01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 1, 2005

PROVIDENCE

Festival of Trees (2nd annual), Rhode Island Convention Center, Sabin Street, Providence. 941-3910, ext. 318. Display of about 100 professionally decorated trees, handcrafted wreaths, entertainment, children' activities, demonstrations. Fri-Sat 10 am-9 pm, Sun 10 am-6 pm. $8, $6 under age 12 and 65+. Proceeds benefit Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Gifts and Greens, St. Martin's Church, 50 Orchard Ave., Providence. 751-2141. Gala Opening Party and Pre-Sale. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and desserts. Thu 6-9 pm. $30.

Shopping, Fri-Sat 9 am-6 pm.

--FREE-- Holiday Celebration, RISD Museum, 224 Benefit St., Providence. 454-6500. Music, Victorian carolers, storytelling by Sparky's Puppets and Clare Vadevoncoeur, refreshments, entertainment by the Sidewalk Stompers, family activities. Sun 1-4:30 pm.

--FREE-- Holiday Open House, The Providence Athenaeum, 251 Benefit St., Providence. 421-6970. Old-time banjo music, refreshments. Sun 3-5 pm.

Holiday Stroll, Federal Hill, Providence. 351-5377. Horse and buggy rides, visit with Santa, choral groups, special treats from area businesses. Sun 2-6 pm.

Paws for the Holidays, Providence Animal Rescue League, 34 Elbow St., Providence. 421-1399. Bring a furry friend and have your picture taken with Santa. Noon-4 pm. $15.

BLACKSTONE VALLEY

Christmas at the Slater Park Carousel, Slater Memorial Park, 1 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket. 728-0500, ext. 251. Carousel rides (25 cents), visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, strolling clowns, entertainment, strolling musicians, hayrides, train rides through the park, craft activities. Winter Wonderland Village with 350 decorated trees will be on display. Tree lighting (4 pm). Sat noon-4 pm.

Christmas Festival, German American Cultural Society, 78 Carter Ave., Pawtucket. (508) 761-6702. Sigy Moller, Ronnie Howe and Sharon Zee perform. Sun 1:30-5 pm. Tickets available at the door. $17.

Glowing Gifts Tree, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 111 Brewster St., Pawtucket. 729-2000. Tree lighting ceremony, seasonal entertainment, refreshments, children's activities, Santa. Sun 5-7 pm.

Holiday Open House, Hearthside, Great Road, Lincoln. 726-0597, www.hearthsidehouse.org. Self-guided tours of the homestead decorated for the holidays. Sun 1-7 pm. Donations accepted.

Lights, Camera, LINCOLN! Junior League of Rhode Island Holiday Hollywood House Tour, Lincoln. 331-9302; www.jlri.org. Premiere party, Fri 6:30 pm, at one of the tour homes. Black-tie optional event with food by Blackstone Caterers and entertainment by Ye Olde English Carolers and the Jimmy Hits Band. $100 per person, $175 per couple. Tour of six houses decorated in themes of favorite holiday films, Sat. Check-in registration for tour and Holiday Marketplace at Community College of Rhode Island, 1762 Louisquissett Pike, Lincoln, 9:30 am-3 pm. Tour runs 10 am-4 pm (last check-in at 3 pm). $20 advance, $25 day of event.

EAST BAY

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 101 Ferry Rd., Route 114, Bristol. 253-2707. 45-room mansion overlooking 33 acres of landscaped grounds, with gardens, bamboo grove and a 90-foot giant sequoia; Narragansett Bay can be seen from paths and 10-acre lawn. Grounds and gardens open daily 10 am-5 pm; admission charged. Special program: Christmas at Blithewold: Listen . . . To What Christmas Sounds Like at Our House. Tours of house decorated for the holidays; music, refreshments. Wed-Sun 1-8 pm. $10, seniors/students $10, youth 17 $6, children under 6/members free.

Holiday Craft Show, Audubon Society Environmental Education Centers, 1401 Hope St., Bristol. 245-7500, ext. 18; www.asri.org. Fresh Christmas trees, pictures with Santa, craft and nature activites for children, animal presentations, guided tours. Sat 9 am-4 pm.

Holiday Festival, Barrington High School, 220 Lincoln Avenue. 247-3150. Choirs, jazz band, dance and music performances, vendors. Sun noon-5 pm. Tree lighting at Town Hall (6 pm). Free trolley rides between the school and Town Hall. 3:30-7:30 pm.

Tree Spree (12th annual), Wilbur/McMahon Gymnasium, Little Compton Commons. Crafts, themes trees available, tree lighting (5 pm), caroling. Sun 1-7 pm. Annual Ben Wilkie Memorial event. Proceeds benefit scholarships for local students.

