I Love Carson City’s Weekend Event Summary: Dec. 2 - 3

The rumors of Santa Claus coming to town are true. The jolly old man is making several appearances today, and is feeling photogenic. Take a ride with him at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, join him on the ‘Elf Crawl’ from the Capitol to the Carson Mall, or tell him your wish list at Debug Computers. Adults have a hard choice to make: the monthly downtown wine walk and the Holiday with a Hero Pub Crawl both take place today, and I’m not sure I’d recommend attempting both. Read on, you’ll find a plethora of ways to spend the day throughout the Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, and Virginia City area.
SATURDAY:

• — Breakfast and Bowling at Carson Lanes (breakfast served 7:30am -11am, unlimited bowling 9am-12pm; $13, $8 kids 8 and younger)
• — Flying Pig Flea Market at Fuji Park (8am-3pm; $1 admission, kids free)
• — Coffee and Donuts with Experimental Aircraft Association, Sierra Chapter 403 at 2500 E. College Pkwy (8am-12pm, all welcome)
• — Breakfast with Santa at the Genoa Town Hall: 2289 Main Street, Genoa (three seatings for Breakfast: 8:30am, 9:40am and 10:50am; $5, kids 4 and under free; Seating is limited; Bring your camera; For details or to purchase tickets, contact the Genoa Town Office 775-782-8696 or stop by the office at 2289 Main St.)
• — Pictures with Santa at Carson City Pediatric Dentistry: 4530 S. Carson St. #5 (9am-12pm; everyone welcome)
• — Breakfast with Santa at the Dayton Valley Branch Library: 321 Dayton Valley Rd, Dayton (9am-10am; Free, but please bring a non-perishable food item for a photo with Santa; Come enjoy breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The menu will be simple, but the experience will give the little ones lasting memories. Santa will be decked out in his red suit ready to hand out candy and hear all about the kids’ Christmas wish lists. There are also the usual pictures with Santa and any of his elves)

Holiday shopping is made simple with craft fairs, bazaars, flea markets, and vendor events whichever way you turn.

• — Holiday Bazaar at Browsers Corner Bookstore: 711 E. Washington (9:30am-5pm; gift items, art sets, handmade crafts)
• — Annual Nevada Day Art Show in the Nevada Artists Association Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• — Parking Lot Sale at Dog-Eared Books: 361 Fairview Dr, across from Lowe’s (10am-4pm; Purchase a reusable bag for $5 and stuff it with books)
• — Half-off Everything at the Carson City Senior Center Thrift Shop: 911 Beverly Drive (10am-3:30pm; includes Boutique and Furniture; books are not included; benefits the Meals on Wheels Program)
• — Annual Santa Train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum (Trains leave every half hour 10am-3pm; $5, children 3 and under who sit in an adult's lap are free; Visit with Santa Claus and receive a candy cane aboard the train; Refreshments, including hot cocoa, available for purchase; raffle)
• — Winter Craft and Vendor Fair at Carson Lanes (10am-7pm; Santa 11am-3pm; Food/Drink Specials, Bowling discount during Craft Fair)
• — Second annual Holiday Sip, Snack and Shop Extravaganza at Turtle Mountain Designs: 2165 Beaver Drive, Washoe Valley (10am-3pm)
• — Holiday Gala and ‘Gallery of Trees’ at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center: 1477 Hwy 395, Gardnerville (10am-5pm; Free admission; Santa’s Cookie Shop, Gingerbread Houses on Display, the Snow Globe Tower and Selfies with Santa; hosted by the Douglas Co. Historical Society)
• — ‘Olde Time Christmas in Carson Valley’ Holiday Craft Fair in the CVIC Hall: 1602 Esmeralda, Minden (10am-8pm)

It’s Christmastime in Carson Valley. A Craft Fair at the CVIC Hall , the Gallery of Trees at the Museum, and the annual Christmas Parade make for a very, merry day.

