Press releases for arts and entertainment events and programs should be typed, double-spaced, with basic information about the event, performance dates and times, location, ticket prices and a public telephone number. Send notices two to three weeks before the event to Preview, 207 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Escondido, 92025, or via e-mail to preview@nctimes.com. Or fax items to (760) 745-3769.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Clairvoyant Lisa Williams ---- The British star of Lifetime television's "Voices From the Other Side" and "Life Among the Dead" will offer live readings during this stop on her fall U.S. tour; 8 p.m. Dec. 17; Pala Events Center, Pala Casino Spa & Resort, 11154 Highway 76, Pala; $35-$85; 800-745-3000 or palacasino.com/entertainment.

"Herskovits and the Heart of Blackness" screening ---- Harvard professor Vincent Brown, author of "The Reaper's Garden: Death and Power in the World of Atlantic Slavery," will screen his award-winning documentary on the life and career of Melville J.Herskovits, the pioneering Jewish American anthropologist whose controversial teaching and scholarship helped shaped modern African-American identity, and the parallels between Jewish and African-American descendents; 2 p.m. Dec. 20; Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas; free; 760-753-7376.

First Night Escondido ----- Escondido presents its 15th annual, alcohol-free, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration, featuring live music and entertainment, dancing, children's crafts and face painting and fireworks show; 6 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31; Grape Day Park and California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido; ticket on-sale date to be announced; 760-715-4448.

Henry Rollins ---- Spoken-word concert; 8 p.m. Feb. 17; Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; $25; tickets go on sale at noon Dec. 4; 858-481-8140 or bellyup.com.

THEME PARKS

Belmont Park ---- Opened in 1925, this beachside amusement park features the historical Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, along with a traditional carousel, bumper cars, the Beach Blaster suspension thrill ride, CHAOS 360-degree spin ride, laser and mirror mazes, kiddie rides, flight simulator, climbing tree, arcade, picnic and play areas, the Wave House, with the Bruticus Maximus giant wave rider and Flow Rider perpetual wave machine, and the 80-year-old Plunge, the largest indoor pool in Southern California; hours, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays; 3190 Mission Blvd., Mission Beach; unlimited ride wristbands, $22.95 (50 inches and up) and $15.95 (under 50 inches); individual rides, $2-$6; Giant Dipper is $6; Flow Rider is $15; miniature golf is $7; 858-488-1549 or belmontpark.com.

Boomers! Vista ---- Amusement park features arcades, bumper boats, batting cages, miniature golf, laser tag, children's rides and a large climbing structure; noon to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays; 1525 W. Vista Way, Vista; $27.99 (unlimited, excludes batting cages and coin arcade) for over 58 inches; $24.99, under 58 inches; $3-$8, single attractions; 760-945-9474 or boomersparks.com.

Castle Park ---- Opened in 1973, the theme park includes more than 30 rides including roller coasters, a log chute, carnival rides, an arcade, miniature golf and magic shows; arcade opens at 11 a.m. daily; rides open at noon; 3500 Polk St., Riverside; unlimited ride pass: $19.99, taller than 48 inches; $12.99, under 48 inches; annual passes, $50-$55 (miniature golf has separate fee, $6.99-$7.99); 951-785-3000 or castlepark.com.

Discovery Science Center ---- "Robots & Us," an interactive exhibit explaining and demonstrating robot technology, is open; "Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home," an exhibit on ecological conservation, is open; "The Science of Hockey," a new interactive exhibit exploring the physics and physiology of the game, is open; more than 100 hands-on science, math and technology exhibits, including "Dino Quest," earthquake "shake shack," climbing wall, musical floor, and 4-D theater. Now featuring "Masters of the Night: The TRUE Story of Bats"; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; Taco Bell Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana; $12.95, general; $9.95, children (3-17); free, children 2 and under; $3, parking; 714-542-2823 or discoverycube.org.

Disneyland Park ---- The park has been decorated for the holidays, with seasonal decor and entertainment; "Celebrate! A Street Party" is a new daily parade event with 100 performers (including 48 dancers and 24 Disney characters) who walk behind the parade floats and stop at three spots along the parade route to perform and invite park guests to join in the celebration; also new is the Celebration Roundup & Barbecue, an outdoor dinner theater event in Big Thunder Ranch featuring a barbecue lunch or dinner and a live, Western-style stage show; cost is $28.99 for adults and $18.99 for children ages 3 to 19; opened in July 1955, Walt Disney theme park includes 60 attractions, including roller coasters, trains, boats, trolleys, carriage and black-light rides, monorail, walk-throughs, live shows, hands-on exhibits and walkabout encounters; "It's a Small World" has recently reopened after an 18-month refurbishment with an all-new North America scene and new Disney character costumes (from "Aladdin" and "Lilo and Stitch") in various lands; "Innoventions Dream Home," a futuristic 5,000-square-foot home showcasing the latest home technology, is now open in Tomorrowland; Remember ... Dreams Come True" fireworks and special effects show nightly; open daily; hours vary; Harbor Boulevard at Disney Way, Anaheim; $69, general (ages 10-59); $59, children 3-9; free, 2 and under; $84-$94, one-day park-hopper passes; $123-$143, two-day park-hopper passes; $134-$389, annual passes; $12, parking ($17, RVs); 714-781-4565 or disneyland.com.

