Bingo party tonight at Carson Middle School; more than $7,000 in prizes to be won

UPDATE: Tonight is your night, Carson City. Free admission for all, plenty of chili and refreshments and an opportunity to win some pretty impressive prizes are in store at Carson Middle School beginning at 6 p.m. during its huge Family Bingo and Chili Night party.

With well over $7,000 in total prizes to be won in 15 exciting bingo games, the Carson City community will see the mother of all bingo parties, organizers promise. Recently added to the prize list are:

A free night at Atlantis in Reno bundled with Bruka Theatre tickets, UNR sporting event tickets, and certificates to Silver Oak and Empire Ranch golf courses.

There will be 39 drawings for prizes after a record amount of contributions from the local business community, said organizer Dan Bowler.

These new prizes include: Reno Aces $500 package, a Courtyard by Marriott $230 package, Gold Dust West $215 vacation package, and that's just the first three of 39 drawing prizes, and more than 23 silent auction items including a ticket to Burning Man, Reno Jazz Festival passes, a $250 basket from Platinum Salon and many, many more.

Musicians from Carson Middle School Band will be playing, there will be free door prizes and face painting plus a Chili contest with a trophy donated by Award Zone and cash prizes, and winners of an art contest will be announced ... So very, very much packed into two exciting hours at Carson Middle School Friday starting at 6 pm. Don't miss out on one of the greatest happenings in Carson City!

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A fundraiser that has become a community tradition, the Carson Middle School Family Bingo and Chili Night, is Friday. And judging by the prize list, there's reason to believe this event will pack the house, hopefully surpassing last year's attendance of more than 500.

The Carson Middle School Parent Teachers Association fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. at the middle school's Cafetorium on King Street. Feast on chili, play some games, win some prizes and enjoy the fellowship meant for the entire Carson City community.

The reason this bingo game is set apart from others is because the enormous cache of prizes offered, said PTA spokesman Dan Bowler. Many of the prizes will be won in drawings that band students will sell tickets for and some in bingo.

Here's just a sample of what's up for grabs in both bingo and drawings:

— Prize No. 34 Gold Dust West Vacation Package $215 value,
— Prize No. 51 Courtyard by Marriott Presidential Suite including movie passes and breakfast, or prize
Prize No. 13 $100 gift certificate to Artsy Fartsy,
— Hundreds of coupons that provide 2 free games of bowling all summer to kids which will be handed out to anyone who comes as long as they last
— $20 discount certificates to Cabelas on $150 purchases as long as they last
— Prize No. 36 and No. 37 4 free passes to Carson Hot Springs,
— Prize No. 62 Reno Chamber Orchestra tickets for four
— Prize No. 15 $100 gift cert from Capital Automotive
— Prize No. 10 Free Massage by Terra Seiwald
— Prize No. 9 a $35 gift certificate for a Massage by Paula
— Prize No. 11 A $20 gift cert The Purple Avocado
— Prize No. 14 Platinum Salon Gift Basket
— Prize No. 25 Bella Fiore Wines Gift Basket
— Prize No. 57 and No. 58 $20 gift certificates to Carson Lanes
— More than 64 great prizes and counting so far, plus this will be a night of fun. After all we're always looking for fun local stuff to do!

For those looking for their inner chef, there's a Chili Cookoff. Up for grabs is $50 for the best tasting chili or $25 for the best name, plus bragging rights for an entire year. Contact Bowler for more details. (775) 83-4667 or (775) 291-2286 on the cookoff.

Proceeds from this fundraiser go to Carson Middle School Band program which is raising money for new instruments, storage space and marching percussion. Also proceeds will go toward special projects fund, which in the past has contributed towards reimbursing classroom expenses, purchasing technology and donating to the Food for Thought nonprofit organization which feeds homeless students meals on the weekends, Bowler said.

"With local donations such as gift certificates or other merchandise we may use as prizes at the fundraiser, we will be able to succeed and hopefully surpass our goals," Bowler said.

Ski resorts in the area have donated ski passes, not to mention all the local businesses and restaurants, including Award Zone that will make a trophy for the chili cookoff and Economy Speed Press which is designing and printing 50 posters as a donation.

Here is a partial list of contributors:

The Cracker Box, Pizza Factory, Dominos, Garibaldis, Mings, El Charro, Panda Kithchen, Starbucks, LA Bakery, Paul Schat's, Adele's, High Sierra Brewery, Titos Mexican Restaurant, San Marcos Grill, Johnny Rockets, The Blue Bull, and Reds Old 395 are all providing gift certicates and supporting the event, major event promoters like Shakespeare at the Lake, Reno Chamber Orchestra, hotels and retailers like The Gold Dust West and Marriott by Courtyard, Vivo Band Instruments, Hanifans Antiques, Due Sorellas, Northern Nevada Coin, Downtown Coin, Les Schwab, Bensons Feed, Liberty Tax, Morelys Books and Cabelas, plus Mt Rose ski passes.