Decorate an ornament to take home and enjoy other seasonal crafts every day during Winter Fest! For more information call (803)898-4921 or visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.

You and your toddler are invited to drop in to EdVenture Children’s Museum for arts and crafts, music, movement and stories. For families with children ages 4 and younger. Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. Free with paid admission.

Join this great group of moms who work to increase community awareness and riase funds to support EdVenture Children’s Museum. Discovery Council meets the first Monday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Free childcare provided. Contact Mandy Wren at 400-1141 or mwren@edventure.org.

Book for our January session “Fairy Tale Friends” now! Little EdVenturers is a series of four 8-week programs that are completely hands on and developmentally appropriate for children ages 12 months to 3 years. From art and science to literature and music, toddlers will experience the joy of learning through classrooms filled with opportunities to discover and grow. Choose Thursday, Friday or Saturday class. 8-week session. $95 members, $120 non-members. Sponsored by Target

Columbia Museum of Art

Eye to the East: The Turner Collection of Chinese Art offers visitors an in-depth understanding of ancient Chinese art and covers a broad historical span with excellent examples from many periods.

28th Annual St. Andrews Woman's Club Bridal Showcase will feature 100 plus exhibit booths of bridal service vendors. State Fairgrounds.

A Grand Affair: A Celebration of Life After 55 - 18th Annual Exposition for Products and Services. This event will provide an opportunity for older adults to interact with companies to learn more about their products and services. State Fairgrounds. • 803-296-5978.

EdVenture Children's Museum will recognize special individuals and organizations that are making significant and outstanding contributions to strengthening and advancing the interests of our children. Please join us in recognizing these :great friends" to South Carolina's children! For reservations or more infomration, contact Mandy Wren at 803-400-1141.

Don’t miss Send in the Clowns at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 16 in the Children’s Room at the Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly St. RCPL and the Colonial Center are teaming up on this special appearance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns for children ages 2-10. For more than 130 years, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has been performing throughout the nation to inspire the imaginations of children of all ages. For more information about this program, call the RCPL Children’s Room at 929-3434.

The show will include all new music and choreography, with special routines incorporated to emphasize the historical background and foundation of the Lipizzaner breed. 1-866-4SC-TIXX.

Family-friendly feast of world class magic and illusion stars. Marriott Hotel, 1200 Hampton Street, downtown Columbia. Presented by the SC Association of Magicians.

Experts will appraise art, textiles, military memorabilia, furniture and jewelry and much more. For information, call (803) 898-4952 or (803) 898-4921. Appraisal tickets required. 1 Ticket @ $15 ($12 Member), 2 Tickets @ $25 ($20 Member) 3 Tickets @ $30 ($25 Member), 4 Tickets @ $35 ($30 Member)

FREE HOME BUYER SEMINAR South Carolina State Housing, Russell and Jeffcoat Realtors & Homeowners Mortgage will host a FREE Home Buyer seminar on Saturday, January 17 th (call for time).The seminar will be held in the lobby of the US Post Office contract unit in the Crossroads Shopping Center at 6903 Saint Andrews Rd., Unit 1, Columbia, SC 29212. The post office is located behind Little Caesars Pizza and next to CrossRoads Middle School (just past Irmo High School & Harbison Blvd.). Guest speakers will give useful information on what steps to take before searching for a home, how the loan process works, what steps you can take to qualify for credit and stay within your budget, $7500 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, State Housing First Time Home Buyer down payment assistance program, what home repair issues to look for when purchasing a home, what to expect after signing the contract to purchase a home, and more. A PRIZE DRAWING will be held and a gift certificate will be given away for a local restaurant. Light refreshments will be served. Attendees will walk away from this seminar well informed before purchasing a home. Space is limited! To reserve your seat and take advantage of this unique opportunity, please call Anita Smith at (803) 467-0772.

Community and City Year Corps members will provide activities for elementary and middle school-aged children exploring the values and ideals of Dr. King’s Beloved Community. For information, call 803-254-3349. Free in the State Museum’s atrium.