Disneyland's California Adventure ---- The park has been decorated for the holidays, with seasonal decor and entertainment; opened in 2001, this 55-acre Disney theme park highlights the history, culture, beauty and industries of California; themed lands include Golden State (agriculture, aviation, wilderness), Paradise Pier (seaside amusement park) and Hollywood Pictures Backlot (filmmaking, TV and stage shows); the park has more than 25 themed attractions, shows and rides; the park is in the midst of a multiyear expansion and enhancement that will include the introduction of many new attractions, rides and shows through 2012; newly opened, refurbished midway games and carousel on Paradise Pier; "High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now!" stage show, featuring a cast of 14 singer/dancers, plays three times a day in the Sun Plaza; "Toy Story Mania," a 3-D ride-through attraction where riders take target practice at "Toy Story" characters, is now open; hours vary, check Web site for daily schedule; Harbor Boulevard at Disney Way, Anaheim; $69, general (ages 10-59); $59, children 3-9; free, 2 and under; $84-$94, one-day park-hopper passes; $123-$143, two-day park-hopper passes; $134-$389, annual passes; $12, parking ($17, RVs); 714-781-4565 or disneyland.com.

Knott's Berry Farm ---- "Knott's Merry Farm," this year celebrating "A Charlie Brown Christmas," kicks off on Thanksgiving day with holiday decor, Santa Claus, a Victorian artisan fair daily through Dec. 30; events include the "Peanuts Holiday Parade" on Dec. 12-13, 19-23 and 25-30 as well as Jan. 1-2; "Snoopy's Cool Christmas" ice-skating show Dec. 11-12, 18-24 and 26-31; also performances of "A Christmas Carol" and "Gift of the Magi" in the Bird Cage Theatre; park-goers who purchase a $15 gift from the Knott's Marketplace for the Toys for Tots campaign will receive free admission, through Dec. 20, or bring your own new, unwrapped gift and get a voucher for $15 admission to the park; Knott's is a 160-acre amusement park featuring 165 rides, including an authentic Old West Ghost Town; roller coasters; Camp Snoopy's children's area; themed restaurants; all-new "Everybody Loves Snoopy" live ice-skating show and other family entertainment; thrill rides that include the Silver Bullet, a Western-themed suspended roller coaster that features a 109-foot drop, corkscrews, spirals and cobra rolls, and RipTide thrill ride, which sends riders in a floorless, spinning gondola soaring 59 feet into 360-degree vertical arcs; opens daily at 10 a.m.; closing time varies; 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park; $51.99, adults ($421.99 for Southern California adults); $23.99, seniors (62+) and children 3 to 11; free, children 2 and under; $59.95-$114.95, annual passes; $10, parking; 714-220-5200 or knotts.com.

Legoland California ---- The holiday musical "Let It Snow" plays weekends through Dec. 13, then daily Dec. 19-25; the park's Holly Jolly Holidays program, feturing nightly fireworks, holiday decor, a Lego Santa and themed shows; "Kids' New Year's Eve," a toddler-friendly new year's celebration, will feature a ball drop, fireworks and "midnight" celebration at 6 p.m. Dec. 31; The 128-acre Lego toy-themed amusement park, best suited for ages 2 to 12, offers hands-on Lego-building areas; new "Bob the Builder in 4-D: Bob the Builder and the Roller-Coaster" film; the park has interactive play areas; water rides and attractions; mini-roller-coasters and car-and -boat driving courses; live stage shows; walk-through attractions; Miniland USA (miniature cities of the world built from Lego bricks); dinosaur, Egypt, water, middle ages and other themed "lands"; hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays (closed Tuesdays-Wednesdays); 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad; $65, general; $55, children (3-12) and seniors; free, 2 and under; $12, parking; 760-918-5346 or legoland.com.

