If you’re looking for a holiday activity for the family this week, head over to NorthPark Center for the 24th annual Trains at NorthPark. It’s a huge model train exhibit that has become a mall tradition. Plus, it’s for a good cause. Ticket sales benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

The display debuted Saturday and features 24 Lionel model train sets with about 1,600 feet of track through elaborate cities including Dallas, San Francisco, New York City and Washington D.C.. Landmark scenes include the North Pole, the State Fair and Route 66 to name a few. There are hundreds of buildings and thousands of figurines.

It’s located on level two between Barney’s and Nordstrom. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children age 2-12 and free for senior citizens and kids under 2. Check out the complete schedule of hours for the exhibit, which runs through Jan. 1.

Shop for a cause at the Lovers Lane Market place this weekend. (photo from event website)

Temple Emanu-El premiers a new short film “Voices in Harmony” at 6:15 p.m. Friday, showcasing the synagogue’s musical community. The film was directed by Bart Weiss. Admission is free. Call 214.706.0000 for more details. 

Hillcrest High School debuts its latest musical “Curtains” at 7 tonight, and the show runs through Saturday. General admission is $10, and $5 for students. Buy tickets online or call 214.692.6106.

Lovers Lane United Methodist Church is holding its annual Lovers Lane Marketplace Friday-Sunday, featuring more than 65 vendors that will sell home decor, clothing, jewelry and other holiday gifts. For $10 admission, there’s a preview party 4:30-10 p.m. Friday. Last year, the event raised $40,000 for missions.

Singer-songwriter Michael Smith performs at 8 p.m. Friday at Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse. His songs have been recorded by musicians like Anne Hills, Steve Goodman, Trout Fishing and Jimmy Buffett. Admission is $12-$15, and tickets are available online only.

Friday is the last day to check out Temple Emanu-El’s book fair, benefiting the synagogue’s Early Childhood Education Center. It’s open for just an hour, according to the website, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

The touring opera, Doctor Miracle by Georges Bizet, will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday at NorthPark Center near Dillard’s Court. The 45-minute, one-act comedy is a about a man pursuing his true love, the mayor’s daughter. The show is presented by the Dallas Opera in partnership with NorthPark and the SMU Vocal Program.

Been looking for an excuse to dress up like the stunning Don and Betty Draper? The Hillcrest High School community is hosting a “Mad Men” themed party to raise money for the musical and drama departments.

“Martini Night” is Thursday, Nov. 3 at 5834 Burgundy. Tickets are $25 per person. Email Mary Kathyrn Elliott to reserve a spot.

Hillcrest drama is working on its upcoming musical “Curtains” with performances scheduled for Nov. 16-18. The Broadway murder-mystery is set in 1959 Boston and follows the story of a famous actress who is killed during her opening night curtain call, and one detective must solve the case.

NorthPark Center presents Spooky Strings marionette noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday between Macy’s and Nordstrom. Performances are at 1, 3 and 4 p.m. Mad Scientists will appear at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., and the Kidville’s Little Maestros perform at 2 p.m. The afternoon includes several other children’s activities and Halloween festivities.

Hillcrest High School hosts its seventh annual Hit-a-rama, an alumni baseball tournament, noon-5 p.m. Sunday on the Hillcrest baseball field. There’s also a Hit-a-thon, and current players will collect pledges to raise money for their Spring Break trip. Spectators can pledge by the foot or just offer a flat donation. The event welcomes students, parents, children and the community with food, games and other activities.

The Northaven Park Neighborhood Association hosts the 25th annual Disney Streets Halloween Parade at 4 p.m. Sunday starting at Snow White and Northaven. Neighbors will don costumes and decorate their cars, bikes, wagons and strollers.

There’s sure to be a line out the door for Jane Lynch’s upcoming appearance in our neighborhood. She’s stopping by to sign copies of her new book “Happy Accidents” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at Barnes & Noble in Lincoln Park.

Lynch has played strong and hilarious female characters in hit comedies like “40 Year Old Virgin” and “A Mighty Wind”. Now, she’s known for her role as Sue Sylvester on the hit TV show “Glee”.

Her comedic memoir chronicles her success from being plucked from a Frosted Flakes commercial by director Christopher Guest to becoming an Emmy award nominee.

You can only receive tickets for the event by showing her Barnes & Nobel receipt for “Happy Accidents”. Tickets will be distributed starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Jon and Susan Farrier's house is a Halloween destination for Preston Hollow residents.

Last year, Jon Farrier took his 13-year-old son to several haunted houses around town but left disappointed each time.

“I never saw one pumpkin,” Farrier says. “No ghosts, no Jack-o-lanterns. It’s all about cutting people up. All of the icons of Halloween don’t seem to be there. I don’t like the blood and gore. That’s not what Halloween is to me.”

For the past 14 years, Farrier has been putting on extravagant, family-friendly Halloween displays at his home at 6623 Stefanie. The front of his house glows with Jack-o-lanterns, flying ghosts, a chained-up coffin, spiders crawling up the brick and tombstones that read “Happy Halloween”. On Halloween night, Farrier adds fog and spooky music.

All month, families have been stopping by to see the display and take pictures, and Farrier welcomes them. The Farrier house has become a prime trick-or-treating spot. However, since Halloween falls on a school night, he’ll be shutting it down at 9:30 p.m. sharp.

Last spring we put together a fun little multimedia package about the all-girl band We’re Not Dudes, whose members hail from the East Dallas, Lake Highlands and Preston Hollow areas — some of them too are frequently spotted in Dallas Children’s Theater and Dallas Theater Center productions and other events about town.

This holiday season, the girls will play for what might be their biggest audience yet — the Polyphonic Spree show at Lakewood Theater.

Every year, Polyphonic Spree, a huge (both in membership and popularity) Dallas-based band led by Lakewood resident Tim Delaughter, hosts a Christmas Extravaganza in Lakewood. This year’s show is December 10 at 6 p.m. We’re Not Dudes goes on at 7:30. Get your tickets here.

Add this one to your list of festivals this season – the Preston Royal Village second annual Fall Family Festival. It’s 4-7 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 22 at the northeast corner of the shopping center.

The event features a petting zoo, food, games and live music by children’s performer Eddie Coker. He writes and sings songs that are encouraging to little ones.

Admission to Saturday’s festival is free.

Hey, while you’re at it, stop by Purple Cow and try out their State Fair menu of fried goodness. We featured it in the dining sections of this month’s Preston Hollow Advocate. Then, you’ll really feel like you’re at the fair.

Stefani McMurrey Watters, a Cooper Institute and American Power Yoga trained teacher, will lead a MoMe yoga session 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday at Bookmarks in NorthPark Center. The increasingly popular form of yoga involves mothers and their small children and incorporates nursery rhymes and singalongs.

North Haven Gardens hosts its Fall Urban Herb Days Saturday and Sunday with special morning and afternoon programs on cool season herbs.

Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse presents Amy Speace at 8 p.m. Friday. In 2010, she made it into the Top 5 list of “Best Folk Songs of the Decade” for New York City’s premiere AAA radio station WFUV. Admissions is $12-$15, and tickets are available online only.