FRIDAY, DEC. 5
OTHER
WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORKING. Presented by the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce. 7:45 a.m. Attorney Regina von Gootkin will present and discuss typical mistakes that small business owners make that could land them in legal trouble. Village Gates, 88 Scott Swamp Rd., Farmington. info@CentralCTChambers.org, (860) 584-4718.
DEC. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21
BRISTOL/ SOUTHINGTON
LAKE COMPOUNCE HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 5 p.m., Fridays. 4 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays. Fun for all ages. Light show every half hour at the main gate. Kiddieland rides and family-themed rides will be in operation. Train will be transformed into the North Pole Railway with uniformed train conductor with a tale to tell. Indoor activities including cookie decorating and gingerbread house making. Write a letter to Santa. Story time with Mrs. Claus. Carolers. Ice carver. Clowns. Photos with Santa. Lake Compounce Amusement Park, 822 Lake Ave., Bristol. $14.99 for adults. $10.99 for children 4 to 10. Free for children 3 and under. LakeCompounce.com
DEC. 5-7
OTHER
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Friday at 10 a.m., Coast Guard Choir. Saturday at 10 a.m., Emmanuel Christian Academy. 11:30 a.m., Charter Oak Flutes. 12:30 p.m., Summer Solstice string quartet. 2 p.m., Conard Solo Choir from West Hartford. Sunday: 12 p.m., Fairfield University Sweet Harmony with the Bensonians; 1 p.m., Choraliers from Hall High School, West Hartford; 2 p.m., Erin Vivero, On The List flute ensemble; 3 p.m., Newington High School chamber choir. Governor’s Residence, 990 Prospect Ave., Hartford. Carol.Oshea@ct.gov, (860) 524-7355.
DEC. 5-JAN. 4
OTHER
THE ART LEAGUE OF NEW BRITAIN’S THIRD ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW. Opening reception on Friday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. Open Saturday and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Art League of New Britain, 30 Cedar St., New Britain. (860) 229-1484.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
BRISTOL
ST. MATTHEW SCHOOL ANNUAL CRAFT/ VENDOR SHOW. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. Matthew School, Forestville. (860)583-5214.
PLAINVILLE
BUS TRIP TO WRENTHAM PREMIUM OUTLET MALL IN MASSACHUSETTS. Held by The Woman’s Club of Plainville, Inc. Leave the Plainville Public Library at 8 a.m. and return to the library by 6:30 p.m. Transportation to and from Wrentham Premium Outlet Mall, the tip for the driver, bus bingo, raffle prizes, morning and afternoon light snacks, bottled water, a DVD movie shown during the return trip to Plainville, and throughout the day, storage will be made available under the bus for your purchases. $35. Purchase tickets by making checks payable to the Woman’s Club of Plainville. Including your name and phone number, the number of tickets. Mail to Linda Roche, P.O. Box 295 Plainville, CT 06062.
SOUTHINGTON
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR. Held by the St. Aloysius Ladies Guild. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gift baskets, vendors, baked goods, swags, handmade items, etc. Lunch/ refreshments served. St. Aloysius Church, 254 Burritt St., Plantsville.
CHILDREN’S CRAFT FAIR. 10 a.m. to noon at the Southington Library, 255 Main St. Kid crafters wanted. All items must be made by children 12 years or younger. All items for sale will be $5 or less. In person registration is required. (860)628-0947 ext. 3.
ST. PAUL’S NINTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Holiday and general handcraft items featured. St. Paul’s Church, 145 Main St., Southington. (860) 628-8486.
OTHER
THE UGLY SWEATER RUN—A HOLIDAY THEMED-5K. 11 a.m. Bushnell Park, Hartford. TheUglySweaterRun.com
DEC. 6-7
SOUTHINGTON
SMALL WORKS ARTS FAIR. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and small sculptures. Paris in Plantsville, 15 West Main St., Plantsville. (860) 426-1149. ParisInPlantsville.com
SUNDAY, DEC. 7
BRISTOL
BRISTOL AUTHOR DAWN LEGER BOOK SIGNING. 1 to 4 p.m. Latest novel is “Eagle Scouting.” About a terrorist cell operating in a small town on the Connecticut shore. Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer St., Bristol. DawnLeger.com
OTHER
CHOCOLATE EXPO. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford. For members, $15 for adults, $10 for children. Non-members, $19 for adults, $14 for youths. (860) SCIENCE, wwwCTScienceCenter.org
MONDAY, DEC. 8
SOUTHINGTON
SERVICE OF HEALING AND RENEWAL. 7 p.m. First Congregational Church of Southington, 37 Main St., Southington.