San Diego Zoo ---- "Jungle Bells," the zoo's first inaugural holiday program, begins Dec. 11 with an outdoor ice-skating ring, a chainsaw ice-sculpting show, nightly tree-lighting ceremonies and bell ringers; Santa will be in his workshop in Panda Canyon and extended hours until 8 p.m. through Jan. 3; The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey, the largest exhibit in the zoo's history, is now open; the 7.5-acre habitat features elephants, jaguars and California condors along with replicas of their Pleistocene-era ancestors; the 100-acre zoo houses more than 4,000 animals of 800 species and 6,500 plant species; features include walk-through gorilla, polar bear, tiger and rain forest habitats; live shows; children's petting areas; Chinese giant panda exhibit; orangutan and siamang ape enclosure; "Monkey Trails and Forest Tales" habitat is a 3-acre, walk-through multilevel habitat enclosure for African and Asian monkeys, leopards, snakes, tortoises, crocodiles and birds; spring hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (grounds close at 5 p.m.); summer hours, June 27-Sept. 7 are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily; Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego; one-day pass includes Skyfari aerial tram and guided bus tour: $37, adults; $27, children (4-11); free parking; 619-234-3153 or sandiegozoo.org.

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park ---- Wild Holidays, a new holiday program that replaces the old "Festival of Lights," will feature "Wild Holidays," featuring 12 days of "enrichment," where parkgoers can buy and create gifts for the park's animals (such as hay tacos for the meerkats and food pellets for the elephants); Wild Holidays runs weekends, Dec. 12-13, 19-20, 26-31 and Jan. 1-2; also over the holidays, the park will offer children's ornament crafts, a black light puppet show and a special Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 19; Opened in 1972, the 1,800-acre wildlife preserve operated by the San Diego Zoo allows visitors to see more than 3,500 animals of 429 species in their naturalistic habitats; now open, a new zipline aerial tour that flies riders over the rhino and giraffe enclosures at speeds up to 47 mph; price is $70; park tours available on the "Journey Into Africa" 25-minute tram ride ($6-$10); plus hands-on encounters, walk-through exhibits, live animal shows, children's petting areas; new ride, Balloon Safari, a tethered balloon that glides over the park's Serengeti plain for 15-minute rides, priced at $15; a 50-foot African-themed carousel with 61 animal-themed ride-on creatures is open; "Cheetah Run Safari" is a group tour that offers visitors a chance to see a cheetah sprint up close ($69); "Lion Camp" offers visitors an up-close look at the African cats in their natural habitat; "Frequent Flyers" bird show is performed several times daily; motion simulator ride; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through fall and winter; 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Pasqual Valley; one-day pass includes unlimited Journey into Africa tram and carousel rides: $37, adults; $27, children (4-11); $9, parking ($14 for motorhomes); 760-747-8702 or wildanimalpark.org.

Scandia Ontario ---- This Scandinavian-style theme park offers 25 rides and attractions including roller coasters, race cars, carnival-style rides, miniature golf, an arcade and batting cages; 1155 S. Wanamaker Ave., Ontario; unlimited rides: $22.95, taller than 54 inches; $17.95, under 54 inches; golf, $6.95-$9.50; 909-390-3092 or scandiafun.com.

Sea Life Aquarium at Legoland ---- The aquarium include a 36,000-square-foot aquarium filled with more than 200 aquatic species including seahorses, stingrays and sharks in a 200,000-gallon aquarium; "Sharks Revealed" is a new interactive exhibit that introduces children to the mysterious world of sharks; also features more than 70 models made from Lego bricks display, including an 11-foot submarine; a sea-themed cafe and interactive sandcastle-building area; hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad; $18.95, adults; $15.95, seniors 60 and over; $11.95, children ages 3 to 12; $10, parking; 760-918-5346 or sealifeus.com.

SeaWorld San Diego ---- The park's holiday celebration will include holiday shows, an outdoor ice rink for public skating and "The Polar Express 4-D Experience" daily through Jan. 3; Skytower lighting celebration at 6 p.m. nightly through Jan. 3; "Shamu's Holiday Night" and "Clyde and Seamore's Night Before Christmas" stage shows Dec. 12-13 and 19-31; and "Meet Santa at Santa's Study in Wild Arctic" Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 19-31; opened in 1964, the 189-acre ocean-themed park owned by Anheuser-Busch features live shows with killer whales, dolphins and sea lions; sea creature encounters; skytower, virtual motion, rapids and splashdown rides; shark, seabird, penguin, dolphin, otter and manatee aquariums; Budweiser Clydesdale horses; stage shows and Sesame Street-themed play area; interactive experiences available with dolphins and beluga whales; hours vary; 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego; $69, adults; $59, children (3-9); free, children 2 and under; $12, parking; 800-257-4268 or seaworld.com/sandiego.

