Parents Night Out

The Family Y, 1147 Georgia Ave., is offering a Parents Night Out from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday. The cost is $10 per child for members, $15 per child for program participants. Advance registration is required. Call (706) 278-0882.

Running for charity

There will be a 5-kilometer run/walk at 8 a.m. Saturday at Riverview Park, 100 Riverview Park Drive. The event will also offer a children's one-mile run and a tot trot. Proceeds will benefit impoverished people in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia. The cost is $17 for adults and $12 for children. Call (803) 279-7525.

Horse show

An open horse show will take place Saturday at the Hippodrome on U.S. Highway 1 in North Augusta.

The event will include amateur English and Western horse shows and competitions in 40 classes.

The show benefits the Medical College of Georgia's Children's Medical Center.

Volunteers are needed. Call (706) 721-4004.

Fair is coming

The Aiken Jaycees Western Carolina State Fair is scheduled Oct. 18-27.

The fair will be at the Aiken Fairgrounds off of U.S. Highway 1 North in Aiken. Included will include be rides, arts, crafts, horticulture and the Western Carolina State Fair Pageant, which will include appearances by the 2007 Miss South Carolina USA and Miss South Carolina Teen USA pageant winners.

Entertainment will include Neal McCoy, the Star Family Circus, After Church Gospel Concert, the Southern Monster Truck Showdown and a Demolition Derby. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (803) 278-4849.

Art, science classes

Roy Warner Park in Wagener will offer art- and science-exploration classes every Tuesday, starting Oct. 23. Classes will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and will alternate between art and science exploration.

The cost of the classes is $2, and registration is required. Call (803) 564-6149.

Moms to gather

Toddlealong With Mom will begin meeting on Wednesday mornings, starting Nov. 7, at Roy Warner Park of Highway 39 in Wagener. Mothers and children up to age 5 are invited to meet from 9 to 10:10 a.m. for coffee, fun, peer interaction and activities for toddlers.

The program is free. Call Rosa Freitag (803) 564-6143.

Items for troops

The Marine Corps League, Department of South Carolina is offering the public a chance to show support for the military men and women serving in Iraq by sending them care packages free of charge.

Operation Rudolph kicks off Wednesday and continues until the end of the month.

Items requested are: AA, AAA, and D batteries; phone cards; compact discs and DVDs; cotton tube and heavy wool socks; olive drab T-shirts; handkerchiefs; hand mirrors; stick deodorant; toothpaste; bar soap; dental floss; Q-tips; sunscreen, SPF 50 or better; shampoo and conditioner; hand sanitizer; female hygiene products; combs and hairbrushes for women; sports magazines; hunting and fishing magazines; baseball caps; 220-volt power converter; and energy, breakfast and snack bars.

Anyone who would like to participate can call Marine Corps League Commandant Lane Parker at (803) 644-8300 to arrange a pickup.