Sunday, Nov. 8

Christmas on the Farm ---- Bates Nut Farm kicks off the holiday season with its 29th annual holiday craft fair, featuring more than 80 arts and crafts dealers offer their products for sale and live entertainment, along with the Valley Center Business & Safety Expo; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Lions Club pancake breakfast, 7 to 10 a.m.); Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center; free; breakfast is $6; 760-749-3333 or batesnutfarm.biz.

Temecula Harvest Celebration ---- Wineries participate in the Harvest Celebration throughout Temecula Valley. A two-day ticket allows guests to visit more than 20 wineries, which each offer food and barrel/tank samples; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; $89; temeculawines.org.

Julian and the Backcountry Art Exhibit ---- Dozens of paintings that celebrate the backcountry's pastoral beauty at this art show that commemorates Julian Apple Days; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Julian Art Gallery, 2229 Main St, Julian; 760-765-1551 or www.californiaartclub.org.

Native American Veterans PowWow ---- Viejas Indian Reservation hosts a powwow to honor American Indian veterans, featuring Kumeyaay bird singers, American Indian veteran speakers, Indian arts and craft vendors, grand entry parade, gourd dancing and Indian frybread and tacos for sale; 11 a.m.; Viejas Indian Reservation, 1 Viejas Grade Road, Alpine; free; 619-281-5964.

Vintage tractor auction in Vista ---- The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum hosts its fall Tractor Consighment Auction, featuring wagons, farm toys, rustic farm equipment, horse tack and saddlery, furnishings and more; 11 a.m.; 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista; free; 760-941-1791.

Vista crop walk ---- Eight Vista churches host the free Vista CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk. Proceeds from the 1.6-mile walk through downtown Vista will benefit Operation H.O.P.E., Vista's emergency winter homeless shelter; registration begins at 2 p.m.; New Community Church, 165 Eucalyptus Ave.; 760-529-9965.

Fall Art Showcase in Del Mar ---- Students at Canyon Crest Academy and the Flower Hill Promenade mall will present an exhibit of art, music and dance by more than 60 artists and performers; noon to 5 p.m.; Flower Hill Promenade, 2720 Via de la Valle, Del Mar; www.flowerhill.com.

Mini golf at the library ---- Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation will host a fundraising miniature golf event, where golfers can play their way through the Carlsbad City Library , sinking holes among the stacks; the tournament runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad; $10, adults; $5, children; event will also feature food, children's activities and a silent auction; carlsbadlibraryandartsfoundation.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 11

DNA researcher discusses human migration ---- Dr. Spencer Wells, a population geneticist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, will speak in connection with the opening of "The Geographic Project," a new exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Man that uses DNA research to trace the history of human migration around the planet over the past 60,000 years. Although the exhibit is at the Museum of Man, the lecture will be at 6:30 p.m. at the San Diego Natural History Museum; San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego; lecture is free (lecture-goers can buy an optional test kit to have their own DNA markers tested); 619-239-2001.

Dixon Lake Trout Derby ---- Bring the family to Dixon Lake for the annual Trout Derby, which offers anglers of all ages many ways to win prizes. To enter, each fisherman must buy a daily permit normally required to fish the lake ($7, adults; $5, seniors over 60; and $5 for children under 16). Adults 16 and over must also have a California fishing license. There is no additional charge to enter the derby. Fish must be weighed in during derby hours on the day they are caught; 6 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (through Nov. 15); 760-839-4680 or www.ci.escondido.ca.us/glance/lakes/dixon/derby/index.html.

Thursday, Nov. 12

Palomar Observatory lecture ---- Scott Kardel, public affairs coordinator for the Palomar Observatory, will speak about the history of the observatory and its 200-inch Hale telescope at the monthly meeting of the Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society; 7 p.m.; 123 W. Alvarado St., Suite B, Fallbrook; 760-728-1130 or fgms.org.

Friday, Nov. 13

Seasons of the Heart Craft Fair ---- Nearly 100 craft vendors exhibit their gift, art and craft items; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (also Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 15; Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar; free; $9, parking; seasonsoftheheart@cox.net.

Snow Jam ---- The annual vendor fair is the county's largest preseason ski and snowboarding products expo; 4 to 10 p.m. (also 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 15); O'Brien Hall, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar; $15, general (includes Mountain High limited-use lift ticket); $13, online; children under 13 free with paid adult; $9, parking; 951-587-6266 or snowjamshow.com.

