Butler Arts Council's 5th annual Ring in the Arts! New Year's Eve celebration will once again be filled with magic, music and art at venues throughout downtown.

A general admission button allows patrons to attend as many performances by local and regional entertainers as they can fit in between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight.

An admission button is $10, with a four-button "Party Pack" priced at $30. Admission for children ages 6 to 12 is $5, and children younger than 6 are admitted free. Parking is free. Buttons are available in advance at Miller's Shoes, 215 S. Main St., and Snack-N-Pack, 353 E. Jefferson St. On New Year's Eve, the buttons will be available at the Butler Penn Theater on Main Street, Knights of Columbus building on East North Street, and The Art Center on Main Street.

SLIPPERY ROCK The Old Stone House at the intersection of Routes 8 and 173 will be the site of "A Civil War Christmas" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 14.This free public program highlights the traditions, music and culture of the 19th century. Guests can visit with soldiers at home and in camp, and meet the wives, children and men who endured the holiday season during a trying time in American history.The Old Stone House is owned and managed by Slippery Rock University. For information, call 724-738-4964.

A Train and Toy Show and Sale is planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the banquet hall at Eracers Go Kart Park, Route 68.Visitors can buy, sell and trade trains and toys of all types, old and new, with hobbyists and dealers. Also, the Pittsburgh Garden Railway Society will feature an operating train layout.Admission is $4 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Call 724-482-2555.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Public Theater presents Chicago's legendary comedy troupe in a revue Dec. 18 to 20.Second City's "PratFall of Civilization" will be presented at 8 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19 and at 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at the theater, 621 Penn Ave.Second City introduced the world to stars such as Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mike Myers and John Belushi.The revue will feature six new company players, a musical accompanist and audience participants in sketch comedy, silly songs, improvisation and the troupe's trademark twist on current events.Tickets range from $27.50 to $47.50; those age 26 and younger pay $15. Call 412-316-1600 or visit www.ppt.org.

PITTSBURGH — Two Butler County school districts are scheduled to participate in the Chain Reaction Contraption Contest on Friday at Carnegie Science Center, One Allegheny Ave. next to Heinz Field on the North Side.Butler and Seneca Valley students were challenged to design and build complex machines. This year the task was to make a complex machine that would wrap and unwrap presents.Each machine must successfully complete the task at least eight times during the course of the competition.Built from everyday household items, the students were only limited in their construction by size (no larger than 5 feet high, 3 feet wide and 2 feet long) and a prohibition against the use of plug-in electrical equipment or animals.Call 412-237-3400 for information.

PITTSBURGH — As a holiday thank you, the National Aviary will offer one free child admission with the purchase of an adult admission each Sunday in December.Saturdays with Santa and his penguin helpers are planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 13 and 20. This extra program is $10 per child; adults pay regular $9 admission.Call 412-323-7235 or visit the Web site, www.aviary.org for a schedule. Regular admission is $9 for adults; $8 for seniors, and $7.50 for children ages 2 to 12.The Aviary will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, and open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1.Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A soap opera and television acting seminar conducted by J. Eddie Peck is scheduled for Saturday at the Marilyn E. Kane Agency, 110 Morgan Center at 101 E. Diamond St.Peck has appeared on the soap operas "The Young and the Restless," "All My Children" and "Days of Our Lives" and in prime time series such as "Kyle XY," "Cheers" and "Murder She Wrote." He also hosted the 1998 Miss USA Pageant and the 1997 Miss Teen USA Pageant.Saturday's seminar will include character/script analysis and coaching, performing scenes from TV and movies, and a question-and-answer segment.Hours are 1 to 3 p.m. for those age 12 and younger and 5 to 8 p.m. for those age 13 to adult.Call 724-287-0576 for fee information.