Calendar

Georgia

Macon —- “National Geographic Maps: Tools for Adventure” is making only one stop in the Southeast, at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, through Jan. 11. The exhibit features opportunities to learn about new navigation technologies and ancient mapping techniques. Virtual journeys include tracking elephants in the African jungles, searching for Blackbeard’s pirate ship, driving a computer-generated rover on the surface of Mars and maneuvering a robot through the Great Pyramid in Egypt. 478-477-3232, www.masmacon.com.

LaGrange —- The annual Christmas Parade on Nov. 27 features more than 100 floats, Christmas carolers, local school marching bands, clowns and more. It concludes with the arrival of Santa Claus on a firetruck. 706-884-8671, www.lagrangechamber.com.

LaGrange —- The Follow the Shepherd’s Walk, Dec. 5-7 and 12-14, allows visitors to step back to biblical times by following the shepherd’s walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Walks begin on the hour and half-hour from 6 to 9 p.m. Dinner reservations for a first-century banquet featuring 15 foods also can be made. 706-885-0363, www.biblicalresources.net.

Dahlonega —- The Old-Fashioned Christmas begins Dec. 6 with the Lighting of the Square and a parade that brings Santa to town. Other holiday events continue almost daily through December, with caroling, entertainment, wine sampling, live theater. 706-864-3711, www.dahlonega.org.

St. Simons Island —- The 24th annual Christmas Tour of Homes, Dec. 13, features five island homes decked out in holiday decorations. The Island Design & Architectural Center and holiday marketplace offer gift ideas, and goodies await at the bake sale. 912-638-9808, cassinagardenclub.org.

Savannah —- The annual Holiday Tour of Homes, Dec. 13, visits at least six private residences decorated for the holidays in the Historic Landmark District on two tours. 912-236-8326, www.dnaholidaytour.com.

Madison —- hand.craft.it, an exhibition exploring the handmade craft movement, runs through Jan. 20 at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. In conjunction with the exhibit, the Handmade Market and Music Festival is set for Dec. 13. 877-233-0598, www.mmcc-arts.org.

Alabama

Huntsville —- The Galaxy of Lights, through Dec. 31, features miles of larger-than-life animated light displays. Public walk-through nights are Nov. 21-23; drive-through nights, Nov. 27-Dec. 31. 256-830-4447, www.hsvbg.org.

Gadsden —- Christmas at the Falls, Nov. 27-Dec. 30, allows visitors to walk or ride the train through Noccalula Falls Park, which is decorated with lights, snowmen and other decorations. A new cookie decorating area is set up for children, and they also have an opportunity to write a letter to Santa Claus. 256-549-4643, cityofgadsden.com.

Arab —- Arab City Park lights up Nov. 28 with its annual Christmas in the Park. Live entertainment immediately follows the ceremony, and music continues each Friday through Dec. 31. 256-586-8128, www.arabcity.org.

Silverhill —- The Welsh Victorian Railway is transformed into the Arctic Express Nov. 28-Dec. 24. The train travels past 3D lighted displays on its way to the North Pole, where children can visit Santa. 888-569-5337, www.waleswest.com.

Huntsville —- Santa’s Village transforms the downtown area Nov. 28-Dec. 23 with Frosty’s Ice Maze, visits with Santa, live reindeer, Christmas stories, holiday crafts and costumed characters. 256-564-8103, www.earlyworks.com/#/events.

Eufaula —- The 50th annual Eufaula Christmas Parade on Dec. 6 features floats, marching bands and Southern belles. Other activities include shopping and visiting Santa. 334-687-6664.

Montgomery —- The Governor’s Mansion Candlelight Open House, Dec. 8-22, allows visitors to view the decorated 1907 mansion. 800-252-2262.

Decatur —- The annual Historic Decatur Christmas Tour on Dec. 13 offers a tour of 10 homes and churches on the National Register of Historic Places not normally open to the public. Also scheduled is a presentation on “Buildings Tell the Story —- Looking at Early Decatur Area Architecture,” carriage rides and refreshments. 800-524-6181, www.decaturcvb.org.

Florida

Orlando —- The Polar Express Experience makes a stop at SeaWorld through Jan. 4. Classic scenes from the movie are re-created in a multisensory experience. In addition, special shows at SeaWorld include “Shamu Christmas … Miracles,” nightly through Dec. 30; “Christmastide,” a holiday fountain show through Dec. 25; and “Makahiki Christmas Luau,” a South Seas-style celebration, through Jan. 4. 888-800-5447, www.seaworld.com.

