Through Dec 3: Antiquarius 2000 Antiques Show: nature by design, Greenwich Civic Center, Harding Rd, Old Greenwich, Fri-Sat 11 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm, adm $15, 40+ exhibitors, walking tour of show Sat 10 am ($20, incl show adm), luncheon & tea (daily 12-4 pm); 203/869-6899.

Dec 2-3: 20th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Sale, American Red Cross Chapter House, 703 Whitney Ave, New Haven, 10 am-2 pm, benefit event for American Red Cross of South Central CT; 203/787-6721.

Dec 2-3: 28th Annual Winter Wonderland of Antiques Show & Sale, Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Rd, Branford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $3; 203/488-0024 (Roger Boudreau, days).

Dec 3: 39th Antique Toy & Model Show, Knights of Columbus Hall, Newington, 9 am-2 pm, adm $4; 860/521-1419.

Dec 3: Wilton Holiday Antiques Marketplace, Wilton High School Field House, Rte 7, Wilton, 10 am-5 pm, adm $7 (early buying 8:30 am, $20), 130 dealers in show settings, vintage holiday items incl in some displays; 203/762-3525.

Dec 3: Winter Antiques Show Market, Norwalk Armory, New Canaan Ave/Rte 123, Norwalk, 10 am-5 pm, adm $4.50 (early buying 9 am, $10), partial show proceeds to Parents & Friends of Lower Fairfield Center; 203/222-2259.

Connecticut Choral Society. Call 264-0012, 264 3010 or 740-1636.

Jan 20: Completed applications due for 4th Annual Kannengeiser Scholarship Award, will go to 11th or 12th grade student in public or private school, call either of the above numbers or talk to choral directors at high school (packets were mailed to all choral directors in late Nov).

Friends of Woodbury Public Library, 269 Main St So/Rte 6, Woodbury. Call 263-3502.

Dec 4 & 6: Open auditions for 4th annual Friends’ production, will be comedic mystery in two acts, need men & women age 20+, stage manager also open, auditions at library, rehearsals to begin in Jan, producers Judy & Jim Somers, director is Laurie Jones, contact Mrs Somers and/or Ms Jones at the library # (above).

Dec 1: Chamber Singers of CT Choral Society, First Congregational Church, Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury, 7:30 pm, free concert in church’s sanctuary will be opening event for 16th Annual Woodbury Christmas Festival, program will icnl works of Robert Shaw, Alice Parker, Charles Ives, traditional carols, etc; 203/263-2846.

Dec 1-3 and 8-10: The Christmas Post, Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Rd, Bethel, curtain Fri-Sun 7 pm, mat Sun 3 pm (no evening performance Dec 10), tickets $2, 1940s-style celebration of Christmas by members of church; 796-7373.

Dec 2: Performance of Strook’s Hodie by Newtown Choral Society, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at the flagpole), Newtown, 7:30 pm, tickets $7 adults, $5 students & seniors, choral society will be accompanied by organist Phil Crevier, also WCSU percussion students Nick Albano & Chris Riviera, plus accompanist Mae Steinberg, program to also incl seasonal songs from Spain & Nigeria, Celtic-style songs & traditional holiday carols.

Dec 2: “Seasonal Music in French,” Monique Shay Antiques, 920 Main St So/Rte 6, Woodbury, 12-3 pm, $10 (reservations sugg), Josée Vachon will sing French songs and Christmas carol, also singalong of French and Canadian seasonal songs, refreshments, sponsored by Alliance Française of Northwestern Connecticut; 203/263-3186 (Alliance Francaise), or 203/263-3186 (store).

Dec 2: The Nutcracker, Mertins Theatre, University Avenue at Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, 1 pm, suggested donation $1, The Ballet for Young Audiences will perform a 90-minute interpretation of the holiday favorite; 203/366-3300.

Dec 2: The Carmelim Israeli Teen Choir & Dance Troupe, Rochambeau Middle School, Peter Rd, Southbury, 7 pm, tickets $5, performance by award-winning, exuberant & talented group of 27 high school students from Hugim Municipal High School, Haifa, Israel, suitable for all ages, post-performance reception w/ performers; 203/263-5121 x308.