• — ‘What Silver City Can’t Photograph Ain’t Worth Looking At’ Pop-up Photography Art Show and Sale in the Silver City School House Community Center: 385 High St., Silver City (10am-4pm; all welcome, refreshments to be served)
• — Fourth annual Holiday Faire at St. Mary’s Art Center: 55 R St., Virginia City (10am-4pm; free admission, donations always welcome)
• — Christmas Craft Fair and Bake Sale at the Virginia City Senior Center: 100 Mill St, Virginia City (9am-4pm; 2pm-3pm meet the Christmas Care Bear; breakfast pastries will be sold in the morning, sandwiches and chips in the afternoon)
• — Christmas on the Comstock annual Craft Fair at Piper's Opera House, Virginia City (10am-4pm; performances by the Virginia City High School and Middle School bands and choirs)
• — Girl Scouts’ Canned Food and Toy Drive at the Smith’s Grocery in Dayton (10am-3pm)
• — Depot Work Day at Dayton's 1881 Carson and Colorado Railroad Depot: Hwy 50 East at Main Street, at the light (10am-1pm; Drop in, help as you can - There is something for everyone; for more info call 775-246-0505 or 775-720-4104)
• — Monthly meeting of F.E.A.T. (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) in the back room at Comma Coffee (10:30am; F.E.A.T. or 'Families for Effective Autism Treatment' is a group of parents who formed an organization in the Carson Valley for support and advocacy to help families with children who have received the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder; open to anyone who loves someone with autism)
• — Christmas Craft Fair in the Carson Mall (11am-5pm; Vendors, Family activities for all to enjoy, Visits and Photos with Santa Claus, Reindeer Games, Pony Express, Rainbow Girls gift wrap, Christmas Carols)
• — Carson City Holiday Shopping in the Carson Nugget Sierra Room, on the first floor (11am-5pm, during the wine walk; free admission; Crafters, Artists, Vendors, Artisans, and more)
• — Meet and Greet with the President of the Republic of Molossia at Blaqk Coffee: 655 Hwy 50 #5, Dayton (11am)

Christmas on the Comstock in Virginia City kicks off today with ‘The Grinch Made Me Do It’ Saloon Crawl. Stick around for their Christmas Parade at 5 p.m.

• — ‘The Grinch Made Me Do It’ Saloon Crawl in Virginia City - begin at the Virginia City Visitor’s Center on ‘C’ Street (crawl 11am-5pm; check-in 10:30am-3pm, $25, $10 for designated drivers; Sample a wide variety of holiday-themed specialty drinks that only saloons of Virginia City pour. Designated drivers receive a special cup good for unlimited free non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day as well as a Virginia City Christmas on the Comstock Santa hat)
• — Elf Crawl: Walk and Carol with Santa Claus from the Capitol Building to the Carson Mall (12pm-3pm, wear your best ‘Elf’ costume; Hot Chocolate and Cookies, costume contest, and pictures with Santa at the Carson Mall)
• — Holiday Craft Boutique at Sierra Custom Picture Framing: 1210 N. Carson (12pm-5pm; fundraiser for Strawberry Hills Animal Rescue
• — Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening at Flavors of India: 1105 S. Carson St. (12pm)
• — V&T Candy Cane Express at the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Depot: 166 F Street, Virginia City (train runs at 12pm AND 2pm; $19, $9 kids; Sip Hot Cocoa or Hot Cider and enjoy cookies and candy canes while singing carols, and listening to the 1832 classic "T'was the Night Before Christmas”; Reservations required, go HERE)
• — Downtown Business Association's Wine Walk: sign up at The Carson Nugget, Carson Jewelry and Loan, Touched By Angels, Purple Avocado, Cactus Jacks Casino, The Brewery Arts Center, or Comma Coffee (1pm-5pm, raffle at 5pm sharp in the Carson Nugget Alatte Coffee and Wine Bar; $15 includes an official wine walk glass or $10 with the official wine walk glass from a previous walk)
• — Wine Walk Special Events: Live Music with Hallie Kirk at Comma Coffee; Live Music by the Joyful Noise Carson Children's Choir in the Nevada Artist Association Gallery; Holiday Vendor Fair in the Carson Nugget; Meet the Author and Book Signing: SJ Slagle ‘London Spies’ at Morley’s Books; Craft Fair Fundraiser for Strawberry Hills Animal Rescue at Sierra Custom Picture Framing; Holiday Shopping at the Carson Nugget
• — Pictures and Visit with Santa Claus at Debug Computers: 1817 N. Stewart St, #30 (2pm-4pm, first come, first served; $5 donation to ‘Holiday with a Hero’ per photo or digital image; well behaved pets welcome)
• — Carson Valley LGBTQIAP and Friends Social Meet-up at Comma Coffee (2pm-4pm; Open and friendly 'safe space' that welcomes old and new faces with a wide range in ages, background, and experience)

