This week

The Harvest Hoedown Preview Party, Gainesville. Music by Allen Nivens, cash bar and auction items. Preview to the Junior League Thrift Sale. Benefits the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County. 6 p.m. today, Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main St. SW, Gainesville. $15; $150 per table. 770-535-535-1951.

Aluminum Overcast aircraft tours and flights, Lawrenceville. Tours and flights today-Sunday, Briscoe Field, Landmark Aviation, 850 Airport Road, Lawrenceville; pancake breakfast, 8 a.m. Saturday, Experimental Aircraft Association Sport Aviation Center, 690 Airport Road, Lawrenceville. Tours, $5 adults, $3 students, $15 families, free for kids age 7 and younger and World War II veterans. For tours and pancake breakfast, call 404-314-7573 or jlevine@bellsouth.net; flights, call 800-359-6217.

AARP Driver Safety Program, Dawsonville. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dawson County Public Library, 342 Allen St., Dawsonville. Reservations required. 770-344-3690.

Ballroom and '50s Rock and Roll Dance, Clarkesville. 8 p.m. Friday and Oct. 16, Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts Education Building, 157 Mary St., Clarkesville. $5. 706-754-5989.

A Matter of Taste Preview Party, Gainesville. Preview for Art in the Square. 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, downtown Gainesville square.

Book signing, Gainesville. Rosemary Harris-Mallinson will sign "River of Joy, A Healing Stream." Part of Art in the Square preview party. 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Frames You-Nique, 104 Main St. SW, Gainesville.

Rot N. Rusty's ASYLUM Haunted House, Dahlonega. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights in October, Rot N. Rusty's ASYLUM Haunted House, 15 Enterprise Drive, Dahlonega. $14.

Antiques Show, Flowery Branch. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Flowery Branch Antiques, 5540 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch. Free. 770-967-9080.

Junior League Thrift Sale, Gainesville. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main St. SW, Gainesville. $1. Benefits the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County. 770-535-1951.

Ride 4 Life, 4 Those Who Can't, Oakwood. Motorcycle ride from Oakwood to Toccoa. Benefits Relay for Life. 10 a.m. Saturday, Walmart, 3875 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. $20 per bike and $10 per passenger. 770-967-5309.

Ride for Recovery, Gainesville. Motorcycle ride from Gainesville to Murrayville Park. Benefits Friends of Recovery. 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Starts at First Baptist Church, 751 Green St., Gainesville.

Ballroom Dancing ... Dancing Like a Star, Gainesville. Learn the waltz, foxtrot, shag and other dance styles. Lanier Dance Club. Monday with Western two-step lesson at 6:30 p.m. and dance at 7:30 p.m., Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St., Gainesville. $5 for lesson; dance free for first visit. 678-450-9078.  

Business Expo, Dawsonville. 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Road, Dawsonville. Free. 706-265-6278.  

HealthSmart: Health and Wellness Expo, Gainesville. Luncheon with Phil and Amy Parham from "The Biggest Loser," health screenings and flu shots. Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; expo, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main St. SW, Gainesville. Lunch, $20; expo free. 770-532-6206 or rlynch@ghcc.com.

Upcoming

"Prehistoric Native American Culture in Georgia," Gainesville. The Scull Shoals Project presented by Jack Wynn. 7 p.m. Oct. 13, Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St., Gainesville. Free for members, $3 nonmembers. 770-0297-5900 or jcarson@brenau.edu.

Harvest of Hope Gala, Gainesville. Children's Center for Hope and Healing. Live music, food and wine from Grapes & Hops Bar and Bistro and Scott's on the Square. 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 17, Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St., Gainesville. $75; couples $125. 770-532-6530.

SkyWarn Class, Nicholson. Meteorologist Ben Gooden will teach volunteers how to spot storms. 7 p.m. Oct. 19, Nicholson Civic Center, Lakeview Drive, Nicholson. Preregister. egilbert@westjacksonfd.com.

"History of Healthcare in Northeast Georgia," Gainesville. Taste of History Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Oct. 23, First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. $50-$100 or $750 for table. 770-297-5900 or jcarson@brenau.edu.

Ghost Walk, Gainesville. Tours begin at 6 p.m. and leave every half hour. Oct. 23-24, Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St., Gainesville. Call for tour times and prices. 770-297-5900 or jcarson@brenau.edu.

Food for Thought ... A Tour of Kitchens, Gainesville. Tour five Gainesville kitchens, sample food created by local chefs. Live music. Benefits Teen Pregnancy Prevention Inc. 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25, various Gainesville homes. $30. 770-535-7066 or teenpregprev@mindspring.com.

Halloween Party and Dance, Clarkesville. 8 p.m. Oct. 31, Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts, 157 Mary St., Clarkesville. $10. 706-754-5989.

Good News Clinic 2009 Fundraising Dinner, Gainesville. Katie Deal Wright will perform. 6 p.m. Nov. 3, First Baptist Church banquet hall, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. 770-297-5040.

Ongoing

Beginning Mainstream Square Dance lessons, Gainesville. Lakeshore Squares square dance club. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, First Presbyterian Church, 800 S. Enota Drive, Gainesville. First three lessons free. $3. 404-372-6707. 

Toastmasters, Gainesville. Improve your public speaking skills. 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays, Ralph W. Cleveland room, Jacobs Building, Brenau University, 340 Green St., Gainesville. Free. 678-469-2777 or gainesvilletoastmasters@yahoo.com.

Old-fashioned square dance, Hiawassee. 7 p.m. Mondays, Senior Center, 48 River St., Hiawassee. Free. 706-896-1060 or info@townshistory.org.

Tasteful Tuesdays, Gainesville. Get a taste of food, drinks or services from downtown businesses. Noon Tuesdays, downtown Gainesville square. Free.

Southern Living Idea House tours, Dahlonega. Tour the house featured in August's Southern Living. Benefits the United Way of Dahlonega/Lumpkin County. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 18, Achasta, 150 Birch River Drive, Dahlonega. $5. 706-867-1660.