Applause calendar

SEASONAL

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD VILLAGE PREVIEW: 7 P.M. TODAY, Augusta Museum of History, 560 Reynolds St.; silent auction, cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and raffle; $50; cocktail attire; (706) 722-8454

CHRISTMAS MADE IN THE SOUTH: Friday-Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; James Brown Arena; $6 adults; free for children 11 and younger; one admission good for all three days with a hand stamp; madeinthesouthshows.com

LIGHTS OF THE SOUTH: 6-10 p.m. Friday through Dec. 30; more than 60,000 lights, hay rides, visit with Santa or stop in at Mrs. Claus' kitchen; 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown; $7.50 adults, $4 children ages 4-17, free for ages 3 and younger; (706) 825-6441

HOLIDAY BRICK YARD MARKET: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Hammond's Ferry, in front of Manuel's Bread Cafe and Edge Salon; craft and food vendors, musical street performers, carriage rides, dance performances and Santa; (803) 613-1641

HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 27-28; Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 2; Hammond's Ferry, 89 Crystal Lake Drive; from Aiken Horse and Carriage Company; tickets at Manuel's Bread Cafe and Edge Salon in Hammond's Ferry; $10; (803) 613-1641

DECK THE HALLS WITH HISTORIC AUGUSTA: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3, Joseph R. Lamar Boyhood Home, 415 Seventh St.; Greg Boulus of Charleston Street Fine Flowers and Events will have tips for holiday decorating; light refreshments and poinsettia cocktails; $20; benefits Historic Augusta; tickets at Historic Augusta, 415 Seventh St., Charleston Street Fine Flowers and Events, 449 Highland Ave.; (706) 724-0436; www.historicaugusta.org

CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4-5, H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken; wood furniture, paintings, baked goods, jewelry, holiday ornaments, ceramics, needlepoint creations, pottery; free; (803) 642-7631

WAYNESBORO, GA., TOUR OF HOMES: 4-8 p.m. Dec. 5; home of David and June Johnson, 831 Academy Ave.; home of Eddie and Bonnie Taylor, 851 Academy Ave.; home of E.R. and Laura Hensley, 250 Crestridge Ave.; presented by Town and Country Women's Club; (706) 554-6097

CHITLIN' STRUT: 4-10 p.m. Nov. 28; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 29; 161 Railroad Ave., Salley, S.C.; carnival rides, gospel songs, parade, hog-calling contest, plenty of chitlins; (803) 258-3485

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING: 6-7 p.m. Nov. 30, Calhoun Park, Georgia and Carolina avenues, North Augusta; (803) 441-4308

NORTH AUGUSTA CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5; featuring seven homes decorated for the holidays; Arts and Heritage Center will be open for refreshments and a rest stop; gift shop open for Christmas shopping; $15 until 2 p.m. Dec. 4; $18 on days of tour; benefits scholarships for North Augusta High School seniors; (803) 279-4844

HISTORIC HOLIDAY CANDLELIGHT TOUR: AUGUSTA'S FINEST CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: 5-9 p.m. Dec. 4-5, 1-5 p.m. Dec. 6, Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson, 419 Seventh St.; Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, 1116 Phillips St.; Meadow Garden: Home of George Walton, 1320 Independence Drive; 1797 Ezekiel Harris House, 1822 Broad St.; Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, 181 Redcliffe Road, Beech Island; $15 adults, $7 students grades K-12; ages 5 and younger free; tickets at the house museums during the tour; benefits the museums in tour; advance tickets at Historic Augusta, 415 Seventh St., and Charleston Street Fine Flowers and Events, 449 Highland Ave.; Historic Augusta (706) 724-0436, www.historicaugusta.org

CHRISTMAS FANTASY PARADE: 3 p.m. Dec. 5, Broad Street, downtown Augusta; walking groups, marching bands, floats; awards given for best large float, best small float and most spirited walking group; entry forms available at www.augustaga.gov, myaugustadowntown.com

ALLELUIA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL: 8 a.m. to noon and 4:30-8 p.m. Dec. 5, Alleluia Community School; bakery, yard sale, silent auction, arts and crafts, German and Italian food, coffee house, games; benefits Alleluia Community School; (706) 798-1882

CHRISTMAS PARADE: 3-4:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Georgia Avenue, North Augusta; (803) 441-4308

ONSTAGE

Much Ado About Nothing : 7 p.m. today-Saturday; Bechtel Experimental Theater, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St., Aiken; performed by the Aiken Community Playhouse Youth Wing; adaptation of Shakespeare's play by Trish Black Melehan; $8 adults, $5 18 and younger; (803) 648-1438