The talented theatre students of Carson High have adapted Alice in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass into a new incarnation, Alex, Through the Looking Glass. Catch the final performance in the BAC Black Box Theater at 2 p.m.

• — Carson High School Theatre presents ‘Alex, Through the Looking Glass’ in the Brewery Arts Center Black Box Theater (2pm; a modern adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ Alice in Wonderland and Alice, Through a Looking Glass adapted and written entirely by the Carson High School Intermediate and Advanced Theatre Students )
• — Sierra Nevada Ballet presents ‘Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell’ at the Bob Boldrick Theater in the Carson City Community Center (2pm; $11 general admission, $6 kids 10 and under)
• — Carson Valley Community Theater’s Open House and Holiday Party at The Annex: 1572 Hwy 395, Minden (5pm-9pm; Entertainment, Munchies, and information about our upcoming events; cookies are always welcome)
• — Saturday Family Movie: ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’ at the Minden Library: 1625 Library Lane, Minden (2pm; rated PG; movie and popcorn are free; sponsored by the Friends of the Douglas County Public Library)
• — Sierra Nevada Ballet presents ‘Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell’ at the Bob Boldrick Theater in the Carson City Community Center (4pm; $11 general admission, $6 kids 10 and under)
• — Live Music by Rosebud’s Dance Band on the porch of JT’s Basque Restaurant, Gardnerville (4pm-5:30pm)
• — Holiday with a Hero Holiday Crawl in Downtown Carson City (Check-in begins 4pm at the Adam’s Hub: 177 W Proctor; Crawl 5pm-10pm; $25, first drink will be free, then discounted drinks and food will be available at participating bars, restaurants, and booths; Must be 21+; Live Music with Audio Sky and Radio Active on the Third Street Stage in McFadden Plaza and the Mark Castro Band on in Telegraph Square; the Holiday with a Hero project pairs children K-5 with law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of the U.S. military and public officials, and community volunteers. The event provides each child a gift card to shop for things they need, as well as a toy to call their own)
• — 22nd annual Parade of Lights ‘Olde Time Christmas in Carson Valley’ – parade begins at Heritage Park in Gardnerville, continues down Highway 395 to Esmeralda Avenue in Minden, down Esmeralda and finishes at Minden Park (5pm-6:15pm; The highway will close between Buckeye and Waterloo shortly after 4pm for the event and reopens immediately after the parade, which should be approximately 6pm to 6:15pm. Detours around the parade route are available)
• — Christmas on the Comstock: Virginia City Parade of Lights (5pm)
• — Nevada Christmas: music and video sequenced light display at 1176 Chaparral Ct., Minden – off Stephanie Way (5:30pm-10pm, no show if raining/snowing; please turn off all head/running lights and do NOT block or park in driveways; donations appreciated, but not required, to benefit the Carson Valley Active 20/30 Club)
• — Candy Cane Lane: custom outdoor drive-thru Christmas light display at Carson Valley Inn, Minden (6pm-9pm; Accompanying music can be heard by tuning your car radio to 89.9 FM)
• — High Sierra Swing Dance Club Member Appreciation Dinner and Holiday Dance in the Brewery Arts Center Ballroom (Dinner 6:15pm-7:30pm, Dancing with DJ Steve Wood 7:30pm-10pm; free for members, non-members join that night and get in free, otherwise $10)

