It's Your City: Carson City to celebrate Empty Bowls Project, capitol tree lighting this Friday

This week's It's Your City with Cortney Bloomer looks to Friday night's annual Carson City holiday traditions: The Christmas tree lighting at the Nevada State Capitol Building and the Empty Bowls Project. Cortney talks with Robin McGregor of the Empty Bowls Project, which benefits Friends In Service Helping, also known as FISH and with Ronni Hannaman, executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.

See the video below.

Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 are evenings filled with tradition and holiday spirit. The annual tree lighting, Empty Bowls, and a Christmas Faire return to downtown to kick off the season. Plus, the Holiday Crawl on Saturday, which benefits the Holiday with a Hero project, begins a new Carson City tradition.

Santa Claus is coming to town. Join him at the annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights and Official Tree Lighting on Friday, Dec. 4. The celebration begins on the Capitol Steps at 5:30 p.m. Fifth graders from the Carson City School District will treat guests to carols as the downtown lights come on.

Carson City’s annual tradition is more than just flipping on the holiday lights in downtown Carson City; Santa, carolers, soup, hot chocolate, and ice skating all play a part in the fun. Make way to Telegraph Square where even more entertainment and the Kris Kringle Christmas Market await. The Arlington Square Ice Rink will be open as usual for ice skating fun.

This year’s Silver and Snowflake Festival is a production of Carson City Redevelopment and the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.

Chilly winter nights are perfect for soup. And once again, the Empty Bowl Project will commence with the festival at its new indoor home at the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City, home of the Carson City Christmas tree, at 306 W Musser St.

Take part in this fundraising event from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. For a minimum donation of $12 (for each locally handcrafted bowl you wish to take home) you’ll enjoy the food feast prepared and served by local fabulous restaurants. Instead of a silent auction, there will be an Empty Bowls raffle with gorgeous handmade items, as well as commercial items that have been donated by generous people who wish to help raise hunger awareness.

New this year for Empty Bowls is a preview night. Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. you are welcome to come down to the First Presbyterian Church and see all the bowls at once. If you see a bowl calling your name, a $25 minimum donation will get that for you, along with a ticket to come back the following evening for the main event.

Friday night is full of family friendly fun, but you’ll need a sitter for Saturday night’s 21 and older event. The Downtown Business Association’s first Holiday Crawl is filled with warm cheer, cold beer, and holiday fun. Get into the spirit and help support Holiday with a Hero and Students in Transition by buying a ticket and participating Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Crawl from participating bar to bar enjoying great drink specials, live music with the Whiskey Heroes, and costumes; this is a perfect time to pull out the ugly sweaters. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online here or at Caterpillar's Hookah Lounge, the Tap-Shack, Remedy's, the Carson City Visitor Center, or the Westside Pour House.

For more information on the Carson City Empty Bowls Project, to volunteer, or to make a donation call (775) 313-8628 or like Empty Bowls on Facebook here.

For more information on Holiday with a Hero, go to their Facebook page here.