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The McLean Community Center will fill February 2026 with performances, international films, classes and community programs at its main building, The Alden Theatre and the Old Firehouse Center.
The Alden’s family programming begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, with “Astronaut vs. Aquanaut,” an American Sign Language-interpreted exploration of the ocean and outer space. Scientists Janet Ivey of “Janet’s Planet” and Jennifer Swanson of Science Rocks will draw on recent discoveries, including images from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Two performances will celebrate Lunar New Year. The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company will present traditional and contemporary dance, including Dragon and Lion dances, in “Year of the Red Fire Horse Lunar New Year Celebration” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, Honolulu Theatre for Youth will stage “The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac,” recounting how the animals earned their places in the zodiac.
The Alden will also screen “Hyenas,” a 1992 Wolof-language film with English subtitles, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, and 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. Inspired by Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s play “The Visit,” the film follows a wealthy woman who returns to her impoverished desert hometown and offers residents her fortune in exchange for the death of the man who abandoned her years earlier. The free screenings are intended for adults 18 and older.
“Spettacolo,” a 2017 Italian film with English subtitles, will be shown free at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. The PG-rated documentary examines a 50-year tradition in which residents of an Italian village transform their lives into a play staged in the town piazza.
The Borisevich Duo will bring piano-and-violin chamber music to The Alden at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. The husband-and-wife ensemble is a returning favorite whose performances have drawn increasingly large audiences.
Community programming begins with a CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator course from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. Rescue and Respond will teach participants to recognize and handle breathing, cardiac and other emergencies involving adults and children. The three-hour course costs $102, or $82 for residents of the MCC tax district.
A free seminar titled “Financial Planning: Navigating the Path in Retirement” will run from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. The center is presenting the advance-registration program with Clover Leaf Wealth Strategies.
Residents interested in public service can also seek seats on the center’s 2026-27 Governing Board. The 11-member volunteer body oversees policy, strategic planning and financial stewardship. Four adult positions and two youth positions will be decided in the election, with petition packets available beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18. Candidates must be adults or teens who live in the MCC tax district.
The Old Firehouse will host family game nights every Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., featuring table tennis, bridge, mah-jongg, arcade games, a sensory lab and other activities. Anyone younger than 18 must attend with an adult.
Tickets or advance registration are required for some programs. General information is available by calling 703-790-0123 or TTY 711. The Old Firehouse can be reached at 703-448-8336, and The Alden box office at 703-790-9223.
Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Attendees seeking accommodations should contact the center at least 14 working days before an event. Alternate-format information may be requested by calling 711.