Holiday Happenings

Soup Studios Pottery Annual Holiday Studio Sale - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 12, Soup Studios, 2140 S. Lumpkin St.; the lovely offerings at artist Jamie Voivedich's studio this year will include some new, handmade clay and sterling pendants and earrings (owls, squirrels, hotdogs, vegetables, even retro appliances) along with a colorful array of handmade hats and scarves for kids and grown-ups alike, and the full line of functional pottery plus some one-of-a-kind carved and holiday items not featured on the Web site. www.soupstudios.com or (706) 340-1973.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

Wildcard Wednesday: Polymer Clay Beads - 4-5 p.m. Dec. 2, Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St.; make beads out of polymer clay to string and make into jewelry for presents for the holidays; free and open to the first 15 teens ages 11-18; (706) 613-3650 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us.

Merry Christmas Origami - 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 17, Madison County Library, 1315 Highway 98 West, Danielsville; make ornaments, boxes and more using festive holiday paper; for ages nine and older; (706) 795-5597 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/ madison.

Workshop: Holiday Glass Brick Luminaries - 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 5, Sandy Creek Park, 400 Bob Holman Road; make a gift of decoration for the holidays; for ages 13 and older; $18 per brick for ACC residents, $22 per brick for nonresidents; preregister by Dec. 3; (706) 613-3631 or www.accleisureservices.com.

Family Day: Natural Ornaments - 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 5, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave.; make holiday ornaments using natural objects and clay; sing carols with the Meridian Women's Choir; holiday refreshments; preregister; (706) 542-6156 or www.uga.edu/botgarden.

Wildcard Wednesday: Jewelry Stringing - 4-5 p.m. Dec. 9, Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter Street; use the beads made on Dec. 2 and learn the best techniques for stringing necklaces and bracelets; free and open to the first 15 teens ages 11-18; (706) 613-3650 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us.

Workshop: Greenery Wreath - 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave.; live wreath-making workshop; wreaths constructed on wire frames with greenery collected from the garden; materials harvested just prior to class to ensure they last throughout the holidays; bring pruning shears; preregister; members $24, non-members $27; (706) 542-6156 or www.uga.edu/botgarden.

Holiday Cupcake Decorating - Noon Dec. 11, Madison County Library, 1315 Highway 98 W., Danielsville; preregister; limit 12; free; (706) 795-5597 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/ madison.

Wildcard Wednesday: Origami Boxes - 4-5 p.m. Dec. 16, Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St.; make decorative origami boxes to use for gift giving; free and open to the first 15 teens ages 11-18; (706) 613-3650 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us.

Make Your Own Holiday Centerpiece - 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 18, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave.; bring container and pruning shears to construct a holiday centerpiece; greenery harvested at the garden provides; each participant will create one arrangement; preregister; members $24, nonmembers $27; (706) 542-6156 or www.uga.edu/botgarden.

Invasive Crafts - 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 22, Greenway, 205 Old Commerce Road; learn to make holiday crafts out of invasive plants; all ages welcome, children must be accompanied by adult; preregister; $2 ACC residents, $5 nonresidents; (706) 613-3615 or www.accleisureservices.com.

TREE LIGHTINGS

Atlanta Tree Lighting - 7 p.m. Nov. 26, Macy's Lenox Square Mall, 3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta; The Great Tree is lit atop Macy's Lenox Square; event features Josh Turner, Mandisa and Stephen Norwood; macys.com.

Athens Downtown Tree Lighting - 8 p.m. Dec. 3, City Hall, downtown Athens; traditional tree lighting ceremony hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus; www.accleisureservices.com.

LIGHT DISPLAYS

Magical Nights of Lights - 5-10 p.m. through Dec. 30, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Holiday Road, Lake Lanier Islands; more than six miles of illuminated giant characters created with millions of twinkling lights; driving tour; Holiday Village featuring a bonfire for roasting marshmallows, holiday fare, pony and amusement rides, holiday shopping and more; pictures with Santa taken at the Santa Shop; $40 per car Monday-Thursday and $60 Friday-Sunday; $90 per van; (770) 945-8787 or (800) 840-5253.

