Special events

Abraham Lincoln Was Here?: Stories of Taunton and the U.S. Presidency, through Feb. 12, Old Colony Historical Society, 66 Church Green, Taunton. 508-822-1622 or oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org.

Day One, Nov. 13, 12 p.m., Westin Hotel, 1 West Exchange St., Providence. Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order: SVU is keynote speaker. Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center commemorating its 35th anniversary with a fundraising luncheon. $125. $500 meet Hargitay and have your photo taken with. www.dayoneri.org or 401-421-4100 x108

Holiday Fair, Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 North Main St., Attleboro. Will be cookies, pies, gifts, a children's craft activity area, Fair Trade Coffee products, and a huge raffle. Lunch, dinner, snacks, and carry-out available. Locally crafted products include tools; nature photography; jams and preserves; and handmade books. 508-222-0505, or murrayuuchurch.org.

Christmas Festival of Lights, Nov. 14 to 16, 21-23, 28- Jan. 4, Fri. 5 to 9 p.m., Sat.and Sun. 2 to 9 p.m., Edavilla USA, 5 Pine St., Carver. 2 mile train ride with over seven million points of light. Fireworks Fri. and Sat. only weather permitting. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. $18 anyone 2 and older, includes train ride and unlimited use of rides. Bring non-perishable food between Nov. 14 and 26 get $2 off. Food donated to Carver Counsel on Aging. http://www.edaville.com/ Crime Bake, Nov. 14-16, Hilton Hotel, Dedham. Harlan Coben leads line-up of mystery and crime writers, forensic experts, agents, and editors. Combines author panels with master classes on writing and publishing, presentations by forensic experts in poisons and crime investigation, manuscript critiques and individual pitch sessions with agents $180 or $220. www.crimebake.org

Annual Quilt Show, Nov. 15, 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Arnold Mills Community House, 75 Hillside Road, Cumberland, RI. Presents handmade quilts from local crafters. 401-333-6080.

Evening of Illumination, Old Sturbridge Village, Nov. 15, 6 to 9 p.m. Glimpse into what it was like to live in an era without light pollution, lit only by candlelight, lamplight, and firelight. Village-period food, drink, music, and entertainment offered. $35 for OSV members. Advances registration required. osv.org or 800-733-1830.

Polar Express, Nov. 15-16, 23, 10:45 and 1:45 p.m., Blackstone Valley, Tours depart from Ann and Hope parking lot in Cumberland, RI, along the Providence and Worcester Railroad. family fun journey to the "North Pole". Reservations strongly encouraged. Passengers gets a presentation of the book Polar Express and hot chocolate, cookies, holiday coloring book with crayons, visit from Santa, sing-along, and special Christmas Remembrance. $35. tourblackstone.com or 401-724-2200.

Massachusetts Animal Coalition Meeting, Nov. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd., North Grafton. Information on animal control, law enforcement, advocacy, rabies vaccination and identification. For professionals and volunteers interested in becoming involved with helping homeless animals. $20 for MAC members affiliated with organizational members, students with school ID, $30 for individual members, $40 general. www.massanimalcoalition.org

Eat Your Heart out Boston, Nov. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Church, 69 Kilmarnock Street, Boston. Celebrity chefs from 6 to 8, followed by bands. Benefit for The Food Project. 21+. $40 chefs, $20 for bands, $50 for both. rockonconcerts.com or 866-468-7619

The Fabric of Learning, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m., Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI. Hosting the Grand Opening of the new Jenks Education Center and Community Guild Studios, a fiber arts center. 401-725-8638 or slatermill.org.

BSC Observatory, Nov. 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Bridgewater State College, Summer St., Bridgewater. Open to public weather permitting. Children as young as 6 and adults of all ages. Free. 508-531-327 or bridgew.edu/observatory.

Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard Expo, Nov. 20, 21 from 4-10 p.m.; Nov. 22 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bayside Expo Center, Boston. $12. onthesnow.com.

Holiday Singers and Musicians to perform, Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14, Dec. 19-21, Emerald Sq. Mall, Rte. 1, North Attleboro. Small groups that have performed for large crowds before, including dance troupes, school bands, choirs, soloists, ballet, tap and jazz dancers. 30-45 minute per act. Sound system, microphones, and CD player provided. All performances unpaid. 508-699-4100 or ayust@simon.com. Santa's Parade, Nov. 29, 11 a.m., Walpole Center. Annual Tree Lighting and Caroling on the Common with the Walpole Community Chorus at 7 p.m. with Santa, hot chocolate, and radio station WROR.

Wreath Stroll and Auction, Dec. 4, 4 p.m., Village at Willows Crossings, 25 Cobb St., Mansfield. Participants can bid on wreaths. Proceeds benefit Mansfield Ambulance Fund. Features refreshments, holiday music and carolers. Silent auction begins at 4 p.m. and bidding concludes at 6. Free, RSVP's requested. 508-261-1333.