Christian Women's Connection, an affiliate of Stonecroft Ministries, invites all women to join us for our Buffet luncheon on Tuesday, Jan 20 from 11:30-1 pm at Seawell's. Christie and HEather from the NW YMCA will come and highlight the benefits of fitness and opportunities for a better quality of life. Billie Locke, an author from Virginia will speak on "Don't Tell ME It's Impossible." Make reservations by calling Sarah at 803-781-2591 or emailing lunchreserve@yahoo.com by January 15. Lunch is $15 inclusive. Reservations must be honored, cancelled or used by a friend.

There’s no better way to introduce your family to the wonders of live theater than with the magic, the mystery, the memory of CATS. What began as a musical about cats has now become one of the longest running shows in Broadway’s history. 803-777-7500.

Evans and his band, Ring of Fire, will be burning up the stage with their musical tribute. Newberry Opera House. 803-276-6264

Cool winter science experiments! Arrive early for a front row seat – each show needs lots of kid-size helpers. Held in the R&D Lab above Snowville.

All About Beer Magazine and Green’s Discount Beverages present the 2009 World Beer Festival on Saturday, January 24, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. A celebration of the world beer culture, The World Beer Festival provides attendees a broad sampling of hundreds of beers from over 100 breweries, food from a variety of local restaurants, educational sessions by industry experts, and entertainment by local musicians. Tickets: The festival offers two four-hour sessions. Standard admission to a single session is $40, which includes beer samples, music by local bands, educational sessions by industry experts, and a festival tasting glass. Tickets can be purchased online at www.allaboutbeer.com/wbfcolumbia/tickets.html. Tickets will also be available at the following retail outlets: •Green’s Discount Beverages, 400 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, www.greensbeverages.com •Green’s Beverage Warehouse, 4012 Fernandina Road, Columbia, SC, www.greensbeverages.com •Green’s Discount Beverages, Greenville, SC at 445 Congaree Road, www.greensbeverages.com •Green’s Discount Beverages, Myrtle Beach, SC at 2850 N. Kings Highway, www.greensbeverages.com •Morganelli’s Party Store at 3155 Forest Drive in Columbia, SC •Delany’s Irish Pub at 741 Saluda Avenue in Columbia, SC, www.delaneyspub.com •Village Idiot Pizza Pub at 2009 Devine Street in Columbia, SC, www.villageidiotpizza.com •Gervais & Vine at 620 Gervais Street #A in Columbia, SC, www.gervine.com •Carolina Ale House at 277 Columbiana Drive in Columbia, SC, www.carolinaalehouse.com

45th Annual Boat Show at the State Fairgrounds.

Family Fun Day: Celebrate Chinese New Year! Create Art, explore the galleries, and enjoy exciting, interactive entertainment! 803-779-2810.

USHRA Monster Jam returns to the Colonial Center got its 7th appearance. See the world-famous GRAVEDIGGER and others! 1-866-4SC-TIXX.

Celebrate Black History with Auntie Karen and her exhibits of selected artists, Negro spirituals, music, poetry and the Skipp Pearson Foundation. 803-779-2810

Tornadoes, blizzards, volcanoes and more - the United States experiences the widest range of natural disasters of any country in the world. Open from Jan. 31 - Sept. 7, this new blockbuster exhibit explores the science behind natural disasters with a wide range of hands-on activities. $3 plus Museum admission for ages three and up.

Take a behind the scenes tour of collection storage at the Hampton-Preston Mansion. View objects that are not currently on display and learn about museum standards for storage pieces such as textiles, ceramics, metals, wood and paper. You will also have the opportunity to learn the five steps of interpreting material culture by examining a collections piece or by bringing your own object from home! Cost is $7 per child and $4 per adult. Troops must register by January 26th. Space is limited. Please call 803.252.1770 ext. 24 to make your reservation.