18th Annual Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Gardens - through Dec. 30, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain; featuring 8 million lights stretching more than five miles; more than a dozen larger-than-life holiday scenes; tickets start at $9 for children and $18 for adults; (800) 225-5292 or www.callawaygardens.com.

Corn Dawgs Winter Wonderland - 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday through January, Walnut Grove, Walton County, Highway 81; ice skating, Christmas Trees, holiday lights, hayrides, reindeer and more; event tents available for groups and activities for families and children; the "Holiday Trail of Lights" takes families on a hayride through the "12 Days of Christmas"; www.corndawgs.com or (770) 786-9000.

NATIVITY SCENES

"Journey Through Christmas" Nativity - 7-9 p.m. Dec. 4 and 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5-6, Princeton UMC, 2390 S. Lumpkin St.; a drive-thru depiction of the Nativity story in five scenes; through actors, animals and staging, participants journey from the "Anunciation" to the travels of the three Kings as they seek the Christ child; free; (706) 353-1123 or www.princetomumc.wordpress.com.

OPEN HOUSES, TOURS, MARKETS

Christkindlmarket - Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 5-6, Downtown Helen; holiday market; (706) 878-1908 or www.helenga.org.

Watkinsville Garden Club's Silent Auction - 10:15 a.m. Dec. 3, Garden Club of Georgia building, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave.; items include: baked goods, home decor, craft items, plants, homemade jams, pickles, artwork and items donated by local businesses; covered dish lunch will follow; (706) 353-1336.

Downtown Gainesville Holiday Open House - 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4- 5, Downtown Gainesville, Main Street; more than 30 stores and restaurants; special sales, contests, treats and music; carriage rides each day; Santa will be at the Main Street Market for photos with children; www.downtowngainesville.com.

Trace Studio Collective Holiday Sale - 2-7 p.m. Dec. 4-6 in the Chase Park Warehouses, 160 Tracy St.; works by Annette Gates, Lauren Gallaspy, Jorie Berman, Rob Jackson, Mark Jordan and Andy Nassisse; through Dec. 24 by appointment; (706) 549-6877.

RXRAD Holiday Market - 2-9 p.m. Dec. 4, outdoors at the Chase Park Warehouses, 160 Tracy St. in the Railroad Arts District; arts and crafts on the loading docks with live music, hot coffee and cider. Spend a magical holiday evening under the moon and stars, and mark everyone off your shopping list; www.railroadartsdistrict. blogspot.com.

Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa Holiday Market - 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 5, noon-5 p.m. Dec. 6, in the parking lot on the corner of Clayton and Pulaski streets, next door to Agora in downtown Athens; about 50 local and area crafters will have handmade items for sale; visit www.athensindiecraftstravaganzaa.com for more information.

Christmas Sale - 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5, Turpin Pottery, 2500 Highway 441, Homer; (706) 677-1528.

J.B. (Jeff Bishoff) and Friends Pottery and Art Show and Sale - 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5-6, Farmington; artists include: Brooks Burgess, Caryn Curry, Craig Ellefson, Carter Gillies, Julie Green, Jim Peckham, Michael Pierce, Todd Runkle, Keen Zero and J.B. (Jeff Bishoff); (706) 769-8401.

283 Holiday Market 2009 - 11 a.m. Dec. 5, 283 Bar, 283 E. Broad St.; exhibit.

Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation 15th Annual Holiday Market - 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5-6, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, 34 School St., Watkinsville; seventy arts and crafts vendors will sell their original works; juried market includes: pottery, paintings, fiber art, stained and fused glass, jewelry, sculpture, photography and woodwork; (706) 769-4565 or www.ocaf.com.