Home for the Holidays, Dec. 7, 1 to 5 p.m., Mansfield Historical Society House, 53 Rumford Ave., Mansfield. Tours include five unique and festive Mansfield homes and the Mansfield Historical Society House. Wreaths available for purchase. Refreshments and holiday tea served at MHSH. Reservations required, tickets limited. Proceeds to DIC Fuel Assist Fund, Mansfield Historical Society, and Women of Today projects. $25. Purchase at Mansfield Bank or Glee Gifts, N. Main St., Mansfield, or call Jeanne at 508-337-4552.

Impressive Holiday Hors D'Oeuvres, Dec. 10, 6 p.m., 157 Seaport Boulevard, Boston. Features cocktails and cooking demonstration by Chef Karen McCarthy. Including Arancini, an Italian friend risotta treat, Baked Brie en Croute, a seasonal twist on French cheese with homemade cranberry chutney. $65. 888.563.8334 or InteractiveKitchen@Sebastians.com. or sebastians.com

Seaside Holiday: Narragansett- Not Just For Summer, Dec. 13, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Registration for the house tour, boutique, and cafe will be held at the historic Narragansett Towers on 35 Ocean Road in Narragansett, R.I. Self-guided tours of several coastal homes decorated for holidays in Narragansett's south end. $30/adv., $35/dos. or a donation of three non-perishable food items. 401-331-9302 or jlri.org.

Chuck Klosterman, March 25, 7 p.m., The Cavern Club At Hard Rock Cafe, 22 Clinton St., Boston. A evening of spoke word, music, and Q and A. 21+. $15 advance, $20 day of. 617-424-7625 or rockonconcerts.com

Craft fairs/festivals

CraftBoston Holiday 2008, Nov. 14-16, The Westin, Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston. Featuring 110 contemporary craft artists. 617-266-1810 or craftboston.org.

Artists Market 2008, Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, DeCordova Art Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 781-259-8355 or decordova.org.

CraftBoston Spring 2009, March 27-29, The World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Featuring 175 contemporary craft artists. 617-266-1810 or craftboston.org.

Lectures

Tuesday Talks Lecture Series: Glass, through Dec. 9, 1 p.m., Michael P. Metcalf Auditorium, Chace Center, RISD, Providence. $15 per lecture, free to members. 401-454-6530. TOOTS ZYNSKY, Dec. 9

Jeff Belanger, Nov. 20, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble, The Walpole Mall, 90 Providence Highway, Walpole. Discussion and signing of his book Weird Massachusetts. If it's unusual, unexplainable or fantastic and in the Bay State, it's in this book. Free. 508-668-6033

The Deborah and Martin Hale Visiting Artists Lecture: Sally Mann: A Personal View, Nov. 20, 7 to 8 p.m., Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. Sally Mann discusses her photographs. $18 seniors, students, MFA members, $22 general and non-members.

Psuedo-Archaeology: Supermarket Aisle Archaeology and the Bible, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Geological Lecture Hall, Harvard University, 24 Oxford St., Cambridge. Includes three presentations: A Tale of Two Tombs: Looking for Jesus and Herod's Burial Site; There Were Giants in the Earth in Those Days (Gen 6:4): The Sad Tale of the Cardiff Giant; Raiders of the Faux Art: From Noah's Ark to the Ark of of the Covenant and Beyond. Open house follows. 617-496-1027.

Outdoor/gardens

Borderland State Park, 259 Massapoag Ave., Easton/Sharon line. 508-238-6566 or www.mass.gov/dcr/events.htm.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk, 8 to 10:30 a.m., every Tues. Meet at the Charlestown Mini-Super on Route 1-A. Led by Phil Budlong. Free.

The Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. through Sat. and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sun. $10/adults, $8/children 3-18. $5/Planetarium admission. $2.50/Explorer Express Train. $9/Tree Canopy Walkway (seasonal only) 508-929-2700 or www.ecotarium.org. Preschool Mornings, every Wed., 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Poetry

Readings by the Writer, Nov. 13, 5 p.m., Ellison Lecture, Watson Fine Arts, Wheaton College, Norton. Marie Howe, poet. Free.

Arts & crafts

Rag and Bone Bindery Studio Open House, 1088 Main St., Pawtucket. 401-728-0762 or ragandbone.com.

Community Quilting, every Thurs., 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck St., Lowell. 978-452-4207 x19.

Fiber Art Basketry, Tues. and Thurs. 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. $100/4 to 5 week session or 2 baskets. 508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.

Teen and Adult Drawing Classes, Tues. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. $50/includes some materials. 508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.

Children's Drawing Classes, Sat. 10-noon, Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. For ages 7- 12.508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.