FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES—Closed Thursday. POSTAL SERVICE—Closed Thursday; no delivery.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s holiday-card contest attracted more than five dozen entries from children who clearly have embraced the holiday spirit. Check out the Video: Homemade Hallmark.

“It’s a festival of hope.“ Sam Shaw and his wife, Rita, came with friends to watch Richmond’s 24th Annual Grand Illumination at the James Center, and he wasn’t disappointed.

Hey kids, share your holiday spirit and show off your creativity in our card contest. Come up with your own special holiday greeting card, not one from the store, but one from your own imagination. The only rule: The card has to be handmade, not computer-generated. Firstand second-place winners will be selected in two groups: through second grade, and grades three to five.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a sanctuary of great beauty that naturally looks its best when the sun is shining.  So, it is worthy of note that the garden attracts some of its biggest crowds in the dead of winter and dark of night.

• SLIDESHOW: 2007 GardenFest

We invite you to submit entries for our Holiday Calendar, which will appear in the Sunday Flair section on Nov. 23. Please indicate in the subject line of your e-mail the category for your event as Holiday Concerts, On Stage, Festivals, Santa Sightings, Light Shows, Homes and Tours, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa Events. Along with brief details of your event, include a phone number for publication, plus a contact name and number, which will not be published, in case we need more information.