FRI., DEC. 8

Build A Sweet House City of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services hosts "Gingerbread House Making and Decorating" for children ages 5 to 10, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Agoura Hills Recreation Center, 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd. $15 per child. All supplies provided. (818) 597-7361.

'A Christmas Story' Young Artists Ensemble presents "A Christmas Story," staged reading of play based on movie. Through Dec. 10. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Theatre on the Hill, Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. $15 reserved seats. www.YAEonline.com, (805) 381-1246.

Kid's Fun City of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services hosts Kid's Night Out for ages 5 to 11, 6 to 10 p.m., Agoura Hills Recreation Center, 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Supervision by experienced recreation leaders. Pizza, movie, craft, games. $20 one child, or $40 two or more children from same family. RSVP by Dec. 7. (818) 597-7361

Harmonies Of Hope Village Voice Chorale presents winter holiday concert, "Harmonies of Hope," 8 p.m. today, 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Scherr Forum Theatre. International Christmas songs. $18. Village Voices (805) 379-5913, Civic Arts Plaza box office (805) 449-2787, Ticketmaster (805) 583-8700.

GOP Women Luncheon Westlake Village Republican Women Federated host officer installation, Christmas boutique, luncheon, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sher-wood Country Club, Thousand Oaks. $55. RSVP (805) 373-1730.

Support Pets Denise Esswein hosts Petstop Rescue fundraising boutique, 3004 Kilaine Drive, Simi Valley. 4 to 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow. Jewelry, candles, purses, more. (805) 583-3037 or (805) 526-4472.

'The Nutcracker' Moorpark Civic Ballet dances 11th annual "The Nutcracker" 7 p.m. today, Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Moorpark High School Performing Arts Center, 4500 Tierra Rejada Road. Includes guest artists from other dance companies. $15. (805)715-0512 or (805)529-1958.

Fortnightlies Celebrate Moorpark Women's Fortnightly Club meets 10 a.m., Holy Cross Catholic Church, 13955 Peach Hill Road, Moorpark. Moorpark High School Choir sings holiday music. $10. Reservations required by Dec. 6. Tami Gresiak, (805) 529-5439.

Hurrah Tiny Tim "A Christmas Carol" musical opens 8 p.m., High Street Arts Center, 45 E. High St., Moorp a r k . T h r o u g h Dec. 23. $14 to $20. For show times, tickets (805) 529-8700.

SAT., DEC. 9

Fly Away Aviation Museum at Camarillo Airport hosts "The Pilot Maker" aircraft day for families, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 455 Aviation Drive. Demo flights 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. Plane displays, meet pilots, videos, tours, free posters for children, refreshments, souvenirs on sale. Photo taken in cockpit, $10. (805) 482-0064.

Tea Time For Kids Agoura Hills Library hosts free children's holiday tea party. 2 p.m., 29901 Ladyface Court. Stories, tea, cookies, make craft. Bring favorite doll or toy animal. (818) 889-2278.

Live Nativity Westminster Presbyterian Church presents "The Bethlehem Experience," a drivethrough recreation of firstcentury village with live animals, actors in costume, Hebrew music and dance, marketplace. 5 to 9 p.m. today, 5 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow. 3211 Watergate Road, Westlake Village. Free. (818) 889-1491, (805) 496-2394.

Watch Animé Animé movie day at Calabasas Library, 2 p.m., 23975 Park Sorrento St. Free admission, free refreshments. Movie rated PG-13. Karilyn Steward, (818) 225-7616.

Swing Your Partner Annual Christmas and Hanukkah swing dance, Goebel Community Center, 1385 Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Dance lesson 7 p.m. Open dancing to 11 p.m. $10 general admission, $5 seniors. David Katz, (818) 865-1257.

Potluck Party Agoura Newcomers hosts annual Holiday Potluck Party, 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. For location, RSVP, (818) 889-2084.

Old-Fashioned Fun Strathearn Historical Park and Museum hosts Christmas Memories program, "Toys and Games, A Trip Down Memory Lane." 2 p.m., Visitor Center, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley. Hear stories behind toys, games of 19th, 20th centuries, play games. Park museum buildings decorated for season, special Christmas gift shop. (805) 526-6453.

Honor Flags Boy Scouts host flag retiring party, 2 p.m. Auto Stiegler pre-owned Mercedes Benz dealership, 311 Daily Drive, Camarillo.

SUN., DEC. 10

Band Plays On Camarillo Community Band plays annual Christmas Concert, 3 p.m., Camarillo Community Center auditorium, 1605 Burnley St. Julie Judd, band director at Chaparral Middle School in Moorpark, guest director. Appearance by Santa Claus. (805) 484-8050.

Learn About Nature Kid's Adventure Garden open every Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 350 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks. Tree house, dinosaur garden, docents. Free. (818) 889-0560.

Breakfast With Santa Breakfast with Santa Claus fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity, 9 to 11 a.m., Community Room (second level behind tall tower in Center Court), Simi Valley Town Center, 1555 Simi Town Center Way. Cinnamon rolls, coffee, hot chocolate, juice. $5, includes one Polaroid photo with Santa. Tickets, call Cheryl Hoover, (805) 416-4847 or Robin Karcich at (805) 304-3634.