Hoedown in Penasquitos ---- The Rancho Family YMCA's hoedown boasts country-western-themed crafts, music, dancing and games. Come dressed in your most creative country-western attire; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; 9410 Fairgrove Lane, Rancho Penasquitos; $15-$19 per family; 858-484-8788 or rancho.ymca.org.

Art auction in Vista ---- The Vista Art Foundation will auction more than $250,000 of artwork by the late Vista painter Cleda-Marie Simmons, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the foundation. Simmons died in 2005 at age 77; 5:30 p.m.; Gallery 204, 204 Main St.; 760-271-8470.

San Diego Coin, Currency, Jewelry and Stamp Expo ---- Hundreds of dealers will showcase millions of dollars worth of stamps, coins, currencies, memorabilia and collectibles; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (also 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 15); Handlery Hotel & Resort, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego; free; 818-997-6496.

Saturday, Nov. 14

You sank my battleship ---- As part of its quarterly Family Day festivities (children under 12 get in free with paid adults), the San Diego Maritime Museum has scheduled a full program of events, including mini-boat races, sea chantey singalongs, coloring crafts, science of seafaring experiments and craft projects. New this year is the "Battleship" challenge, where families can play a real-life version of the strategy game "Battleship" on board two decommissioned naval submarines, the USS Dolphin and the Russian Cobra B-39. The events tie into the visit of two tall ships, the Californian and Lynx, which will engage in cannon battle sails (also Nov. 15); 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 1492 Harbor Drive, San Diego; $14, adults; children 12 and under are free; battle sail tickets are $40-$65; 619-234-9153 or www.sdmaritime.org.

Holiday boutique at church ---- The San Marcos United Methodist Church is having a holiday boutique featuring crafts, baked goods and gift items; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m; 800 W. Mission Road, San Marcos; 760-744-3759.

Photo Expo West in Del Mar ---- More than 5,000 are expected at the two-day show billed as the largest photography event on the West Coast. Program will include workshops by 13 acclaimed photographers, tutorials, live demonstrations, photo equipment and accessories for sale, software and more; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (also Nov. 15); Exhibit Hall, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar; $10 wristband good for the weekend, plus parking fee; 800-403-8084.

Holiday home tour in Ramona ---- The San Vicente Valley Club will have a "Home for the Holidays" home tour, featuring four homes themed "Harvest Home," "Santa Comes to Ramona," "A Family Christmas" and "New Year's Artistic Gallery." Event also includes a vendor fair with live entertainment, bake sale, prize drawings and more; 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; $10; 760-445-2343 or 760-789-0634.

San Elijo Holiday Boutique ---- San Marcos and the San Elijo Hills Women's Club present the fourth annual bazaar, featuring arts and crafts vendors, food, entertainment, a free children's craft area and more; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; San Elijo Hills Recreation Center, 1105 Elfin Forest Road, San Marcos; free; 760-744-9000.

Encinitas history walk ---- The Encinitas Historical Society hosts the downtown walk; 10:30 a.m. to noon; meet at the 1883 Schoolhouse, 390 F St., Encinitas; 760-753-5726 or encinitashistoricalsociety.com.

DNA Day at the Fleet ---- The Reuben H. Fleet Scienc Center and scientists from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies offer a DNA science program for families with an up-close look at mutant fruit flies and information on the science of genetics; 1 to 4 p.m.; Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Balboa Park, San Diego; program is free with paid museum admission; 619-238-1233.

ArtWalk at nature center ---- The Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center in Oceanside hosts its first ArtWalk, where members of the Oceanside Museum of Art's Artist Alliance will exhibit nature-themed works around the center and grounds. The "Connecting Art and Nature" event was created to show off the center's recent improvements ---- widened pathways and observation platforms; 1 to 4 p.m.; 2202 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside; free; 760-732-0399.

Arts and crafts expo ---- Interfaith Community Services and the Vista Art Foundation will host the Arts & Crafts Expo fundraiser featuring artwork in stained glass, baskets, violins, natural soap and body products and jewelry for sale. Program includes live music, refreshments and door prizes. Proceeds will benefit Interfaith Community Services' Project C.A.R.E., Community Action to Reach the Elderly; 2 to 8 p.m.; Gallery 204, 204 Main St., Vista; 760-941-0140 or vistaartfoundation.org. or interfaithservices.org.