Brooksville —- The Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival, Nov. 27-30, features performers Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, Bluegrass Brothers, Gary Waldrop, Larry Gibbs, Smokey Green and more. 352-754-3082, www.sertomayouthranch.com.

Jacksonville —- The Jacksonville Light Parade, Nov. 29, celebrates the holidays with downtown decorations, fireworks and a lighted boat parade. 904-630-3690, www.coj.net.

Pensacola —- The 41st Snowball Derby, Dec. 4-7, features some of the biggest names in motorsports competing in a 300-lap race. 850-944-8400, www.5flagsspeedway.com.

Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands —- Holidays on the Harbor, Dec. 5-31, offers many activities during the season including the Symphony of Trees, Holiday Magic Pops Concert, Fisherman’s Village Open House, Christmas Light Canal Tours, Christmas Lights Bike Ride, a parade, an art festival and a lighted boat parade. 941-743-1900, www.charlotteharbortravel.com.

Gainesville —- The Association for Butterflies holds a symposium on butterflies’ habits, migration, how to raise them and how to attract them Dec. 5-7. A live butterfly release will be conducted at the end of the event Sunday. www.forbutterflies.org.

Fort Lauderdale —- The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, Dec. 13, features more than 1 million spectators watching a lighted boat parade along the New River and Intracoastal Waterway. 954-767-0686, www.winterfestparade.com.

St. Augustine —- The 15th annual Holiday Tour of Inns, Dec. 13-14, includes specialty foods and wine tastings, and trolley trips for the tour of historic inns decorated with Christmas trimmings. 904-543-0785, www.staugustineinns.com.

Kentucky

Harlan —- Festival of the Mountain Makers, Nov. 28-29, features “Masters” who demonstrate weaving, broom making, quilting, pottery making and more. Other activities include live entertainment, storytelling, and a quilt and photography contest. 606-573-2900, www.harlanfestivals.com.

Frankfort —- Lighting of the Buffalo Trace Distillery kicks off another holiday season Dec. 4. Refreshments and a visit from Santa are included. 502-696-5996, www.buffalotrace.com.

Loretto —- Candlelight Tours at Maker’s Mark Distillery are scheduled Dec. 5, 6 and 13. Special this year are visits from three chefs who will perform demonstrations and hold sample tastings. 270-865-2099, www.makersmark.com.

Louisville —- The annual Seconds Sale, Dec. 5, is part of the Downtown Troppy Hop and is where Glassworks Artists sell their not- quite-perfect pieces for a fraction of the cost. 502-584-4510, www.louisvilleglassworks.com.

Lexington —- Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park, through Dec. 31, allows visitors to drive through miles of lighted displays, catch the Mini Express Train or carousel-themed pony rides, and enjoy seasonal music. 859-255-5725, www.khpfoundation.com.

Mississippi

Canton —- The historic courthouse square will be decorated with more than 200,000 glittering lights during the Victorian Christmas Festival Nov. 28-Dec. 23. The Canton Animation Museums boast 135 life-size animation figures, and other activities include an old-fashioned carousel, miniature train, horse and buggy, and more. 800-844-3369, cantontourism.com.

Rolling Fork —- Mississippi is honoring native son Muddy Waters with a birthplace blues trail marker Dec. 3. 662-873-6261.

Biloxi —- Christmas on the Water Boat Parade, Dec. 6, will be followed by fireworks. 800-245-6943, www.biloxi.ms.us.

Pascagoula —- The annual Southern Mississippi Chili Cook-off, Dec. 6, features chili tasting and judging, of course, and live entertainment and exhibits. 228-762-3391, www.jcchamber.com.

Gulfport —- The seventh annual Christmas on the Bayou, Dec. 13, begins with a lighted boat parade of 25 watercraft and ends with a family-friendly party. 228-324-2724, www.christmasonthebayou.org.

North Carolina

Charlotte —- The Mint Museum of Art presents “Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life & Legends,” rarely seen selections from Bank of America’s Warhol collection, through Feb. 15. The exhibit spans the artist’s career from the 1950s through 1986 and features key early works from such series as Endangered Species, Flowers, Jews, Muhammad Ali and Space Fruits. 704-337-2000, www.mintmuseum.org.