TUES., DEC. 12

Gifts From The Heart Calabasas Women's Club Gifts from the Heart and Hearth Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. $24. Calabasas Inn, 23500 Park Sorrento. Ann Mohr from "Cakes By You" gives demonstration. Guest speaker Yrena Friedman: "The Prescription for Peace." Holiday music by Rebecca Franson. Reservations: (818) 348-5247 or (818) 341-8684.

Shakespeare Comedy Curtain Call Youth Theatre and CASA (Ventura County homeschooling) present "The Taming of the Shrew," 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo, inside the airport. 7 p.m. today, Dec. 14 and 15. 2 p.m. Dec. 16. $5. Free popcorn for nonperishable food item for food share. (805) 388-5716.

Jazzy Luncheon Westlake Women's Club meets 10 a.m., Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road. Westlake High School Class Act presents "A Jazzy Encore." $23 for lunch. Judy Futterman, (818) 865-1399.

Rotarians Agoura Hills/Oak Park Rotary Club hosts Ron Tunik, "Growing Business with Technology," 7 a.m., Brent's Deli, 2799 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village. Breakfast, club meeting to discuss upcoming community service events. Frank Littman, (818) 586-0426

WED., DEC. 13

Party For Seniors December birthday luncheon, music concert. Lunch at noon, concert 1 p.m. Moorpark Active Adult Center, 799 Moorpark Ave., Line dancers, tap dancers, recorder group, singing trio, audience singalong of holiday songs. Concert free, lunch donation $2.25. Lunch RSVP needed, (805) 517-6261.

Musicians Gather Songmakers meet every Wednesday, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., Simi Valley home. Music lovers invited to participate in song circles or visit. M. Gregory, (805) 579-6416.

Ladies Lunch Thousand Oaks Women's Connection hosts luncheon, 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., Palm Garden Hotel, 495 Ventu Park Road, Thousand Oaks. Tricia Davis presents holiday program, music. Charissa Williams, former college teacher, speaks on "Gift of Friendship." $20. Free child care with RSVP. Brenda (805) 497-2949, Charlene (805) 526-9820.

Dems Have Dinner Democratic Club of Conejo Valley hosts annual holiday potluck dinner and meeting, 6:30 p.m., Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library. Officer election, volunteer recognition. Jay Kapitz, (818) 880-1039.

THURS., DEC. 14

Rose Lovers Ventura County Rose Society hosts annual holiday party, 6:30 p.m. Cowan Conference Center, 550 Airport Way, Camarillo. Bring salad or dessert for potluck dinner, $10 gift exchange. Officer installation, awards given. Janet Sklar, (818) 993-6622 or Dawn-Marie Johnson, (805) 523-9003.

FRI., DEC. 15

High Fashion Thousand Oaks Teen Center hosts Teen Fashion Show, 8 p.m., 1375 E. Janss Road. Local teen clothing designers, teen models display fashions. Live DJ, teen MCs, entertainment by the New Colony. For all ages. Light refreshments. Modeled items available for purchase. www.thousandoaksteencenter.com.

Stargazers "Winter Sky Trail to the Stars" at Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve, two-hour program for all ages. See changes in the night sky as the season turns to winter. 7 p.m., meet at Victory trailhead (Victory Boulevard west of Valley Circle Boulevard). Bring water, jacket, flashlight covered in red cellophane. Free, $1 for parking. (310) 454-1395, ext. 153 or www.LAmountains.com.

SAT., DEC. 16

Theater Benefit Moorpark College Foundation and MC Theater Arts Department present "Santa's Night Off," written and directed by faculty member, Emmy winner John Loprieno, 8 p.m. All proceeds benefit theater department. Hosted wine and cheese reception, live holiday music after show. $35. (805) 378-1485.

Holiday Dancers Thousand Oaks Dance Club hosts holiday dance, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Goebel Senior Adult Center ballroom, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. The Unforgettables to play. Doors open 7 p.m. Singles, couples welcome. $5 members, $7 nonmembers. Light refreshments. (805) 381-2744.

Good Time Ripsnorters Square Dance Club hosts plus level square dance with A-1 tip, Camarillo Community Center, 1605 Burnley St. 7 p.m. rounds, 8 p.m. squares. $6 donation. (805) 482-3201.

Turn On Computers Channel Islands PC User Group (general computer club) meets 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo, 1500 Temple Ave. Free, open to public. (805) 987-1748, www.cipcug.org.

SUN., DEC. 17

Choo-choo For Charity Metrolink's 10th annual holiday train arrives Moorpark Metrolink Station 7:30 p.m. Liveaction musical performances, toy drive for new, unwrapped toys, family fun. Metrolink (800) 371-LINK, Moor-park City Hall (805) 517-6257.

Christmas Concert St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church Department of Music presents fifth annual Christmas Concert, 8 p.m., 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village. Adult, youth, children's choirs. Liturgical dancers, soloists, chamber orchestra. For all ages. (818) 991-3915.