thru February 28 - Dinosaurs Roar into State Museum - Behemoths from the distant past once again will roam the South Carolina State Museum as its new, 6500 square-foot “blockbuster” exhibit features an ever-intriguing subject. Dinosaurs: Mesozoic Monsters opens Oct. 17 and brings to the museum 14 lifelike, moving, roaring robotic dinosaurs, along with hands-on features to fascinate old and young alike. Admission to the exhibit is $5 for adults and $3 ages 3-12 in addition to regular museum admission. The exhibit can be seen in the museum’s blockbuster gallery through Feb. 28. For more information, call (803) 898-4952 or (803) 898-4982.

thru December 3 - Milliken Art Gallery Exhibition:”Following Inanna: A Sabbatical Journey” - 12:00 AM, Milliken Art Gallery, Converse College, Free Admission

thru December 24 - Ride the Polar Express - Pajama clad passengers will board trains bound for the North Pole at The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad this holiday season! The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad anticipates the event will draw nearly 45,000 passengers! The Polar Express train rides begin November 6 and run through December 24. The rides are based on the beloved children’s book, by Chris Van Allsburg, and the holiday feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Be sure to shop the new line of official Polar Express merchandise at the event, featuring Polar Express pajamas, snow globes, photo albums, picture frames, fleece blankets, cocoa mugs, and more. www.GSMR.com First Class seating upgrades are available. Each first class guest will receive a deluxe serving of hot chocolate in a souvenir Polar Express mug, and enjoy short breads and other treats in addition to the standard offerings. First Class fares are $57.00 for adults and $40.00 for children ages 2-12. Children under two years old are $10.00. New for 2009, Christmas Eve Limited Polar Express train ride is available. All standard passengers will receive a special red Polar Express mug to take home. First Class seating will receive a souvenir Golden Ticket Lapel Pin in addition to the first class offerings. For more information and reservations please call 800-872-4681.

November 21 thru February 28 - Snowville Returns to EdVenture - Children and families from all across South Carolina can visit Snowville. Enjoy EdVenture’s winter play land, located in the Southeast’s largest children’s museum. Enter a make-believe world of imaginative play in the North Pole, become a scientist and study penguins at the South Pole, get creative in an igloo-building activity, create your own snowflake and discover more about the science of snow and ice. Snowville offers children the opportunity to learn about the cool FUN of snow (the joys of ice hockey, the excitement of sliding down snowy hills and the fun of throwing snowballs) as well as the SCIENCE of snow (how cold snow is, how are igloos made and what penguins live in the South Pole?). This exhibit is FREE to members and will be at the museum until February 28, 2010.!

December 1 - Nicole Seitz - Book Your Lunch tickets are $25 per guest and must be purchased in advance from http://www.bookyourlunch.com or by calling Fiction Addiction at 864-675-0540. Each luncheon will be held at The Lazy Goat in downtown Greenville from 12-2pm. At each Book Your Lunch event, the featured author will read from their work (or give a 20-minute talk), followed by a Q&A session, a delicious lunch, and then an onsite book-signing session with the author.

December 1 - Palmetto Medal Finals - Converse Equestrian. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 1 - USC Upstate v. Winston-Salem State - USC Upstate Women's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 2 thru December 20 - "It Happened One Christmas" - Flat Rock Playhouse premiers the brand new holiday musical, It Happened One Christmas, onstage December 2 through December 20, with original music and arrangements by Jeremy Schonfeld, book by Vincent Marini and story by Bruce Bailey, Lisa Bryant, Vincent Marini, Paige Posey and the Flat Rock Playhouse Conservatory. This new show weaves true stories of regular people with much loved and classic Christmas songs into an inspiring evening of music, laughter and tears. Sometimes truth is more miraculous than fiction. Sometimes the impossible becomes possible in a single breath, in the blink of an eye, with the touch of a hand. During Christmas, we celebrate the most astonishing of ancient miracles, but what about today? Presented by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Hendersonville, Inc. and Miller’s Fine Drycleaning, It Happened One Christmas is onstage for three weeks, December 2 – December 20. Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:15 pm and matinee performances are most Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:15. Tickets to It Happened One Christmas are $26 with discounts available for seniors, students and groups. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

December 2 - El baño del Papa (The Pope’s Toilet) - Students are admitted free to all showings. There is no charge for films in DVD. All films are in the original language, with English subtitles when appropriate. The films are presented in the Teaching Theater of the F.W. Olin Building (Olin 101). All films are shown Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., on the dates indicated. Some films may not be appropriate for younger viewers.

