this week

AIKEN CHORAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 3 p.m. today, Cornerstone Baptist Church, 100 Cornerstone Drive, Aiken; $12; seniors and students, $8; ages 11 and younger, free; (803) 648-2052

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

MASTERWORKS CHORALE CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 5 p.m. today, St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. N.W., Aiken; traditional Christmas performance A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols; tickets at University of South Carolina Aiken's Etherredge Center box office; $15 adults, $10 ages 62 and older, $5 students; (803) 641-3305

GERMAN CHRISTMAS SERVICE: 6 p.m. today, Ascension Lutheran Church, 2860 Wells Drive, Augusta; service conducted in German; featuring German Friendship Singers; (706) 798-6015

REID MEMORIAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7-8:15 p.m. today, Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2261 Walton Way, Augusta; with Masters Handbell Ringers, soloists, orchestra, organ and the church's chancel choir; free child care; (706) 733-2275

AUGUSTA CHORALE CHRISTMAS CONCERT: HANDEL'S MESSIAH: 4 p.m. today, Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel, Paine College, 1235 15th St., Augusta; workshop at 2:30 p.m.; $15 adults, $5 students and ages 5 to 18; (803) 593-6605, (706) 830-0991, www.augustachorale.org

SANTA'S BIG RED BAG TOY DRIVE: Monday-Friday, Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center, 1446 Harper St., Augusta; accepting new, unwrapped gifts; toys to be distributed to hospitalized children; needed items are registered at Target, Wal-Mart and Babies-R-Us under name Santa MCG; (706) 721-4392

CONCERT OF HOLIDAY MUSIC: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Augusta Museum of History, 560 Reynolds St., Augusta; performance by Augusta Collegium Musicum; $10; benefits museum; refreshments afterward; (706) 722-8454

AN ENCHANTED EVENING WITH MRS. KRIS Kringle: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, 506 Telfair St., Augusta; make holiday crafts, write a letter to Santa and have picture taken with Mrs. Claus; $35 for each adult and up to five children; each adult gets a Second Round Tea-Time at the Masters cookbook; benefits Junior League of Augusta; www.jlaugusta.org

SANTA IN BOECKH PARK: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Hammond's Ferry, Boeckh Park Pavilion, 89 Crystal Lake Drive, North Augusta; bring children to see Santa; (803) 613-1641

tis the season: 7 and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Dec. 23, 26, 27 and 30, Dupont Planetarium, Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, University of South Carolina Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken; holiday planetarium show; $4.50 adults, $3.50 ages 62 and older, $2.50 students through high school; (803) 641-3654

LIGHTS OF THE SOUTH: 6-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 30, closed Dec. 25, 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown; free parking; $7.50 adults, $3 ages 6-17, ages 5 and younger free; (706) 825-6441, www.lightsofthesouth.com

UPCOMING

CHRISTMAS EVE CONCERT AND LESSONS AND CAROLS: 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, St. John United Methodist Church, 736 Greene St., Augusta; featuring the St. John Choir and Orchestra; benefits The United Methodist Children's Home; www.stjohnaugusta.org.