CHAMPAIGN – More than 140 booths of handcrafted items will be part of the 30th annual Chris Cringle Craft Sale on Friday and Saturday.

They will be showcased at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets, at $5 each, are on sale now at the Illini Union and the hall's box office between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and half an hour before the sale on Saturday. Children younger than 6 years old are free. Strollers and carts are welcome.

This year's raffle is for a hand-designed holiday quilt.

Hosts of the event are the Illinois Heartland Decorative Artists, a local chapter of the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters. The artists' group will offer a free coat check and package check at the sale. The hall will provide a rest area and sell refreshments.

Join the parade, Part I. Nov. 12 is the deadline for registration entries for Gibson City's 15th annual Lighted Parade.

The parade is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 21. Its theme is "Bells Will Be Ringing," which was chosen by Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley student Kayla Carlson.

Entry forms can be picked up at Moyer District Library, 307 N. Sangamon Ave. in Gibson City. Or a form can be mailed to you or faxed by contacting Michelle or Eric Rosenbaum at 217-784-8855 and leaving a message. Completed entry forms can be faxed, to Eric's attention, to 784-8137 or mailed to the Rosenbaums at 913 N. Church St., Gibson City, 60936.

Due to safety concerns, all entries must be lighted and no candy can be thrown. The parade officially ushers Santa Claus into town, so no other live Santas are allowed.

The five parade divisions that will be judged include: farm implement/tractor/auto/truck, commercial float, commercial vehicle, individual/family/ organization and religious float.

Rental entries are welcome, but will not be judged nor eligible for awards.

One overall parade winner will receive a $200 prize and the winner in each of the five categories will receive a $75 prize.

Prizes will be issued in the form of Gibson Bucks which may be used like cash at retailers who are members of the Gibson Area Chamber of Commerce.

The day of the parade, Gibson City's downtown area will be closed off at 4 p.m. You'll find live entertainment and local organizations and clubs selling food.

Parade line-up begins at 5 p.m. at County Market. Entrants are asked to check in at the trailer located on the east side of the parking lot. Judging numbers will be handed out and parade entries will proceed to the line-up. The parade will step off heading west on First Street and go north on Sangamon Avenue to Tenth Street.

Santa Claus will be the last one to arrive to town at the end of the parade. After the parade, he'll welcome visitors at his house on the 100 block of Sangamon Avenue.

Join the parade, Part II. The Champaign Park District is accepting entries for its 9th annual Parade of Lights in downtown Champaign.

Entries are free if submitted before Nov. 6. After that, the late entry fee is $25.

The parade will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 and its theme will be "Let It Glow." The snow and ice date is Dec. 6. All entries must be decorated with lights and conform to the parade's theme.

The parade kicks off at The News-Gazette, at Main and Fremont Streets, and winds its way around downtown and West Side Park and back to One Main Street.

To download entry forms for the parade, visit www.champaignparkdistrict.com or call 398-2550 for more information.

Danville festival. The Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation's Festival of Trees committee is still in need of volunteers.

Also tickets are still available for all special events, except the Polar Express, which is sold out. These include:

– Teddy Bear Breakfast, 8:30 or 10 a.m. seatings on Nov. 14, $7.50 per person, includes a free "Elf on the Shelf" book.

– Holiday Ladies Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16, $26 per person, catered by Applewood Foods, free gift included.

– Festival Wine Tasting, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17, $30 per person, wines provided by Earl Gaudio & Sons Inc., gourmet hors d'oeuvres and music included.

– Cheers to You, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16, $30 per person, history of beer, differences between lagers and ales, light and regular beers, what goes in them and variety of domestic and imported beers from Anheuser-Busch to sample included.

– Ronald & a Rock Star, 11:45 a.m. Nov. 15, $12 per person, food from McDonald's, rock concert for kids by Thaddeus Rex and his 10-foot tall dinosaur, free Thaddeus Rex CD included.

All events are held at the David S. Palmer Arena, 100 W. Main St.

Reservations for all events are required. Seating is limited for some. Tickets for all events are available at the arena box office, online at www.provena.org/usmc/trees or by phone at 1-877-772-5425.

Volunteers are needed to fulfill a variety of duties. Call Mary McMillan at 304-5190 or e-mail her at marylynne<@>danville.k12.il.us with your availability. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 14, 17 and 18; noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 15; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18.

Champaign festival. A new mother/son character breakfast and traditional father/daughter ball are part of the special holiday events associated with this year's Festival of Trees.

The festival will be held at the I Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 S. First St., C; Nov. 20-22. Public hours to visit the display of decorated trees will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22. General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children age 4-12. Children aged 3 and younger are free.

The Junior League of Champaign-Urbana sponsors the event, then donates proceeds to its local projects.

Tickets are on sale now for the breakfast, ball, a ladies' luncheon and gala. Reservations should be made at www.juniorleaguecu.org or 356-5880.

Details are:

– Ladies' luncheon with a fashion show from Bella Mia Boutique, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 20, $25.

– Fairyland Daddy Daughter Ball with dancing, refreshments, raffles and live-auction, 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20, $25 per person, 2-year-olds and younger free.

– Mommy & Son Character Breakfast with Santa visit and play, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 21, 2-year-olds and younger free.

– Building Dreams, Changing Lives Gala with cocktails, sit-down dinner, silent and live auctions and dancing to live music by Hello Dave Band; 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21; $75.