Friday, Dec. 14

COMMUNITY · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to attend a Holiday Open House at the Cravens House on Lookout Mountain. The Cravens House will be decorated in a manner similar to the Civil War era. This holiday event will take place Friday, Dec. 14. Tours of the house will be conducted every 30 minutes beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m. Reservations are required due to capacity limitations. To make a reservation, and for more information, contact the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786.

COMMUNITY · Moovin’ and Groovin’ holiday dance for youth, boys and girls with exceptional needs, ages 7-22, will be held Friday, Dec. 14. Register with the North Georgia Community YMCA the day of the event; cost is $5. For more information, call 706-935-2226 or go to ngaymca@ymcachattanooga.org.

COMMUNITY · Kids, get your list ready! Santa Claus is coming to First Volunteer Bank in LaFayette from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.

COMMUNITY · The Rossville Library will host a Grinch Coloring Contest: Submit a holiday coloring sheet for a chance to win holiday treats. Pick up a coloring sheet at the library starting Saturday, Dec. 1. Fill out the form on the back. Open to ages 1 –18; Categories: Ages 1 – 5, 6 – 12, and 13 – 18. All submissions must be turned in by Dec. 18. One winner will be chosen from each category on Dec. 19.

COMMUNITY · The City of LaFayette’s annual “Amazing Christmas” light show will continue through Jan. 2, 2013, at Joe Stock Memorial park. The synchronized musical light show is held from 6-10 p.m. nightly through most of December. Tune to FM 89.5 to hear the music played in the light show. For more information, call the city parks and recreation department at 706-639-1590.

COMMUNITY · The City of LaFayette will host a traditional and large-scale Lionel model train and village display inside a decorated Chattooga Academy/Gordon Hall. The display coinincides with the “Amazing Christmas” light show daily from 6-10 p.m., through Jan. 2, 2013.

COMMUNITY · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to attend a Holiday Open House at the Cravens House located on Lookout Mountain. The Cravens House will be decorated in a manner very similar to the Civil War era on Friday, Dec. 14. Tours of the house will be conducted every 30 minutes beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m. Reservations are required due to capacity limitations. To make a reservation, and for more information, contact the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786.

COMMUNITY Rightway Health and Wellness will hold a Ribbon Cutting at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. The Catoosa Chamber of Commerce member business is at 84 Millennium Circle in Ringgold, inside the Remco Business Center. For more information, email jhickman@catoosachamberofcommerce.com.

ENTERTAINMENT · Ruby Red Christmas returns to Ruby Falls at Lookout Mountain from 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in December. The last tour goes at 8 p.m., shops and carriage rides are open until 9 p.m. Tickets cost $17.95 for adults and $15.95 for children (child’s ticket includes a photo with Santa and foam craft-gingerbread house or photo frame at the North Pole workshop). Carriage rides (capacity six people) with tour cost $14.95 flat rate per carriage ride; without tour, $19.95 flat rate per ride. Enjoy snow at Cavern Castle, costumed characters and holiday music. For more information, visit rubyfalls.com/christmas.

ENTERTAINMENT · The Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (ETC) will perform an original piece, “Gods & Disasters,” through Dec. 16; Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. Performances will take place in the St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union Avenue in Chattanooga. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com or by calling 423-987-5141. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. Free parking is available behind the St. Andrews Center.

ENTERTAINMENT · The ReCreate Café of The Salvation Army 614 Corps will present “Behold the Lamb of God” to benefit their Arts Program for the Homeless and Artist Communities of Chattanooga. The show times are Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m., and Monday, Dec. 17, and Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m., at The Salvation Army, at 800 McCallie Avenue, in Chattanooga. Seating is limited, so advance ticket purchase is suggested. Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and students, and children age 5 and younger are admitted free. Tickets are available at The Salvation Army Area Command Office Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., by phone at 423-756-1023, or online at www.csarmy.org. For more information: www.csarmy.org under the “Events” and 423-756-1023 or www.facebookcom/ReCreateCafeArts. Move to next date; remove Dec. 18.

Saturday, Dec. 15

COMMUNITY · A Christmas bazaar will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library. Vendors will sell a variety of items including hand-crafted items, hairbows, handbags, candles, jewelry and vintage items. Enjoy baked goods and cider and entertainment. If interested in becoming a vendor, contact Rhonda at 423-653-0227 or email edrowill@comcast.net.

COMMUNITY · Holiday Candlelight Tours at the Marsh House in LaFayette will be offered each Saturday and Sunday in December from 6-8 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children. This year’s theme is "Christmas 1880: At Home with The Marsh-Warthen Family." Hot cider and gingerbread will be served at the end of the tour. For more information, call 706-638-5187. For group tours, call 423-503-3843.

