TODAY
HISTORIC COLUMBIA FOUNDATION HOUSE TOURS: The Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Mann-Simons Site will be decorated for the holidays and tours will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. $6; children, $3. (803) 252-7742; http://www.historiccolumbia.org
MAIN STREET ICE: Ice skating rink at Boyd Plaza, Main and Hampton streets. Regular hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1-9 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 6. $10; age 12 and younger, $8. Special senior and military discounts will be offered; includes skate rentals. (803) 545-3100
LIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS: 6-9 nightly through Sunday at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Santa’s Village, giant snow globe, Music in Motion, Jingle Bell Bonfire and snow. $10; ages 3-12, $8 (advance tickets, $8 and $6); one free visit with Riverbanks membership card and picture ID; guest passes not accepted. Parking on the zoo side only. (803) 779-8717; http://www.riverbanks.org
HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE RIVER: 6-10 nightly through Monday at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road. Drive-through lights display features Dazzling Dancing Forest, Victorian Village with carolers, hayrides and boardwalk stroll. $10 per car, 15-passenger vans, $20; buses, $35. (803) 772-3903; http://www.icrc.net
THURSDAY
LEGO® RESCUE ROBOTS: Winter break camps, Thursday and Friday at the State Museum, 301 Gervais St. Campers ages 7-11 will design and program robots to respond to simulated disaster situations. Full-day camps meet 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $45; half-day camps are offered from 9 a.m.-noon and 12:30-3 p.m., $30. Register at http://www.engineeringforkids.net.
KENSINGTON MANSION TOURS: Guided, holiday-themed tours will be held Thursdays-Saturdays through Jan. 12 at 4101 McCords Ferry Road, Eastover. Times are 9:30 and 11 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $5.50; seniors, $4.50; children, $2.50. Groups of 10 or more are asked to make a reservation. (803) 968-4129
HISTORIC COLUMBIA FOUNDATION HOUSE TOURS: The Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Mann-Simons Site will be decorated for the holidays and tours will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. $6; children, $3. (803) 252-7742; http://www.historiccolumbia.org
MAIN STREET ICE: Ice skating rink at Boyd Plaza, Main and Hampton streets. Regular hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1-9 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 6. $10; age 12 and younger, $8. Special senior and military discounts will be offered; includes skate rentals. (803) 545-3100
LIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS: 6-9 nightly through Sunday at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Santa’s Village, giant snow globe, Music in Motion, Jingle Bell Bonfire and snow. $10; ages 3-12, $8 (advance tickets, $8 and $6); one free visit with Riverbanks membership card and picture ID; guest passes not accepted. Parking on the zoo side only. (803) 779-8717; http://www.riverbanks.org
HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE RIVER: 6-10 nightly through Monday at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road. Drive-through lights display features Dazzling Dancing Forest, Victorian Village with carolers, hayrides and boardwalk stroll. $10 per car, 15-passenger vans, $20; buses, $35. (803) 772-3903; http://www.icrc.net
UPCOMING EVENTS
DESTINED FOR GREATNESS WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4 and 9 a.m. Jan. 5 at the Marriott Hotel, 1200 Hampton St. Registration is $40; sponsored by Frances Williams Ministries. (803) 728-5005
BOJANGLES RESOLUTION RUN: 9 a.m. Jan. 5 at Sesquicentennial State Park, 9564 Two Notch Road. Off-road 10K run, 2K run for age 12 and younger and 3.5 mile fitness walk. Hosted by the Richland Northeast Cross Country and Track and Field teams, the race has been selected as the 2013 Southern Region Cross Country Championship. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Online registration at http://www.strictlyrunning.com
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE: 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 5 at Lake Carolina’s Sunset Park. Registration forms and sign-in must be in no later than 10:15 a.m. Age 18 and older are asked to make a $10 donation to Children’s Charities of the Midlands; age 17 and younger, $5. Music, prizes and refreshments. Registration forms available at http://www.lakecarolina.com.
