Dec. 1 Don’t miss the Junior League’s 25th annual Christmas Collection of The Bizarre Bazaar at Strawberry Hill, which benefits the Junior League’s programs to help families at risk. Growing every year, this popular event features crafts and displays of 475 exhibitors. Today and Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $6; children $1.50. (804) 673-6280. Holiday Fanfare: A Celebration of the Seasons transforms the Children’s Museum Grandis gallery into a wintry landscape with a Snowy Forest Walk, hands-on activities and games, and exhibits on Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. Continues through Dec. 31. Admission, $5. 2626 W. Broad St. (804) 474-CMoR. Mount Vernon by Candlelight allows visitors to walk back in time along candlelit paths to an 18th-century Christmas, with George Washington’s estate lit by hundreds of candles, tours of the mansion, carolers and snacks around a campfire, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10. Call (703) 780-2000 for more information. Take a tour of 19th- and early 20th-century homes during the 38th annual Historic Fan District Holiday House Tour, which opens with a gala and loft tour tonight at 6:30. Tour package also includes tours of 16 restored homes Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, brunch, high tea and dinner in Fan homes, carriage rides on Monument Avenue, Civil War tour and a production of “Gift of the Magi” at the Firehouse Theatre. Two-day tour of all homes is $35; one-day tour $25; individual prices for other events. Tickets purchased by Dec. 1 receive $5 discount. Call (804) 254-2550 for tickets and information. Dec. 2 The seventh annual Heavenly Creations Art and Gourmet Food Sale brings together works by more than 50 area artists for a show of art, crafts and decorations, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the St. James the Less Episcopal Church. 125 Beverly Road in Ashland. Have Lunch with Santa at the Montpelier Center for Art & Education at noon. Adults $6, children $4. Call (804) 883-7378 to register. The 2000 Ukrop’s/Retail Merchants Association Christmas Parade features holiday floats, marching bands, huge balloons and, of course, Santa, 10:15 a.m. from DMV on Broad St. to 7th St. (804) 559-6113. Shop for the holidays at Collegiate School’s annual Holiday Boutique, offering home accessories, original artwork, jewelry, children’s clothing and much more, 9-3 p.m. North Moreland Road between River and Derbyshire roads. (804) 323-1898. The 30th annual Christmas Candlelight Tour of 12 historic Fredericksburg homes also offers entertainment and refreshments, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Call (800) 678-4748 for more information. The Richmond Clay Artists offer a one-day Holiday Show and Sale, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Richmond Pottery. 402 N. Robinson St. (804) 254-2094. The Science Museum’s 14th annual Joy From The World offers children a chance to make Lithuanian decorations, see African and Egyptian dancing and enjoy other presentations of faraway cultures, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. Each day has different activities. Included with admission. 2500 W. Broad St. (804) 367-0000. Holiday Tree Lighting and Caroling at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen takes place with Christmas snacks and a visit from Santa, 4:30 p.m. Free. 2880 Mountain Road. (804) 261-6200. Find that one-of-a-kind gift at the annual Antique, Toy and Collectible Extravaganza at the Showplace Annex, 10-6 p.m. today, and Sunday, 10-5 p.m. 3002 Mechanicsville Turnpike. Adults $2.50; children 12 and younger, free. (804) 730-9734. Old-Fashioned Christmas and lantern tours are traditional holiday events at Meadow Farm Museum, with an 1840s-era St. Nick, music, crafts, period games and hot cider. Also history demonstrations and lantern tours of the farmhouse, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Call (804) 501-5520 for more information. Dec. 3 Ring in the holiday spirit with the annual Jingle Bell Run & Walk for Arthritis. Hundreds of runners and walkers tie jingle bells to their shoelaces and speed through Innsbrook. This is the annual nationwide fund-raising event for the Arthritis Foundation. Join in the 5K run or 3K walk. Call (804) 359-1700 for more information. GE Financial Assurance Holiday Village opens for visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolf and Santa’s helpers. Other life-size storybook characters entertain and greet guests, 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Other hours are Dec. 4, 6 and 8, 6-8 p.m. and Dec. 10, 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 6604 W. Broad St. (804) 281-6699. Meet at the Ashland town tree to practice for neighborhood Christmas Caroling, 4 p.m. at the corner of Thompson Street and Hanover Avenue. The Grand Illumination at Randolph-Macon College and the holiday piano recital at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center follows, 5:30 p.m. (804) 798-2728. The 25th annual A Victorian Christmas at Maymont hits the quarter-century mark and lavishes Richmond with the charm of glowing Yule logs, strolling carolers and visits with Father Christmas. Escape the crowds and frustrations