If the Grinch has already stole your holiday spirit and the only ëWhite Christmasí youíre having is due to the fact that your swimming in receipts, have no fear.

Just when you thought the season has lost that childlike innocence and small town feel, think again because your surrounding local communities have a full lineup of holiday activities sure to have you whistling those Christmas tunes in no time.

Exeter

Holiday Open House: The fun begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 as downtown merchants stay open late with doors wide open and hors díoeuvres, hot chocolate and cider awaiting customers inside. The Exeter Fire Department will be holding its Toy Box Tree decorated with ornaments made by EUHS students that have the gender and age of a local child who may not otherwise experience the joy of opening presents on Christmas morning. By taking an ornament you are promising to purchase an appropriate new toy for that child to be wrapped and dropped off at the Exeter Fire Station by Christmas Eve. The tree is located at Mixter Park. Also at the park will be Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus who will be available for pictures. Free carriage rides will be provided by Tricia Kirksey Real Estate. J. Heaton/Coldwell Banker will be holding a blood drive Dec. 11 in front of the Exeter Chamber of Commerce to help the Central California Blood Center. The Open House continues every Thursday night through Dec. 18. For more information, call the Exeter Chamber at 592-2919.

Downtown Christmas Parade: The Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Exeter is now accepting registrations for the 2008 Downtown Christmas Parade. The theme for this yearís parade is ìBlue and Gold.î The parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 down Pine Street. For more information call 592-2919.

Exeter Fossils Christmas Store: Starting at 8 a.m. Dec. 6 local needy children can shop till they drop or at least until all gifts are sold, for less than a dollar. The Christmas 1 day gift shop will be located at the First Southern Baptist Church at 467 N. Gene Street in Farmersville. All children, kindergarten age up through age 13 may shop. Parents please wait outside while the shoppers select their treasures for their family and friends. All gifts range in price from 5 cents to 1 dollar and we still wrap for free. Shoppers get in line early. Any questions on shopping or volunteering can be directed to 592-3315.

Spirit of the Holidays: The Exeter Kiwanis Club will hold its annual Spirit of the Holidays wine tasting and auction from 4-7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Exeter Memorial Building. There is a silent auction and Christmas Tree Auction which benefit 5th Quarter, EUHS Sober Grad and the Courage to Change camp. Proceeds from the event go to the Kiwanis Clubís Benevolent Fund. Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 at the door. Tickets are available from Exeter Kiwanians or at the following locations: Visalia Community Bank, 300 E. Pine St., and the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, 101 W. Pine St. For more information, call 592-2919.

American Legion Auxiliary Craft Fair: American Legion Auxiliary Post #94 will present a Country Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Exeter Veteranís Memorial Building. Come do your holiday shopping and take home a homemade treasure from toys, gifts, wood crafts, wearable art and dolls. Refreshments will also be available for purchase. The Exeter Veteranís Memorial Building is located at 324 N. Kaweah (Hwy. 65). Admission is free.

Christmas at the Gallery: The Exeter Courthouse Gallery of the Arts will hold a live auction of small, framed original works of art, fine wine and hors díoeuvres from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the gallery, 125 S. B St. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Exeter Chamber. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Art Gallery and Exeter Historical Museum. For more information, call 592-6726.

Farmersville

Community Christmas Celebration: The Farmersville Kiwanis Club will hold a Community Christmas Celebration from 6-8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12 at Veterans Park, on Farmersville Boulevard near Walnut Avenue. The community will gather to light the living Christmas tree that was moved from the four corners to the park and is now starting to grow, just like Farmersville. Hot dogs, hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Santa will be on hand to give out treats and help the Kiwanis Club give away Christmas trees to three needy families from each of the cityís schools. To volunteer, call John Alvarez at 799-1679.

Lindsay

Hospital Guild Breakfast: Lindsay will kick off its holiday season with the 48th annual Lindsay Hospital Guild Breakfast. ìJingle Bells Rockî has been chosen as the theme of this dressy event at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Lindsay Memorial Building. The lobby of the Memorial Building will be filled with baked goods for sale and gift baskets for bid. Local vocalist Cliff Loeffler will perform a selection of Christmas music. Proceeds benefit scholarships for Lindsay and Strathmore high school graduates majoring in a health-related field. Call Maria Knudsen at 562-2335.

Community Christmas Celebration: The holiday fun continues with the Lindsay Community Christmas Celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec.5 at City Hall, 251 E. Honolulu Ave. There will be a traditional Christmas Tree Lighting, religious observances, caroling and refreshments. For more information, call city hall at 562-5927.

Lighted Vehicle Parade: A Lighted Vehicle Christmas Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Olivewood Shopping Center at Hermosa and Highway 65 and will proceed to downtown. Participants should gather on the frontage road beginning at 6 p.m. The parade is open to all vehicles decorated with Christmas lights. Participants are asked to leave their lights on at City Hall throughout the evening. Certificates of achievement will be given to the best entries illuminating the ìJoy of Christmasî theme. For more information, call 562-7168.

Santa Night: Following the parade Santa Night begins at the Lindsay Police Department on Gale Hill Avenue and Honolulu. Santa will arrive atop on a bright, shiny fire truck and every boy and girl will receive a free toy from the Lindsay Police Reserve Officers Association and get to meet Santa. For more information call 562-5927.

Woodlake

Christmas Tree Lighting: The firefighters will again lead the community Christmas Tree Lighting in front of the fire station at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. The fire station is located at the corner of Magnolia Street and Naranjao Boulevard. Children, parents and grandparents gather around the tree for a cup of hot chocolate and a hearty helping of Christmas spirit shared by the entire community.

Santaís Sleigh Ride: Firefighters continue the holiday spirit through Christmas with their Santaís sleigh ride through town. The firefighters lead Santa and his sleigh through each neighborhood in the city while the jolly old elf passes out candy canes to the children over four nights before Christmas. This yearís sleigh ride is tentatively scheduled to take place in the evening the week before Christmas.

Volunteers Needed for Toys for Joy: Think about how you can help this year with Woodlakeís Annual Toys for Joy drive. We are currently accepting donations of new toys and well as monetary donations. The wrap and sort work day is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 20 through 21 at the YMCA middle school site. Volunteers are welcome.

Collection containers for toys are located at Woodlake City Hall, 1st Choice Foods and local school offices. Toys should be new, unwrapped and retail from $8-10. Checks can be made out to the Kiwanis Club of Woodlake and mailed to P.O. Box 650, Woodlake, CA 93286. For more information call 564-5212.

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