

• Some 26 flutes will bring the sounds of Irish music and more to Nokesville March 13 as the Woodbridge Flute Choir performs its Touch of Irish” concert and introduces its annual scholarship winner. At Greenwich Presbyterian Church at 15305 Vint Hill Road, Nokesville,, 3 p.m. Free.

Every Thursday through Monday
Prince William County historic sites Ben Lomond, Brentsville Courthouse and Rippon Lodge open Thursday through Monday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for regular tours. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  For questions or to arrange a tour for large groups call the site.  Tours begin on the hour and are $5 per person over 6. Call sites for more information.

Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192, 703-499-9812.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, Va. 20136, 703-365-7895
Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr, Manassas VA 20109, 703-367-7872.

Every Day
Prince William Forest Park Visitors Center, 18100 Headquarters Rd, Triangle VA 22172, off Joplin Rd. (VA 619), open sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years holidays. Info: 703-221-4706 or http://www.nps.gov/prwi Fee.

Every Saturday
Year-round Farmers market, Parking Lot B. across the tracks from the Harris Pavilion, Old Town Manassas, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Every Sunday
Manassas Volunteer Fire Company Museum now open every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Manassas firehouse on Centreville Road. All other times are by arrangement.