HOLIDAY PHOTO DISPLAY: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, through Dec. 23, Cold Creek Nurseries, 398 Hitchcock Parkway; bring family, friends and camera; no charge to take photos
LIGHTS OF THE SOUTH: 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 30, (closed Christmas Day), Lights Of The South, 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown; more than 5 million lights throughout 100-acre forest; food, sweets, beverages, hay rides, walking trails, Christmas train, Christmas tree maze, more; $8; ages 4-17 $5; ages 3 and younger free; (706) 825-6441, lightsofthesouth.com
HOLIDAY ON THE HILL: Through Dec. 30, Hickory Hill, 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson; experience the magic of the holidays on an evening tour of Sen. Thomas E. Watson’s beloved home; (706) 595-7777, hickory-hill.org
HOLIDAY TOURS OF THE BOYHOOD HOME OF PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour Tuesdays-Saturdays through Dec. 29 (closed Christmas Day), 419 Seventh St.; decorated with fresh evergreens by Charleston Street Fine Flowers and Events; $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 K-12 students, free ages 4 and younger; (706) 722-9828
RETURN TO BETHLEHEM: A city of Bethlehem built in a field beside Grace United Methodist Church, 639 Georgia Ave.; groups of 20 take guided tour through live scenes of the night of Jesus’s birth; handicapped guests can drive through; 6-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 6-8; park in front of Wesley Center no later than 5:45 p.m.; no donations taken; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-To-Bethlehem-Grace-UMC-North-Augusta-SC/166281896733848?fref=ts
LADIES NIGHT OUT: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, Cold Creek Nurseries, 398 Hitchcock Parkway, Aiken; create a centerpiece using fresh greenery; music, wine, hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, shopping; $25, includes supplies; in-store registration required; (803) 648-3592
25TH ANNUAL NORTH AUGUSTA CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8; sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; tickets: Jim Bush Flower Shop, Communigraphics, Parks Pharmacy; day of tour tickets at any stop; $25; (803) 279-4844, (803) 279-6036, (803) 279-5074
A HOLLY DAY: All day, Saturday, Dec. 8, downtown Aiken; shops offer holiday specials; Aiken Downtown Development Association, (803) 649-2221, www.downtownaiken.com
CITY OF NEW ELLENTON CHRISTMAS PARADE: Noon Saturday, Dec. 8, Main Street, New Ellenton; (803) 652-2214, cmoseley@newellentonsc.com; free
MIDLAND VALLEY CHAMBER CHRISTMAS PARADE: 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, South Carolina Highway 421 from LBC Middle School in Bath to Langley; to enter, e-mail marshall@atc.edu or call (803) 270-0934; (803) 292-2769
NORTH AUGUSTA LIONS PARADE: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9; parade forms available at North Augusta Chamber of Commerce; parade begins at Kmart shopping center, goes down Martintown Road, then left onto Georgia Avenue to Buena Vista Avenue; (803) 279-2323
AIKEN JAYCEES CHRISTMAS PARADE: 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, downtown Aiken; Cartoon Christmas theme; register entries by Dec. 1; (803) 644-3008, www.aikenjaycees.com
STORYTIME WITH MRS. CLAUS: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, Odell Weeks Center, Rooms 6 and 7, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken; Mrs. Claus reading holiday books; refreshments; door prizes; each child given a free book; ages 8 and younger, accompanied by adult; (803) 642-7631; free
CHRISTMAS IN HOPELANDS: 6-9:30 p.m., Dec. 13-27 (closed Dec. 24 and 25), Hopelands Gardens, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken; lights, lights and more lights; refreshments offered; ride shuttle 6-9 p.m. from/to Citizens Park, 1060 Banks Mill Road; children must be accompanied by an adult; free, donations appreciated; (803) 642-7631
NIGHT OF 1,000 LIGHTS: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, downtown Aiken; held by Aiken Downtown Development Association; food, festivities and Santa in town; (803) 649-2221, www.downtownaiken.com
CHRISTMAS CANCELLED: A SPECIAL CIVIL WAR HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE: 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, 181 Redcliffe Road, Beech Island; musicians, actors bring alive the holiday experience of free and enslaved families during the Civil War; includes tours of historic slave quarters and decorated historic mansion, games for the whole family; (803) 827-1473
A BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, The Stables Restaurant at Rose Hill Estate, 221 Greenville St. NW, Aiken; holiday music and a special guest from The North Pole; reservations recommended; (803) 648-1181, www.rosehillestate.com
BAREFOOT PRODUCTIONS INC./CREATIVE IMPRESSIONS: BEHOLD THE STAR 2012: Saturday, Dec. 22, Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, 2500 Walton Way; 3-5 p.m. show $15, ages 12 and younger $10; 7-9 p.m. show $20, ages 60 and older $18, children and college students with ID $10; (706) 667-4100