December 2 - Wofford vs. Western Carolina - Away. Wofford Men's Basketball. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for game time.

December 3 thru December 5 - Converse at Savannah College of Art and Design Invite - Converse Swimming. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 3 - Furman v. Appalachian State - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 3 - Furman v. Samford - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 3 - The Basics of Gemstone Purchasing - Purchasing diamonds and colored gemstones can be confusing and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Museum curators can teach you what to look for in a gemstone, what important questions to ask a jeweler, and what to avoid when you head to the stores for holiday shopping. Come learn about the four C's of diamond classification, how to spot synthetic stones, and common techniques used to enhance color. Note: Curators will not be able to appraise personal property. Fee: $15 per person ($12 members and volunteers) Time: 6 p.m.–8 p.m. Location: Bob Campbell Geology Museum

December 4 thru December 13 - Dear Santa - The Peace Center, Greenville, SC. Visit http://www.peacecenter.org for more information.

December 4 - Wofford vs. Michigan State - Away. Wofford Men's Basketball. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for game time.

December 5 - Off the Beaten Path Guided Hike – Ravine Scramble - Please call 800-277-9611 or visit chimneyrockpark.com for updates. 9-11:30am Cost: $20, $5 for Annual Passholders, $10 for ages 6-15, $3 for Grady’s Kids Club Members. Description: If your feet and balance are trustworthy, this trek will be an entertaining look at what water has created along a slope of Chimney Rock Mountain. No running water should be expected unless a thunderstorm contributes to the day, but a walking stick might come in very handy for this 2½-hour moderately strenuous hike.

December 5 - Santa on the Chimney - Please call 800-277-9611 or visit chimneyrockpark.com for updates. 11am-2pm. Cost: No additional cost with Park admission. Description: Santa practices on 315-ft. Chimney Rock before climbing down millions of much shorter chimneys all around the world on Christmas Eve. USA Today named Chimney Rock one of the top 10 places to catch up with Santa last year. Come and see why!

December 5 thru December 6 - The Nutcracker - The Peace Center, Greenville, SC. Visit http://www.peacecenter.org for more information.

December 5 - Furman v. Chattanooga - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 5 - Furman v. Western Carolina - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 5 - USC Upstate v. Witchita State - USC Upstate Men's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 6 - Cyclocross@Furman - Furman University, Greenville, furman.edu. 11AM-4PM. Go Tri Sports is sponsoring the Cyclocross@Furman Sunday, December 6, 2009 The event will take place the back side of lake in paved and unpaved trail area. Registration is at 10AM and the event will take place from 11AM to 4PM. For further information contact Ron Hoffman (864) 232-9400 or ron@gotrisports.com or rbonking@yahoo.com

December 7 - Brian Setzer Orchestra - The Peace Center, Greenville, SC. Visit http://www.peacecenter.org for more information.

December 7 - Wofford vs. Appalachian State - Home. Wofford Men's Basketball. 7PM. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for more info.

December 8 - Bela Fleck & the Flecktones - The Peace Center, Greenville, SC. Visit http://www.peacecenter.org for more information.

December 8 - Furman v. Virginia - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 8 - Melinda Long - Book Your Lunch tickets are $25 per guest and must be purchased in advance from http://www.bookyourlunch.com or by calling Fiction Addiction at 864-675-0540. Each luncheon will be held at The Lazy Goat in downtown Greenville from 12-2pm. At each Book Your Lunch event, the featured author will read from their work (or give a 20-minute talk), followed by a Q&A session, a delicious lunch, and then an onsite book-signing session with the author.

