While your May is probably packed full of fun outdoor activities in preparation for summer fun, make some time to challenge your mind. Whether you want to learn about the movie industry or travel back to the times of the Civil War, increase your knowledge by joining these seven education events this month.
Moviegoing in America: Nickelodeons to Movie Palaces to IMAX to Streaming
May 12, noon-1:15 p.m.
Instead of streaming another show or movie, spend your lunch break learning about the history of the movie theater. From the extravagant movie palaces of the 1920s to the drive-ins of the 1950s, see how the moviegoing experience has changed and adapted as technology has advanced. // $20-$25
Brentsville Jail Exhibit Grand Opening
May 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Over almost 200 years in existence, and years of bouncing between a jail, dormitory, and office, the Brentsville Jail is now turning into an exhibit. Stop by the grand opening to hear the stories of the town, its inhabitants, and the highlights of the building. // Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre: 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow; free, donations welcome
Community Remembrance Project Lecture Series
May 15, 1 p.m.
Join historian Susan Strasser for her four-part series that allows residents to look at the history of racial hate crime in the city while working to create a welcoming community in today’s neighborhoods. This month’s lecture is titled “A White Historian Explores Black Voting Rights.” // free
Greek Heroes and Art: Achilles
May 18, noon-1:15 p.m.
Achilles may be one of the best-known Greek heroes, but how much do you really know about the tragic mythology? Join art historian Renee Gondek to look at Achilles’s life through art, from the signs of his birth to his years as a warrior in Troy. // $20-$25
Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt’s Roaring ’20s
May 20, 6:45 p.m.
We know about the American flappers of the 1920s, but the women in Egypt were just as outrageous. During this decade, Cairo was full of talented and ambitious women as the city’s performing-arts scene flourished. Join this virtual lesson to learn about these female stars during a time marked by unheard-of freedom expressions in the Middle East. // $20-$25
History Walk on the Boardwalk
May 22, 9-10:30 a.m.
Take in the view of the water while learning this history of this local boardwalk. Walk the park as you listen to facts on its history and the surrounding environment in the area. // Neabsco Creek Boardwalk: 15125 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge; $10
Six-Button Mess – Civil War Encampment
May 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Travel back in time to get an up-close experience of a Civil War Encampment. The park will be full of the sights, sounds, and smells of the camp while you interact with confederate soldiers as they pass time and prepare rations. // Sky Meadows State Park: 11012 Edmonds Ln., Delaplane; free
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