<b>First Friday will&nbsp;</b><b>feature tree lighting</b>

First Friday in downtown Beaufort will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1.

There will be local choirs, dance groups, the annual Christmas tree lighting and Santa.

<b>Snow Day, tree fest&nbsp;</b><b>on tap in Port Royal</b>

The Festival of Trees benefiting Friends of Caroline showcases beautifully decorated trees that are judged for their originality and creativity at The Shed on Paris Avenue in Port Royal.&nbsp;

It will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 (Frozen Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will include special guest Elsa and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen”); there will also be a live reindeer, Sven, and more. General admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.&nbsp;

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 is general admission (11 a.m. to 2&nbsp; p.m. is Snow Day, with real snow to play in). General admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

<b>Smiles for Santa&nbsp;</b><b>at farmers market</b>

The Beaufort Garden Club will hold its second annual Smiles for Santa event from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays on Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, at the Port Royal Farmer’s Market.&nbsp;

Bring your children and/or pets to the Gazebo area at the market and have your picture taken with Santa. Your photo will then be emailed to you.&nbsp;

A $5 donation is suggested. All proceeds will go to local charities.

<b>Boat parade on river&nbsp;</b><b>to be held Dec. 2</b>

Join Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron and Main Street Beaufort, USA, from 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, as they celebrate another festive holiday season and the magical display of decorated boats ambling up the Beaufort River in the Light Up the Night Boat Parade at the Waterfront Park.&nbsp;

<b>Holiday craft fair&nbsp;</b><b>coming to MLK park</b>

The Beautification Committee of the MLK, Jr. Memorial Park’s The Green is hosting its annual Holiday Vendor Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. &nbsp;

The park is on the corner of U.S. 21 and MLK Jr. Drive on St. Helena Island.

Craft fair visitors can expect to find vendors and artisans of homemade quilts, crochet and knitted pieces, handcrafted jewelry, holiday cards and local produce. Gift wrapping for items purchased will be available.

There will also be holiday music, and a few local food vendors will be on hand. Visitors are also invited to help trim the community Christmas tree in the park. Bring a Christmas decoration to add to the beauty of the park and the community during this festive season. &nbsp;

<b>Christmas parade&nbsp;</b><b>coming to downtown</b>

The traditional Beaufort Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, through the streets of downtown Beaufort.&nbsp;

Floats, bands, groups of walkers and personal cars and trucks are expected to participate.

<b>Girls night out coming&nbsp;</b><b>to Modern Jewelers</b>

Island Girls Night Out, an opportunity to socialize, meet new friends and win prizes will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Modern Jewelers at 807 Bay St. in downtown Beaufort. Guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for a child ages 5-13 to this free event.

The toys will be distributed by Neighborhood Outreach Connection at its annual Christmas party for children.

<b>Books, authors, Santa&nbsp;</b><b>to be on hand at event</b>

YBR Publishing and the South Carolina Lowcountry Tourism Commission will host an Authors Under the Live Oaks/Toys For Tots event at Frampton Plantation, 1 Lowcountry Lane in Yemassee (I-95 Exit 33).

The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.

Nearly 50 authors, artisans, and vendors from across the Lowcountry and beyond will be on hand for a book signing under the centuries-old live oaks on the plantation. Multiple genres of books will be available for all readers’ tastes.&nbsp;

The Authors event is paired with Frampton’s annual Marine Corps Toys For Tots event to raise toys for needy and deserving children.&nbsp;

Santa Claus will be on hand from noon to 1 p.m. to visit with all visitors to Frampton Plantation.

The event is free.

Lowcountry authors, artisans and other vendors interested in participating should contact YBR Publishing at contact@ybr.com.

<b>Holiday market is&nbsp;</b><b>open on Wednesdays</b>

The Santa Elena Foundation’s Holiday Market, in partnership with Hank's Lowcountry She Crab Soup, will be open from 2-6 p.m. every Wednesday until after the new year, and will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, local food artisans, giveaways and a kid's craft table.&nbsp;

The event is open to the public and the entertainment, parking and kid's craft table are free. The market will be at the corner of Bladen and North streets in downtown Beaufort.

<b>BAA gallery holds&nbsp;</b><b>holiday boutique</b>

A portion of Beaufort Art Academy’s Gallery will be transformed into a winter wonderland full of fine art and crafts especially created for the holiday boutique, which will be held through Sunday, Dec. 31, at 913 Bay St. in Beaufort.&nbsp;

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; and from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday.&nbsp;

Visit www.BeaufortArtAssociation.com. &nbsp;

<b>Advent celebrated&nbsp;</b><b>at Morning Glory</b>

All Nations Community Church and Morning Glory Homestead invite you to celebrate the season of Advent on the farm.&nbsp;

This four-week gathering, will take place every Sunday evening in December until Christmas.&nbsp;

Copies of the Advent devotional, “The Expected One,” will be on hand for each household in attendance, and a wintery soup buffet will be served each week.&nbsp;

Morning Glory Homestead is at 42 Robert and Clara Trail, St. Helena Island. &nbsp;

Call Tony Jones at 843-812-0344 to RSVP or for more information.&nbsp;

<b>Drum circle to&nbsp;</b><b>play at park</b>

A group of local percussion lovers who enjoy the impromptu experience that a drum circle brings are inviting others to join in.

The Beaufort SC Drum Circle will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort. The next event will be held on Monday, Dec. 4.

All are welcome to this family friendly, free event. No is experience necessary.

Participants should bring some water and any non-electronic drum or other percussion instrument.&nbsp;

Visit the "Beaufort SC Drum Circle" Facebook page, email beaufortscdrumcircle@gmail.com or contact Jane at 732-259-1935 or Lanny at 843-441-0169.

<b>Women’s group to hold&nbsp;</b><b>December luncheon</b>

The Low Country Christian Women’s Connection will hold its December luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Hampton Hall Clubhouse.

The event will feature singing, fun, games and prizes.&nbsp;

The group will also collect nonperishable food for a local family charity.

The guest speaker, from Bishop, Ga., is Faith Jennings, whose topic will be “How She Found Freedom From a Life of Bondage.”

Lunch is $25 and must be prepaid.

Make checks payable to “CWC Bluffton” and mail them to Carol Mock, 607 Argent Way, Bluffton, SC&nbsp; 29909.&nbsp;

<b>Habitat for Humanity&nbsp;</b><b>in need of volunteers</b>

Wondering how you might be able to help LowCountry Habitat for Humanity?&nbsp;

Attend their Volunteer Orientation held at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of every month at 616 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort.&nbsp;

For more information, contact Lee McSavaney, volunteer coordinator at 843-522-3500 or email info@lowcountryhabitat.org.

<b>Weekly historic tours&nbsp;</b><b>available at Fort Mitchel</b>

Join The Heritage Library for weekly tours at 10 a.m. Thursdays of the Civil War battery on Skull Creek built to protect Port Royal Sound and the Seabrook Coaling Station.&nbsp;

The cost is $12 for adults and $7 for children. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/FtMitchelTours.

<b>Christian theater&nbsp;</b><b>performances offered</b>

Music of Forever, a Christian theater production, is being held at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Grace AME Chapel on Charles Street in Beaufort.

According to Hillary Lathan, who puts on the show with her husband, Alan, the show puts Jesus on a personal level that everyone can relate to. &nbsp;

The show includes seven characters and seven pieces of music. The irony of the number is intentional, as seven is a biblically significant number, according to Hillary. &nbsp;

For more information, visit www.musicofforever.org. The performances are free, but donations are accepted.