Dec 2: The Holiday Party, holiday performance by YankeeMaid Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, Shelton High School, 120 Meadow St, Shelton, 8 pm, tickets $15 adults, $12 seniors, $10 age 12 & under, original comical play by award-winning women’s chorus will incl special guests Connecticut Yankee Men’s Chorus, Allegra Chamber Girls’ Choir, & 3 YankeeMaid quartets also performing, holiday performance will benefit Multiple Sclerosis Foundation & Children’s Miracle Network; 203/762-0033.

Dec 2: “Bach And Beyond: The Yale Camerata Advent Concert,” Battell Chapel, Elm & College Streets, New Haven, 8 pm, free Advent concert w/ tribute to J.S. Bach on 250th anniversary of the composer’s death, founder Marguerite L. Brooks will conduct works of Distler, two Advent motets by Rheinberger, hymn by Martin Jean, works of Bach, etc; 203/432-5180.

Dec 3: Annual Madrigal Feast, Stony Hill Inn, Rte 6/Danbury-Newtown Road, Bethel (Stony Hill section), social hour begins 5 pm, dinner & program begins at 6, tickets $32 (dinner choices of chicken marsala, London broil, Boston scrod, eggplant Parmesean, plus soup, salad, bread, dessert & coffee), evening of wassailing & fine w/ entertainment presented by Newtown High School Singers; 364-0305.

Dec 3: “A Holiday Season Concert” by Connecticut Chamber Orchestra, Weston Library, 58 Norfield Rd, Weston, 2:30 pm, free adm, CCO will perform holiday concert under direction of Sayard Stone; 203/226-2205.

Dec 3: Danbury Community Orchestra at Ives Concert Hall (WestConn’s midtown campus), 181 White St, Danbury, 3 pm, free adm, works of Dvorak, Copland & Vivaldi; 748-1716.

Dec 3: CT Chamber Choir Candlelight Concert, United Congregational Church, Park Ave at State St, Bridgeport, 4 pm, adm $15, $10 students & seniors, free age 12 & under, seasonal choral music with harp, organ, guitar & percussion accompaniment incl “Carols & Lullabies: Carols from the Southwest” by Conrad Susa & Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols; 203/261-3216.

Dec 6: First Noonday Advent Concert, Golden Hill United Methodist Church, 210 Elm St at Golden Hill, Bridgeport, 12:05 pm, free adm (luncheon follows, $4 for lunch), performance by Leonardo Ambadjian (trumpet), soprano Stephanie Gregory & pianist & organist Jung-A Lee; 203/336-1052.

Dec 6: Brookfield High School Special Chorus Holiday Concert, **at Brookfield Historical Scty Museum, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 7:30 pm, free adm; 740-8140.

Dec 8: Easton Winter Concert, Easton Public Library Community Room, corner Center & Morehouse Rd, Easton, 7-8 pm, free adm, Margo Henneback & Mark Saunders will perform guitar & piano based songs incl Celtic music & carols for holiday cheer; 268-7200.

Dec 8: “Holiday Pops: Home for the Holidays!,” New Haven Symphony at Shelton High School, 120 Meadow St, Shelton, 8 pm, all tickets $25, NHS w/ guest conductor Gerald Steichen will perform popular annual program full of holiday cheer (program repeats Dec 9 at Woolsey Hall, New Haven, 7:30 pm); 203/776-1444, 800/292-NHSO.

Dec 8-9: The Bacon Brothers, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St, New Haven, 8 pm, tickets $30 & $35, $25 students, performance by Kevin & Michael Bacon backed by a 4-pc band, performing songs from new album (Getting There), first in theatre’s 2000-01 Special Events Series; 203/432-1234.

Dec 8-10: The Nutcracker Ballet, Danbury High School, 139 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 6 pm, Sun 3 pm, all tickets $10, 33rd annual community production presented by Danbury Music Centre will star Sarah-Elizabeth A. Haddad as Sugar Plum Fairy, James Robey as Cavalier, State Rep Mark Boughton as Mother Ginger, Samantha Swetz as Clara, and children, teens & adults from throughout area in roles of mice, soldiers, angels, snowflakes, et al; 748-1716.

Ives Concert Hall at WCSU, White Hall, Fifth Ave & White St, Danbury. Call 837-8350.