Wilmington —- “Toy Crazy,” an exhibition open through Feb. 1 at the Cameron Art Museum, features toys from antique to modern, American to Japanese, Barbie to Star Wars. 910-395-5999, www.cameronartmuseum.com.

Asheville —- Christmas at Biltmore Estate, through Jan. 4, has the house decorated with dozens of Christmas trees, and hundreds of wreaths, bows and poinsettias. The highlight is a 35-foot Fraser fir. 877-245-8667, www.biltmore.com.

Cullowhee —- The 21st annual Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Crafts Show, Nov. 28-29, features nearly 100 fine artists and master crafters offering a wide variety of heritage and contemporary items for holiday shopping, including jewelry, pottery, glass, rugs, rocker horses and more. 828-524-3405, www.mountainartisans.net.

Wrightsville Beach —- The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla, Nov. 28-29, kicks off with a illuminated boat parade and includes a tree-lighting ceremony, Santa & Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts, and fireworks. 910-256-2120, www.ncholidayflotilla.org.

Dillsboro —- The Dillsboro Festival of Lights & Luminaries celebrates 25 years Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 12-13 with more than 2,500 candles in white paper bags lining the streets. Shopkeepers stay open late and serve hot apple cider while children have a chance to visit Santa. 800-962-1911, visitdillsboro.org.

Wilmington —- Old Wilmington by Candlelight, Dec. 6-7, gives visitors a walking tour of homes, churches and historic sites, complete with tour lamplighters, storytellers and carolers. 910-762-0492, www.latimerhouse.org.

Valle Crucis —- The Valle Crucis Fireside Tour, Dec. 7, meanders to gift shops, galleries, inns, restaurants and churches. 828-963-6511.

Hendersonville —- The Holiday Tour of Historic Inns, Dec. 14, visits seven turn-of-the-century inns decorated for the holidays. Homemade cookies can be sampled at each inn. 828-697-3088.

Hendersonville —- A Winter Solstice Hike, Dec. 21, celebrates the return of the sun to the Northern Hemisphere and the darkness of the longest night. The hike is on a quarter-mile moderate trail to Hooker Falls. 828-692-0385.

South Carolina

Columbia —- Lights Before Christmas, through Dec. 30, envelops the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in a canopy of lights and includes displays of handcrafted animal images illuminated by 500,000 lights. 803-779-8717, www.riverbanks.org.

Myrtle Beach —- The South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival celebrates 39 years Nov. 27-29 with acts Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, the Grascalls, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Tim Graves & Cherokee, the Bluegrass Brothers and more. 706-864-7203, www.aandabluegrass.com.

Ninety-Six —- A Backcountry Holiday, Nov. 29, celebrates the season at the Black Swan Tavern at the Ninety-Six National Historic Site with costumed interpreters demonstrating life in the 1700s. 864-543-4068, www.nps.gov/nisi.

Charleston —- The Thriller speed boat will slow down a bit Dec. 1-31 for the Charleston Sleigh Ride, a leisurely ride around the harbor complete with hot chocolate, Christmas carols and holiday stories. 843-276-4203, www.thrillercharleston.com.

Charleston —- Christmas in Charleston, Dec. 1-31, includes historic homes and plantations decorated in period fashion, candlelight garden tours, and shopping and dining. 843-805-3081, www.christmasincharleston.com.

Murrells Inlet —- Nights of a Thousand Candles, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 20, features candles and lights illuminating Brookgreen Gardens’ paths as musicians and carolers perform. 800-849-1931, www.brookgreen.org.

Charleston —- The 22nd annual Progressive Dinners, Dec. 2-6, 8-13, 15-20, 22, 23, take guests by horse-drawn carriage to three historic venues for a four-course meal. 843-853-7828, www.circa1886.com.

McConnels —- Christmas Candlelight Tours, Dec. 6-7, depict holiday plantation life and holiday traditions in the 1800s with costumed interpreters, a period-costumed Santa, wassailing party, storytelling and ornament making. Also includes nightly tours of historic sites. 803-684-2327, www.chmuseums.org.

Charleston —- Circa 1886 restaurant presents the Dickens Dinner Dec. 17, featuring a storyteller relaying “A Christmas Carol” while diners enjoy a four-course Victorian England-inspired dinner. A special package also includes accommodations at the Wentworth Mansion. 843-853-7828, www.circa1886.com.

