This week

Stadium of Screams, Lawrenceville. Admission includes a scary movie. Choose between scary and not-so-scary "haunts." 7 p.m. to midnight today-Saturday and Oct. 29-Nov. 1. Gwinnett Braves Stadium, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville. $13-$35. 770-995-6285.

Southern Living Idea House tours, Dahlonega. Tour the house featured in August's Southern Living. House re-opens Saturday, newly decorated for Christmas. Benefits the United Way of Dahlonega/Lumpkin County. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays Saturday-Dec. 20. Achasta, 150 Birch River Drive, Dahlonega. $5. 706-867-1660.

"History of Healthcare in Northeast Georgia," Gainesville. Taste of History Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Friday. First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. $75; $750 for table. 770-297-5900 or jcarson@brenau.edu.

AARP Driver Safety Program class, Gainesville. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Reservations required. 770-534-7354.

Chicopee Woods Indian Festival Dancers, Gainesville. See dancers who will be a part of the Chicopee Woods Indian Festival. 2:15 p.m. Friday. Meeting room, Gainesville branch library, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. Free. 770-532-3311, ext. 132.

"CASA BLANCA," Gainesville. Italian food, drinks and auction with live music from the Sentimental Journey Jazz Band. Black tie or bow tie dress. Benefits the Court Appointed Special Advocate program. 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday. Quinlan Arts center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $35 per person, sponsor a table for eight for $400. 770-531-1964 or casaofhall@bellsouth.net.

"Creating a Deliciously Healthy Thanksgiving," Gainesville. How to host, prepare and present dinner with hands-on activities, demonstrations and tastings. Includes wine selection, lower-calorie side dishes, dessert ideas and table decorations. 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Cedar Hill Enrichment Center, 5735 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville. 770-887-0051.

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. 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Various Gainesville homes. $30. 770-535-7066 or teenpregprev@mindspring.com.

Medicare education seminar, Gainesville. Learn which Medicare plan is right for you. Light meal. Karyn and Christopher Blake will speak. Registration required; limited seating. Noon to 1 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Spout Springs library, 6488 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch. Free. 770-219-7641.

Howloween Costume Contest, Oakwood. Benefits the Hall County Humane Society. Bring your pet into Pet Pleasers Bakery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Oct. 31, to enter it in the contest. Prizes awarded Nov. 2. Winners featured on bakery's Web site. Pet Pleasers Bakery, 4324 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. 770-534-3843.

Upcoming

"A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of James E. Mathis Sr.", Oakwood. Learn about Mathis, who helped to establish what is now Gainesville State College, The Chicopee Area Parks Comission, Elachee Nature Science Center and The Northeast Georgia History Center. Reception following program. 1 p.m. Oct. 30. GSC Quadrangle adjacent to the Dunlap/Mathis Building, Gainesville State College, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. 678-717-3836 or sjones@gsc.edu.  

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

Haunted pasture, Mount Airy. Eleven-acre haunted pasture. Oct. 31. D.R. Taks Farm, 1344 Blair Road, Mount Airy. $6 in advance, $8 night of event. 706-768-5212.

BBQ lunch, Oakwood. Pork, bread, slaw and baked beans. Benefits New Beginnings Baptist Church building fund. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31. New Beginnings Baptist Church, Ga. 53, Oakwood. $6 per plate. 770-654-6579.

Halloween Swim Clinic, Gainesville. Brenau University Swim Team. Swimmers must be at least 4 years old and able to swim 25 yards of freestyle. Costume contest, pizza party after swimming. Register by Monday. Bring swim suits, goggles, caps, towels, water bottle, granola bars, fins, snorkels, paddles & kick board. 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 31. Brenau Fitness Center, 500 Washington St., Gainesville. 770-538-4687.

Buck and flatfoot dance classes, Clarkesville. Six classes. 7-8 p.m. Mondays Nov. 2-Dec. 7. The Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts, 157 Mary St., Clarkesville. $60 for six classes. 706-348-7542 or jringlis@windstream.net.

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.

Red Carpet Costume Ball, Gainesville. Benefiting the Quinlan Visual Arts Center. 8 p.m. to midnight Nov. 6. Grove Street Station, 610 Grove St., Gainesville. $50, $100 for all-access VIP ticket. RSVP by Oct. 26. 770-536-2575.

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. 5:45-6:45 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.