Tree Lighting in Little Italy Little Italy will present its annual tree lighting event at the Piazza Natale, corner of India and Date streets, on Dec. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive at 4 p.m. The lighting ceremony will take place from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and be preceded by shopping in the Little Italy Mercato Farmer’s Market Christmas Village, which will open at 3 p.m. www.littleitalysd.com Forward House lights up for the holidays On Dec. 17, Santa Claus will appear at the Forward House, 108 Ivy St. He will be in his sleigh from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will give candy canes to any child who would like one. The Forward House is known for being lit up with more Christmas lights than any other home in San Diego. The lights are on for public viewing from 5 to 10 p.m. each night of December. The Forward House is named for John Forward Sr., former mayor of San Diego who had the home built for him in 1904. COURTESY PHOTO THURSDAY, DEC 2 • Artisan jewelry show and sale at the Bead Society of San Diego in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village, 1770 Village Place, Suite 21, will have shopping hours through Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. (858) 566-1654. FRIDAY, DEC. 3 • December Nights, the annual holiday celebration held throughout Balboa Park will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4. Museums will be open to the public and will offer free admission. (619) 239-0512, www.balboapark.org. TUESDAY, DEC. 7 • The San Diego Hospice’s “Light Up A Life” celebration will be held at 8 p.m. at the San Diego Civic Theater, 1100 Third Ave. The event will feature conductor Jung-Ho Pak and singer Eve Selis. The event is free and open to the public. (619) 278-6440. SATURDAY, DEC. 11 • The Women’s History Museum will host a holiday open house party from 1 to 4 p.m. at 2323 Broadway. A one-act play about the life of Eleanor Roosevelt will begin at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. (619) 233-7963. • The Save Our Heritage Organisation will hold a holiday open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marston House Museum and Gardens, 3525 Seventh Ave. Admission is are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 years and younger. (619) 297-9327. SUNDAY, DEC. 12 • The San Diego Model Railroad Museum will celebrate Holiday Family Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Families can learn about trains, craft holiday trains, enter a coloring contest, and watch the movie “The Polar Express.” Adult admission is $7 and children under 15 are free. (619) 696-0199. • The third annual Pet Parade will be held in the Gaslamp District at 3 p.m. in celebration of the holiday season. The event is sponsored by Downtown Ace Hardware and will originate and start at Fourth Avenue and K Street. All San Diego pet owners and their pets are invited to dress up in costumes and compete for best costume duo, cutest critter, best pet costume and best of show. To enter visit http://gaslamp.org/pet-parade or call (619) 233-5227. SATURDAY, DEC. 18 • The San Diego Rescue Mission will feed more than 1,500 homeless at its Congregate Christmas Meal, 2 to 5 p.m., 120 Elm St. For more information visit www.sdrescue.org. TUESDAY, DEC. 21 • The Poinsettia Bowl Gaslamp March, a battle of the bands from the two competing schools that will participate in the bowl game, will take place on Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp District at 6 p.m. Viewers will be able to vote by making a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation. For more information call (619) 233-5227 or visit http://gaslamp.org/battle-of-the-bands. SATURDAY, DEC. 30 • The San Diego Maritime Museum will host a family day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children 12 and under will receive free admission and be able to participate in nautical craft making. Two children are free with each paying adult. For more information visit www.sdmaritime.org. • The Port of san Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, 10 a.m. along N. Harbor Drive. Bands, floats, entertaining drill teams, and more balloons than any other parade. www.holidaybowl.com