Performances 8 pm, free unless otherwise noted: Dec 4, WCSU Percussion Ensemble concert, call for ticket info; Dec 7-9, Menotti’s Amahl and The Night Visitors and Mozart’s comic one-act The Impresario by WCSU Opera Ensemble, Thurs 10 am & noon, Fri 10 am & 8 pm, Sat 8 pm, call for tickets.

Newtown Choral Scty, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St (at the flagpole), Newtown. Call 426-1849.

Dec 2, performance of Strook’s Hodie, 7:30 pm, tickets $7 adults, $5 students & seniors, choral society will be accompanied by organist Phil Crevier, also WCSU percussion students Nick Albano & Chris Riviera, plus accompanist Mae Steinberg, program to also incl seasonal songs from Spain & Nigeria, Celtic-style songs & traditional holiday carols.

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd (Rte 116), Ridgefield. Music director & conductor Sidney Rothstein. Call 203/438-3889.

Performances 8 pm, tickets $25-$35 (series tickets available): Dec 2, “Visions and Visionaries” concert w/ guest violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, works of Dukas, Beethoven & Brahms.

Sweet Harmony’s Coffee House, St Andrew’s Church, Rte 202 & Wheaton Rd (at light), Marble Dale. Call 860/868-2275.

Dec 2, folk & country music artist Cheryl Wheeler, 8 pm, tickets $15/adv, $20/door, opening set by Dan Pelletier.

Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, Naugatuck Valley Comm-Tech College Fine Arts Center,  750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury. Music director & conductor Leif Bjaland. 203/Call 574-4283.

Tickets $15-$40, student & senior discounts available (subscriptions available), Sat 8:15 pm, Sun 3 pm: Dec 2-3, Double Brilliance, guests Susanna & Christoph Henkel, also NVCC Chorus, works of Back & Brahms.

Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 778-2100.

Dec 1-7: Almost Famous (R), daily 9:15 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 3:50 pm; Best In Show (NR), daily 6:55 & 8:55 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1, 3 & 5 pm; Billy Elliot (R), daily 7:10 & 9:25 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:20 & 4 pm; Pay It Forward (PG-13), daily 6:45 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:10 pm; You Can Count On Me (R), daily 7:20 & 9:35 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 & 4:15 pm.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, Newtown. Call 426-2475.

Dec 1-7: Bring It On (PG-13), daily 7 & 9 pm, mat Sat-3:45 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Western CT State University, White Hall (midtown campus), 181 White St, Danbury.

Film series to honor 10th anniv of fall of Berlin Wall, screenings 7 pm, free & open to public, short discussion to follow each screening: Dec 6, When the Wall Came Tumbling Down — 50 Hours That Changed The World (documentary w/ rare footage).

Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Call 203/432-2800.

Free screenings, Fall Film Series “The Imperial Eye” complements YCBA’s exhibition concerning Edward Lear (see Arts listing for exhibit details), screenings begin 2 pm: Dec 2, Mountains of the Moon (1990).

Dec 2: The Children’s Tree, side courtyard of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street (inside library if rain/snow), 10 am-2 pm, free program for all area children who would like to create ornaments for 2nd Annual Children’s Holiday Tree (non-denominational) at library, light refreshments.

Dec 2: Breakfast With Santa, North Congregational Church, Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury, 8:30-11:30 am, adm $4 age 10 & under, $6 everyone else, pancakes & sausage breakfast, visits w/ Santa, small Marketplace shopping area, ongoing performances by St Theresa’s Youth Choir; 203/263-5613.

Dec 3: Santa & Reindeer at William Pitt Real Estate, Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 12-3 pm, visit Santa and one of his real live reindeer.

Dec 3: Book signing w/ Steven Kellogg, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 2-3:30 pm, popular children’s author & illustrator (& Sandy Hook resident) will sign copies of his new book (Give The Dog A Bone) & 2 rereleases (The Missing Red Mitten and The Baby BeeBee Bird); 426-3851.

Dec 3: Weston Young Woman’s Club Children’s Holiday Breakfast, Weston Middle School, School Rd, Weston, 8 am-noon, adm $6 in advance ($7 at door), family $20/adv ($22/door), pancake breakfast w/ all the trimmings, plus holiday gift boutique, bake shop, pictures with Santa & Frosty, and kids crafts for all ages, proceeds benefit charitable organizations; 203/222-8066, 454-4854

Dec 3: Hot Dog With Santa, Riverside Volunteer Fire Co. Firehouse, Coppermine Rd, Oxford, 12-3 pm, $3/child, lunch of hot dog, chips, cookies & juice, visits w/ Santa, gift for each child, presented by RVFC’s Ladies’ Auxiliary; 203/888-0869, 732-8979.

