61st annual Nashville Christmas Parade. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with the lighting of the Mayor’s Tree in the Public Square. Following fireworks, the parade will start at 7 p.m. Friday at the top of Woodland Street Bridge at Union. It will continue down Second Ave. and turn onto Broadway, continuing to Ninth Ave. “Nashville” actor Eric Close will serve as grand marshal.

DEC. 5-7

Homes for the Holidays Estate Tour

The Literacy Council of Williamson County’s “Homes for the Holidays,” a tour of four estate homes featuring holiday décor from some of Nashville’s top designers. Each estate will feature entertainment such as live music, as well as wine and spirits tastings, and one home will host a festive chocolate sculpture by gold-medal chocolatier Paul Burnash of Paul’s Chocolate Gallery in Franklin. Additionally, a gift shop featuring vendors including Small Town Charm, Ashley Woodcock Designs, Stella and Dot, Gaye Condurelis Decorative Trees, Stacye Clark Designs and Hugh and Me Jewelry will be open at the Princeton Hills (Kim and Ryan Foster) estate for visitors seeking that perfect holiday gift. Tickets can be purchased online at Homes4Holidays.org for $20, or for $25 at the door.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6

First Saturday Art Crawl

The monthly visual arts event is presented by 5th Avenue of the Arts and takes place in that historic entertainment district of downtown Nashville. On the first Saturday of every month, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., an alliance of art galleries and museums collectively invite the public to explore the vibrant Nashville downtown art scene. More than 20 art venues participate. Admission free. Information: www.nashvilledowntown.com/play/first-saturday-art-crawl.

Real Estate Investors Network

REIN Home Tour. This is the final Rehab Homes Tour of 2014. Learn the inner workings of rehabbing homes that you won’t see on TV. Saturday, 8:30 AM at the REIN Center, 4525 Harding Rd, Ste 200, Nashville. Information: www.reintn.org. Upcoming events:

• Saturday, Dec. 6: Monthly Association Meeting. 5:30 PM at the FiftyForward Center, 174 RAINS Ave., Nashville.

• Monday, December 15: Landlording Subgroup. Join other REIN members to share ideas and discuss the many areas of landlording and renting property. Tips and tricks, contracts, and policies to run your business better Monday. 6:30 PM at the REIN Center, 4525 Harding Rd, Ste 200, Nashville.

• Tuesday, Dec. 16: REIN Lunch Network. Join active and experienced real estate investors first and third Tuesdays of the month. Meet in a small group and enjoy lunch together with like-minded investors. Share your deals you’d like to sell/buy. Present deals you know about that would interest investors. Discuss trends and hot real estate topics of interest to the experienced and active real estate group members. 11:15 AM at Dalt’s Grill, 38 White Bridge Rd, Nashville.

• Tuesday, Dec. 16: Deals, Deals, Deals Subgroup. Find where investors find and sell deals, as well as the mechanics of various deals. 6:30 PM at the REIN Center, 4525 Harding Rd, Ste 200, Nashville.

Oaklands’ 31st annual Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes

Explore historic homes decorated for the holidays at the 31st annual Oaklands Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes. 4-8 p.m. in Murfreesboro. The tour, sponsored by Franklin Synergy Bank, will feature private historic homes, a distinctive church and Oaklands Mansion. Admission is $12.50 per adult in advance; $15 per adult at the door, $5 per child ages 6-17 in advance or at the door, ages 5 and under are admitted free. Information: www.oaklandsmuseum.org

Craft Fair and Poinsettia Sale

The 4th annual Craft Fair and Poinsettia Sale will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1808 Woodmont Blvd, Nashville, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Featured will be a variety of crafts to include ceramics, woodworking, handmade jewelry, ornaments, cards, hand sewn items, soaps and candles. There will also be baked goods for your holiday parties and family gatherings, as well as beautiful poinsettias in 4.5” and 6.5” pots. Children’s storytelling and cookie decorating, 12:30-2 p.m. Child care is provided during that time. Information: firstuunashville.org.

Christmas on Main Street

Presented by Goodlettsville Area Chamber of Commerce at Goodlettsville Main Street. Kick off the Christmas season with Breakfast with Santa, the Christmas on Main Street Parade, kids’ activities, musical performances, food, community and vendor booths, the City Tree Lighting Ceremony, and YuleFest. Parade begins at 11 a.m. Information: www.goodlettsvillechamber.com/

Yulefest at Mansker’s Station

Ring in the holiday season in 1780s style. Historic Mansker’s Station opens its doors for a free, festive night of old-time festivities. There will be refreshments and live music in the Visitor’s Center, as well as entertainment by candlelight at both Mansker’s Fort and the Bowen House. Information: www.cityofgoodlettsville.org/624/Special-Events.

SUNDAY, DEC. 7

Hendersonville Christmas Parade

The 32nd annual parade kicks off the holiday season in Hendersonville at 2:30 p.m. The route will start at Drakes Creek, head west on Main Street and end at Gene Brown Elementary School.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

Community-based Arts Workshop

Join Metro Arts for a workshop exploring community-based arts processes and methods for ensuring authentic community engagement and participation. Instructor and community artist Abby Whisenant will cover best practices for engaging your intended audience, producing work that benefits the community, sharing the story and communicating the results. The workshop is free and open to applicants interested in applying for THRIVE funding. 1-4 p.m., Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, 2298 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville. Information: http://www.nashville.gov/Arts-Commission.aspx.

Breakfast with Santa

Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd., 8-10:30 a.m. For parents and children 10 and younger. Continental breakfast will be served. Cost is $8 per child (parents are free). Reservations are required, and space is limited. Reservations: 790-5719, ext. 2010.