A historic house for rent near Manassas VA could grab the attention of any history buff. The house at Bloom Hill Farm, with origins in the late 1700s, and a little over an acre are available for lease. According to information from the RELIC Room at Bull Run Library in Manassas, Bloom Hill was part of the land holdings of Rutt Johnson, an immigrant farmer from New Jersey who purchased approximately 100 acres in 1770 from Patrick Hamrick.

The ApologetiX band, now on its 20th anniversary tour, will stop at Gainesville United Methodist Church, 13710 Milestone Court, in Gainesville VA on Saturday, Sept. 29. "ApologetiX specializes in biblical parodies of classic and modern rock songs" and is suitable for all ages, according to J.Jackson, the band's lead singer and songwriter. Tickets at the door.

Has your child ever met a farmer? Have you? Now you can and ask those questions you've always wanted to know about farms during a weekend in the beautiful Prince William County VA countryside. Ten locations with fun and educational activities for the whole family will be open to the public. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Sample farm life of yesteryear at Brentsville Courthouse, #1 stop of the 12th free western Prince William County Farm tour. There will be goats and chickens in the nearby pens to visit and feed. They will be able to pet the goats through the fence and offer feed to the chickens, said Mike Riley, manager of the Brentsville property. There will be apple butter making. Hours are 10-4 Saturday, 12-4 on Sunday.

Catch a hayride to the Christmas trees, organic produce and pumpkin patch during the 12th free Prince William County Farm Tour Sept. 29-30. Visit one farm or several. Talk to the farmers. Learn about local produce and see animals. A preview of stops #3 and #4 on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

Heritage Festival at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle VA on Oct. 13 will feature woodworkers, blacksmiths, and masons demonstrating the crafts that the 2,000 members of the Civilian Conservation Corps used to build the 15,000-acre park in the 1930s. Learn about spy training and Morse Code. Exhibits will highlight the development of the park as a depression-era recreation area and many aspects of 1930s and '40s pop culture.

Haymarket VA-based Helping Haitian Angels works to help orphans in this country. It will host its second Annual Wine Festival at Barrel Oak Winery on Sept. 22. There will be music, barbeque, a silent auction and, of course, wine. Barrel Oak Winery is located at 3623 Grove Lane in Delaplane, VA.

After mentoring by Joe Jonas, Gainesville VA's Jordan Baird, a pop, R & B and soul singer/songwriter who graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, will compete with five city winners and 18 television fan-favorites among previous non-winners in the upcoming semifinals that could eventually put him on the path to stardom.