Dec 3: Holiday Fun Shop, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, 10 North Water Street, South Norwalk, 12-3 pm, Aquarium admission (required) $8.75, $8 for seniors, $7.25 for children 12 and under, also suggested donation $1 for materials, visit the special craft table in Falconer Hall (near the seals) to make a simple, but pleasing, holiday ornament or keepsake; 203/852-0700 x0.

Dec 3-9: 33rd Annual Gingerbread Village & Christmas Bazaar, St George’s Church, Tucker Hill Rd (at Rte 188), Middlebury, Dec 2 10 am-7 pm (lunch available 11:30-2, also Christmas Bazaar w/ baked goods, gingerbread cookies, crafts & ornaments, decorations, etc), Sun 12-9 pm (coffee/dessert available 2-5), Mon-Fri 2-4 and 7-9 pm, Dec 9 10 am-4 pm, free parking & adm, handicapped accessible, miniature community of buildings made of gingerbread & decorated by volunteers of regional towns; 203/758-9557.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203/438-4519.

Dec 7 & 9, Enjoy A Museum with Your Child, Thurs (Part I) 10 am-noon, Sat (Part II) 1-3 pm, $25, workshop for parents of children age 6 & up will provide strategies for looking at art & composing better questions while guiding children through an exhibition (Part I), then return w/ children (Part II) to test your new skills.

Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203/371-1903.

Museum Magic Hour programs, story-telling & craft programs for ages 2½-5 w/ adult, 10:30-11:30 am, $12, reservations, workshop dates & featured books as follows: Dec 2, Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats.

Flanders Nature Center, Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Call 263-3711.

Dec 6, Rabbit Ramble! Hop Like A Bunny and Learn About Rabbits, 12-1 pm, $5, preschoolers invited to see nature in a new light through pictures, stories & crafts w/ Johanna Holzbaur (local story programmer), sm snack OK (no juice boxes).

Dec 1: A New Beginning Salon & Day Spa Annual Open House, 68 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel, 6-8 pm, complimentary spa & salon services, refreshments/hors d’oeuvres, raffle for Custom Blended Spa Day (proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Women’s Center of Greater Danbury); 743-9495.

Dec 1-2: St Stephen’s Church Annual Christmas Craft Fair, 6948 Main St, Trumbull, Fri 10 am-6 pm, Sat 9 am-4 pm, church’s Rosary Altar Society will host event w/ craft tables, silent auction, religious items, baked goods & refreshments, raffle, white elephant booth & visits w/ Santa Claus; 261-0685.

Dec 1-2: “A Great Hill Christmas” annual holiday bazaar, Great Hill United Methodist Church, 225 Great Hill Rd (Rte 334 at 188), Seymour, Fri 7-9 pm, Sat 9 am-1 pm, hand-crafted items by church members, candles, wooden items, toys, etc, live greenery and decorated cemetery boxes, silent auction of theme baskets, gourmet dessert buffet and live music Fri night, tea table with festive goodies on Sat, Children’s Shopping Room on Sat, also holiday crafts and face painting area (Sat only); 203/888-9425.

Dec 1-3: Monroe Hist Scty Christmas Fair, Old Schoolhouse, Wheeler Rd, Monroe, Fri 1-8 pm, Sat 9 am-4 pm, Sun 12-4 pm, free adm, handcrafted American-made items along w/ Hist Scty wares, evergreen mailbox swags, baked goods, raffle of balled & cut tree from Jones Tree Farm, profits benefit society’s endeavors in preserving 3 historical buildings; 261-8897, 261-1383.

Dec 2: Garden Club of Newtown Annual Greens Sale, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Route 25, Newtown (at the flagpole), 9 am-2 pm, free adm, wreaths, swags, kissing balls & Colonial-style fruit-covered door ornaments, poinsettias & basket arrangements by members, also garden author Sydney Eddison signing copies of her Self-Taught Gardener; 270-1108.

