Second show added to children's reception

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts will offer a second performance by Reptile World Inc. for its annual Children's Holiday Reception. The encore presentation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost $5 per person. The morning performance sold out in 15 hours, so call early as seating for the second show is also limited.

Santa Claus arrives at 11:45 a.m. and refreshments will be served until 12:45 p.m. Professional reptile handler and renowned speaker Michael Shwedick of Reptile World Inc. will present information on the reptile's general characteristics, habitat, roles in the balance of nature, present status in the world today, conservation and value to humans. During the program, the audience will meet a selection of live, colorful, gentle reptiles from around the world.

For more information, call 301-739-5727 or go to www.wcmfa.org.

Holiday open house at Ten Thousand Villages

A holiday open house will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Ten Thousand Villages, 13625 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. Discounts on nativities will be available, as well as free, light refreshments. Holiday string music will be performed from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 301-797-3020.

Park closings announced at Harpers Ferry

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - The superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park announced that the park will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26; Christmas Day, Dec. 25; and New Year's Day, Jan. 1. The park will reopen the day following each holiday at 8 a.m. The Harpers Ferry Historical Association's Bookshop on Shenandoah Street will also be closed on these holidays and for inventory on Monday, Jan. 4, and Tuesday, Jan. 5.

For information, call the visitor center at 304-535-6298 or go to www.nps.gov/hafe.