December 11 - Converse v. Pfeiffer University - Converse Basketball. Away game. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 11 - Greenville Chorale's 26th Annual Family Christmas Concert - The Peace Center, Greenville, SC. Visit http://www.peacecenter.org for more information.

December 12 - Santa on the Chimney - Please call 800-277-9611 or visit chimneyrockpark.com for updates. 11am-2pm. Cost: No additional cost with Park admission. Description: Santa practices on 315-ft. Chimney Rock before climbing down millions of much shorter chimneys all around the world on Christmas Eve. USA Today named Chimney Rock one of the top 10 places to catch up with Santa last year. Come and see why!

December 13 - Furman v. Clemson - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 13 - Furman v. Stetson - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 14 - Homeschool Program – Nature’s Knick-Knacks - Please call 800-277-9611 or visit chimneyrockpark.com for updates. $12 per student; $11.50 for parents; Annual Passholders $7 per student and no cost for parents. Description: Winter is the perfect time of the year to get crafty! By gathering gifts left over from fall and using recycled materials, we’ll create something special that everyone can enjoy.

December 14 - Converse v. Costal Carolina - Converse Basketball. Away game. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 14 - USC Upstate v. Florida Gulf Coast - USC Upstate Men's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Home game.

December 15 - USC Upstate v. Clemson - USC Upstate Women's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 16 - USC Upstate v. Winthrop - USC Upstate Men's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Home game.

December 17 - USC Upstate v. Stetson - USC Upstate Women's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 17 - Wofford vs. Navy - Home. Wofford Men's Basketball. 7PM. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for more info.

December 18 thru December 20 - 2009 Holiday at Peace - The Peace Center, Greenville, SC. Visit http://www.peacecenter.org for more information.

December 18 - Converse v. Gardner Webb University - Converse Basketball. Away game. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 18 - Furman v. South Carolina State - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 19 - Furman v. College of Charleston - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 19 - USC Upstate v. Florida Gulf Coast - USC Upstate Women's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 19 - USC Upstate v. UNLV - USC Upstate Men's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 19 - Wofford vs. South Carolina - Home. Wofford Men's Basketball. 7PM. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for more info.

December 21 - Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health of the Piedmont - 7PM. New Day Club House, Spartanburg, SC. Meets 3rd Monday of each month. Parent group is intended for caregivers with children of all ages. Youth group intended for youth ages 12-21 with behavioral or mental health concerns and their siblings. 7-8:15 p.m.

December 21 - Furman v. Appalachian State - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 21 - Furman v. South Carolina - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 21 - Wofford vs. UNC Asheville - Away. Wofford Men's Basketball. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for game time.

December 22 - Converse v. Newberry College - Converse Basketball. Home game. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 23 - USC Upstate v. Arizona State - USC Upstate Men's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Away game.

December 28 - Furman v. Arizona State - Furman Women's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 28 - Furman v. UC Santa Barbara - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 29 - Furman v. California or Utah Valley State - Furman Men's Basketball. Visit www.furmanpaladins.com for more info, including game times.

December 29 - George Morris Clinic in Camden - Converse Equestrian. For more information, visit http://www.converse.edu/athletics.

December 29 - Wofford vs. Kent State - Away. Wofford Men's Basketball. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for game time.

December 30 - USC Upstate v. Presbyterian - USC Upstate Women's Basketball. Visit http://upstatespartans.cstv.com for more info. Home game.

December 30 - Wofford vs. Northeastern OR Santa Clara - Away. Wofford Men's Basketball. Visit http://athletics.wofford.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=49 for game time.

December 31 - Prelude to Midnight - Prelude to Midnight – A fun and affordable New Years Eve Celebration. Let your imagination run wild as “Inner Cirkus” presents a feast of lights and tricks of delight. Then rock your blues away with the "Good Time Music” of J. Michael King and Freddie Vanderford. Dinner buffet, glass of wine silent auction and show included. And it's all over in time to drive home early. A fund-raiser to support Greenville Chautauqua's 2010 season "American Imagination". Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta St, Greenville, SC Thursday 7:00 – 10:00 pm. $50 (includes dinner buffet, glass of wine, silent auction and show). (864) 244-1499 website: greenvillechautauqua.org