Dec 2: Ashlar of Newtown’s Holiday Craft Fair & Bake Sale, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am-3 pm, free adm, handmade items, needlework, wooden toys, crafts, ceramics, baked goods & more, proceeds benefit The Residents’ Council; 426-5847.

Dec 2: Annual Cookie Walk & Christmas Fair, Christ Church Quaker Farms, Rte 188, Oxford, 9 am-1 pm, thousands of cookies, also handcrafted items & Christmas novelties, baked goods, james & jellies, tea/coffee & sandwiches at tea table, crafts for children (sm fee); 203/888-3469.

Dec 2: Annual Holiday Gala, St Mary School, 24 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Bethel, 9 am-4 pm, free adm, crafts boutique w/ 35 tables, Santa’s Gift Shop for children (gift items $5 & under), Holiday Café, photos w/ Santa (11 am-3 pm), etc; 744-2922.

Dec 2: “A Homespun Christmas,” First Festival Church, Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury, 9:30 am-3 pm, free adm, Cookie Walk, gingerbread houses for sale, decorations & ornaments, crafts, jewelry, White & Gold Elephant Table, cider & doughnuts, “Millennium Quilt” raffle, etc; 203/263-2846.

Dec 2: Victorian Coffee House & Christmas Boutique, Woodbury United Methodist Church, Woodbury, 9:30 am-3 pm, Bakery & Apple pie Bakeshop, shopping area, silent auction, soup & sandwich luncheon (11 am-3 pm), etc; 264-0154.

Dec 2: 16th Annual Woodbury Jr Women’s Club Christmas Craft Fair, Woodbury Middle School, Washington Ave, Woodbury, 9:30 am-4 pm, free adm, 60+ crafters in juried event, donations will be solicited at door to support WJWC’s ongoing service projects; 203/263-5780.

Dec 2: Christmas Fair 2000, St Paul’s Episopal Church, 294 Main St So/Rte 6, Woodbury, 10 am-3 pm, Christmas crafts by church members incl tree decorations, centerpieces, knitted items, country kitchen table w/ baked goods & gift jars of soup mixes & cookies, silent auction of goods & services, free cookies & coffee, light lunch also available, crafts workshop for kids, visits w/ Saint Nicholas; 203/263-3541.

Dec 2: Brookfield Hist Scty Christmas Holiday Fair, Historical Society Museum, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 10 am-3 pm, fresh green wreaths, pottery, specialty note cards, handmade ornaments & other gifts, Holiday Harp CD by Bill Tobin, etc; 740-8140.

Dec 2: Annual Christmas Craft Fair, St Jude Parish Center, Rte 110 at 111, Monroe, 10 am-4 pm, hand-crafted items incl toys, crafts, ornaments, etc, handmade quilt raffle, Boy Scouts wreath sale, children’s room w/ games & projects, visits w/ Santa, refreshments, etc; 261-6404.

Dec 2-3: Holiday Boutique Craft Sale, Company A Firehouse, Rte 39, New Fairfield, 9 am-4 pm both days, designer wreaths, theme decorated table-top trees, pinecone baskets, table centerpieces, boutique-quality ornaments, design your own balsam wreath, baked goods, pet toys, all proceeds to New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Scty; 860/355-7287.

Dec 2-9: 33rd Annual Gingerbread Village and Christmas Bazaar, St George’s Church, Rte 188 at Tucker Hill Rd, Middlebury, Dec 2 10 am-7 pm, Sun 12-9 pm, Mon-Fri 2-4 & 7-9 pm, Dec 9 10 am-4 pm, handmade gingerbread village constructions, also arts & crafts bazaar presented on first Saturday, luncheon available (Dec 2, 11:30-2 pm), coffee/dessert (Sun, Dec 3, 2-5 pm), free parking, handicapped accessible building; 203/758-9557.

Dec 2-10: 27th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions, Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main St, Hartford, Dec 2-3 10 am-6 pm, Dec 5-10 10 am-5 pm, adm $8 adults, $6 students and seniors with ID, $4 ages 2-17, holiday traditions from around the globe presented through sparkling displays, music, song & dance presentations, special themes each day, free workshops both weekends, raffle for furnished & accessorized Colonial-style dollhouse (other prizes also), special programs also, Museum Shop Holiday Boutique, etc; 860/278-2670.

