Christmas pageant

For the 25th year, First Baptist Church will present the Columbia Christmas Pageant. More than 18,000 people are expected to see the show. There are five performances of the show, which runs through Sunday. Showtimes: 7 tonight and Friday; 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. The church is at 1306 Hampton St. Free, but a ticket is required; (803) 217-3250

Holiday sweets

Sweet Season, the eighth annual holiday event, will be held on the Richland Mall rooftop from 5:30-7:30 p.m. There will be face painting, children can take photos with Santa and free desserts from participating Forest Acres restaurants. Other food and beverages will be sold. Jordan Anderson, a Forest Acres native racing his way toward the NASCAR circuit, will be there with his race car. Carillon Carolers and Island Close By, a steel pan band, will perform. The Christmas tree lighting is at 7 p.m. The mall is at 3400 Forest Drive. Free; www.forestacres.net

Artistic voice

“My Voice,” an exhibition of paintings by Randy Jones, will open at The hallway: community art, a hallway gallery at 701 Whaley. The 46-year-old Jones, who lives in a special needs group home in Winnsboro, has been drawing and painting since he was young. His art and, according to press materials, his social behavior has improved since beginning weekly art therapy sessions five years ago. He has worked with artist and therapist Lyssa Harvey. The show runs through Dec. 31, and there is a reception from 4:30-6 tonight. 701 Whaley is at 701 Whaley St.; (803) 237-1793

Colorful book

Charleston-based watercolorist Mary Whyte will be signing copies of “Down Bohicket Road” at 5:30 tonight at Books on Broad in Camden. “Working South: Paintings and Sketches by Mary Whyte,” her last book, was released in March 2011. It was the silver medal winner of ForeWord Review’s 2011 Art Book of the Year award. Books on Broad is at 944 Broad St., Camden. Free; (803) 713-7323

South Carolina women

“South Carolina Women: Their Lives and Times,” the third and final volume of a seven-year book project, will be released at 5:30 p.m. at USC’s Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library. The series, edited by USC historians Marjorie Spruill and Valinda Littlefield along with Joan Marie Johnson of Northeastern Illinois University, features stories on women from the Native American Queen “Lady of Cofitachequi,” who was prominent in the 1500s, to S.C. Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal. There will be a book discussion and signing. The library is at 1322 Greene St. Free; (803) 777-0582