LEISURE
CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS TOURS — Gordon-Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga, Ga. Features historic home decorated in all-natural materials; musical entertainment by violinists, carolers and flautists; and homemade cookies and cider, 5-9 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 11. $5 adults, $4 seniors, $1 children. 706-375-2733.
FAMILIES ON THE RUN — Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. First Things First presents sixth annual competitive 5k and 10k and noncompetitive Santa Stroll, 7:45 a.m. Saturday; registration at 6 a.m. Registration fee covers race, hot breakfast and goody bag. $20 per person, $35 per family. Families may wait for racers during a holiday party, 8:30-10:30 a.m., at Sports Barn, 301 Market St. 267-5383.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS — Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Zoo transforms into illuminated wonderland, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11 and 17-18. $8 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children. Free night for members on Thursday and free DreamNight for guests with special needs, with reservations, Dec. 16. Leashed, vaccinated pets welcome Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. 697-1339.
HOLIDAY TOUR OF HISTORIC HOMES — Jasper Regional History Museum, Seventh and Phillips Avenue across from the Police Department, Jasper, Tenn. A self-guided tour of historical homes and chapels, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. CST Saturday, with museum members available to answer questions at each location. $10. 423-942-2233 or 423- 942-6649.
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY — Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd. Program commemorates 62nd anniversary of the United Nations adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 10. Includes presentations on human trafficking and hate crimes. Free. 643-6706.
KILN OPENING — Chattanooga Pottery, 612 Chattanooga Valley Road, Flintstone, Ga. Public reopening of the late Talle Johnson’s studio, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 11. Buy pottery directly from the kiln while exploring the gallery of crafts. Refreshments will be served. Free. 423-504-3238.
OPEN HOUSE — The Georgia Winery, 6469 Battlefield Parkway, Ringgold, Ga. Free tastings of hors d’oeuvres and hot mulled wine, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays in December. Selection of gift baskets available. Free admission. 706-937-WINE.
OPEN HOUSE — Antiques by the Fountain and Corner Antiques, 6501 Slater Road, East Ridge. Christmas celebration with discounts and refreshments, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. 510-8621.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST — First Baptist Church of Chickamauga, 603 W. Seventh St., Chickamauga, Ga. Photos with Santa during breakfast, 8:30-10: a.m. Dec. 11. Pancakes $3 per person, $7 per family. Photos $1. E-mail: susanveazey@gmail.com.
TRAIN RIDES — Departing from Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 894-8028, www.tvrail.com.
* Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga and to TVRM’s repair shop where locomotive is rotated and repositioned for ride back, 10:40 a.m. and 12:05 Saturdays in December. $15 adults, $9 children ages 3-12, free to younger kids.
* Christmas Special: A four-course dining experience aboard a 1924 dining car, 6-8:25 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 11 and Dec. 18. $60.
* North Pole Limited: Includes storytelling, refreshments and visit from Santa, 5:45, and 7:30 today-Sunday, Thursday and Dec. 10-13, 16-22. Additional 9:15 p.m. departure on select dates.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
BOOK SIGNING — Tanner-Hill Project Space, Warehouse Row, 1110 Market St. Debut of “The Rossman: A Superhero at Heart,” about a three-legged dog who finds a loving home and super strength, by Chattanooga author Julie Guerry and illustrator Carylon Killebrew, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. today and Saturday. Children can meet The Rossman, view Killebrew’s original paintings and take part in activities. Proceeds from weekend book sales benefit Wally’s Friends. Book will be available at select Chattanooga retail locations starting Monday. www.therossman.net.
CHILDREN/TEENS
BICENTENNIAL LIBRARY
All locations of Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library system have programs and activities. Call downtown, 757-5314; Eastgate, 855-2685; Northgate, 870-0636; Ooltewah/Collegedale, 396-9322; South Chattanooga, 825-7237. The central information number for all branches is 757-5310. www.lib.chattanooga.gov.
CHILDREN’S STORY TIME
* Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., 11 a.m. Wednesdays. 893-0186.
* Books Never-Ending, 2547 Cloud Springs Road, Rossville, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays for ages 3-8. 706-891-0774.
* Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St., 10:30 a.m. Fridays. 756-2855.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM — 321 Chestnut St. $10.95 children and adults. 756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.
* “Winter Wonders,” exhibit exploring fun cold-weather traditions, through Jan. 17.
* Holiday Shoppe, offering kids-only Christmas shopping, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 11-12, 18-20.
* Gingerbread workshops for families, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 11-12, 18-19. $25 members, $30 nonmembers. 648-6040 or 648-6045 for reservations.