Dec 3: 15th Annual Newtown Holiday Festival, on and around Main Street, Newtown, 11 am-5 pm, adm $15 adults ($12 if tickets purchased in advance), $8 seniors and children ages 9-14, walking tour of Main Street & area historical homes, businesses & churches decorated for the holidays, strolling musicians, antiques show, crafts show (crafts & antiques shows open 10 am), ballet & other musical performances, Victorian Tea, New England Café, Festival of Trees (silent auction), proceeds benefit Family Counseling Center, Inc.; 426-8103.

Dec 3: Santa & Reindeer at William Pitt Real Estate, Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 12-3 pm, visit Santa and one of his real live reindeer.

Dec 3: Book signing w/ Steven Kellogg, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 2-3:30 pm, popular children’s author & illustrator (& Sandy Hook resident) will sign copies of his new book (Give The Dog A Bone) & 2 rereleases (The Missing Red Mitten and The Baby BeeBee Bird); 426-3851.

Dec 3: Baseball Card & Sport Memorabilia Show, Ramada Inn, 225 Lordship Blvd, Stratford, 9:30 am-3:30 pm, adm $3, 99¢ ages 10 & under, sport cards & memorabilia by vendors from five states, also Baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, Beanies and Pokemon collectibles also; 364-1209

Dec 3: Weir Farm Nat’l Historic Site Holiday Open House, Wilton, ***all parking at Branchville Elementary School on Florida Rd, Ridgefield, shuttle provided to farm, 1-4 pm, free adm, tours of historic Weir House & artists’ studios, only day annually Weir House is open to public; 203/834-1896 x0.

Dec 3: Program w/ photographer Inge Morath, Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury, 2 pm, free program by the internationally renowned photographer, who will show slide of her work while discussing her career; 860/350-2181.

Dec 3: Holiday Auction, Sacred Heart Univ Mahogany Room, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield, 2-5 pm, adm $10, vacations, artwork, Beanie Babies, gift baskets, sports memorabilia, theater tickets & much more auctioned for holiday shoppers, hors d’oeuvres & desserts will be served, sponsored by Girl Scouts of Housatonic Council; 203/334-3145 x3018.

Dec 3: Tarrywile Mansion Holiday Open House, 70 Southern Blvd, Danbury, 2-5:30 pm, free adm, mansion will be decoratedfor holidays, live musical entertainment by 7 area groups, tree lighting at 5:30, visits w/ Santa, light refreshments, wreaths sale; 744-3130.

Dec 3-9: 33rd Annual Gingerbread Village & Christmas Bazaar, St George’s Church, Tucker Hill Rd (at Rte 188), Middlebury, Dec 2 10 am-7 pm (lunch available 11:30-2, also Christmas Bazaar w/ baked goods, gingerbread cookies, crafts & ornaments, decorations, etc), Sun 12-9 pm (coffee/dessert available 2-5), Mon-Fri 2-4 and 7-9 pm, Dec 9 10 am-4 pm, free parking & adm, handicapped accessible, miniature community of buildings made of gingerbread & decorated by volunteers of regional towns; 203/758-9557.

Dec 4: A Christmas Carol reading, East Hill Woods auditorium, 611 East Hill Rd, Southbury, 1:30 pm, free reading by Woodbury resident & professional actor Douglas Schlicher will bring Ebeneeer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Crachit & other Dickens characters to life; 262-6161.

Dec 8: Feast of St Nicholas Dinner, St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302 (opposite Bethel Food Market), Bethel, 5-7:30 pm, adm $10 adults, $5 children, public invited to dinner w/ choices of roast beef, chicken or vegetarian entrees, homemade pie, etc, St Nicholas visiting 6 pm w/ gifts for children; 743-1494.

Dec 8-9: Wooster Community Art Center Annual Holiday Pottery Sale, 73 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury, Fri 6-8 pm (live jazz by Patrick Hughes & The Center of Gravity Quartet, pottery demos, holiday fare, raffles for free classes & pottery), Sat 9:30 am-2 pm, ceramic pieces by students & faculty members w/ prices ranging from $5-$50, also opening for exhibition of faculty artwork (on view through Jan 31); 744-4825.