Christmas Spirits Holiday Tour - 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6, begins at Athens Welcome Center, 280 E. Dougherty St.; holiday-themed version of the Museum Mile historic house museum tour; short, live-theater vignettes by the Rose of Athens Theatre company presented at T.R.R. Cobb House and Ware-Lyndon House; refreshments and surprises at Church-Waddel-Brumby House and Taylor-Grady House; adults $25, children ages 12 and younger $15; visitathensga.com or (706) 353-1820.

Holiday Tour of Homes - 2-4 p.m. Dec. 6, The Barn, Church Street, Crawford; featured homes: Nate and Fran Hansford, Linda Parish, Bobby and Bobbi Field and Chuck Brooks; refreshments served after tour; proceeds benefit Relay For Life; $15 donation; (706) 743-8141 or (706) 549-4893.

Botanical Garden's Holiday Open House - 2 p.m. Dec. 6, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave.; holiday décor keeps with the theme of "An Audubon Christmas," celebrating the garden's birds; musical entertainment by The Georgia Children's Chorus, The Solstice Sisters and The Classic City Band; photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus; puppet show and crafts for children; refreshments; free; (706) 542-1244 or www.uga.edu/botgarden.

Candlelight Nights - 5:30-9 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15, The Atlanta History Center, Buckhead; visit Tullie Smith Farm and experience the holiday traditions of a mid-19th-century family with interpreters, activities, performances, storytelling and open-hearth kitchen demonstrations; candle-lit stroll through wooded trail to the Swan House mansion; $10 for History Center and Margaret Mitchell House members; $5 for member children; $15 for nonmembers; $7 for non-member children; (404) 814-4000 or atlantahistorycenter.com/ candlelight.

Washington-Wilkes Christmas Tour of Homes and Colonial Dinner - 5-9 p.m. Dec. 11 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12, downtown Washington; visit private homes dressed for the season; Dec. 12 visitors can tour private residences, farms and commercial spaces in the city and the county before enjoying a private candlelight cocktail party on the square and a holiday dinner in a historic home; each day offers a different collection of houses to tour; $5 per house; candlelight tour ticket Dec. 11 is $30; town and country day tour ticket Dec. 12 is $30; Dec. 12 tour and holiday dinner combination ticket is $65; Dec. 11 tour, Dec. 12 tour and holiday dinner combination ticket is $85; www.historyofwilkes.org.

"Not So Silent Night" Silent Auction - 7-9 p.m. Dec. 11, Athica, Chase Warehouse, Unit 4, 160 Tracy St.; features original pieces of art from nationally recognized artists, jewelry, weekend getaways, computer services, memberships, services from local salons and more; live music by calypso band Panablaze; catered refreshments; all proceeds go to scholarships for Clarke Central high school students to attend regional conferences and to publish the school's "Iliad" literary-art magazine and "Odyssey" newsmagazine; $10 donation admission; (706) 357-5200.

Carter Gillies Pottery Winter Art Sale - 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 572 Nantahala Ave.; artists include: Geoff and Lisa Pickett, Jeff Bishoff, Jim Peckham, Julie Greene and Juana Genecco; (706) 546-7235 or www.carterthe potter.etsy.com.

Antique Christmas Exhibit - 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12, Washington Historical Museum, 308 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington; $3 admission; 706-678-5001 or www.historyofwilkes.org/sites-historicalmuseum.

Christmas Tour of Homes - noon-2:30 p.m. and 2:30-5 p.m. Dec. 13, The Georgia Club, 1050 Chancellors Drive; sponsored by The Georgia Club Foundation; residential homes decorated for the holidays in each of The Georgia Club's neighborhoods; proceeds donated to good cause; tickets at The Georgia Club, Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, Heery's, Too in Athens, Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, most Oconee State Bank locations and most Peoples Bank locations; $20 advance, $25 at the door; (770) 725-8100 or thegeorgiaclubfoundation.com.

