All aboard: The Remington apartment community at Dulles Town Center hosts its first-ever Holiday Train Garden, after hours in the club house on Thursday, Dec. 8, through Saturday, Dec. 10. Each evening, from 7 to 9 p.m., visitors can see layouts with running vintage model trains, talk to train enthusiasts to learn more about their hobby, listen to holiday music and sample hot chocolate and Christmas goodies. Anyone with a train collection is welcome to come by and help the garden grow by setting up a train display of their own.

Visitors are asked to bring nonperishable food items for donation to the Loudoun Interfaith Relief food pantry.

“Hopefully, we will collect a bunch of canned goods,” Janet Mabbitt, Remington property manager said.

Remington leasing consultant John Moore, the train-lover behind the project, based the idea on the train garden he visited frequently as a child at the fire house in his hometown of Cambridge, Md.

His brother, Scott, and girlfriend, Emily Smithson, helped him with the planning and onsite set-up.

“We’ve always had trains around,” Scott said. “That’s what happens when you have a father who’s a mechanical engineer.”

Emily added a special spin to the event with the display of her late uncle’s vintage H-O scale trains. This is the first time they’ve been displayed since his death.

“It’s a nice way to honor him,” she said.

John hopes that train lovers will bring their own trains and set them up in the clubhouse during the garden’s hours of operation.

“The plan is to grow the layout,” he said.

The event is free and open to the public. If you would like to participate with a layout or volunteer some time for the event, contact John Moore at 703-433-0000.

A wonderful life: This weekend offers the final opportunity to see the stage version of the film that provided the names for “Sesame Street’s” well-loved duo, Bert and Ernie. The Sterling Playmakers present the final performances of “It’s A Wonderful Life” on Saturday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec. 11, at Sterling Middle School. The show begins at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12.

Road trip: The CountrySide Quilters are taking reservations for the group’s annual bus trip to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show in Hampton. The bus begins loading at the Community Lutheran Church in Cascades on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 a.m. and heads back to Sterling at 6 p.m. when the show closes. The total cost of the trip is $60 ($46 for bus fare and $14 for show admission). For information, call 703-450-2718.