This week marks the official beginning of the 1999 holiday season, and there are plenty of events to put a sparkle in the eyes of children and adults. Here's a list of area happenings for you to choose from:

NOVEMBER

19 - Dec. 26: * The Alliance Theater will present “A Christmas Carol.” Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. A sign-interpreted show will be Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. and an audio-described show Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$40; 404-733-4690.

25: * The Fayette County High School Select Chorus sings at the lighting of Rich's Great Tree. The program will be broadcast at 7 p.m. on WSB-TV Channel 2.

26: * Henry County Marketplace, home of Peachtree Peddlers, hosts a Breakfast With Santa at 10 a.m. $12 cost includes breakfast for one child and one adult and one picture with Santa. Reservations required. Call 770-914-2269.

26-Dec. 30 : * Stone Mountain Park presents “Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration” weekends Nov. 27-Dec. 12 and nightly Dec. 17-30. Tickets $8 for adults, $3 for children 3-11. Call 770-498-5690.

27: * The Fayette Civitans begin their Christmas Tree sales in the parking lot of Melear's Barbecue. Prices range from $40-$60. Proceeds benefit local charities and organizations.

27-28: * Festival Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $12 adults, $10 seniors and $8 students. Call 770-507-2775.

30: * The Lighting of the Tree in Tyrone, 5:30 - 8 p.m. at Tyrone Town Hall.

DECEMBER

3-5: * Georgia Youth Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” at Sams Auditorium - old Fayette County High School. Tickets $5; show times 8 p.m. Dec. 3, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Call 770-716-9858.

3-5: * The Arts Exchange presents its first open house and art sale. Features studio tours, entertainment, food and craft vendors, gift making, etc. Noon to 9 p.m. at 750 Kalb St., Atlanta. Free. Phone 404-215-0467.

3-19: * Newnan Community Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol” weekends, Dec. 3-19. Show times 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, in the new theater space across the street from the Manget Brannon Center, First Avenue, Newnan. Tickets $5; call 770-683-NCTC.

4: * Fayetteville's Christmas parade, with Santa in a horse-drawn carriage as grand marshal, begins at 4 p.m. followed by lighting of the Tree of Light.

* “Music of the Season,” a community wide program featuring Tara Winds Community Band, at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center. Call 770-473-2875.

* Peachtree City's tree lighting at the Municipal Plaza with choral performances and Santa at 6 p.m. and lighting at about 7:30. U.S. Marine Corps will collect Toys for Tots.

4-5 & 11-12: * The Peachtree City Volunteer Firefighters Association's fifth annual Santa Run. Santa comes to city neighborhoods on a fire truck collecting canned goods for Fayette Samaritans.

10: * Peachtree City offices close noon to 1:30 p.m. for employee Christmas luncheon.

11: * Breakfast with Santa, 8 - 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Fayetteville. Admission $5. photographer available.

* Santa's stroll on the Square in Fayetteville from 10 a.m. to noon. Carollers entertain on the Old Courthouse lawn as Santa strolls, and local merchants have open house.

* Breakfast with Santa at Tyrone Elementary, 8 - 11 a.m. Admission $3 if purchased before Nov. 28; $3.50 at the door.

* A Christmas Tour of Homes noon to 7 p.m. to raise money for Fayette County High School band students playing in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics. Tickets $12; call 770-719-2112 or stop at By Invitation Only in downtown Fayetteville. Tickets at the door $15.

13: * Fayette County High School's Select Chorus holiday concert at Sams Auditorium. Free. Starts at 7:30 p.m.

23: * Peachtree City offices and the library close at noon for Christmas holidays, reopen Monday, Dec. 29. Kedron Fieldhouse closes at noon Dec. 23 and reopens Friday, Dec. 26. Kedron pools open 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 23 and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 24.

28: * Kedron pools are closed Tuesday, Dec. 28 to Wednesday, Jan. 5. The city recycling center is closed Saturdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

31: * Peachtree city offices and the library close at noon and reopen Monday, Jan. 3.

JANUARY

8: * Peachtree City Christmas tree mulching. Bring trees, minus tinsel and ornaments, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to the recycling center.

15: Peachtree City Beautification Committee's annual tree planting, 9 a.m. to noon. Includes 2,000 seedlings to reforest areas of the city, and 2,000 daffodil bulbs along Ga. Hwy. 54. Phone Betsy Tyler at 770-487-7657 to help plant.