Best Bets.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Do a bit of wave-watching Sunday and then take in a reading by David Ogden Stiers of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at the Newport Performing Arts Center. Stiers, a part-time Lincoln County resident who grew up in Eugene, gained fame as Maj. Winchester in TV's "M*A*S*H*" and has been a guest conductor for more than 70 major U.S. symphony orchestras. His readings, a fund-raiser for the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, will be at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Recommended donations are $2 per person.

- Larry Bacon,

West region

Every evening through Dec. 30, it'll be Wildlights at Wildlife Safari Village from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the decorated village will be free, and visitors will receive free coupons for hot chocolate. The gift shop and restaurant will be open, and train rides and wagon rides may be taken for $2 per person. Take the Winston exit off Interstate 5. Call Wildlife Safari headquarters at 679-6761 for more information.

- Randi Bjornstad,

South region

Great news - still four days to shop for Christmas. Combine it with a holiday drive: Take the forested old McKenzie Highway to Vida Community Market, 45602 McKenzie Highway; Christmas Treasures, 52959 McKenzie Highway; McKenzie River Gift Shoppe, 55740 McKenzie River Drive; Log Cabin Inn, 56483 McKenzie Highway; or Harbick's Country store, 91808 Mill Creek Road.

- Matt Cooper,

East region