Prior to candle-lighting, one should give Tzedakah on Erev Chag for Chag itself.
Candle-lighting is at 7:04pm. The Brachot are Shel Yom Tov and Shehecheyanu. [If eating out, one should ensure that some practical benefit is derived from the candles after Chag begins.]
Since it is Chag, if one neglected to light at the proper time, one may – and should – light candles on Chag itself, from a pre-existing flame.
When a man is required to light candles, he does not recite Shehecheyanu, as he will be doing so in Kiddush. [Therefore, it is best that he lights candles right before Kiddush, so that his Shehecheyanu is linked to both.] Similarly, if a woman needs to recite her own Kiddush, she does not recite Shehecheyanu, as she already did so at candle-lighting.