of the holidays with a trip to the 1890s. The 42nd annual Candlelight Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. In-house tour and carriage rides also available. The Victorian Christmas takes place noon-6 p.m. 1700 Hampton St. (804) 358-7166, ext. 310. Meet at the Ashland town tree to practice for neighborhood Christmas Caroling, 4 p.m. at the corner of Thompson Street and Hanover Avenue (in Ashland). The Grand Illumination at Randolph-Macon College and the holiday piano recital at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center follow at 5:30 p.m. (804) 798-2728. Dec. 7 St. Joseph’s Villa celebrates the holiday with its annual tree-lighting ceremony and reception, 5:30 p.m. More than 2,000 lights are illuminated on the 40-foot tree that stands beside the chapel at the entrance to the villa. Children perform a selection of holiday songs. Cookies and punch are served in the administration building following. Free. (804) 553-3225. Maymont by Moonlight is a luxurious carriage ride and tour of the Maymont House that concludes with carolers and refreshments. Thursdays and Fridays to Dec. 15, 6-8:30 p.m. $14 adults; $7 children 12 and younger. Registration required by Dec. 4. (804) 358-7166, ext. 329. Dec. 8 The Church Hill Holiday Festival is a vespers service, a candle walk, a Christmas ball and a tour of homes in Church Hill. It begins Dec. 8 and ends Dec. 10 with the tour of homes. The ball is Dec. 9 at The Showcase. (804) 648-2120 or (804) 644-6060. Dec. 9 The Woodland Heights Civic Association hosts its annual Artist in Residence holiday event, with crafts, holiday decorations, storytelling and Santa for children, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Historic Stone House in Forest Hill Park. Get in the spirit with Sleigh Ride, an evening of favorite Christmas songs and carols performed by the James River Ringers, 7 p.m. at Bon Air Presbyterian Church. $6; children 10 and younger, free. (804) 932-4448. Dec. 10 The Shops at Willow Lawn ends the holiday open house with Family Craftmaking and Stories featuring the Nutcracker prince and princess, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. inside the mall. Dec. 12 Wilton House Museum opens “Quilts and Coverlets at Wilton: From the Collections of The Valentine Museum and Dr. and Mrs. Craufurd D. Goodwin,” a Christmas exhibit, opens Tuesday, Nov. 21, and continues to Jan. 21. Adults $5; Students and seniors $4. 215 S. Wilton Road. (804) 282-5936. Celebrate the holidays in an old-fashioned spirit during A Child’s Christmas at Maymont, which offers boys and girls the sights and sounds of a Victorian Christmas. Take a child’s tour of Maymont House and a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Nature Center for a wildlife program, and finish by making a holiday craft to take home, 10 a.m. $12 per child; $10 for members. Registration required by Dec. 8. For children 6 and older. (804) 358-7166, ext. 333. Dec. 14 Take a walk through a full-size replica of a street in Bethlehem during the time of the first Christmas, which features re-enactors in authentic costumes, live animals, Joseph, Mary and the Child, 7-10 p.m. at Cornerstone Assembly of God. 10551 Chalkley Road in Chesterfield. Free. (804) 706-5600, ext. 800. Continues Dec. 15 and 16. Dec. 16 Berkeley Plantation’s Colonial Christmas includes a candlelight tour of the 18th-century mansion, followed by a luxurious meal at Berkeley’s Coach House Tavern, 5:30 p.m. $57 per person. Repeats Sunday, Dec. 17. Make reservations at (888) 466-6018. Ginter Park Baptist Church presents a live Nativity at 5 p.m. Free. 1200 Wilmington Ave. 359-2475. Dec. 17 The annual Christmas Candlelight Service at the University of Richmond is held, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Cannon Memorial Chapel. The services of lessons and carols feature the University Choir and Schola Cantorum. Free. Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church welcomes all to its 69th annual Christmas Candlelight Service, featuring choirs, carols and readings, 5 p.m. Reception follows. 1627 Monument Ave. (804) 359-2463. Dec. 24 See a Christmas production performed by the children of Christ Ascension Church. 10 a.m. Free 2715 Alcott Rd. Richmond Ballet hosts Clara’s Holiday Party at the Jefferson, a holiday party for children and parents, 4:15-5:30 p.m. Enjoy treats and meet the characters from “The Nutcracker.” $12.50 per person; children 2 and younger free. Follows matinee performance at the Carpenter Center today. Call Ticketmaster at (804) 262-8100. Dec. 30 The Elegba Folklore Society presents the 2000 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Richmond Centre. This year’s theme is “With a Sense of Purpose,” in recognition of the Dec. 30 Kwanzaa principle, Nia, and the festival’s story. A traditional procession and candlelighting ceremony precedes performances of gospel music, storytelling and African dancing. Also features workshops and children’s activities. Visit the African Market for imported clothing, jewelry, artifacts and books. Celebrate this seven-day year-end holiday that is a time of thanksgiving and renewal. Tickets $3-$5. Children 12 and younger free. (804) 644-3900. Did we miss your event? Send us an e-mail.