BOEING BOEING : 7 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show Friday-Saturday, Dec. 3-5; Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Building 32100, Third Avenue; $37 civilians; $35 ages 65 and older, Department of the Army civilians and active-duty E7 and above; $28 active-duty E6 and below; $22 for show only; some adult humor; rated PG; (706) 793-8552, www.fortgordon.com

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE : 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; Mancin Auditorium, Bartow Community Center, 1138 Academy Circle, Bartow, Ga.; by the Schoolhouse Players; $10 adults, $5 children; for reservations, call (478) 364-3340

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S ALEGRIA: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Nov. 26, 3:30, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27-28, 1 p.m., 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29; James Brown Arena, 601 Seventh St.; $32-$97; www.augustaentertainment complex.com

THE MATCH GIRL : 7 p.m. Dec. 4, 10-12; 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5, 4 p.m. Dec. 6, 13; Paul S. Simon Discovery Theater, Fort Discovery, 1 Seventh St.; presented by Enopion Theater Company; (706) 771-7777

MADELINE'S CHRISTMAS : 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 402 Aumond Road; $5; presented by The Young Artists Repertory Theatre Company Inc.'s Actors Studio; (706) 829-1325

THE SANTALAND DIARIES & THE EIGHT REINDEER MONOLOGUES : 8 p.m. Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 17-19; Le Chat Noir, 304 Eighth St.; $25; (706) 722-3322

BROADWAY IN AUGUSTA: Jim Brickman, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8; The Wizard of Oz, 8 p.m. Jan. 8; Cabaret, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4; Garrison Keillor, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8; Hairspray, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15; Bill Cosby, 2 and 5 p.m. March 28; Beauty and the Beast, April 24; www. broadwayinaugustaga.com

SHEN YUN: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St.; $39-$89; www.augusta entertainmentcomplex.com

MUSIC

The Dance Shoppe's fall concert: 7 tonight, Grace United Methodist Church, 639 Georgia Ave., North Augusta; $3 advance, $5 at the door; advance tickets from The Dance Shoppe; (803) 279-7345

THE AUGUSTA CHILDREN'S CHORALE, THE BIRMINGHAM BOYS CHOIR: Thanksgiving concert, 3 p.m. Sunday, St. John United Methodist Church, 736 Greene St.; part of Concert with a Cause series; benefits Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries; stjohnaugusta.org

EMPTY STOCKING FUND BENEFIT: 3 p.m. Sunday, First Baptist Church; featuring the Augusta Concert Band, directed by Bob Willing; ticket-holders will be seated first, beginning at 2:30 p.m.; at 2:45 p.m., remaining seats offered

CYPRESS STRING QUARTET: 8 p.m. Friday, Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way; $25 adults, $7 school-age children; presented by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society; www.hjcms.org

TUESDAY'S MUSIC LIVE: Ben Verdery, classical guitar, noon Tuesday; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 605 Reynolds St., Riverwalk Augusta; free; lunch $10, catered by chef Andrew Crumrine; (706) 722-3463

AIKEN CHORAL SOCIETY: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 3 p.m. Dec. 6; Cornerstone Baptist Church, 100 Cornerstone Drive, Aiken; $12 adults, $10 seniors, $7 children; www.gabn.net/aikenchoral

WESTMINSTER SCHOOLS OF AUGUSTA CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 6 p.m. Dec. 7, Warren Baptist Church, 3203 Washington Road; festive music performed by the Westminster Chorale and string quartet; (706) 731-5260

DANCE

THE NUTCRACKER : 7 p.m. Nov. 27, 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 28-29, Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St.; $17-$40; presented by Dance Augusta; www.imperialtheatre.com

THE NEW NUTCRACKER : 7 p.m. Friday, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; $20 adults, $15 students, seniors, active military; (706) 860-1852, www.columbiacounty ballet.com

COMMUNITY

Augusta newcomers luncheon: 10 a.m. today, West Lake Country Club, 3556 West Lake Drive; speaker from Columbia County Sheriff's Office will provide information about crime and safety during the holidays; (706) 364-6824

CSRA HYDRANGEA SOCIETY: 7 tonight, community room at Aiken Technical College, Health and Science Building; www.csrahydrangeasociety.org

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT: 11 a.m. today, Jaguar Student Activities Center breezeway, Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way; free cold turkey sandwich for those who sign a pledge card and turn in their cigarettes; Office of Student Activities (706) 737-1610

SEAN'S LAST WISH ORGANIZATION DISPLAY, HIV TESTING: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Student Activities Center, University of South Carolina Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken; www.seanslastwish.org/new_about.html

