Bundle up and put on your walking shoes because the River of Lights will open this Saturday, Nov. 28. The annual display along the bosque opens its doors with the Twinkle Light Parade on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. The parade features many light-up floats that move west down Central Avenue from Third Street to the Rio Grande Botanic Garden. After that, you can enjoy the River of Lights display, which features animals, airplanes, dinosauras and more scuplted in colored lights along the bosque. The River of Lights will be open through Dec. 30. Enter at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, 2601 West Central. Admission is $7, or $3 for children. Call 311 for more information.

This year the classic Broadway musical "White Christmas" will come to the Albuquerque Little Theatre. The show follows two show-biz buddies who are putting on a show in a Vermont inn, only to find their perfect mates in the bargain. The musical features several of Irving Berlin's biggest hits, including the title song, "Blue Skies" and "Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun."Shows will begin tonight and continue through Dec. 24. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8  p.m. and Sundays at 2  p.m., with a special show at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24. Tickets are $22, or $20 through www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org, or at 224 San Pasquale SW.

The Santa Fe Film Festival has become one of the premiere festivals in the nation. After 10 years, the festival has grown to include more than 100 films, several of which are premiers this year. The film "Crazy Heart," a rich cowboy comedy made in New Mexico starring Jeff Bridges will premiere on Thursday, Dec. 3, for example. The festival is packed with both big-name movies and stars and several promising independent films. For filmmakers, the festival also promises a large slate of filmmaking panels and workshops. There will be panels, starting Wednesday, Dec. 2, about everything from post production to script writing, budgeting, and distribution and activism cinema. Tickets are $10, or a 10-pack for $75, an all-film pass is $300 and all-festival pass is $450. Films will be shown at the DaVargas Theatres, Jean Cocteau Theatre, The Screen, Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, New Mexico History Museum, and the National Dance Institute in Santa Fe. Visit www.santafefilmfestival.com or call 505-989-1495 for more.

"American Idol" launched Kelly Clarkson's name into the mainstrem, but unlike other stars from the show (Taylor Hicks, anyone?) she's managed to keep putting out hit after hit. From "Since U Been Gone" to "Because of You" and "A Moment Like This." Her latest record has already spawned "My Life Would Suck Without You" and "I Do Not Hook Up," and it seems her star is only rising. Now, if only Fantasia Barrino would turn out some tracks like this. Clarkson will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Pan American Center on New Mexico State University's campus. Tickets are $36.50 to $52 through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.