Bundle up and hit the town. The Holiday with a Hero Holiday Crawl is a major fundraiser for the program which teams up area students with notable members of the community for a shopping spree of much needed winter items, and a special toy for Christmas.

• — Weekly Star Party and Telescope Viewing at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College: 2699 Van Patten Ave, off Murphy Drive (6pm-10:30pm; free; weather permitting)
• — Ladies Night at Crossroads Lounge (7pm-close)
• — Live Music at the Casino Fandango (7pm-12am)
• — Live Music with Tom Miller at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint: 1500 Old Hot Springs Rd. (7pm; no cover)
• — Live Music with Terri Campillo, Craig Fletcher, and friends at Glen Eagles Restaurant (7pm-10pm)
• — Karaoke with Millers Entertainment in the Eleventh Frame Winners Lounge at Carson Lanes (7pm-11pm; 21+; raffle for singers, no cover)
• — Rock 'n Bowl Night at Carson Lanes Family Fun Center (7pm-11pm; music and laser lights; Bowling Discounts for groups of 10 or more)
• — Christmas in the Sierra Concert: David John and the Comstock Cowboys at Piper’s Opera House, Virginia City (7:30pm, doors open 6:30pm; Tickets available at the door, $25, $15 kids; seating is first come)
• — Rock’n and Bowl’n at the Gold Dust West Bowling Center (8pm-11:45pm; $10-$14 includes two hours of bowling and more; disco lights, fog machine and lots of prizes)
• — DJ Wess Neal at Alatte inside the Carson Nugget (8pm)
• — Live Music with Platinum at the Max Casino (8pm-12am)
• — Live Music with the Buddy Elmer Band in the Carson Valley Inn Cabaret, Minden (8pm-1am)
• — Live Music with Blue Haven at the Ponderosa Saloon, Virginia City (8pm)
• — Live Music with the Trippin King Snakes at the Red Dog Saloon, Virginia City (8pm)
• — Holiday Crawl After-Party: Live Music with Deception and a Jolly Santa and Sexy Mrs. Claus Contest at Living the Good Life: 1480 N. Carson (8:30pm; drink specials, kitchen open until 11pm; no cover)
• — Live Music with Escalade in ‘The Loft’ inside the Carson Nugget (9pm-1am)
• — Karaoke Night at the Westside Pour House (9pm-12am)
• — DJ Dance Party at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar (10pm-2am; no cover, 21+)

Even Santa Claus has to eat breakfast: join him for pictures and pancakes at the Brewery Arts Center. Let the arrows fly during the Clearcreek Bowmen’s Holiday with a Hero fundraising 3-D shoot. Enjoy a Small Town Christmas in Dayton this evening. The festivities take place in ‘Our Park,’ at the western edge of town. An ugly sweater contest, hot chocolate, caroling, tree lighting and home-town fun are on the menu. Keep reading, there’s even more in store for today.

