DEC. 7-31

LIGHTING UP KAUA'I'S LIFE

On Kaua'i, the holidays mean it's time for the Festival of Lights. The Garden Isle tradition originally started with one woman, "Auntie" Josie Chansky. For nearly 40 years the folk artist opened her home each holiday season, inviting people to see her handmade holiday creations, such as a toothpick Christmas tree, egg-carton wreaths and seed-pod decorations. In 1996, newly widowed and growing frail, Chansky planned to hold a garage sale and liquidate her collection. But a generous citizen bought every artful piece and donated them to Kaua'i County, giving birth to a new tradition. This year's Festival of Lights, set for Dec. 7-31 at the Historic County Building and nearby park, will make its 11th annual appearance. Opening-night festivities begin with caroling at 6 p.m. Dec. 7, followed by a Santa visit, tree-lighting and a parade of lighted floats.

JAN. 17-20

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

For Islanders, it can be a treat to experience cold weather — at least for a short period of time. If you're game, one spot famous for its annual cold weather celebration is International Falls, Minn., where the Winter Festival, aka "Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run," Jan. 17-20, 2008, is four days of oddball fun, with events that range from 10K and 5K races to an Ode to the Cold poetry contest. There will be ice skating, snowshoeing in Voyageurs National Park and a nighttime bonfire and lots of folksier events such as a bridge tournament, bowling with frozen turkeys, "smooshing" (racing on 2-by-4s). International Falls, a riverfront and lakeside city that is the home of the late, great footbal player Bronko Nagurski and the Boise paper mill, is on the extreme northern border with Canada. It's served by its own small airport; the nearest big cities are Duluth, Minn., to the southeast, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the northwest. Information: www.internationalfallsmn.us.

The Boston Marathon is more than a footrace; it's the world's oldest annual marathon, and it takes over the city as runners in six divisions vie to break the tape. (The six divisions are men's and women's, masters men's and women's, and wheelchair men's and women's.) The date next year is April 21. In addition to watching the race, visitors can attend the free John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo at the Hynes Veteran Memorial Convention Center (held Friday to Sunday on race weekend) and tour historic Boston. You'll have to arrange for transport into the Hopkinton neighborhood, where the race is held, as parking is strictly limited.
Information: www.bostonmarathon.org and www.conventures.com/sportsfitnessexpo/index.html.