What's Up!

FESTIVAL: Nov. 19-20

Get down and red-dirty culturally as the Hawaii United Okinawa Association presents the first Red Dirt Storytelling Festival. Four shows over two days feature local storytellers talking about Hawai'i's rich heritage, as well as headliner and international storyteller Patrick Ball. The four programs include "Tales Under a Tent," "Obake Tales," "Tales for the Entire Family" and "Tales from Island Cultures." Admission to "Tales Under a Tent" is free, and tickets for each of the remaining three shows are $5 general, and $3 children 12 and younger. A weekend pass is $13 adults, $6 children.

• 6:30-7:30 and 8 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 20 / Hawaii Okinawa Center, Waipi'o Gentry / 676-5400

FESTIVAL: Dec. 3-5

The Queen's Medical Center Auxiliary presents the 50th and final year of its popular Christmas tradition, the Festival of Trees. Besides miniature Christmas trees decorated by local celebrities, the festival also features a holiday bazaar and silent auction. The event serves as a fund-raiser for the new Women's Health Center. Admission is a $1 donation. Children 12 and younger are free.

• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 3-4 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5 / Ward Warehouse, Kaka'ako and Kewalo Rooms / 547-4397

STAGE: Dec. 3-19

Diamond Head Theatre's 90th season continues with the fun-loving musical, "Seussical." Dr. Seuss characters jump off the page and on to the stage in this colorful and whimsical production, including Gertrude McFuzz, Horton the Elephant and, of course, the Cat in the Hat. Young Jojo relates these jolly tales in a play that appeals to kids and kids at heart. Greg Zane directs. Tickets are $12-$42, with discounts for full-time students, seniors 62 and older and active-duty military.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays Dec. 3-19 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

CONCERT: Nov. 27

The 3rd annual Super Stars of Reggae concert gets into the rhythm with Aswad, Barrington Levy and Yellowman (above) & The Sagittarius Band. Tickets are $20 grass seating advance, $25 day of the show; $22.50 and $25 terraces; $30 pool are available at the Blaisdell box office and Ticketmaster outlets.

• 6 p.m. Nov. 27 (gates open at 4:30 p.m.) / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

HOLIDAYS: Dec. 4-Jan. 2

Honolulu City Lights, left, the annual festival of holiday cheer, begins Dec. 4 with the lighting of the tree in front of City Hall at 6 p.m., followed by the Electric Light Parade (ending at 6:30 p.m.) and a concert at 7:30 p.m. Two dozen decorated Christmas trees will fill the City Hall courtyard, and more than 75 wreaths will be displayed in Lane Gallery. Food booths, from 3 p.m., will offer an array of Island fare. This is City Lights' 20th anniversary, and so this year's overall theme for indoor displays, wreaths and the parade is, appropriately, "20 Years of Sparkle." After opening night, City Lights displays will be on view daily through Jan. 2. Admission is free; get there early for parking.

• Dec. 4-Jan. 2 / Honolulu Hale (City Hall) and the downtown corridor / 523-2489

CONCERT: Dec. 10-12

The Honolulu Symphony Pops helps spreads Christmas cheer with three holiday concerts featuring the lovely ladies of Na Leo Pilimehana, above, and jolly harmonies of The Brothers Cazimero. Part of the Hawaiian Airlines Pops series, the local favorites come together to create musical magic with the Honolulu Symphony Pops and Chorus. Matt Catingub conducts. Tickets are $30, $40, $50, $60 and $75. Seniors, students and military receive a 20 percent discount off single tickets.

• 8 p.m. Dec. 10-11 and 4 p.m. Dec. 12 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000, (877) 750-4400

KIDSTUFF: Dec. 11-12

Break bread with jolly old St. Nick himself when Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii presents its 18th annual Breakfast with Santa fund-raiser. This fun-for-all event features clowns, face painting, games, crafts, magicians, magic with Mike Wong, 'Ike Pono, Na Kama, juggler Greg Gabaylo, Tradewinds and Halau Hula O Nalei O Kamakani. Joining Santa will be his pals Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Mickey and MInnie Mouse, Elmo, Barney, Taz, Bugs Bunny, Tweety and Sylvester. Tickets are $17, which includes a served meal, photo with Santa, entertainment and Christmas gift. Children under 2 are free.

• 8:30-10:30 a.m. breakfast seating and noon-2 p.m. lunch seating Dec. 11-12 / Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, Manoa Grand Ballroom / 440-4613

CONCERT: Dec. 10-11

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, above, brings his rich tunes and popular ditties back to Hawai'i for two nights. The mastermind behind hot hits such as "Oh! Carol," "Stairway to Heaven," "Calendar Girl" and "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" has kept busy over the years, enjoying a prolific career since his start in the late '50s. Tickets are $25, $37.50 and $45.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

Also, Sedaka croons his way over to Maui for a 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 show in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Castle Theatre. Tickets are $25, $37.50 and $45. (808) 242-7469.

CONCERT: Dec. 11

Rock on and punk out during the 5th annual Punk on a Rock bash. This year's music fest features six Mainland bands ready to bring down the house: Guttermouth, left, Mad Caddies, Death by Stereo, The Briefs, ASG and Drowning Adam. Tickets are $18.

• 3:30 p.m. Dec. 11 / Pipeline Café / www.punkonarock.com

HOT DATES:

• Nov. 20 Harbor Festival, Hawai'i Maritime Center
• Nov. 21 Pasko! A Filipino Holiday, McCoy Pavilion
• Nov. 27-28 Mission Houses Museum's annual Holiday Craft Fair
• Nov. 30 Harlem Globetrotters, Blaisdell Arena
• Dec. 3-4 Makana in concert, Hawaiian Hut
• Dec. 3-5 "A Merry Christmas with Friends and Nabors," Hawai'i Theatre
• Dec. 21-Jan. 2 "Stomp," Hawai'i Theatre
• Dec. 22 Beethoven's Ninth, with the Honolulu Symphony, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Dec. 27-Jan. 2 "Grease," Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Jan. 21-22 Pilobolus dance company, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

Taj Mahal in concerts

Blues legend Taj Mahal and his Hula Blues band are heading this way for a series of concerts on four islands. Their appearances are in support of their latest release, "Hanapepe Dream," featuring blues and world/island tunes. Taj is a former longtime resident of Kaua'i.

The schedule:

• 7 p.m. Dec. 9, Kaua'i Memorial Theatre, Lihu'e; doors open at 6:30 p.m. $30 general, $25 advance. (808) 337-9234.
• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Pipeline CafÚ, Honolulu; doors open at 7 p.m. $35 general, $30 advance. 589-1999.
• 7 p.m. Dec. 11, University of Hawai'i-Hilo; doors open at 6:30 p.m. $35 general, $30 advance. (808) 974-7310, (808) 896-4845.
• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater; doors open at 7 p.m. $30, $35, $40. (808) 242-7469. (Replaces earlier-scheduled BÚla Fleck, who canceled.)

Candy Cane Lane returns

Yes, kids, there will be another Candy Cane Lane holiday event at the Bishop Museum, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 11-12. Look for make-and-take crafts, train rides, entertainment and Santa Claus. Admission is $3; free for museum members.

Submit information for

The Great Index to Fun (TGIF) four-week guide at least 10 working days before the event. This planner appears weekly, featuring major events only; others are listed in the weekend and daily calendars.

Write: TGIF, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or fax 525-8055.

E-mail: tgif@honoluluadvertiser.com

Schedule is subject to change.