Speed Zone Los Angeles ---- This 10-acre auto racing-themed park offers miniature auto race tracks built for 3/4-scale Grand Prix cars and 18-foot, 300hp dragsters, as well as miniature golf and an arcade; hours vary; 17871 Castleton St., City of Industry; prices by the hour, playcards start at $40; 626-913-9663 or speedzone.com.

Six Flags Magic Mountain ---- The park's new $10 million wooden roller-coaster Terminator Salvation: The Ride is open; the theme park has the world's largest collection of roller coasters ---- 16, with a new family roller coaster scheduled to open in summer 2010 that will bring the number to 17; X2 is a spinning, multisensory coaster; Tatsu is billed as the world's tallest, fastest and longest "flying" coaster; Scream floorless coaster travels at 65 mph with a 150-foot drop and 128-foot vertical loop; plus new Thomas Town toddler land, children's play areas, water rides, live shows; opens at 10:30 a.m. daily; closing hours vary; 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia; $54.99, general; $29.99, children under 48 inches; free, 2 and under; $15, parking; the park is now offering a 2010 "Play Pass" where ticket-buyers get a one-year pass for the price of a day's admission; (661) 255-4111 or sixflags.com.

Universal Studios Hollywood ---- "The 13 Days of Christmas" celebration, running Dec. 19-31, will include a tribute to "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with a Grinchmas winter wonderland with real snow, a Whoville choir, the Grinch and his dog Max and the original film sets from the movie version; the 415-acre movie-based theme park, built in 1964 on the grounds of the Universal television studios, features roller coasters and thrill rides, special effects-based live shows and a ride-through behind-the-scenes Studios Tour; the park's studio backlot (heavily damaged by fire last year) has reopened with all new sets and attractions; also new, the "Creature from the Black Lagoon: A Raging Rockin' Show," a 25-minute musical stage show based on the classic horror film; "Universal's House of Horrors" walk-through haunted house; "Revenge of the Mummy ---- The Ride," is one of the world's fastest indoor roller coasters (with forward/backward motion, 45 mph top speed and animatronic mummies) and has been renovated to include a chilling 45-degree mummy's tomb room; other features include a "Van Helsing" walk-through funhouse; "Shrek 4-D" ride; "Terminator 3-D" live/multimedia shows; "The Simpsons" virtual reality ride; "Waterworld" water show; "Jurassic Park," with new water features, "Back to the Future" thrill rides; Nickelodeon Blast Zone children's water play area; film and TV history exhibits; new this summer at the Universal CityWalk shopping district, The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club; park hours vary, but generally 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends; 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City; $64, adults; $54, children under 48 inches; free, children 2 and under; $74-$129, annual passes; $199 VIP experience; $10, parking ($20, preferred parking); universalstudioshollywood.com.

COMEDY

Ron White ---- 7 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19; Pechanga Showroom, Pechanga Resort & Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula; $55-$85; 877-711-2946 or pechanga.com.

Dec. 15 Night Comics ---- North Coast Repertory Theatre presents an evening of stand-up comedy hosted by Mark Christopher Lawrence; 7 p.m. Jan. 19, March 9 and June 1 (all shows are preceded by 90-minute happy hour); North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987D Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach; $20; 858-481-1055 or northcoastrep.org.

Lewis Black ---- 8 p.m. Jan. 2; Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego; $46-$56; 619-220-8497 or ticketmaster.com.

"An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin" ---- 8 p.m. Jan. 28; Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego; $44-$79; 619-570-1100.

Joel McHale ---- 8 p.m. Feb. 6; Pechanga Showroom, Pechanga Resort & Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula; $45-$65; 877-711-2946 or pechanga.com.

COMEDY CLUBS

The Comedy Club at Pechanga ---- Improvisational comedy club hosts three comics nightly; coming up this weekend: Joey Medina, Thursday-Saturday; Craig Sheomaker, Dec. 16-19; Chris "Kid" Reid, Dec. 26-30; 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; Pechanga Improv Comedy Club, Pechanga Resort & Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula; $22; 877-711-2946.

Comedy Store La Jolla ---- New comedians nightly; 6:45 p.m. Sundays; 8 p.m. Wednesdays/Thursdays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 916 Pearl St., La Jolla; $20 on Fridays/Saturdays; $8, Wednesdays; no cover/two-drink minimum, Sundays; 858-454-9176.

National Comedy Theatre ----- San Diego-based improvisational comedy troupe creates on-the-spot skits from audience suggestions; appropriate for all audiences; 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; National Comedy Theatre, 3717 India St., San Diego; $15, general; $12, students, seniors and military; 619-295-4999 or www.nationalcomedy.com.