Signing and Singing: A Holiday Treat - 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, 34 School St., Watkinsville; features well-known Athens area authors Julie Cannon, Gail Karwoski, Terry Kay, Donny Seagraves, Grady Thrasher and Philip Lee Williams signing copies of their books; music programs from the Decatens acapella choir of Oconee County Middle school and a chorale from the Westminster Christian Academy's Lower School music classes; authors will participate in an ensemble reading of Clement Moore's "The Night Before Christmas"; Artists of OCAF Shoppe will be open for holiday shoppers; (706) 769-4565 or e-mail info@ocaf.com.

Celebration of the Season on the Square - 5-8 p.m. Dec. 19, Downtown Gainesville Main Street; coral and dramatic ensembles will perform with special guests, a carriage ride and Santa; shop through the downtown stores; www.downtowngainesville.com.

Southern Living Idea House "A Home for the Holidays" Tour - throughout December, Achasta, Reynolds Signature Community, Reynolds Plantation, historic Dahlonega; holiday decorations in a wooded, mountain-top setting; $5; (706) 867-1660 or www.achasta.com.

Christmas at Biltmore - through Jan. 2, Biltmore Estates, Asheville, N.C; features 100 decorated Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, bows and poinsettias; 30,000 lights in the house and 150,000 lights around the estate; more than 25,000 ornaments; www.biltmore.com or (877) Biltmore.

LHAC Gallery Shop Holiday Market - Noon-5 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays through Jan. 2, Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt St.; more than 80 artists; wreaths, ornaments, cards, folk art, jewelry, paintings, pottery, purses, scarves, wood, stained glass and more; www.accleisureservices.com.

PARADES

Athens Downtown Christmas Parade of Lights - 7 p.m. Dec. 3, begins at corner of Dougherty and Pulaski streets and ends at City Hall; more than 60 floats, bands and other groups parade through downtown streets in twinkling lights; ends with traditional tree lighting ceremony hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus; www.accleisureservices.com.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade - 10:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 5, Downtown Atlanta; the Children's Christmas Parade is the largest Christmas parade in the Southeast; proceeds help fund programs and equipment to serve patients and families at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Winder Christmas Parade - 4 p.m. Dec. 5, N. Broad St., downtown Winder; cityofwinder.com.

PERFORMANCES

"A Christmas Carol" presented by Theatre IV - 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Dec. 2, Morton Theatre, 195 W. Washington St.; tickets must be purchased in advance; $10 each; $7.50 each for groups of 15 or more; one adult free with every 15 children; (800) 275-5005 or www.theatreiv.org.

"The Little Town of Christmas" presented by The Winder-Barrow Community Theatre - 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Colleen O. Williams Theater, Winder Cultural Arts Center, 105 E. Athens St., Winder; comedy; meet the friendly citizens of the little town of Christmas; show concludes with refreshments and a chance to meet Santa; $5 for children ages 12 and younger, $10 for 13 and older; (770) 867-3106 or (770) 867-1679.

"The Christmas Story" presented by The Waverly Consort - 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Hodgson Concert Hall, UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Road; The Waverly Consort's ensemble singers and musicians present a program combining solemn and festive music, processions and simple gestures, to dramatize the biblical narrative as conveyed by music manuscripts and illuminated miniatures of the Middle Ages; $23-$28; half-price for UGA students; (706) 542-4400 or (888) 289-8497 or www.uga.edu/pac.

"A Victorian Christmas with Charles Dickens" presented by JV Productions - 8 p.m. Dec. 10, Seney Stovall Chapel, N. Milledge Ave.; John Vance presents a one-man Dickens/Christmas show; the year is 1867, and Charles Dickens is in the middle of his second visit to the United States. In addition to discussing his earlier visit to America and his experiences in the theater, Dickens reads a series of short passages from his novels and stories then turns to contemporary Christmas customs in England and those of earlier centuries, followed by selected readings from a few of his C

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