NEWPORT AREA

Astors' Beechwood, 580 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 846-3772; www.astorsbeechwood.com. Visitors are transported back to 1891 as guests of Mrs. Astor, queen of American society. Victorian Christmas Tours, Thu, Tue 4, 5, 6, 7 pm; Sat 10, 11 am, noon, 2, 3 pm; Wed 4, 5 pm. $15, 60+ $12, youth 6-17 $8; family (two adults, 2-4 children) $35, children 5 and under free. Victorian Christmas Feast, Fri 7 pm, Sun 1 pm; join Mrs. Astor and her family for a family celebration including dinner, tour; $90, reservations required.

Belcourt Castle, 657 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 846-0669; www.belcourtcastle.com. Built in 1894 for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont. Regular guided tours Thu-Sat, Mon noon-5 pm, with last tour 4 pm; Sun 9 am-noon. Candlelight Tour, Thu, Mon 6 pm. $10, college students/65+ $8, students 13-17 $7, children 5-12 $5. Candlelight and Ghost Tours $15. Reservations recommended. Evening tours not for children under 8. Holiday concert by pianist Robin Spielberg, Fri 6:30 pm, Sat 3 pm. Christmas Tea and Concert, Sun 1:30 pm; includes tour, concert, tea.

Christmas in Newport Opening Celebration (34th annual), Washington Square in front of the court house. Tree lighting, Newport Artillery cannon salute, live entertainment. Thu 6 pm.

Designer Wreath Sale, corner of Memorial Boulevard and Old Beach Road, Newport. Wreaths designed by local artists, designers and gardeners on sale to benefit Lucy's Hearth, a shelter for women and children. Sat 9 am-2 pm.

Harbor Lights Parade of Boats and Blessing of the Fleet (8th annual), Newport. 848-6492. Boats decorated for the holiday. Sat 6:30 pm.

Holiday Open House, The National Museum of American Illustration, 492 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 851-8949, ext. 18. Self-guided tours, refreshments, authors sign their books. Sun 11 am-4 pm.

Holiday Open House, Newport Historical Society, Newport Colony House, Washington Street, Newport. 846-0813. Tour, exhibits, ornament-making workshop, music by the Salve Regina University Madrigals Chorus. Light refreshments served at 7 pm. Thu 5-7:30 pm.

Holiday Open House, Colony House, Newport. 849-9151, www.NewportHistorical.org. Antique toy exhibit, music, tours, make an ornament to take home. Thu 5-7:30 pm.

Newport Mansions. The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House, all on Bellevue Avenue. 847-1000 or www.newportmansions.com. Christmas at the Newport Mansions (The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House) decorated for the holidays. Children can visit with Santa Claus Sun noon-3 pm at The Breakers; bring your camera. Daily 9 am-5 pm, last tour at 4 pm; houses and grounds close at 5 pm. $10, children 6-17 $5; The Breakers $15, children $5.

Special Program: Holiday Evenings at the Newport Mansions, The Breakers. Evening includes a leisurely self-guided tour, holiday sweets, eggnog, cider and music by Cabaret Elegance, Sat 6-8 pm. $25 advance, $30 door; children 6-17 $10; PSSN members $20 advance, $25 door.

The Night Before Christmas at the Samuel Whitehorne House, 416 Thames St., Newport. 849-7300. See Christmas as it was celebrated in the early 1800s, witnessing all of the preparations for the merriment and feasting of the next day. Take home period recipes and sample historic flavors. Sat-Sun 10 am-3 pm. $5, children under 16 $2.

Santa's Arrival, East Ferry, Jamestown. 423-0330. Santa arrives Sat at 1 pm. Tree lighting at 5:30 pm.

The Santa Express, Newport Dinner Train, 19 America's Cup Ave., Newport. 841-8700, www.newportdinnertrain.com. Santa and Mrs. Claus entertain with holiday stories, carols and activites as the train chugs merrily along the Bay. Sat-Sun 11 am, 1:30 pm. $14.95, $9.95 under age 12, free under age 2. Reservations.

Santa's Workshop, Easton's Beach Carousel, 175 Memorial Boulevard, Newport. 845-5810 (cancellation for snow), 845-5800, 847-6875. Carousel rides, crafts, refreshments. Sat noon-3 pm. $5 (bring a canned food donation and get a free carousel ride). Santa Claus arrives by firetruck at 1 pm and visits with the children until 2:30 pm.

