There's lots of ways for South Hills residents to get in the spirit of the rapidly approaching holiday season. Think gingerbread, Santa brunches, even workshops to teach you ways to avoid seasonal -- as in "what to get dear mother-in-law?" -- stress.

We list some of them in this week's Holiday Happenings.

South Arts will hold a gingerbread workshop & holiday crafts class at the recreation center, 5151 Park Ave., as follows: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for ages 6-13; and 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 for ages 14 and older. Cost is $40 per student. To register, call Cathy Muscato at 412-851-2910.

• South Hills Assembly church, 2725 Bethel Church Road, will hold a Thanksgiving eve service of praise, worship and testimonies at 7 p.m. Wednesday. There also will be a free, traditional Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 2 p.m. next Thursday for those who are alone on the holiday. Reservations are requested due to limited seating.

Also, the church's Fine Arts Department will present its Christmas production, "Once Upon a Holy Night" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and at 6 p.m. Dec. 14.

For more information on these activities, call 412-835-8900.

• A holiday Texas Ruby Red citrus/pecan sale, sponsored by the Bethel Park Lions Club, will take place at Lions Park, 5757 Irishtown Road, during these hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 6; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7; noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 8-11; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13. There will be no sale Dec. 12.

Cost per 20-pound box: $14.50, red grapefruit; $15.50, navel oranges; $15, half grapefruit, half oranges. Also, pecans, shelled half, are $9.50 per pound.

To place an order, call 412-835-9672 or 412-833-8324.

• WWII veterans are invited to attend a Christmas Memories breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at Crowne Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh South, 164 Fort Couch Road. It's sponsored by Veterans Breakfasts, a not-for-profit organization that has been host to more than 120 veterans in the South Hills area this year. The meal will be followed at 9:30 a.m. by lively conversation, and history/story sharing from men and women who served the country. Cost for a complete breakfast is $8.75; coffee and danish only, $5.50. For reservations and more, call Dan at 412-206-0097, ext 22.

• Children of all ages can attend the annual Santa brunch from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Frawley Hall, St. Valentine School, 2710 Ohio St. Brunch includes a continental breakfast, music by the St. Valentine Children's Choir, and entertainment by Juggling Joe. There also will be time for shopping at the Elves Workshop, playing games and taking a photo with Santa Claus.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Cost is $4 for children ages 1 to 10; $5.50 for all others. Game tickets can be ordered for 25 cents each, or six for $1. To order, send a check along with ticket order information to St. Valentine Parent Teacher Guild, 2709 Mesta St., Bethel Park, PA 15102. Prepaid tickets may be picked up at the door.

For more information, call Yvette at 412-973-0150.

• Mothers of young children can learn how to prepare themselves for a stress-free holiday season by attending a stress management program from 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Room F102. For more information, call 412-835-6621.

The Brentwood Business Owners Association presents Light-Up Night tomorrow. A parade at 5:15 p.m. kicks off the evening on Brownsville Road, with bands, choirs, snack and a raffle as part of the festivities. Lighting the tree will take place at 6 p.m.

The street will be closed to vehicles beginning at 5 p.m. and there will be no parking in the festival area.

• Brentwood Public Library, 3501 Brownsville Road, will offer a family ornament-making night at 7 p.m. Dec. 10. Participants will make their own ornament, plus have fun with snacks and other holiday-related activities.

The library also will hold a family holiday party at 7 p.m. Dec. 19, featuring a performance by the Center Stage Spartans. There will be refreshments, entertainment, a sing-along, and a visit from you-know-who.

Registration is required. Call 412-882-5694.

Friends of the Bridgeville Public Library will hold a Festival of Trees from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Bridgeville Fire Hall, Commercial St., with children's activities, a ticket auction, bake sale and more. There also will be a memorial tree to commemorate loved ones. Admission is $2. For more information, call Carole at 412-221-5797 or Dolores at 412-257-8042.

• The Bridgeville Ministerium will host a free Thanksgiving feast from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday for residents of the greater Bridgeville area. The Ministerium comprises pastors from area churches, chaplains, the Bridgeville Food Bank, and health care organizations in the neighborhood. There are two locations this year, at Goodwill Manor and at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 740 Washington Ave. For more information, call 412-221-5132.

• Teens in grade 5 and up can bring a friend to a Holiday Murder Mystery from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Bethel Park Public Library, 5100 W. Library Ave. To register, call 412-835-2207.

Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary will sponsor a holiday craft show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Castle Shannon Memorial Hall and firemen's hall, at Grove Road and Route 88. Saturday will also feature a bake sale. About 100 display booths will offer handcrafted decorations, novelties, gifts and more. Admission is free.

Go back in time at Woodville Plantation as this living history museum celebrates the season in 18th century fashion.

From noon till 8 p.m. Sunday, candlelit tours will be held. Admission is $5 per adult and $10 per family.

Visitors will learn how the 18th century holiday differed from modern celebrations. Highlighted will be customs such as Twelfth Night, Boxing Day, and the firing of the Christmas guns. Guests will be treated to expanded historical demonstrations, musical recitals and one of the most accurate re-creations of the 18th century holiday season in Western Pennsylvania.

Woodville, on Route 50, was the home of John and Presley Neville, built in 1775. Guided tours of the house are available every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm.

For more, visit www.woodville plantation.org or call 412-221-0348.

The annual holiday craft show, featuring more than 30 vendors, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Dormont Recreation Center, 1801 Dormont Ave., above the borough pool. Proceeds from concession sales will benefit the Keystone Oaks High School marching band.

Celebrate the holiday season with the Mt. Lebanon Council of Republican Women at a Christmas dinner at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Cafe Euro, 1928 Cochran Road. Cost is $35 per person. Reservation deadline is Tuesday. Call Boo Willner at 412-341-5574.

Jefferson Hills Library, 925 Old Clairton Road, will hold a holiday floral decoration class at 7 p.m. Dec. 22. Jim Carlucci will instruct how to make an arrangement for the holiday table. A $30 registration fee is due in advance. Call 412-655-7741.

Handcrafted holiday gifts -- ornaments, wreaths, dolls, gift tags, decorated bags and more -- can be found at a Canterbury Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mayfair Drive and Washington Road. A hot, homemade lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair also offers antiques and collectibles, a silent auction, a raffle for a handmade quilt, attic treasures, a bake shop, candy, and a sleigh filled with holiday cheer.

• Covenant at South Hills, a continuing care retirement community at 1300 Bower Hill Road, will host a holiday bazaar, craft show, ticket auction and bake sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9 in the lower level Independent Living area. Specialty soaps, ornaments, hand-made jewelry, gift baskets, knitted items and more will be available. Call 412-278-1300.

• Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, 3319 West Liberty Ave., will present a Christmas cookie and gift bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6. Homemade cookies will be available by the pound. Also, tea and homemade soup will be served in a British tea room decorated for Christmas. Gift wrapping and child care will be available. Proceeds will benefit United Methodist Women missions.

• South Hills Chorale will be host to the Mt. Lebanon High School Percussion Ensemble in a concert, "Holiday Sounds of the South Hills Chorale," at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-Dec. 20, at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church, 255 Washington Road. Tickets are $12 each; group presale, $10 each. Call 412-341-4712.

• Guest speaker Donna Rossa of Space Solutions will talk about ways to simplify the holidays during a program, "Reduce Stress and Recapture the Joy of Christmas," at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 16 Castle Shannon Blvd. Advance registration is required.

The library also will offer "Holidays Around the World" at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, a celebration for all ages that includes song, dance, music, stories, crafts and refreshments.

For more information, call 412-531-1912.

St. Louise de Marillac School, 310 McMurray Road, will open its Santa Shop from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11, in the gym, so parents and other adult friends of the school can take advantage of the same deals and merchandise being offered to students the next day.

A project of the school's Parent Teacher Guild, the shop preview features dozens of vendors selling sports merchandise, jewelry, toys, collectibles, fashion accessories, candles, books and other gift-giving favorites.

Admission for the adults-only preview is $7 and includes wine, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, prizes and tax-free shopping. Tickets are available at the door. All major credit cards and personal checks will be accepted.

For more information, log on to www.stlouiseschoolpa.org or call 412-835-0600.

Mrs. Claus will make her annual visit from the North Pole to South Park Township Library, 2575 Brownsville Road, during a children's program at 7 p.m. Dec. 18. To register, call 412-833-5585.

Submit details of your seasonal, nonprofit event to Holiday Happenings/South, 34 Blvd of Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. You may also fax it to 412-263-1877 or e-mail information to Kathy Samudovsky at ksamudovsky@post-gazette.com. Include a phone number.