As the weather continues to get colder, we're reminded that the holiday season is upon us. From getting photos with Santa to watching Christmas classics on the stage, the Madison area has plenty to offer in December.

Get Festive with Agora
When: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, December 7
Where: Fitchburg Center, 5500 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Fitchburg
What: Carriage rides, caroling, Santa, photo booth, shopping, luminaries
Cost: Free

Good Day Market Holiday Edition
When: 4:30-9 p.m. December 8 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 9
Where: Madison Masonic Center, 301 Wisconsin Ave., Madison
What: Shop, explore, and savor Midwest goods from over 40 vendors
Cost: Free

Jingle Bell Run/Walk
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 9
Where: Verona Area High School, 300 Richard St., Verona
What:

More surprises are revealed with every step you take on the property at 21 State St. Mazomanie, from gardens and a pergola to the mix of wooded and open land beyond the creek. Also tucked behind the stunning 1865 Victorian Italianate home is an old carriage house that has been skillfully converted to a second home.

Built in 1909, the barn had been turned into an art studio in the 1980s. Then while Dave and Karisa Friske were in the process of restoring the main residence into a bed and breakfast in the early 2000s, they also chipped away at converting the adjacent structure into their family's living quarters while retaining its essence.

"It had electricity, it had a furnace, but the upstairs was a barn ... and there was no running water," Karisa

After a rush of post-Thanksgiving shopping events, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the focus turns to giving rather than getting today. Each year more people join the Giving Tuesday movement to help others through the gift of their time, donations, goods, or voice, according to www.givingtuesday.org.

There are countless local, national, and global organizations to support, and each have their respective merits. This year, our team has made a commitment to giving back to area parks by partnering with the Friends of Dane County Parks Endowment.

You may have seen some of our blog posts and photos of several Dane County parks, forests, and trails this fall, including the new Lower Yahara River Trail that connects Madison to McFarland, the

If you enjoy spending time in or around water, you'll be right at home in the Mariners Cove Condos. It truly is a "mariner's paradise," said Judy Wagener.

While Judy and her husband, Walt, used to sail together, they decided to buy a pontoon boat when they moved here to take more friends out on Lake Mendota -- especially since a boat slip is included in the condo fees.

"The boating life was a big draw for us ... and it's an easy walk to the docks," she said.

There is year-round water activity here, from water skiing or ice skating on the lake to kayaking the Yahara River toward Cherokee Marsh.

And the same is true at the condos, where you'll find people swimming in the indoor and outdoor pools. People seem to congregate in these spaces,

Part of what makes a house a home are traditions, especially those formed in the kitchen. Some of our team members share their favorite holiday recipes, including ones with a new twist and others passed down from generations. We hope you enjoy this season celebrating with family and friends!

Quinoa, Wild Rice Salad with Pomegranate

"We now make this salad for every Thanksgiving meal. It's healthy and hearty, and tastes really good, too! Everyone in our family loves it. We put the kids to work on harvesting the pomegranate seeds, and they enjoy contributing to the making of the salad."

- Dan Miller, Realtor

Salad ingredients
1 cup spring mix (half and half with baby spinach)
4 tbsp. chopped spring mix
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup toasted

As many families head to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for Thanksgiving meals, some may also be preparing for another holiday tradition that requires tennis shoes. Hundreds of people are getting ready to run and walk on Thanksgiving morning, and three events are held in the Madison area this year. Some encourage wearing costumes, others to bring pets and kids, and all a great time to benefit local charities. Be warned: treats at the finish line may or may not curb your appetite for the rest of the day.

Festival Foods Turkey Trot

When: 8 a.m. Thursday, November 23
Where: Breese Stevens Field, 917 E. Mifflin St.
Options: 5-mile run or 2-mile walk $25 for adult and $20 for child ages 17 and under; dog jog $30 with adult and $25 with child ages

More clouds and colder temps mean this time of year can be a little gloomy for people. But fight your inclination to hibernate inside and head downtown Madison for some new surprises and old traditions. Many of these events also offer opportunities to "Shift Your Shopping" to support local businesses.

Shine on Madison

It all starts with Shine on Madison, presented by Madison's Central Business Improvement District and the Madison Community Foundation, which will feature more than a hundred events and numerous lighting displays from November 18 through January 7. Downtown will be illuminated starting at 6:08 p.m. Saturday, November 18, where Capitol Square meets State Street, during a ceremony featuring Santa and Bucky.

Be sure to arrive early,

Each house has a story to tell, but 21 State St., Mazomanie has many. So sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Built in 1865 along the Black Earth Creek, this Victorian Italianate home is filled with history and character, from its original ornamental plaster on the ceiling of the front parlor to its walnut curved staircase in the foyer.

Photographs of the property and its former inhabitants throughout the 19th and 20th centuries are framed throughout the residence as a nod to the past.

That includes Dave and Karisa Friske, who last purchased the home in 1996 and spent over a decade magnificently restoring it room by room in what is now a functioning bed and breakfast. They have also turned the adjacent carriage house built in 1909 into their

As temperatures start to dip and stores bring out their holiday displays, it's only a matter of time before winter is here. This weekend you'll find activities in Madison that blend the seasons, from an indoor art fair and farmers market to an outdoor marathon.

Farmers Market

Get ready for a Saturday shake-up when it comes to the farmers market. November 11 is the last Dane County Farmers' Market of the season held Saturday on the Square before it moves indoors for the winter. So be sure to head downtown between 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. to savor a fall walk in search for fresh produce. Then the Holiday Market, featuring about 60 vendors, will move indoors to Monona Terrace from 7:30 a.m. to noon on November 18, December 2, 9, and 16. After that the

Limestone bluffs can be spotted along Hwy. 14 near Cross Plains, and they are worth checking out -- especially off of Scherbel Road. 

That's where you'll find Festge County Park, which is 100 feet above the Black Earth Creek Valley. It's called "the gateway to the Driftless Area" for a reason, and once you walk to the stone scenic overlook you'll know why. There you'll find expansive views of farmland and wooded hills in a preglacial valley, which is described on a natural history marker featuring oak leaf symbols as a nod to the rare bur oak savanna located there. 

You'll also find mature hickory trees and a restored prairie with plants that pollinators love, including butterflies. And certain times of the year you'll likely also see bluebirds