Out & About Calendar - Dec. 12-18

LEISURE

CHATTANOOGA ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER - 400 Garden Road. All events require registration: 423-821-1160.

* Saturday, Dec. 14: Grandmothers holiday tea, seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., $35 adults, $15 ages 8-12, benefits Nature Center's Grandmothers Garden.

* Saturday, Dec. 14: Fairy house-building workshop, noon-3 p.m., $10 per family.

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 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays until March 1. $15 adults $10 ages 12 and under. 423-821-7125.

* Fridays, Dec. 13, 20 and 27: Holiday Lights & Spirits Tour, 6:30 p.m., enjoy downtown's holiday lights while on tour.

CRAFT SHOW - Sequatchie Valley Institute, 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, Tenn. Variety of handmade art and crafts for sale at free show with tours of institute and kids' crafts, noon-6 p.m. CST Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 14-15. 432-949-4598.

ENCHANTED GARDEN OF LIGHTS - Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain. Holiday light show with nightly music performances, 6-9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 4 (closed Christmas Eve night). $19.95 adults, $11.95 children. 706-820-2531.

FASHIONETTA DEBUTANTE BALL - Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. sponsors debutante ball that culminates semester of study in academics, community service and cultural enrichment for girls in grades 3-12, 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. For tickets: 423-227-4883.

HILLTOP CHRISTMAS - Hilltop Farm, 8235 Highway 58. Reindeer and elk, sleigh ride through Christmas lights and visit with Santa, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 13-14 and 20-21. $15 adults, $8 children under 10; some activities have additional $5 fee. 423-488-3956.

HIKES - Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619.

* Saturday, Dec. 14: Savage Gulf, moderate eight miles, meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy, 9 a.m.

* Tuesday, Dec. 17: Enterprise South, moderate five miles, meet in parking lot of Highway 153 Target, 9 a.m.

* Saturday, Dec. 21: Retro Hughes to Upper Leggett, slightly strenuous eight miles, meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy, 9 a.m.

HOLIDAY ENGLISH TEA - Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, 201 High St. Open house for glass/china museum includes proper English tea, viewing of current exhibit of memorable museum pieces with quotes from famous tea drinkers, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. $25 adults, $5 children 4-12, $20 senior adults ages 65 and older (includes museum tour). For reservations: 423-267-7176.

HOLIDAYS UNDER THE PEAKS - Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. Daily programs on aquarium animals, Scuba Santa at 11 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays, through Dec. 22. Free with regular aquarium admission $24.95 adults, $14.95 child ages 3-12. www.tnaqua.org.

HOOPS FOR HOPE - Signal Mountain Middle School, 2650 Sam Powell Trail. Daylong basketball event benefits MaryEllen Locher Foundation, which provides scholarships to students whose parent has battled breast cancer, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Schedule: GPS vs. CSAS, 11 a.m.; Notre Dame vs. Red Bank, 12:30 p.m.; Soddy-Daisy vs. Baylor, 2 p.m.; Signal Mountain (girls) vs. South Pittsburg, 3:30 p.m.; Signal Mountain (boys) vs. South Pittsburg, 5 p.m. Includes entertainment by participating schools, memory quilt auction and bake sale. $6. 423-309-4289.

LIGHTS UP ON THE LAKE - James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park, Summerville, Ga. Drive-through illuminated scenes at picnic area by lake, Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 29. $5 to park if you walk through. 706-857-0826.

MARSH HOUSE CANDLELIGHT TOURS - Marsh House, 308 N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga. Historic home decorated for holidays with re-enactors in period dress of Civil War era, 6-8 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, Dec. 14-15, 21-22. Tours benefit Walker County Historical Society-Marsh House Task Force. $5 adults, $1 children. 706-764-2801.

OOLTEWAH FARMERS MARKET - Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St. Open 3-5 p.m. Thursdays. 423-238-9775.

TRAIN RIDES, BLUE RIDGE, GA. - Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, 241 Depot St., Blue Ridge, Ga. Santa Express includes Christmas story, singing carols with elves and visit from Santa, each child receives a railroad souvenir, 4-8 p.m. daily through Dec. 21. Layover in McCaysville, Ga., and Copperhill, Tenn., to eat and shop. Fare of $38 ages 13 and older, $22 for ages 2-12. 877-413-8724.

TRAIN RIDES, CHATTANOOGA - Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com.

* Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM's repair shop. Departures 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 Saturdays in December; $16 adults, $10 ages 3-12.

* North Pole Limited: Refreshments, storytelling, sing-alongs and Santa gives present to each child on train ride, $24 all ages. Departures 5:45, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 13-15, 20-22.

YAPPY MEOWER - Mia Cucina, 345 Frazier Ave. Sicilian pizza and pastas, wine and beer to benefit McKamey Animal Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, Dec. 12. $20 donation. 423-305-6500.

DANCES

BALLROOM - The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn ballroom dancing, no partner required, Saturdays. Group class, 7:30 p.m., $5; dancing 8:30 p.m., $10. 423-394-6428.

BALLROOM - Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. Dance, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. Free. 423-771-3646.

USA BALLROOM - Allemande Hall, 7400 Standifer Gap Road. Holiday ball to benefit Chattanooga Room in the Inn, 7-11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. $35. 423-645-4888.

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