The holidays are coming. If you need proof, holiday film classic A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey, will begin showing at Regal Riviera downtown theater Friday, Nov. 6, and the annual ice skating rink in Market Square is scheduled to begin installation on Monday, Nov. 9. 

With the year-end closing in and only four weeks of classes left in the semester, many may have long since seen the last of financial aid leftovers. Worry not. FREEStyle has the weekly scoop on the best deals on the Knoxville calendar.

Tuesday is election day. Tennessee ranks among the lowest in the nation for voter turnout.  Cast your voice, and vote.

Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., nothing says fun like amateur drivers in homemade boxes with wheels going down a ramp. Join the crowd for the Soap Box Derby on the UT campus as part of the start of Homecoming festivities. The derby will run along Volunteer Blvd. starting in front of the Stokely Athletic Center. The preliminary stage of Smokey's Howl Competition begins at 7 p.m.

Also Tuesday, former Knoxville Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe, will speak at the Howard Baker Center at 6:30 p.m.  Ashe was born in Knoxville, Tenn.  He graduated from Yale University in 1967, then returned to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee College of Law, obtaining his law degree in 1974. He was elected mayor in 1987 and remained in the position for 16 years before becoming an ambassador. The event is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, catch a free performance by Medford's Black Record Collection playing "new-timey grass rock" for the 11 O'clock Rock show at Knoxivi on Market Square. 

Also Wednesday, Taylor Hughey will perform trombone and alto trombone at 6 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Music Hall at 1741 Volunteer Blvd., free.

Thursday, get your sweet on for a good cause. The East Tennessee Technology Access Center, 4918 N. Broadway, will host a bake sale benefiting the United Way.

Later Thursday, watch as man-eating plants wreak havoc at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Little Shop of Horrors will play through Nov. 15.  Costs vary from $27 for general adult admission to only $5 with UT student ID.

And to round out Thursday night, Jack Daniel's No. 7 presents a special free concert with Jack's Mannequin at the Valarium. You must have a free ticket to attend. Go here to get your name on the list.  Must be 21 or over to attend. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Friday, it's the UT Homecoming Parade. The parade begins at the Rock, on the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Pat Head Summitt Street, and travels east on Volunteer Boulevard. After the parade the Smokey's Howl competition begins. Free.

Downtown Knoxville hosts the First Friday art party beginning at 5 p.m. along Gay Street, the Old City and nearby areas.  This monthly event offers art, food and drink at galleries throughout downtown.

WDVX turns 12!  In celebration, as part of the First Friday festivities, there will be an official birthday party at the Visitor Center on the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill Drive from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Free.

Also Friday evening, the Knoxville Museum of Art hosts Alive After Five. Labron Lazenby and LA3 take the stage for blues and boogie. Show starts at 5:30 p.m. in the great hall downstairs. Admission is $8 to the public, but only $4 with UT student ID. Admission includes access to gallery exhibits as well.

If you hoped for free tickets to see Dierks Bentley at the Knoxville Coliseum Friday night, you may be in luck. Enter here for a chance to win Bud Light's Dierks Bentley Ticket & VIP Giveaway.

Saturday, Homecoming festivities continue with Party in the Park. Circle Park will be enlivened with the pep band, cheerleaders, music, door prizes and face painting. A barbeque is also available for $12, but requires a reservation to claim a plate. Coach Pat Summitt and Jay Bush and Duke (of Bush's Baked Beans fame) will be there from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The party begins 3 hours before kickoff.  Free, except barbeque - contact Susie Orr to make reservations for food.

Sunday, fire up your taste buds and take them to the East Tennessee Chili Cookoff at World's Fair Park. Tasting passes are $10 to the public but only $5 with UT student ID. Entertainment, prizes and a chili pepper eating contest ensure this event will be hot. Benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank, the cookoff starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.

Sunday, the Disc Exchange on Chapman Highway brings Band of Heathens to the indoor stage. If you can't catch this show, you can see the Band of Heathens performing on Austin City Limits on Nov. 7.  The new record One Foot in the Ether hit the top of the Americana Radio chart last week. Show starts at 3 p.m.  Admission is free.