Tennessee

Chattanooga —- The River Gorge Explorer offers two-hour excursions down the Tennessee River Gorge through the end of November. Ride includes high-speed portions and leisurely cruising. 800-262-0695, www.tnaqua.org.

Chattanooga —- Snow will fall inside the sometimes eerie Ruby Falls during Deck the Falls, every Friday and Saturday in December. There will be snow at Cavern Castle every 10 minutes. Live acoustic music performed during the tour. 423-821-2544, www.rubyfalls.com.

Lookout Mountain —- The 14th annual Enchanted Garden of Lights, through Jan. 3, brightens the mountain with more than 25 holiday scenes along the trail. Other activities include gingerbread cookie decorating, nightly entertainment and Sugar Plum Fairy Makeovers (for an additional price). 800-854-0675, www.seerockcity.com/lights.

Chattanooga —- A 75-minute round-trip train journey on the Tennessee Valley Railroad to North Pole Limited, through Dec. 22, features storytelling, light refreshments and an appearance by Santa. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com.

Clarksville —- Christmas on the Cumberland celebrates the season Nov. 25-Jan. 1. Lights illuminate the city’s signature RiverWalk and features visits with Santa, a night parade of lighted floats and more. 931-648-6129, christmasonthecumberland.com.

Memphis —- Each year, decorations deck the halls for Christmas at Graceland from early December through Elvis’ birthday in January. This year will be no different, with the exception of special rarely seen items on view Nov. 28-Jan. 8 during Christmas at Graceland: Elvis’ personal wardrobe collection, home movie footage, guitars from his personal collections and more. 800-238-2000, www.elvis.com.

Jackson —- Old Country Store Christmas Eve Breakfast, Dec. 24, features a Southern-style buffet for the entire family in the Casey Jones Village. 800-748-9588, www.caseyjones.com.

Virginia

Roanoke —- SunTrust Dickens of a Christmas, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, features St. Nicholas, a tree lighting, toy workshop, live Nativity, Victorian-era costumed street musicians and carolers, a parade and more. 540-342-2028 Ext. 10, www.downtownroanoke.org.

Virginia Beach —- Holiday Lights at the Beach, through Jan. 1, kicks off the season with 250 animated light displays along the boardwalk. Other activities scheduled include a Christmas market Nov. 28-30; Hunt Club Farm’s Winter Wonderland starting Nov. 28; Founder’s Illumination, Nov. 30; the Holiday Parade at the Beach Dec. 6; and the annual Twelfth Night Celebration beginning Dec. 25. 800-822-3224, www.vbfun.com.

Virginia Beach —- From November to January, three striped bass tournaments are scheduled. The annual Striped Bass World Championship is through Dec. 31; the American Striper Association’s 2008 National Tournament, Dec. 13; and Waterman’s Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout Jan. 8-10. www.vbfun.com.

Norfolk —- Holiday in the City events through Dec. 31 include art exhibits, gift shops, weekend cruises and more. 757-623-1757, www.downtownnorfolk.org.

Mount Vernon —- George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate opens for candlelight tours Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 5-7 and 12-14. Included in the tour are caroling, free cookies and hot cider around a campfire. 703-780-2000, www.mountvernon.org.

Alexandria —- The Campagna Center’s Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, Dec. 4-6, features a Christmas Marketplace and Cafe, heather and greens sale, children’s tea party, Celtic concert and a Taste of Scotland. 703-549-0111, www.scottish christmaswalk.com.

Newport News —- Hollydazzle, Dec. 5, features the lighting of the 44-foot animated structure, fireworks, glowing fountains and holiday entertainment. 757-926-1400, www.nngov.com.

Williamsburg —- The Colonial town welcomes the season with the Grand Illumination Dec. 7. Other activities include fireworks and musical entertainment. 800-404-3389, www.history.org.

Start planning

Throughout fall, visitors to the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville can view a kaleidoscope of fall color on 65 acres of cultivated gardens and 10 miles of hiking and biking trails. 828-665-2492, www.ncarboretum.org

This week

The annual Lighting of the Village, Nov. 28, kicks off holiday festivities in the Alpine village of Helen. The annual Christmas Parade follows Dec. 6, along with the Christkindlmarket (Christmas Market, which will also be open Dec. 7, 13 and 14). Entertainment is scheduled Dec. 6 and 13. 800-858-8027, www.helenga.org