ATTRACTIONS

Victorian Christmas. A Victorian Christmas at Lathrop House sponsored by Redwood City Heritage Association will include tours, costumed carolers, hot apple cider, cooking and gift ideas in the ``Tarnished Doorknobs'' antique-collective shop, 1 to 4 p.m. today and next Sunday, 627 Hamilton Ave., Redwood City. (650) 365-5564.

Breakfast with Santa. Santa will drop in at a pancake breakfast sponsored by Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services that includes holiday music and storytelling, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Admission, which includes one photo with Santa per family, is $5 per person. (650) 780-7311.

Life-size Candyland Game. The city of San Mateo's annual community event will feature Candyland characters who come to life while playing the game, carnival games, arts, crafts, a petting zoo, snow and a visit from Santa Claus, noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Shoreline Recreation Center, 950 Ocean View Ave., San Mateo. Admission is free, except for Candyland, which is $5 for children, ages 2 to 12. (650) 522-7500.

Holiday family event. ``Toys on Parade,'' a holiday season event at the Museum of American Heritage, will include train rides, science demonstrations, children's activities, door prizes, pizza, ice cream sundaes and an opportunity to view the museum's current exhibit, ``Toys, Trains, Treasures: Transportation Trove,'' 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. Cost is $5 for members and $10 others. (650) 321-1004.

Santa Claus home visitations. The city of Mountain View will sponsor free 15-minute home visits by Santa Claus, 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18. (650) 903-6331.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

The Technology and Society Committee. John Welbourn, environmental engineering manager for Mountain View's Public Works Department, will discuss ``Micro Turbines in Mountain View'' at a luncheon meeting, 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at Golden Wok Restaurant, 895 Villa St., Mountain View. Lunch is $8.50 for members and $9.50 others. (650) 969-7215.

SiliconFrench program. Bernard Liautaud, CEO and board chairman of Business Objects, will be the featured speaker at a program sponsored by SiliconFrench, a networking organization for French-speaking and Francophile professionals in the Bay Area, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Americana Ball Room, 707 Continental Circle, Mountain View. (408) 564-7515.

American Association of Retired Persons. Mountain View choral groups will entertain at a meeting of AARP, 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road. (650) 323-2398.

DANCE

Holiday Dance. The Los Altos Big Band will perform at a dance at Avenidas, 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Admission is $3 for members and $5 others. (650) 325-5362.

Peninsula Ballet Theatre. ``The Nutcracker'' with live orchestra will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. next Sunday, Dec. 21 and 22 at San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware St., San Mateo. Tickets are $12 to $45 for adults, $10 to $40 for students and seniors, and $8 to $35 for children. (650) 340-9448.

EXHIBITS

Jewelry show. Nature Gallery at Town & Country Village, Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real, Palo Alto, will have its Annual Amber Jewelry Show, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. (650) 327-8700.

Christmas Creche display. The 15th Annual Christmas Crèche Exhibit featuring 500 nativities from 65 countries will be on display from noon to 9 p.m. today through Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3865 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Also today, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Christmas Message via telecast at 4:30 p.m. and the Valparaiso Singers will perform at 7:30 p.m. (650) 858-1308.

Russian-born artist. ``All the World's a Stage,'' a show of paintings by Foster City resident Inna Mirolioubova, will be on display from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., and one hour before performances until Jan. 2. (650) 245-2569. .

Gingerbread Contest & Exhibit. ``A Starry Starry Night'' exhibition of edible houses and habitats will be open from noon to 5 p.m. today and continue 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays until Jan. 4 at Coyote Point. Museum admission is $6; $4 for students, ages 14 to 17; and $2 for children and youth, ages 4 to 12. Children under 4 are free. (650) 342-7755.

Group Show. Holiday gift ideas and works by 22 artists will highlight Group Show RSVP, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at ART21, 539 Alma St., Palo Alto. (650) 566-1381.

Museum, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. Museum admission is $6, $4 for seniors and students and $2 for youth, age 4 through 12. Children under 4 are free. (650) 342-7755.

HOLIDAY FAIRS

Artifactory Fair. Fine crafts, including calligraphy cards, ceramics, hand-woven and hand-painted scarves, quilts, candles, jewelry, Ukrainian eggs, soap, clothing and gourds will be offered 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and next Sunday at Lou Henry Hoover Girl Scout House, 1120 Hopkins Ave., Palo Alto. (650) 625-1736.

Gamble Garden. A Holiday Open House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, will include a Greens Sale & Boutique and tours of the decorated Colonial Revival House at 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. (650) 329-1356.

LECTURES

Morocco trip. Bob Stutz will talk about his recent trip to Morocco at a meeting of the Los Altos Hills Historical Society at a holiday meeting, 3 to 5 p.m. today at Los Altos Hills Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road. Those who attend should bring an hors d'oeuvre or dessert to share.

Apple Computer icon. Steve Wozniak will give an informative and personal talk about the history of Apple Computer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Computer History Museum, Building 3, at Moffett Field. A reception for members and VIP guests will precede the lecture, 6:30 p.m. in Building 126. For reservations, call (650) 604-5133.

MUSIC

California Youth Symphony. A free holiday concert will include performances by the Associate Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble, at 2:30 p.m. today at Spangenberg Theater at Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto. (650) 325-6666.

Ragazzi Boys Chorus. The Grammy Award-winning choir will perform a ``Festival of Carols,'' 4 p.m. today at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Tickets are $15 and $10 for seniors and children. (650) 342-8785.

Peninsula Women's Chorus. ``Rejoice and Sing,'' a holiday concert featuring seasonal music from the United States, Israel, England, Italy, France and Germany, will be performed at 4 p.m. today at Valley Presbyterian Church, 945 Portola Valley Road, Portola Valley, and 8 p.m. Saturday at Mission Church at Santa Clara University. Tickets are $18 and $15 for seniors and students. (650) 725-2787.

California Bach Society. Works by Claudio Monteverdi will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, 8 p.m. Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto and 5 p.m. next Sunday at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco. Tickets are $25, $18 for seniors and $12 for students. (415) 262-0272.

Carillon recital. Festive holiday music and Christmas carols will be performed on the Hoover Tower Chimes by James Welch, 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, on campus at Stanford University. (650) 856-9700.

Christmas concert. Foothill Orchestra will perform a holiday concert that includes Tchaikovsky's ``1812 Overture'' and selections from ``The Nutcracker Suite,'' including a multimedia presentation during ``Waltz of the Flowers,'' and Dvorak's ``New World Symphony,'' 8 p.m. Saturday in Smithwick Theater at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets at $10 and $8 for seniors and students. Parking in lots 1, 5 or 6 is $2. (650) 948-4444.

Holiday Concert. A Baroque Christmas featuring Vivaldi's ``Gloria'' will include a worship service, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. next Sunday at Ladera Community Church, 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. (650) 854-5481.

Seasonal choral music. ``My Spirit Rejoices'' will be performed by Skyline College Choir, 3 p.m. next Sunday, at the Main Theater in Building 1 at the school. Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors, age 62 and older. Children under 5 are free. (650) 738-4384.

-- Compiled by Sue Chenoweth