Tree Lighting (26th annual), Sovereign Bank Skating Center, Newport Yachting Center, America's Cup Avenue. 846-1600, ext. 2000; www.skatenewport.com. Fri 5:30 pm. Join Santa, Rudolph and his elves for the annual lighting ceremony and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate. Public skate follows (6:30-9:30 pm).

NORTHWEST

Candlelight Stroll (4th annual), North Scituate Village (Danielson Pike to Silk Lane), Community Hall. 647-7773.

Crafts, carriage rides, antiques, singing, food Fri 3-9 pm; children's crafts at the North Scituate Elementary School Fri 7 pm.

Breakfast with Santa, North Scituate Village Fire State, Sat 7:30-11 am. Call for tickets.

Tree lighting and Santa at the gazebo. Sat 4 pm.

Christmas at Smith-Appleby House, 220 Stillwater Rd., Smithfield. 231-7363 or e-mail smithappleby@aol.com. Early 18th-century farmhouse decorated with fresh greens, berries and blossoms. Sun 1-4 pm. $3, children under 12 $1, members free.

Holiday Open House, Whytebrook Terrace, One Cherry Hill Rd., Johnston. 233-2880. Holiday music and refreshments. Sat 2-4 pm.

Santa on the Town Common, Main Street and East Avenue, Burrillville. 568-9470. Meet and greet Santa, enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. Sat 1:30 pm. Rain date Sunday.

SOUTH COUNTY

Christmas at the Castle, Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive, North Kingstown. 294-3521, www.smithscastle.org. Meet Father Christmas, sip hot-spiced cider while listening to traditional carols, Colonial cooking demonstration, tours, children's crafts, reading of The Night Before Christmas (Sat), music by the Bell Choir of St. Luke's Church (Sun). Sat-Sun noon-4 pm. $2, free ages 10 and younger and members.

Victorian Christmas Celebration, Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, Old Washington County Jail, Route 138, Kingston. 792-9197. Tree and antique toy display, storytime, visits with St. Nicholas, Victorian ornament-making workshop, guided tours, crafts. Sat 10 am-2 pm.

Visit with Santa, The Christmas House, 1557 Ten Rod Rd., Exeter. 397-0097. Fri-Sun 11 am-3 pm.

WEST BAY

Annual Christmas Concert and Tea, Summit Baptist Church, 1176 Victory Highway (Route 102), Greene. 397-3243, 397-7607. Sun 2 pm. $10.

Candlelight and Music Tour, Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum, 4157 Post Rd., Warwick. 884-4550. Sat 5-8 pm, Sun 3-7 pm. $15. Proceeds benefit the Rhode Island Antique Fire Apparatus Society.

Christmas Open House, Cranston Historical Society, Sprague Mansion, 1353 Cranston St. and Joy Homestead, 156 Scituate Ave. 944-9226. Christmas carols, cookies, wassail, cider, tea and coffee. Sun 1-4 pm.

Visit with Santa, Ferns and Flowers Tea House and Bistro, 1094 Centerville Rd., Warwick. Sun 11 am-2 pm.

MASSACHUSETTS

Christmas Festival of Lights, National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park St., Route 118, Attleboro. (508) 222-5410. Daily 5-9 pm.

Holiday Festival of Lights, Edaville USA, 7 Eda Ave., Carver, Mass. (508) 866-8190, (877) 332-8455. See seasonal displays and lights while riding a narrow-gauge train through a 1,300-acre cranberry plantation; amusement rides; Cranberry World Museum. Mon-Thu 4-9 pm, Fri 4-10 pm, Sat 2-10 pm, Sun 2-9 pm. $16, $14 ages 2-12 and 60+, free under age 2. Closed Thanksgiving.

Holly Jolly Treasure Hunt, Swansea Mall, 262 Swansea Mall Drive. (508) 679-2544. For ages 4-12. Register at customer service. Sat 10 am.

New Bedford Preservation Society Holiday House Tour (14th annual). (508) 997-7431. Sat-Sun. Tours of select, private historic homes decorated for the holidays. Tours are self-guided with volunteer tour guides stationed at each property to greet and show visitors through the homes. $14 advance, $15 day of tour, $3 discount for 59+. Ticket pickup/purchase at Wamsutta Club, 427 County St., New Bedford. Holiday Brunch, Wamsutta Club, Sun 11 am-1 pm; $28 tour/brunch.

CONNECTICUT

Lantern Light Tours, Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, Conn. (860) 572-0711, (888) 973-2767, www.mysticseaport.org. 70-minute tour through a holiday village by a 19th-century costumed guide. Fri-Sun, tours leave every 15 minutes 5-9:15 pm. $25, $18 ages 4-18, not recommended for under age 4. Reservations suggested.