COMMUNITY · The Martin Davis House in McLemore’s Cove will be open for tours on from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16. The Martin Davis House is located 8 miles west of LaFayette, at the intersection of Georgia Highway 193 and Georgia Highway 341. This historic farm is administered by the Martin Davis House Foundation.

COMMUNITY · The inaugural Rome Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis will be held Saturday, Dec. 15, at State Mutual Stadium/Heritage Trails. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., the 5K race starts at 10 a.m. and the one-mile fun walk begins at 10:10 a.m. To register, go to romejbrw.org. For more information, contact Wade Kelley at 423-341-4788 or wkelley@arthritis.org.

COMMUNITY · The Catoosa County Democratic Party will host its December Breakfast Meeting on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m. at Caffeine Addicts Coffee Shop, 7819 Nashville Street in downtown Ringgold. The agenda will include the election of officers, our fifth annual Secret Santa project, as well as good food and fellowship. (There will be no meeting in January.) For more information, call Christopher Scott, 770-826-8644.

ENTERTAINMENT · A Christmas Gala will be performed at The Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, in Ringgold. This is a musical variety show of Christmas songs and dance. Performance: Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (age 55 and older), $12 for students, $11 for groups of 15 or more. Call 706-935-9000, for more information or visit the website colonnadecenter.org.

CHURCH · First Baptist Church Lakeview (10 Hudson Street, Rossville) will present a Christmas musical at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. FBCL also will accept monetary donations and/or new or gently used shoes for Soles4Soles. For more information, call 706-861-4262 or visit fbclakeview.com.

COMMUNITY · A breastfeeding class will be offered from 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road) in Chattanooga. This class is designed to help participants make an informed choice about breastfeeding. Learn breastfeeding basics, what to expect the first few weeks and special tips for success. Concerns about returning to work/school will also be discussed. This course is coordinated by a board-certified lactation consultant. Registration fee is $30. Call Erlanger’s HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465) to register.

COMMUNITY · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will close the following monuments for the winter season starting Saturday, Dec. 1: Wilder Brigade Monument, the Highway 27 picnic area, the Sanders picnic area and the Signal Point restrooms. These areas will reopen in mid-March, pending weather conditions. For more information, call 706-866-9241 or 423-821-7786 or visit nps.gov/chch.

COMMUNITY · Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care, Inc. is selling Adventures in Dining Coupon Books for $35. The books contain 87 buy-one-get-one free coupons for dining and entertainment in Chattanooga, north Georgia and Cleveland. The total value of the book is over $1,100. The group receives a $10 commission for each book sold. Books are available at the following locations: Ringgold Telephone Company and Tille Town in Ringgold; and The Animal Medical Center in Ft. Oglethorpe. CCAC is a non-profit volunteer organization formed to improve animal care awareness in Catoosa County. Its mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals through responsible pet ownership by: 1) reducing animal over-population through a spay/neuter program; 2) educate the community about the humane treatment of animals; and 3) help connect animals in need of homes with families. Call 24-hour Help Line (706-937-2287) or visit www.catoosacitizensforanimalcare.org.

Sunday, Dec. 16

CHURCH · Corinth Baptist Church will present a Christimas musical at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. The church is at 2524 Corinth Road in LaFayette.

CHURCH · Chattooga Baptist Church will hold its annual Christmas Cantata Sunday morning, Dec. 16, starting at 11 a.m. Sunday school starts at 10 a.m. The Children's Christmas play will be performed Sunday morning, Dec. 23, at 11 a.m. The church is on Highway 337, about 7 miles south of LaFayette, in the Center Post community.

COMMUNITY · Christmas at the Farm will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at Willow Tree Farms, 607 Post Oak Road in Ringgold, just north of Heritage High School. Parking is on-site or attendees can take the shuttle from Heritage High School. Enjoy Christmas scenes, a petting zoo, crafts for the kids, a visit with Santa, a hayride, a firepit, hot beverages and snacks. Free admission. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods for Christ’s Chapel Share and Care Mission or toiletries for the Family Crisis Center. The event is a gift to the community from Boynton United Methodist Church. For more information, visit BoyntonUMC.org or call 706-86-2626.

CHURCH · First Baptist Church Lakeview (10 Hudson Street, Rossville) will present a Christmas musical at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. FBCL also will accept monetary donations and/or new or gently used shoes for Soles4Soles. For more information, call 706-861-4262 or visit fbclakeview.com.

CHURCH · Crosspointe Church in Ringgold will present a modern, realistic Christmas play “of faith, hope, love, and joy,” with two showings at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Sunday in December, beginning Dec. 2. and running through December 23. A choir and band will add to the performance. For more information, call 706-935-2000 or visit my-crosspointechurch.org.