Adults and children of all ages are invited to join Foxcroft School students in celebrating the holiday season Sunday, Dec. 7, with a spectacular Christmas Pageant, followed by a visit from Santa Claus, at the Middleburg, Va., school. The performance, which is free, will begin at 2pm in the Engelhard Gymnasium. Located in Foxcroft's Athletic/Student Center).

The pageant is a tradition that was started by Foxcroft founder Charlotte Haxall Noland soon after the School was established in 1914. Each year, Foxcroft's new students and Chorale present the nativity story as a gift to the community using Miss Noland's script -- which includes several characters you won't find in the Bible along with some animals you will. Live donkeys, goats, bunnies, and birds have all made appearances in recent years. Non-stop music and beautiful costumes that have been part of the show for decades are also featured.

Karin Thorndike, Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Foxcroft, directs the performance, assisted by Chorale Director Eric Dombrowski. A committee of students, led by senior Allison Bejar and McKenna Andrews, comprise the Technical Crew.

For years, the Pageant was held during the week and Miss Noland would send a bus to pick up all the students at Middleburg and Banneker Elementary schools. "We went to the gym and sat on mats," recalls Jane Lockhart, a lifelong Middleburg resident who seen more than 50 Foxcroft pageants dating back to 1950. "After the Pageant we would all go to another building that is gone now and get in line at a window that had the letter of our last names posted above it. When I got up to the window I would get two presents: something to play with and something to wear. This would happen every year and clothes always fit."

While clothes and toys are no longer distributed, goodie bags, prepared by Foxcroft students, will be shared with all the children in attendance when Santa Claus arrives, following the Pageant. Photos of children with Santa and/or his three elf assistants are always fun too!

The pageant is the culmination of a weekend devoted to community outreach and holiday activities at Foxcroft. On Friday, the students and faculty forego dinner to buy and pack huge care packages for needy families in the area. They also make gifts for residents of the Loudoun Longterm Care Facility and cards for servicemen as well as the School's support staff. On Saturday, girls will assist at Breakfast with Santa at the Middleburg Charter Elementary School and Foxcroft's float will be a highlight of the Christmas in Middleburg Parade.

The highlight of the weekend, however, is the Pageant and all are invited! Foxcroft is located on Foxcroft Road (Route 626), four miles north of the center of Middleburg. For more information, call 540.687.4511.