DEC. 31

FIRST NIGHT BETHLEHEM

Bethlehem, Pa., has long been known as "Christmas City," but this year the municipality east of Allentown, Pa., on I-78, and north of Philadelphia, will host a 39-day celebration with events that begin with a city-lighting ceremony on Nov. 23 and end Dec. 31 with the annual First Night Bethlehem. A favorite of visitors, and named "one of the top holiday markets in the world" by Travel + Leisure, the Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, open daily, brings together more than 75 artisans showcasing handcrafted items, with additional children's activities on weekends. Vespers services at Central Moravian church and concerts at associated schools are a favored holiday tradition but had outgrown the organizations' ability to handle them; this year, Thursday-Sunday Moravian Music Concerts are being organized instead. There also will be night bus tours, nativity scenes, acrobatics by Cirque des Amis, and First Night, with its music, performances, activities and fireworks finale. Information: www.christmascity.org.

MARCH 30-APRIL 4

MERRIE MONARCH

Mark your calendars: The dates are Dec. 26, the day to postmark your ticket request for the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition tickets (no earlier postmarks accepted), and March 30, to April 4, 2008, the festival dates. Because of the Haili Men's Invitational Volleyball Tournament being held March 24-29 in Hilo, Merrie Monarch officials graciously agreed to push the date back from its traditional week-after-Easter slot. (Easter 2008 is very early, on March 23.) While Merrie Monarch is known for the hula competition (April 3-5), it's actually a cluster of events, including a ho'olaule'a, craft fairs and the third annual He Launa Aloha No Ka Mo'i Kalakaua (April 5), which honors Hawai'i's beloved King Kawika, with entertainment and a lei contest in the park named for him. Festival information: www.merriemonarchfestival.org. For He Launa, call 808-933-9772 or e-mail amoon@bigisland.com.

NOV. 2-3, DEC. 1

HEALING ARTS

The Hawaii Healing Garden Ethnobotanical Healing Arts Festival travels to the Big Island Nov. 2-3 and Maui on Dec. 1, with a healing music concert featuring Tito La Rosa and ancient soothing musical instruments, "green thumb" activities (e.g., how to grow a healthy garden), presentations on a wide variety of cultural medical practices and systems, cooking demonstrations, a lei contest, children's programs, a contemplative labyrinth and a Health Expo marketplace. On the Big Island, the Nov. 2 event is at Outrigger Keauhou Resort and the Nov. 3 event is at the Amy Greenwell Ethnibotanical Garden in Captain Cook. On Maui, the site is Maui Community College. Information: 808-638-0888; www.hawaiihealthguide.com (click on events calendar).