Week Ahead

TODAY

2008 CHRISTMAS PARADE: 2-4 p.m. beginning at the corner of Washington Road and Ronald Reagan Drive and turning left onto Washington Road and then right onto Belair Road before ending at Belair Elementary; presented by the Merchants Association of Columbia County; (706) 722-8334, ext. 262.

CHRISTMAS HAYRIDE: 7-9:30 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Columbia Road; Sharon Baptist Church will hold its annual Hayride Through the Life of Christ; admission and hot chocolate are free; (706) 541-0667.

JEWISH BAZAAR: 1-4 p.m., Augusta Jewish Community Center, 898 Weinberger Way, off Furys Ferry Road in Evans; a Jewish Community Book Fair and Chanukah Bazaar with books, gifts, children's activities and a bake sale; lunch costs $5 for adults, $3 for children, with reservations requested; (706) 228-3636.

NINTH ANNUAL AUGUSTA TOY RUN: 1 p.m. from the Augusta Museum of History; in support of Fort Gordon's Christmas House; cost is at least one new, unwrapped toy; (706) 231-1430.

MONDAY

HARLEM'S HANDS UP OUTREACH MINISTRIES THRIFT SHOP: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. today-Friday at 110 S. Hicks St.; free bread available; donations of clothing, housewares, school supplies and other items also are welcome

TUESDAY

AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: 7 p.m. at 1000 Brookhaven Drive.

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: 5:30 p.m. at the school board office, 4781 Hereford Farm Road, Evans; (706) 541-0650.

CHAPTER 439 OF TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS): 5 p.m. at Pine View Baptist Church, 117 Pleasant Home Road, Martinez.

WEDNESDAY

CENSUS WORKER INFORMATION SESSION: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Columbia County Government Complex auditorium in Evans; the U.S. Census Bureau is seeking workers to assist with the 2010 Census; attendees should register by calling (866) 861-2010.

SEAT INSPECTION: Today at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans; Safe Kids East Central Georgia will hold a child safety seat inspection; (706) 541-3970.

MARVIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CLOTHES CLOSET: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the church at Wheeler and Belair roads; donations are accepted on the first day of each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

THURSDAY

EILEEN IVERS, THE AUGUSTA SYMPHONY: Holiday Pops! performance, 7:30 p.m., Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St.; $20.09; (706) 826-4705, augustasymphony.org

TOPS (TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY): 6 p.m. at Grovetown United Methodist Church, 206 E. Robinson Ave.; a nonprofit weight-loss support group; (706) 863-0726.

FRIDAY

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Musical production staged by Augusta Players, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St.; $15-$36; (706) 826-4707, augustaplayers.org

AIKEN CHORAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Sunday; Cornerstone Baptist Church, Hitchcock Parkway, Aiken; $12; seniors and students $8; children 11 and younger get in free; (803) 648-2052.

SATURDAY

CHORAL CONCERT: 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Evans, on Belair at Washington roads; the Columbia County Choral Society will present In the Bleak Midwinter , a concert of holiday and seasonal music; tickets cost $15, or $10 for seniors and students, and are available at the door; by calling (706) 650-2311, or at www.ccchoralsociety.org.

SANTA BREAKFAST: 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Cedar Ridge Elementary; vendors are being sought for the event, with spaces costing $20; call Heather Ayscue at (706) 868-9941.

DIABETES SUPPORT: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Columbia County Library's lower-level conference room; Kids in Need of a Cure (KINCs), a juvenile diabetes support group, will meet; e-mail Sonja Wood at sonja09244@yahoo.com.

MUSICAL STAGED: 7 p.m. at the Greenbrier High School auditorium; Musical Theater Workshops will present Cinderella Confidential and King Cole's Party ; tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for students, and children younger than 5 are admitted free; (706) 869-0089 or www.childrensensemble.com.

GROVETOWN LIONS CLUB ANNUAL TURKEY SHOOT: 6 p.m. each Friday and Saturday through Dec. 13 on Old Louisville Road off Harlem-Grovetown Road. For information, call Dave Deckert at (706) 556-1649.

CHRISTINE HURLEY DERISO: 1-3 p.m., Barnes & Noble, Augusta Mall, 3450 Wrightsboro Road; signing her new novel, Talia Talk ; www.christinehurleyderiso.com

SUNDAY

NATIVITY STAGED: 1:30 p.m.; St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, at 4921 Columbia Road . Cookies and hot cocoa will be served afterward; admission is free, and donations to a local family will be accepted; sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 8495 Ladies Auxiliary; call Karen Muller at (706) 860-8771, or Meledy Kise at (706) 294-7913.

CREATIVE IMPRESSIONS: 3 p.m., Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way; part of the Augusta Symphony Family Fun Series; $5; Augusta State students, faculty and staff get in free with JagCard; (706) 826-4705, www.augustasymphony.org

MESSIAH PERFORMED: 4 p.m. at the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel at Paine College; The Augusta Chorale will perform Handel's Messiah ; (706) 830-0991, or www.augustachorale.org.

REID MEMORIAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7-8:15 p.m., Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2261 Walton Way; with Masters Handbell Ringers, soloists, orchestra, organ and the church's chancel choir, performing Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols and Randol Bass' Christmas Ornaments ; free child care; (706) 733-2275.

THE ANNIE MOSES BAND: 7 p.m., New Hope Worship Center, 715 S. Old Belair Road, Grovetown; love offering; (706) 868-6410, www.nhwc.org.