BIG TREE WALK: 1-4 p.m. Jan. 5 at Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins. Join John Cely for an off-trail exploration to see why Congaree is called a forest of champions. Dress for the weather, bring snacks and water. Free, but registration is required. (803) 776-4396
MUSEUMS ON US WEEKEND: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 5 and noon-6 p.m. Jan. 6 at EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais St. Free admission to Bank of America cardholders. (803) 400-1166; http://www.edventure.org
CAROLINA JAZZ SOCIETY: Dixieland jazz concert, 2:30-5 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Capital Senior Center, 1650 Park Circle (Maxcy Gregg Park). Jazz, ragtime and swing with Dick Goodwin, Doug Graham, Bruce Clark, Reggie Sullivan, Jim Hall and Aletha Jacobs. $10; age 18 and younger, free. (803) 432-1504
INTRODUCTION TO LINE DANCE: 5:45-6:45 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 7-28, at A Love of Dance Studio, 1061 Sparkleberry Lane; $40. (803) 414-9523; http://www.dancejunkieusa.com
HOME SCHOOL DRAWING AND PAINTING: 10 a.m.-noon Mondays, Jan. 7-Feb. 18, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. For age 10 and older. $80; registration deadline is Tuesday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
INTRODUCTION TO CLAY: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 7-Feb. 18, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. Basic hand-building and wheel throwing techniques. $80, does not include pottery tool kit. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
DEFENSIVE DRIVING: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Jan. 7 and 9 at Midlands Technical College Northeast Campus, 151 Powell Road; $79. Eight-hour course consists of lectures, films and classroom demonstrations. Successful completion of the course will remove four points on your S.C. driver’s license (except DUI) and may reduce insurance costs. (803) 732-0432; http://www.mtctraining.com
FAMILY NIGHT AT EDVENTURE: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 8 at EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais St.; admission is $1. (803) 400-1166; http://www.edventure.org
COLORED PENCIL DRAWING CLASS: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 8 through Feb. 12, at the city of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1932 Calhoun St. $95; includes set of colored pencils, two graphite pencils and a colorless blender. Registration deadline is Friday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
ADVANCED POTTERY THROWING: 3-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 8-Feb. 12, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. For ages 11-17. $80; registration deadline is Tuesday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
CAKE DECORATING: 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 8-29 at Midlands Technical College Airport Campus, 1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia; $89. (803) 732-0432; http://www.mtctraining.com
HOME SCHOOL ART: 9-10 a.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 12, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. For ages 5-9. $50; registration deadline is Tuesday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
HOME SCHOOL POTTERY: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 12, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. For age 10 and older. $80; registration deadline is Tuesday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
SCULPTURE — ARTISTIC IMPRESSIONS: 1-3 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 10-Feb. 14, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Center, 1928 Calhoun St. For late teens and adults who have completed a basic course in clay; $80. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
AFTER-SCHOOL ART CLASSES: 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 10-Feb. 14 at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. For ages 7-14. $80; registration deadline is Tuesday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
“DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS”: 6 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11 at White Knoll High School, 5643 Platt Springs Road, Lexington. Tickets for the WKHS drama students production are $5; students and senior citizens, $3; age 5 and younger, free. (803) 821-5200
iPAD BASICS: 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 11 at Midlands Technical College Northeast Campus, 151 Powell Road; $89. Tricks, traps and favorite apps to get the most out of your mobile device. Hands-on class, bring your own iPad. (803) 732-0432; http://www.mtctraining.com
ADULTS ONLY CLAY BASICS: 1-3 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 11-Feb. 1, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. Multiple pottery projects for age 50 and older. $50, includes all tools and materials. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
“ WILLY WONKA JR.”: 7 p.m. Jan. 11 and 12 at the Lexington 1 Performing Arts Center, 2543 Augusta Highway, Lexington. Tickets for the Pleasant Hill Middle School musical theater students production are $5; age 5 and younger, free. (803) 821-3400
FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Capital Senior Center, 1650 Park Circle (Maxcy Gregg Park). Cost is $5. Open to ages 21 and older. Bring your own beverages and snacks; soda and coffee provided. (803) 779-1971
BATIK WORKSHOP: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 12, at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Art Center, 1928 Calhoun St. $90; registration deadline is Tuesday. (803) 545-3093; or email bloliver@columbiasc.net
DEFENSIVE DRIVING: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Midlands Technical College Harbison Campus, 7300 College St., Irmo; $79. Eight-hour course consists of lectures, films and classroom demonstrations. Successful completion of the course will remove four points on your S.C. driver’s license (except DUI) and may reduce insurance costs. (803) 732-0432; http://www.mtctraining.com
COLUMBIA BAROQUE SOLOISTS GALA: 4-6 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Spring Valley Country Club, 300 Spring Valley Road. Fundraiser for the group will feature music, refreshments, silent auction, cash wine bar and door prizes. Tickets are $30; call (803) 727-8555; http://www.columbiabaroque.com
