LEISURE
BRUISER BEE – Chattanooga Marriott, 2 Carter Plaza. Adult spelling bee with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction, 6-9:30 p.m. Dec. 1. $500 team entry fee. Audience tickets $50 general admission, $150 VIP. www.bruiserbee.com.
BRUNCH WITH SANTA – Broad Street Grille, 1201 Broad St. Photo-ops with Santa, carolers singing, kids crafts, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 4. $25 adults, $15 children ages 6-12, free for younger children. 423-424-3700.
CANDLELIGHT WALK – Veterans Memorial Drive in downtown Tellico Plains, Tenn. Stroll streets illuminated by candlelight, ride in horse-drawn wagon, visit live Nativity, watch Christmas tree lighting, 4-9 p.m. Dec. 3. 423-253-7032.
CAROLING WITH THE FISHES – Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. Tour aquarium while enjoying music of drums, flutes, strings and more, 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Free for members $14.50 nonmembers. 423-267-3474.
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS – The Little Curiosity Shoppe, 138 Market St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery, 7:30 nightly. $15.95 adults, $10 ages 12 and younger. 423-821-7125.
CHATTANOOGA MARKET – Season has closed at First Tennessee Pavilion. Indoor Holiday Market debuts in December at Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 4, 11, 18. Free admission. www.chattanoogamarket.com.
CHRISTMAS AT THE CRAVENS HOUSE – Point Park, East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain. Free tours of historic 1855 home that was Union and Rebel headquarters during Civil War, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2-3. 423-821-7786.
CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK – 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. 706-657-4050.
* Friday, Nov. 25: Two-mile night hike to learn about park’s geology, enjoy trail by moonlight and listen for night sounds, 5-7 p.m. $10 plus $5 parking, ages 10 and older. Reservations required: GeorgiaGirlGuides.com
* Saturday, Nov. 26: Rock Talk and Stroll, a mile-long hike to learn park’s geology, 10:30 a.m.-noon. $5 parking.
* Saturday, Nov. 26: Awesome Opossums, meet the Interpretive Center’s live possums and learn about them with park naturalist, 4-4:30 p.m. $5 parking.
* Sunday, Nov. 27: Beyond the Canyons Hike, a 4-mile hike in lesser-known areas of the park, 9 a.m.-noon; meet at Interpretive Center. Wear closed-toe shoes and dress for weather. $10 individual or $20 family plus $5 parking. Register: 706-657-4050.
CHRISTMAS UNDERGROUND – Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain. Holiday gem mine theme includes discovering the Joystone gemstone, ice cave to watch miners play, a journey through the Sugar Plum Fairy village and view of the Northern Lights, noon-8 p.m. Dec. 1 – 23. $11.95 ages 3 and older, includes Joystone activities and souvenir. www.rubyfalls.com.
COLUMBUS SHIPS – Ross’s Landing, Chattanooga Pier, 100 Riverfront Parkway. Final weekend to take a self-guided tour of the “Nina” and “Pinta,” historically accurate replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday, Nov. 25-28. $8 adults, $7 senior adults, $6 children 5-16. www.chattanoogafun.com/events/5069/See-The-Colum bus-Ships-Nina-Pinta.
DESOTO STATE PARK – 7104 DeSoto Parkway, Fort Payne, Ala. 256-997-5025. Steel Barn Quilt Workshop, a make-and-take class for adults led by artist Nathan Winkler, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 3. $55 includes all materials. Registration required by Dec. 1: 256-845-0051.
ENCHANTED GARDEN OF LIGHTS – Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain. Annual light extravaganza with more than 30 holiday scenes and millions of LED lights, 6-8 nightly. $22.95 adults, $12.95 children. 706-280-2531.
ENGLISH TEA AND OPEN HOUSE – Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, 201 High St. Tour the Victorian home and its collection, enjoy scones and tea at authentic English tea party, 1-4 p.m. Dec. 4. $25. 423-267-7176.
HIKES – Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619, george.r.bonneau@gmail.com.
* Saturday, Nov. 26: Cloudland Canyon west rim, moderate 6 miles, $5 parking fee. Meet in Red Bank Food City parking lot at 9 a.m.
* Tuesday, Nov. 29: Rainbow Lake to Edwards Point and back, moderate 5 miles. Meet in Red Bank Food City parking lot at 9 a.m.
* Saturday, Dec. 3: Signal Point to Signal Mountain High School, strenuous 8.5 miles. Will stage vehicles. Meet in Red Bank Food City parking lot at 9 a.m.
THE HILLTOP CHRISTMAS – 8235 Highway 58. Christmas theme park with music, movies, snow machines and a sleigh/hay ride to see Santa along illuminated pathway, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-18, 22-23. $15 adults, $8 kids 4-10. Additional $5 for gingerbread cookie decorating or photos with Santa. thehilltopchristmas.com.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS – Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Zoo transforms with hundreds of lights, watch animals open their presents, have picture taken with Santa, play holiday games, 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 2-4, 9-11. $9.95 adults, $6.95 children; 50 percent discount for members. www.chattzooo.org/events/holiday-lights.
