With Thanksgiving right around the corner the holiday movie season is picking up steam.

This is the only time of year where you'll see a healthy mix of blockbusters and Oscar contenders from the major movie studios. In the coming weeks there will be releases of critic favorites including "The Fighter" and "Black Swan," as well as several sure-fire box office hits starring the likes of Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon and Jack Nicholson.

This weekend features one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" opens Friday with the familiar cast including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint back for one last round of wizardry. One of the highest grossing film franchises of all time, the final installment of the seven part series is broken up into two films. The second part of "Deathly Hallows" will be released summer, 2011.

The other big movie opening Friday is "The Next Three Days," starring Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks and Liam Neeson. Crowe and Banks star as a married couple whose world is turned upside down when Banks is accused of murder and sent to prison. Overwhelmed by his wife's deteriorating health, Crowe decides to break her out of prison. "The Next Three Days" is a remake of the 2008 French film "Anything for Her" and is directed by Academy Award winning director Paul Haggis ("Crash").

Both "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" and "The Next Three Days" will be showing at the Phoenix Worldgate Theatre.

Art lovers are sure to find a couple engaging gallery exhibits right in their backyard.

At ArtSpace Herndon, local artist Keith Rocco's exhibit "Historic Art: Capturing the Past" continues its showing and has been extended through December 1.

Down the road at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne painter Lassie Corbett has her artwork currently on display. "Variations on a Theme" will be showing through Nov. 28 at the Joanne Rose Gallery. Call 703-476-4500 for further details.

Staying in Reston, fans of classical music will certainly enjoy the Reston Community Orchestra's season opening performance at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. The orchestral ensemble will be performing various pieces including "Symphony #1 in E Minor" by Brian Scarbrough and "Turandot Overture & March" by CM von Weber. The event will take place at the Reston Community Center. Admission is free. Call 703-476-4500 for further details.

If you're looking for nightlife there are plenty of local opportunities. Finnegan's in Woodland Park Crossing is hosting a happy hour to benefit Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless. Patrons can purchase a $5 bracelet and get 10 percent off all food purchases between 5-8 p.m. Karaoke will also be taking place from 5-8 p.m.

For a taste of the 80s, Toxic Mouse is performing at Ned Devine's at 10 p.m. Friday. The hair, glam, heavy metal, tribute band has a set list that includes Guns-N-Roses, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Poison, Def Leppard, Twisted Sister and more. No Green Jellybeans, a group that performs a wide variety of covers, will take the stage at Ned's at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Entertainment at O'Sullivan's Irish Pub includes Sanford Markley at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, John Taglieri at 9:30 p.m. Friday and Brad Doggett at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.