Free admission to the zoo: To thank Rhode Islanders for approving a ballot question that allocates $11 million in bond money for major upgrades and improvements at Roger Williams Park Zoo, admission is free on Saturday.

The New Zoo master plan, already under way, will affect nearly every area of the zoo during the next five years. Major new additions will include a polar bear exhibit, improvements to the elephant exhibit that will allow for breeding, a New England trail and children’s zoo, and a new veterinary hospital.

The zoo is open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, visit www.rogerwillamsparkzoo.org or call (401) 785-3510.

Neighborhood crime watch meeting: Providence Crime Watch will meet on Nov. 29 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Lillian Feinstein Senior Center, 1085 Chalkstone Ave.

Residents are encouraged to attend to express crime-related concerns.

Festival of trees: The Rhode Island Convention Center will be transformed into a winter wonderland Dec. 1 to 3 for the third annual Rhode Island Festival of Trees. Proceeds from the event, which is being underwritten by the Citizens Bank Foundation, will benefit Roger Williams Park Zoo.

The focal point of the festival is a collection of more than 100 professionally decorated holiday trees, which will be for sale. In addition to the trees, there will be other activities including the Polar Bear Express, an indoor train, and a carousel. There will be a gift pavilion, music and a children’s activity area with storytelling and crafts and photos with Santa.

A preview party will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will feature a silent auction and entertainment. Tickets may be purchased through Roger Williams Park Zoo by calling (401) 941-3910, ext. 318, or by e-mailing trees@rwpzoo.org. Proceeds from the party will benefit the zoo.

Festival tickets may be purchased at the Rhode Island Convention Center box office and are $8 for adults and $6 for children under 12 and seniors 65 and over. The event runs Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, visit the web site at www.rifestivaloftrees.com or call (401) 458-6014.

Deadline for street tree applications: The deadline for the next round of street tree applications is Dec. 1.

Almost 6,000 Providence street trees have been planted through the Neighborhood Planting Program, a private organization that award groups of Providence residents with 5 to 20 trees for their street if they participate in the planting and take on the responsibility of the young trees’ care.

Each December and June the program gets as many as 45 applications from residents and neighborhood groups for street trees. A strong application is one in which many residents are involved (including children) with consecutive plantings along one street and where the residents are prepared and willing to keep the trees healthy. Plantings are scheduled for Saturdays in April and May. Residents receiving trees are required to be present for the planting.

Those whose applications are rejected are made aware of why they won’t receive trees in the first round and are given advice on how to strengthen their application for the future.

Residents interested in just one or two trees for their street can apply for the matching grant program, which plants a tree for them at a fraction of the cost.

Those who wish to pay for and plant their own tree still need to submit an application to the city forester.

Applications for all programs are available online at www.pnpp.org. Call (401) 368-5380 to have an application mailed. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 1 to be considered for a spring planting.

Toy gun bash: Providence Crime Watch, District 6 Community Police and the Rhode Island attorney general’s office is hosting a toy gun bash on Dec. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Pleasant View School, 50 Obediah Brown Rd. Children who exchange a toy gun will receive a prize.

Children’s art contest: Bob’s Discount Furniture , is holding its third annual children’s scholarship art contest. Three students in each of three age categories will receive a first place award of a $5,000 college scholarship, second place award of a $1,000 credit for art lessons and third place award of $500 for art supplies.

Students ages 7 to 10 will create an entry with the theme of a favorite vacation place.Students ages 11 to 14 years old should create artwork based on a special memory and children ages 15 to 18 use a theme of a perfect world. A child’s age group is based on their birth date as of Feb. 7, 2007, and one submission per child will be accepted. Submitted artwork must include a copy of the online registration at www.mybobs.com and mailed to Children’s Art Scholarship Contest, Bob’s Discount Furniture, 428 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, Conn., 06040.

Entries should be one dimensional completed on 9-by-12 paper using any medium, and matted and created solely by the contestant. A panel of professional artists will pick the winners on March 21.