During First Night Leesburg, John McLaughlin the Magician slowly inserts a long needle all the way through a balloon.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

John McLaughlin the Magician, prepares to remove the wet paper that holds the water upside down in the glass.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

Audience watch, listen and react to the performance of Fearless Dave, Dave Vanderveer of Standardsville, during his routine.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

John McLaughlin the Magician then holds a pitcher underneath as the water spills from the upside down glass.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

Paul Hadfield entertains the audience as he juggles four balls at once.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

During New Years Eve 2008 First Night Leesburg, performer Paul Hadfield climbs a ladder and prepares to walk it over a female volunteer from the audience.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

Kelley, a Fenne Fox is introduced to the audience by Becky Shore of Animal Ambassadors.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

Oliver, a macaw parrot, is introduced to the audience by Becky Shore with Animal Ambassadors during her show during Leesburg's First Night celebration.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

A Bluemont Community project is a Celebration of the Arts with 20 indoor locations in downtown Leesburg. Members of the Speakeasy Boys sing and play their instruments onstage at the United Methodist Asbury Hall venue.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

Watching the Animal Ambassador show during Leesburg's First Night celebration, Stephanie Macedo, of Leesburg, holds her 4-year-old daughter, Nevaeh Madyun, as Patrick Sloyan holds holds his son, William.

Photo: Rich Lipski, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, Leesburg, New Year's

David Cook, of Ashburn, began bell-ringing around nine years ago, and said he is most in the Christmas spirit while volunteering.

Photo: Charity Corkey, LoudounExtra.com

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, Ashburn, holiday, volunteers

Jessica Belz stacks care packages for the military outside Moe's Southwest Grill, which will then be loaded into car for transport to the post office.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, military, Operation Pinecone, veterans

John, 13, and Mike Nenner, 16, brothers from Oakton, load care packages for the military into the back of a car for Operation Pinecone.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, military, Operation Pinecone, veterans

Jessica Belz, from the Dulles area, and Amanda Marvin, from the Herndon area, pack up care packages for members of the military at Moe's Southwest Grill in Chantilly. Volunteers packed up 125 boxes for Operation Pinecone.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, Chantilly, holiday, military, Operation Pinecone, veterans

Delagate Chuck Caputo and Ann Perricone tape care packages shut for Operation Pinecone, a Loudoun-based nonprofit that sends holiday cards, gifts and care packages to service members overseas and at local military hospitals.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, holiday, military, Operation Pinecone, veterans

On United's Fantasy Flight, Andrew Luckabuagh, 9, of Fairfax checks out flight attendant Jordan Bacon's Christmas decorations.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, christmas, Dulles Airport, holiday

Children and families get excited as the pilot announces that United's Fantasy Flight is arriving at the North Pole. In the front row is the Luckabaugh family from Fairfax: from left, Juliana, 6; Kim; Dan; Elisa, 7; and Andrew, 9. Behind Juliana is Alex Olajumoke, 29, of Alexandria.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, christmas, Dulles Airport, holiday

Cathy Berdahl, first officer of United's Fantasy Flight, greets passengers as they arrive for the special North Pole flight to meet Santa.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, christmas, Dulles Airport, holiday

Families react when the Nationals mascot Screech tries to squeeze down the airplane aisles on United's Fantasy Flight.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, christmas, Dulles Airport, holiday

United Flight attendants Noelle Steele (in back) and Nadine DuVal dressed in Santa hats to greet passengers Dalia Kennedy and her son Wyatt, 10 months old.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, christmas, Dulles Airport, holiday

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