HOLIDAY MARKET – Granfalloon, 400 E. Main St. Merchants and vendors with live music, crepes from Adelle’s Creperie and lunch options from Petunia’s Jalapeno Food Truck, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. 423-661-3185.
HUNGRY TURKEY RUN – Coolidge Park, 200 River St. Half-marathon, 5K and Kids Dash to benefit Chattanooga Sports Ministries, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. $36.99 plus fees for 5K, $59.99 plus fees for half-marathon. 224-757-5425.
RED BANK CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AND PARADE – City Park, 3859 Dayton Blvd. Events kick off at 9:30 a.m. with 5K run and fun run/walk followed by 11 a.m. parade to city park where food and craft vendors will be set up until 3 p.m. Dec. 3. www.redbankpride.org.
* Dec. 3: Red Bank United Methodist Church Youth Holiday Market, 3800 Dayton Blvd., 10 a.m.-3 p.m., fundraiser for youth mission activities.
REINDEER RUN – Joe Stock Memorial Park, 208 N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga. A 5K and 1-mile fun run to benefit LaFayette Shop with a Cop program for needy children, 9-11 a.m. Dec. 3. $25-$30. 423-708-4298.
TRAIN RIDES – Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com.
‘ North Pole Limited: Riders take imaginary trip to North Pole where Santa joins them giving a surprise to every child. Evening trains depart 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday trains also depart 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 25-27; Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-23, 26 and 30-31.
UNITED WE DANCE – Bethlehem Center gymnasium, 200 W. 38th St. Dance instructors teach variety of dances to unite ages and cultures 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov 29. .Donation of $5 or more benefits students in Bethlehem Center’s Read To Lead and a new ballet program in partnership with Ballet Tennessee. 423-266-1384.
WINE TASTING – Back Inn Cafe, 412 E. Second St. Michael Vasta leads tasting of popular seasonal wines and discusses which make good gifts or are perfect to take to holiday parties, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 8. $37. Reservations: 423-265-5033.
WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOPS – The Barn Nursery, 180 E. 24th St. Place. Advance registration requested for both: 423-698-2276.
* Saturday, Nov. 26: Donna Dent leads workshop on making a wreath of artificial greens, berries and flowers, 11 a.m. $50.
* Saturday, Dec. 3: Make-and-Take Wreath of live greenery, 11 a.m. $50.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
BOOK SIGNING – Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Dr. Lawrence Krumemaker signs “Walking the Line: Rediscovering and Touring the Civil War Defenses on Modern Atlanta’s Landscapes,” 10 a.m-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. 706-866-9287.
FAMILY TIME
CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1001 Broad St. (main library) and branches at Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga. 423-757-5310, www.chattlibrary.org.
* Saturday, Nov. 26: Local Craft Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., downtown branch.
* Monday, Nov. 28: Signing story time for ages up to 5 and parent, 10:30-11 a.m., Eastgate branch, learn sign language through songs and stories.
* Tuesday, Nov. 29: Adult chess club, 6-8 p.m., downtown branch’s Shush Cafe.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM – 321 Chestnut St. $13.95 adults and children. 423-756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.Sensory Free Night for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families, 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 6. Included in admission, but reservations required.
DALTON-WHITFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY – 310 Cappes St., Dalton, Ga. 706-876-1360.
* Monday, Nov. 28: Young Adult STEM: Learning Blade, 5:30 p.m., for teens in grades 6-12.
* Monday, Nov. 28: Girls Who Code, 5 p.m.
* Tuesday, Nov. 29: Story hour, 11 a.m.
DANCES
BALLROOM – The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn ballroom dancing, Saturdays. Group class, 7:30 p.m., $5. Dancing, 8:30 p.m., $10.No partner required; casual dress. 423-394-6428.
BALLROOM – Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. Dance, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. $10. 423-771-3646.
RHYTHM BALLROOM – The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn fundamentals of rumba, cha cha, East Coast swing, 6 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Casual dress; no partner required. $5. www.theballroomathixson.com.
SHAG, BOP, SWING, JITTERBUG – Elks Lodge 91, 1067 Graysville Road. Dance with Chattanooga Shag Dance Club, 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. $5 members, $7 guests. www.choochooshagclub.com.
USA HOLIDAY BALL – Brainerd United Methodist Church, Lundy Hall, 4315 Brainerd Road. Black-tie dinner-dance with showcase performances by local ballroom instructors to benefit the scholarship fund at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, 6:45-10:30 p.m. Dec. 9. $40-$45. Reservations: www.chattanoogausadance.com/holiday-ball-2016.html.