SINGLES DANCE: 7 p.m. Saturdays, The Ballroom Dance Center, Evans; $6 members, $8 others; lessons 7-8 p.m.; held by the Christian Social Organization for Single Adults; christiandances.org

PEACEFUL HEART QUILTING GUILD EXHIBIT: Through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta, 100 Georgia Ave.; $3 adults, $1 students; free for 5 and younger; (803) 441-4380, artsandheritagecenter.com

RICHMOND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY BREAKFAST: 9 a.m. Saturday, Holiday Inn, 2155 Gordon Highway, featuring local lawyer David B. Bell, who will discuss medical malpractice as it applies to proposed national health care reform; $8; (706) 733-0190

USED-BOOK SALE: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, basement of Appleby Branch Library, 2260 Walton Way; benefits library; (706) 736-6244

JINGLE BELL JAUNT: Through Nov. 30; downtown Augusta; pick up a Jingle Bell Ring at any of the 28 participating boutiques, gift shops, cafes and art galleries; the ring contains a business card from each shop and a registration form; visit each shop and find the hidden jingle bell display and have a store employee validate the registration form; when the form is filled out, drop the card off at the last stop for a chance to win; on First Friday in December, two registration cards will be drawn and each will win a $700 gift certificate package; dasquared.com

A TASTE OF WINE FUNDRAISER: 5 P.M. DEC. 5, THE COUNTRY, S.C. HIGHWAY 23 WEST, EDGEFIELD; WINE, HOR D'OEUVRES, SILENT AUCTION AND ENTERTAINMENT; FUND RAISER FOR C.H. TERRELL ACADEMY; $65, $100 COUPLE; (706) 736-6216

ATTRACTIONS

AIKEN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 433 Newberry St. S.W., Aiken; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; free; (803) 642-2015

AUGUSTA CANAL INTERPRETIVE CENTER: 1450 Greene St., Enterprise Mill, Suite 400; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday; (706) 823-0440

AUGUSTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY: 560 Reynolds St.; exhibits The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown; From Ty to Cal: A Century of Baseball; Stories and Legends: A Community That Heals; Into the Interior: A History of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company; $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 ages 6-18, free 5 and younger; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays; augustamuseum.org; (706) 722-8454

WOODROW WILSON HOME: 419 Seventh St.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; $5 adults, $4 for 60 and older, $3 for 6-17 and free ages 5 and younger; (706) 722-9828

DUPONT PLANETARIUM: 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 7 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; shows $4.50 adults, $3.50 seniors, $2.50 students, $1 university students, faculty and staff; (803) 641-3654, rpsec.usca.edu/planetarium

EZEKIEL HARRIS HOUSE: 1840 Broad St.; 1797 house, 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday by appointment; group tours by appointment, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday-Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturdays; $2 adults, $1 children; 5 and younger free; (706) 737-2820

FORT DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER: Riverwalk Augusta at Seventh Street; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; $8 ages 18-54, $6 for 55 and older, active-duty military and ages 4-17; children 3 and younger free with paid adult ticket; half-price after 3 p.m.; www.nscdiscovery.org; (706) 821-0200

HICKORY HILL: 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson; home of Tom Watson, Populist politician; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; evening tour 7 p.m. Dec. 11-12; reception 6:30 p.m.; closed holidays; (706) 595-7777, www.hickory-hill.org

LAUREL AND HARDY MUSEUM: 250 N. Louisville St., Harlem; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; (706) 556-0401

LUCY CRAFT LANEY MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY: 1116 Phillips St.; November: Community quilt exhibition; $5 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; www.lucycraftlaneymuseum. com; (706) 724-3576

MEADOW GARDEN HISTORIC SITE: 1320 Independence Drive; 1792 home of George Walton, Declaration of Independence signer; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays by appointment; $4 adults, $3.50 seniors, $3 students, $1 kids; (706) 724-4174; www.geocities.com/meadowgarden3

MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART: 1 10th St.; $5 adults, $3 seniors, students and military; free for members and ages 5 and younger, free Sundays; Emil Holzhauer: The Georgia Years, through Nov. 29; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; (706) 724-7501, themorris.org

PHINIZY SWAMP NATURE PARK: 1858 Lock and Dam Road; December Dash, 9 a.m. Dec. 5; fourth annual scenic 10K race; call to sign up; open dawn to dusk Saturday-Sunday, holidays; noon to dusk Monday-Friday; (706) 828-2109, www.phinizyswamp.org

REDCLIFFE PLANTATION STATE HISTORIC SITE: 181 Redcliffe Road, Beech Island; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Monday; tours 1, 2, 3 p.m., $4 adult, $3 ages 6-16, $2.50 South Carolina seniors, free 5 and younger; (803) 827-1473