House tours, train shows and other holiday events are scheduled for early next month:

Next Saturday: The sixth annual Holiday House Tour of six Mt. Lebanon homes is run by Coldwell Banker Real Estate's Route 19 South/Galleria office. The tour is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and is followed by an Atria's-catered luncheon with silent auction, raffle and boutiques at Bower Hill Community Church, 70 Moffett St. Tickets, $20, are available at the Coldwell Banker office, 1539 Washington Road. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish. Information: 412-344-0500 or www.PittsburghMoves.com/Rt19S-Galleria.

• Six Ligonier Valley houses will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the sixth annual Holiday Home Tour sponsored by the Auxiliary of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art. Self-driven tour. Tickets are $25. Information: 724-238-6015.

• Old Economy Village, Ambridge hosts Christmas at the Village, a lantern-lit Christmas event with demonstrations, children's activities, a traditional Christmas putz and German food, 2-8:30 p.m. Admission: Adults $10, youth ages 3-17, $5. Free parking at the visitors center. Information: www.oldeconomyvillage.org.

Dec. 6: Eight houses in Cranberry will be featured in the Cranberry Women's Club Christmas House Tour. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. and tickets are $20 (pre-sale only) at www.cranberrywomensclub.org. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. The tour is self-guided, and maps are available on the tour day at the Cranberry Municipal Building.

Dec. 9: Howard Hanna Real Estate Services' 19th annual Holiday House Tour will feature six houses in Mt. Lebanon, open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tour includes Chinese and silent auctions, bake sale and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. provided by Max & Erma's at the Hanna office, 607 Washington Road. Tickets are $25, available at the Hanna office or area businesses. Proceeds benefit Children's Hospital Free Care Fund. Information: 412-561-7400.

O-gauge trains run through a layout depicting Wilmerding in the Train Room at Westinghouse Castle, 325 Commerce St. This is the display's fourth year, and the Westinghouse Castle Train Club has made many additions. The castle, which is decorated for Christmas, is open from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Jan. 9. Santa will be on hand for free photos today. Suggested donations: adults $5, children $3 and under age 3 free. Information: 412-825-3000, www.miniaturerailroad.com/westinghouse.html or www.wilmerdingrenewed.org.

The McKeesport Model Railroad Club, 2209 Walnut St., has an 80-by-40-foot layout depicting 1950s Western Pennsylvania. The annual display is open Dec. 4-20, 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 2 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Donations: $3 adults, $2 children ages 5-17, free under 5. Information: 412-664-5626 or www.mckeesportmodelrr.org/openhouse.htm.

For 14 years, hobbyist Don Chacko has set up a 48-by-24-foot display that combines slot cars and HO-gauge trains at Rostraver Ice Garden, Galatin Road and Route 51. The layout is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through February. Donation: $5 each, $15 for families. Information: Don Chacko, 724-797-2111.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.