This week
"Diego" appearance, Gainesville. Nick Jr.'s "Diego" will visit with kids. 6-8 p.m. Friday, Monkey Joe's, 2283 Brown's Bridge Road, Gainesville. $7.99 kids; $5 age 2 and younger; free for adults. 770-536-0200.
Scholastic Book Fair, Flowery Branch. Through Saturday. Includes Mulberry Creek first anniversary party, with class demonstrations, prize drawings and puppet shows. Party, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Mulberry Creek Community Center, 4491 JM Turk Road, Flowery Branch. 770-965-7140 or rschmitt@hallcounty.org.
Celebrate "Harry Potter", Gainesville. Games, prizes and movies. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Blackshear Place Library, 2927 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville. Free. 770-532-3311, ext. 151.
Cars for Kids, Dahlonega. Benefits Lumpkin County Family Connections, Rainbow Children's Home and Lumpkin County Middle School Class of 2015. Registration, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday; awards show, 2:30 p.m. Concessions, music, door prizes and cake walk. $20 entry fee for car show participants; spectators free. 678-878-5016 or 678-316-6708. bkchester@windstream.net.
Family Day, Gainesville. "A Salute to Veterans and Families." Tour military memorabilia, make cards for deployed military personnel and donate items for care packages. Construct a patriotic pinwheel. 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville. Free. 770-297-5900 or jcarson@brenau.edu.
Photos with Santa, Buford. Through Dec. 24. Santa available daily, with the exception of Nov. 25. Hours and prices vary. Nordstrom Court, Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. 678-482-8788.
Upcoming
Appalachian Christmas at Babyland, Cleveland. Arts and crafts, breakfast with Santa, simulated snow flurries, tree lighting, and prize giveaways. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20, Babyland, 300 NOK Drive, Cleveland. Admission free. $7 for Breakfast with Santa. 706-865-2171.
"Small Gift" Sanrio's 50th Anniversary Mobile Pop-up Tour, Atlanta. Games, prizes, Sanrio costumed characters and giveaways to the first 50 guests. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 26-28, Atlantic Station, 171 17th St. NW, Atlanta.
Live nativity and Holiday Celebration, Cleveland. Marshmallow roast, caroling, live animals and hay rides. 5-9 p.m. Nov. 27, North Georgia Zoo, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. Starry Night guided zoo tours, $20 before Nov. 25; $25 Nov. 26 and 27. Reservations recommended. $5 donation for other activities. Concessions available for purchase. 706-348-7279 or info@wildlifewonders.org.
Downtown Christmas Parade of Lights, Athens. More than 60 floats, bands and other groups. Tree lighting ceremony at end of parade route. 7 p.m. Dec. 2, begins at the corner of Dougherty and Pulaski Streets and ends in front of City Hall, downtown Athens.
Banks County Christmas Festival, Homer. Handmade crafts, gifts and food. Dec. 3-4, 106 Yonah Homer Road, Homer. 706-677-2108 or bankscountychamber@windstream.net.
Christmas on Green Street, Gainesville. Hall County Historical Society. Docents in period costumes tell the history of each Green St. home, some of which are open. Christmas carolers, including some from area schools and churches, will perform on porches. Storyteller, magician, face painter, balloon artist, miniature train ride and carriage ride. Parade led by Santa Claus and Rotary Christmas Tree lighting. Event, 5-7:30 p.m.; parade, 7 p.m. Dec. 5, Green St. from Rotary Christmas Tree to First Baptist Church, Gainesville. $2 per person for carriage ride, or no more than $10 per family. Other events free. 770-503-1319.
Ongoing
Story times, Hall County. Children can listen to stories, sometimes read by special guests. Various days and times at libraries in the Hall County Library System. Free.
"Waters of Time: The Chicopee Woods Story," Gainesville. Learn about previous eras and inhabitants of Chicopee Woods. 10 a.m. to p.m. Monday-Saturdays. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $5 adults, $3 children age 2-12; age 1 and younger and members free. 770-535-1976.
North Georgia Corn Maze, Cleveland. Corn maze, hay rides, movies at dusk; haunted house. Maze open now through Nov. 21: 4-10 p.m. Thursdays, 4-11:30 p.m.Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, North Georgia Corn Maze, 559 Tom Bell Road, Cleveland. $10 adults, $9 kids age 4-10 and seniors age 60 and older, free for kids age 3 and younger. Haunted house priced separately. Combination and group pricing available. Call to schedule group visit. 800-959-1874.
