• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

Annual Carson City Christmas Tree Lighting, Silver and Snowflakes Festival, happening tonight

The biggest holiday celebration in Carson City, the Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights, is scheduled to bring holiday cheer to the masses on Friday, Dec. 6.

The Silver and Snowflakes Festival has been the official beginning of the holiday season for years, with the lighting of the great Christmas tree on Capitol grounds. Keep an eye out for Santa Claus, the Grinch, Max the dog, and Carson City's 5th graders who will be singing their hearts out while the tree is lit!

The schedule for the festival is as follows:

4:30 – 5:30 pm    Free Sleigh Rides on Carson St.
5:30 – 6:00 pm    Tree Lighting Ceremony on Capital Grounds
6:00 – 7:30 pm    Free Sleigh Rides (continue) on Carson St.
6:30 - 7:30 pm     Santa & Grinch at McFadden Plaza for photo ops 
6:30 - 7:30 pm    Carolers perform in downtown restaurants
6:30 - 7:30 pm    Photos with the Grinch and stuffed toy give-a-way for kids 12 & under at Carson Nugget

Several of the surrounding eateries (and drinkeries!) will be offering special offers during the festival:

Basil 775-841-6100
Holiday Thai Herb Tea with cookies
 
Battle Born Social 775-301-6695
Drink specials: $7 So Juicy Cold Pressed Hot Apple Cider plain or with Apple Cinnamon Whiskey
 
Blue Bull 775-885-2855
Drink Special: White Christmas Cocktail
 
Carson City Downtown Business Association
Free cookies at Laxalt Plaza  
 
Carson Nugget 775-882-1626
Drink special: Free hot cocoa
and free stuffed animal giveaway for kids 12 & under 
 
Comma Coffee 775-883-2662
Drink special: $5 Homemade Eggnog Cocktail;
Free hot chocolate for kids
 
Cucina Lupo 775-461-0441
Drink Special: Festive Wine Pour
 
Fox Brewpub 775-883-1FOX
Drink Special: Hot Chocolate: $4.00 spiked peppermint for the adults;
$2.00 regular for the kids
Dinner Special: $15.95 Prime Rib Dinner
 
Gather   775-433-0200
Drink special: $8 Rumplesnuggler
Dinner special: 10% off your entire meal
 
Scoup’s Ice Cream & Soup Bar 775-297-3471
Drink special: Hot Chocolate Peppermint Float
 
The Union 775-885-7307
Drink Special: Frosty Beer Special
 
Westside PourHouse 775-885-1888
Drink Special: Holidaze Hot Buttered Rum

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Carson City is a Bee City USA affiliate, the first in the state of Nevada. Bee Cities are a part of The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. "Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides.”

In recognition of Historic Preservation and Archeological Awareness Month, the City’s Historic Resources Commission has organized the 2024 Scavenger Hunt.

picture of Hall of Fame inductees.

Six local bowlers were inducted in the third class of the Carson Country Bowling Association Hall of Fame at their annual meeting on Saturday, April 27, at HomeGrown Bowl. Carson Country is the local association of the U.S. Bowling Congress.

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space will hold a "Sheep Talk" this Monday, April 29 from noon to 1 p.m. so residents can learn from Carson City staff about the popular fuel reduction program used annually with the use of "firefighting" sheep.

Two Carson City residents who hiked C-Hill recently returned Sunday morning with a message: The flag that graces the hillside is in need of repair.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of April 29 through May 5, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Camp GOTR (Girls on the Run) is coming to Carson City for the second year in a row! Camp GOTR will be a week-long, half-day summer camp from 8 AM- 12 PM at the Carson City Community Center the week of August 5th- August 9th.

Girls on the Run Sierras is a character-building program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade operating in the Reno-Tahoe area.

A number of new Junior Park Rangers received their badges as they were sworn in as part of the annual Junior Park Rangers Day in Carson City.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Bob Crowell Boardroom of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

For many students at Carson High, Monica Weaver serves as a counselor who is dedicated to helping students navigate the challenges that could alter one’s four years of high school. But in the spring, Weaver also stands poolside, coaching the Senators swim team.

Meet Ricky and Reba, a sweet bonded pair who are waiting for their forever home. Sometimes bad things happen to good cats. Nobody knows this better than Ricky and Reba. Approximately 3 years old, they were abandoned when their owner moved, leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets of Reno. It wasn’t easy.

The 120 pounds of litter collected during the inaugural Shoreline Sweep Volunteer Cleanup at Sand Harbor State Park will be used in an innovative art installation in the park's visitor center.

Over 80 dedicated volunteers joined forces to comb the park's picturesque shores on Monday, April 22, 2024.

Warmer weather is upon us – finally – which also means so is the ever popular and very educational ComputerCorps TechCamp Summer Series! Yes, summer is just a few months off and ComputerCorps TechCamp 2K24 is now accepting applicants.


On April 24, 2024, at approximately 4:48 a.m., the Nevada State Police responded to a crash at the location of IR580 southbound near mile marker CC01 in Carson City, Nevada. (Near the Snyder Ave. overpass).

Each year, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office hosts an open house event as a way to connect families, deputies, non-profits and more. This year the event takes place May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Douglas County officials have announced that construction will begin soon on the first phase of the Muller Parkway Project. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Minden and Gardnerville, offering an alternative route to the main U.S. Route 395 through town. The decision comes as the County moves to fill its requirement to construct 2.4 miles of two-lane road by 2025.

Carson High School is pleased to announce Katarina Klatt and Brynn Russell will carry their academic and athletic talents on to the next level with Division 1 Scholarships. A short signing ceremony was held at the Carson Aquatic Center Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is moving forward with its plan to transfer certain mail processing operations from Reno to Sacramento, a change that has drawn bipartisan opposition among Nevada elected officials over its potential impact on the region’s economy and fears that it would slow the processing of ma

A 32-year-old Silver Springs man was arrested Wednesday and booked for charges associated to a fentanyl drug overdose in December 2023, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

The Division of Child and Family Services, Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services, invites the community to participate in the 2nd annual “Walk Us Home” 5K for Foster Homes on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Carson City.

The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has identified two Carson City residents who died in a wrong way crash early Wednesday morning in Carson City.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City’s Pet of the Week introduces, Shrek. While he may not hail from a swamp, this lovable pup is as big-hearted as they come, searching for his forever family.

Bowers Mansion Programs on the Porch program begins in May with this year's theme is "Variety Edition." Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy this free series in front of the historic Bowers Mansion. Fridays from 7 to 8 p.m., May 17 through June 21.

LGBTQ+ and Allies, community event, Carson Valley events, Western Nevada, gay

Two free scholarship lunch tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who couldn’t otherwise afford to participate. Reach out to wnvlgbtq@gmail.com and request your free tickets now!

St. Paul's Lutheran Family Church in Carson City is having a huge rummage sale Saturday, April 27 at 8 am until 1:30 pm. This is a fundraiser by St. Paul's women's group, WELCA, in association with Thrivent. There will be a jewelry room and a boutique featuring decor de jour and collectibles.

Carson City area casino gaming revenue was up slightly in March, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Statewide, revenue was down 1.65 percent compared to March 2023.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce Empire Elementary School’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Teacher Adrienne Wiggins has been selected as a Nevada finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honors for teachers of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science.

Nevada's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in March 2024, which decreased by 0.1 percent from February 2024, according to the state's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s March 2024 economic report.

Carson High Debate continues its groundbreaking season. Competing at state for the first time since Covid the team advanced to final events in 4 separate events.

Clear Creek Bowmen Cancer Shoot is this Sunday April 28 at the Carson City Archery Range.