Dec 8-9: St Joseph School’s Christmas Bazaar, 370 Main St, Danbury, Fri 6-10 pm, Sat 10 am-3 pm, free adm, craft vendors, children’s games, raffle, church dinner (ziti & salad, call for details), baked goods, photos w/ Santa (Sat 11-1); 748-6615.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Call 203/438-4519.

Rhyme & Reason Cafe, poetry readings & receptions, Fri 7-9 pm, $5 (incl wine & light refreshments): Dec 1, open mic night, featured poet will conduct 30-min reading, then open floor to area poets & spoken word artists.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Danbury Square, 15 Backus Ave, Danbury. Call 730-2733.

Free programs: Dec 3, book signing w/ Jim Boughton (Ball Four: The Final Pitch), 7 pm.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 794-8756.

Free programs: Dec 3, poetry readings, 2-4 pm, Wild Oaks Poetry Group will present readings of their works, then open mic for anyone interested (callfor reservation if reading, no reservations needed if attending as listener), light refreshments/reception follows; Dec 5, “In the Beginning Was The Word: The Story of Books and Bookmaking Through the Ages,” 7:30-9 pm, program by publisher & former CCSU head librarian Robert Massmann will trace the history of bookmaking from Gurenberg Bible through today

CT Contacts, New Haven. Call 203/468-1144.

Dances each Fr @Pinecrest Country Club, Rte 110, Shelton, 8 pm-1 am, $15, no jeans/sneakers. Dances Sat @Colonial Tavern, Rte 67, Oxford, 8:30 pm-1 am, $13, no jeans/sneakers, themes as follows: Dec 1, regular dance party at Pinecrest Country Club.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury. Hours: 10 am-4 pm daily (April 1-Nov 26). Call 778-8337.

1st Sat each month (April-Nov), Rail Yard Local, adm to msm incl rides through rail yard in 1920s era passenger coach w/ stop on state’s only operating turntable. (see details in Arts listings for permanent exhibit info)

Wednesday Evening Events series, 7:30-8:30 pm, sm donation requested, weekly programs follow weekly museum member meetings, subjects as follows: Dec 6, slide show by Ed Blackman (call for subject).

Devil’s Den Preserve, 33 Pent Rd, Weston. Call 226-4991.

All events free, reservations required: Dec 3, Hills & Valley Hike, 9 am-3 pm, 10-mile moderately strenuous hike at Crow Hill & Jump Hill preserves (participants will carpool to off-site starting location), bring snack lunch & water, wear layered clothing; Dec 3, Winter Tree ID Walk, 1-3 pm, walk along trails w/ licensed arborist Fred Moore & learn how to tell trees apart even without their leaves.

Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury. Call 203/753-0381.

Art Lovers’ Lunch series, 12-1 pm, discussion of specific artwork from museum’s collection followed by lunch from Exhibition Café, lecture fee $5, lunch prices vary: Dec 8, Ernest Roth, “Winter Day.”

Newtown Hikers. Call 426-2897, 270-4340.

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome, bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations as follows (call hike leader if weather doubtful): Dec 2, Kettletown State Park Pomperaug Trail, Southbury (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425).

Newtown Singles, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-3413.

Group meets 1st Fri each month from 7-9 pm for “Meet & Mingle” events, $2, newcomers always welcome: Next program Dec 1.

Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave/Rte 34, Derby. Hours: Tues & Thurs 10 am-3 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Call 922-7832.

Historical hikes of Kellogg Estate & Osbornedale State park 1st Sat each month, 11 am, history of the area revealed through stone walls, old foundations & other landscape features, difficulty ranges mild-moderate.

Christian Heritage School, 575 White Plains Rd, Trumbull. Call 380-8605, 256-8658.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Dec 1-2, curtain Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, tickets $7, $5 seniors & children.

WCSU’s Reimold Theatre, in Berkshire Hall, Osborne St, Danbury. Call 837-8732.

Director’s One-Act Festival, Dec 5-8, curtain Tues-Fri 8 pm, free adm.

Yale School of Drama, Holcome T. Green Hall, 1156 Chapel St, New Haven. Call 203/432-1234.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle (world premiere), through Dec 6, curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, Mon 7 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, tickets $12-$15, student, senior & group discounts available.

*******************

Events that appear by date have Newtown events listed first, with additional events listed by their start time. At the time of printing, the information here is accurate as presented; a call ahead is always a good idea to be safe.