TUESDAY, DEC. 9
SOUTHINGTON
DISCOVER CHRISTMAS AT THE NEWPORT MANSIONS. Held by the Cruz’in Congos. Tour the Breakers and the Elms, two of the most famous mansions decorated for Christmas. Cost includes deluxe motor coach, admittance to mansions, and lunch at the Brick Alley Pub and Restaurant. (860) 628-8982, mersm@cox.net
PLAINVILLE
MOHEGAN BUS TRIP. Held by AARP Chapter 4146. Leave Our Lady of Mercy, 19 S. Canal St., Plainville at 8 a.m. Leave Mohegan at 4 p.m. $21 per person. Current casino promotional package will be given. No monies will be collected on the bus. All seats are to be paid for prior to trip. Reservations. (860) 747-1732.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10
OTHER
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS OF THE CENTRAL CONNECTICUT CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Farmington Inn, 827 Farmington Ave., Farmington. Donations for Toys for Tots collected. www.CentralCTChambers.org, (860) 584-4722.
BRISTOL
HEALTH BENEFITS CONSULTANT AVAILABLE AT THE ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Health care is provided to active duty family members, activated National Guard and Reserve family members, retirees, family members, and certain “grandfathered beneficiaries who are 65 and older.” Army Strong Community Center, 111 North Main St., Bristol. Schedule an appointment. (860) 584-6258 or (860) 584-6257.
THURSDAY, DEC. 11
SOUTHINGTON
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TRIP TO WILLIAMS INN BOAR’S HEAD FEAST AND BRIGHT NIGHTS. Leave First Baptist Church, 581 Meriden Ave., Southington at 9 a.m. All invited. Reservations. (860)621-3024 or (860) 770-1557.
FRIDAY, DEC. 12
OTHER
SINGLES HAPPY HOUR. Held by Social Connections. 5 p.m. Sheraton Htel, 100 Capital Blvd., Rocky Hill. No chare. (860) 582-8229.
FRIDAY, JAN. 16
SOUTHINGTON
ADULT ZUMBA AT ZING FITNESS. Fund raiser for Flanders Elementary School PTO. 6 p.m. Register at 5:45 p.m. Baby sitting available, $7. Zing Fitness, 47 North Main st., Southington. $10 per person. sctrovato@att.net. Bring a water bottle.
NOW thru JAN. 4
OTHER
HOLIDAY MEMORIES: TALES AND TRADITIONS OF AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY CHRISTMAS. Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Rd., Farmington. Free with admission to the museum. Free to members. (860) 677-4787. Hillstead.org
NOW thru JAN. 4, 2015
OTHER
‘FROHAWK TWO FEATURES/ MATRIX 170.’ Art exhibition. Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 to Main St., Hartford. TheWadsworth.org
NOW thru JAN. 4
OTHER
TWO ART EXHIBITS. “Steven Rockefeller: A Park Bench View,” “Nathaniel Donnett: Alone In My Four Cornered Room.” Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St., Waterbury. (203) 753-0381. MattatuckMuseum.org
NOW thru JAN. 11
OTHER
‘NELSON AUGUSTUS MOORE: CONNECTICUT, WATER, HILLS AND SKY.’ From the collection of Todd and Marenda Stitzer. Features paintings and photographs by Moore, a 19th century American landscape artist who captured images of his hometown Kensington. New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St., New Britain. NBMAA.org
ONGOING
BRISTOL
BINGO. Tuesdays at 10:45 a.m., Fridays at 6:45 p.m. Benefits St. Anthony School. St. Anthony Church, 111 School St., Bristol.
BINGO. Every Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Free coffee and cookies. Bristol Polish Club, 541 North Main St., Bristol.