The Buzz

Ride a Wave Waikiki birthday celebration

Cover is $12 for those 21 and older. A private, invitation-only party takes place earlier, with the club opening to the public from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. 941-0424.

Makahiki Mele on the North Shore

Head for the country for fresh air, 'ono food and entertainment during the Makahiki Mele. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the North Shore Country Market celebrates 10 years since its inception and four years at its present location, between Shark's Cove and Pipeline.

Attractions include fresh produce, flowers, handicrafts (including clothes, art and home-baked goodies), an interactive keiki area and demonstrations on surfing and Hawaiian culture. And there's entertainment by slack-key guitarist Makana, bluegrass band Wild Orchid, hula with Na Wahine O Ka Hula and rock 'n' roll by the Bad Back Band.

Admission is free. www.hawaii-northshore.com.

World Art Bazaar opens its doors

On your mark, get set, shop! The Honolulu Academy of Arts' World Art Bazaar opens at 10 a.m. Saturday for another holiday season of treasure-hunting. Explore crafts and goodies from all over the world such as Japanese kimono, Thai silk sarongs, Papua New Guinea sculptures, Chinese baskets and carved wooden animals from Mexico. The World Art Bazaar is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 14 at the Academy Art Center at Linekona. Admission is free. 532-8703, 532-8700.

Dance spectacle at Ron Bright Theatre

Showtimes are 8 p.m. tonight and Dec. 5-6 and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Castle High School's Ronald E. Bright Theatre. Tickets are $12. 233-5626.

Eleven bands in one big GIG

Saturday boasts a gig like no other. GIG is a concert supporting Hawai'i's newest bands such as Amplified, Country Fire, The Crud, Elevin, Fool Around Kine, High Intensity, Mystic, Pozitiv NRG, Revalation, Rizon and Speed Limit, with music including reggae, contemporary Hawaiian and alternative to punk. The 11 young bands come together for this groundbreaking concert from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Kapono's in the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Presale tickets are $10, or $14 at the door. www.excitemediagroup.com/gig, 536-2161.

'Messiah' classic at Central Union Church

Surf Party is a benefit

Get ready to rip it up at Saturday's Rip Curl and Hawai'i North Shore Lifeguard Association's Surf Party, part of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

From 7 p.m. to midnight, the night's fun includes music, videos, a Rip Curl fashion show and silent auction with items such as framed images from photographers Larry "Flame" Moore and Art Brewer's personal collections. Photographers Sean Davey and Jim Russi also donated framed pictures, and there will be an L.A. Lakers VIP package to bid for as well.

The fund-raiser benefits Bethany Hamilton and the North Shore lifeguards. It all takes place in Waimea Falls Park, Pikake Pavilion. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. 391-9283.

It's parade time in Waikiki

Had your fill of turkey? Did you hit the shopping trail hard today and need something just a little different to unwind? Here's a suggestion: the fifth annual Waikiki Holiday Parade, which takes place at 7 p.m. today along Kalakaua Avenue. It begins at Fort DeRussy and ends at the Honolulu Zoo.

Here's what's you'll see: 19 marching bands, including high-school entries from Ohio and Georgia; Santa, who'll make a grand appearance on an outrigger canoe; and Pearl Harbor survivors. Mayor Jeremy Harris is grand marshal; the starlight parade is sponsored by the Doubletree Alana Hotel.

Oh, and while you're in the neighborhood, there's a Sunset on the Beach event at Queen's Surf Beach, too.

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

Thanksgiving is over, which means Christmas is right around the corner. Get into the holiday spirit with free events this weekend:

• Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center's 35-foot Christmas tree will be lit, followed by musical entertainment from 6 to 7 p.m. tonight. 922-2299.
• Market City Shopping Center's festivities go from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday when the traditional 32-foot-tall Santa Claus balloon is inflated in the upper parking lot, followed by guest wand wavers helping turn on the Christmas lights on the monkeypod tree. Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner Danny Couch rounds out the evening with a performance in the lower parking lot. 734-0282.

And don't miss these free sightings of jolly old St. Nick:

• Kahala Mall and Ka Hale I o Kahala Halau Hula welcome Santa at 9 a.m. today in the center court. Following his appearance, there will be Chris da Clown, holiday balloons and photos with Santa. 732-7736.
• Santa arrives in a wink of an eye with illusionist Mike Ching at 10 a.m. today at Windward Mall. 235-1143.
• Meet and greet with Santa Claus and Dora the Explorer from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Mililani Shopping Center, in front of Foodland and Penthouse Hair Shoppe. 623-8496.
• Santa makes a grand entrance in Hawai'i Kai Saturday via the annual Christmas parade. He'll ride in a vintage automobile, which will drop him off at Maunalua Bay for a speedboat to jet him away to Koko Marina Center. From noon to 3 p.m., there will be free holiday photos with Santa, make 'n' take crafts, free rides on the Santa Express Train, Toys for Tots Christmas Drive, Christmas caroling and gingerbread man contest for keiki. www.kokomarinacenter.com.
• Walk in a winter wonderland when 30 tons of snow hits Hawai'i Kai Towne Center via Island 98.5 FM Saturday. Snowman-building contests begin at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; check out the craft fair or take free photos with Santa and his reindeer. The fun happens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 550-9242.
• Meadow Gold Dairies sponsors milk-and-cookie time with Santa 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Ward Warehouse and noon-1 p.m. Sunday at Ala Moana Center. 591-8411, 955-9517.