’Tis the season of decorating, giving and lending a hand to any number of great causes, and if you’re like a lot of people, you have precious little time to get it all done.

A pair of upcoming events, however, give you a chance to multitask and enjoy the sights, sounds and spirit of the season while picking up holiday ideas and giving a boost to worthy charities.

Holiday Home Tour

The community is invited to enjoy the spirit of the season at the second annual EducationWins Holiday Home Tour, hosted by the Liberty Union High School District Educational Foundation. Guests will view homes and businesses that have been lovingly decked in unique themes of old-world finery and festive holiday décor.

The continuation of a home tour formerly sponsored by Summerset Charities, this year’s event will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon to 5 p.m. It begins and ends at Hannah Nicole Vineyards, 6700 Balfour Road in Brentwood, where attendees will receive a tour map. Following the tour, the group returns to the winery for libations, door prize drawings, live entertainment, refreshments and silent auctions.

The price of admission ($25 online; $30 at the vineyard the day of the event) includes a glass of wine. To purchase tickets, visit www.educationwins.org. The foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax ID # 68-0278632) that enriches the educational programs for students in the Liberty Union High School District.

Festival of Trees

By the time the Festival of Trees lights up the Shadow Lakes Event Center on Friday, Dec. 2, organizers Mary Black and Nancy Torres expect the inaugural affair to have surpassed even their ambitious expectations.

“The excitement for this just continues to grow,” said Black. “And we are so encouraged by the response. People are doing some fabulous things with their trees. It’s going to be a wonderful event.”

Running three days and highlighting four special events – including a Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, Teddy Bear Breakfast, Sparkling Wines and Twinkling Trees open house and Brunch Among the Trees – all proceeds from the Festival of Trees will benefit local nonprofit and service organizations.

More than 30 decorated trees of varying sizes, shapes and themes will flank the perimeters of the Shadow Lakes Event Center. Themes include Home for the Holidays, I’m Dreaming of a Wine Christmas, An Old-Fashioned Victorian Christmas and Winter World of Sports.

Placed first on display, the trees will later be made available for purchase through a silent auction. Holiday wreaths, centerpieces and mantelpiece items will also be available for purchase. And throughout the three days, the public can enjoy the trees and holiday items during specified viewing hours.

“There are going to be a range of trees for just about everyone,” said Black. “There are tall ones and short trees, elaborate designs and whimsical ones. People are really finding their niche with this and coming up with some amazing decorations.”

Live entertainment will also be provided throughout the festival, including the Brentwood Burnished Brass, Delta Jazz Trio, Elegant Touch of Strings, harpist Renee Roberge-Anderson and the Brentwood Community Flute Choir. University of the Pacific Conservatory music students Alivia Logan and Johann Axel Schram Reed will be performing, as will local musicians Susan Stuart, Dorothy Strauch and Laura Carreon.

Tickets for the open hours are $10 and available at the door or online at www.brentwoodfestivaloftrees.org. Open hours are Friday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 6 p.m.

Tickets for the special festival events must be purchased in advance. Admission includes the Gala Auction on Friday, Dec. 2 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.; Teddy Bear Breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Sparkling Wines and Twinkling Trees on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Brunch Among the Trees on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Tickets are also available at the following locations: The Brentwood Press, 110º Magazine, Co. Co. County Wine Company, MJ’s, Shadow Lakes Golf Club & Event Center, and at each of the Summerset clubhouses. For more information, call 925-206-5087 or 925-584-6311.