SUNDAY:

• — Family Day at Empire Ranch Golf Course (Kids play free with each paid adult green fee, one for one)
• — Breakfast and Bowling at Carson Lanes (breakfast served 7:30am-11am, unlimited bowling 9am-12pm; $13, $8 kids 8 and younger)
• — First Sunday Breakfast at the Elks Club: 515 N. Nevada St. (bar opens 8am, breakfast 8:30am-11am; $8)
• — Breakfast with Santa at the Brewery Arts Center (8:30am seating reserved for families with special needs, all others 9am-12pm; $40 for two adults, two children; $20 for one adult, one child; additional children $5, additional adults $10; includes a pancake breakfast with Santa and one 4X6 family photo with Santa; Please pre-purchase tickets HERE or HERE for the earlier seating)
• — Flying Pig Flea Market at Fuji Park (9am-3pm; $1 admission, kids free)
• — Muscle Powered Weekly Bike Ride - Meet in the south parking lot of Fremont Elementary School, next to the Linear Ditch Trail (meet at 9am; consists of two loops 10-15 miles long each, this will allow a rider to do 10-15 miles or 20-30 miles; ride pace will vary depending on rider level, but usually about 12-16 mph; All riders must have a bicycle in safe working condition, helmet, and closed toed shoes. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the meeting site; email Shane: shane@shanetrotter.net with any questions)
• — Community Yoga with Allison Reitz at Comma Coffee (9am-10am; $12 suggested; beginners are welcome; Bring your mind, body, and mat; a limited number of extra mats will be available)
• — Clear Creek Bowmen’s Holiday with a Hero 3-D Archery Shoot at the Centennial Park Archery Range (registration 9:30am, 10am start; $10; 15 to 25 3-D targets will be out. Unmarked yardage, but binoculars and rangefinders are ok; benefit for the Holiday with a Hero program)
• — Annual Santa Train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum (Trains leave every half hour 10am-3pm; $5, children 3 and under who sit in an adult's lap are free; Visit with Santa Claus and receive a candy cane aboard the train; Refreshments, including hot cocoa, available for purchase; raffle)
• — Annual Nevada Day Art Show in the Nevada Artists Association Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• — Winter Craft and Vendor Fair at Carson Lanes (10am-4pm; Santa 11am-3pm; Food/Drink Specials, Bowling discount during Craft Fair)
• — Christmas Craft Fair in the Carson Mall (11am-5pm; Vendors, Family activities for all to enjoy, Visits and Photos with Santa Claus, Reindeer Games, Pony Express, Rainbow Girls gift wrap, Christmas Carols)
• — Kids Eat Free at the Fox Brewpub (11am-10pm; with purchase of adult entree)
• — Pet Adoption Event at PetSmart on Fairview (11am-2pm; hosted by Chihuahua Rescue Truckee Meadows)
• — Annual Christmas Reception at the East Fork Gallery: 1503 Highway 395, Gardnerville (11am-4pm; refreshments, door prizes, meet the artists)
• — Bingo fundraiser for CASI at Carson City Senior Center (doors 11:30am, game play 12:30pm-4pm; $10 buy in, extra packs $5, Special games $1 each; 50/50 raffle and door prizes; lunch available; must be 21+)
• — V&T Candy Cane Express at the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Depot: 166 F Street, Virginia City (train runs at 12pm AND 2pm; $19, $9 kids; Sip Hot Cocoa or Hot Cider and enjoy cookies and candy canes while singing carols, and listening to the 1832 classic "T'was the Night Before Christmas”; Reservations required, go HERE)
• — Music Jam Sunday at A to Zen: 1803 N. Carson St. (1pm-3pm; we try to keep it simple so that musicians of all ages and skill levels can participate. We welcome music of all genres and styles; Audience is welcome)
• — Pool Tournament at Remedy’s (2pm-5pm; $5 buy-in; APA Rules)
• — Weekly 9 Ball Pool Tournament at Whiskey Tavern (register 1pm; 2pm start; $10 per person)
• — Big Screen Classics: White Christmas at the Galaxy Theater - Fandango (2pm; $8.50 adults, $7.75 kids)
• — Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser at the Dayton Community Center: 170 Pike Street, Dayton (2pm-6pm; $5 includes spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, drinks; all proceeds to go to the family of Timothy Jones)

Let the Capital City Community Band get you in the holiday spirit. Enjoy their free concert at the Carson City Community Center and you’ll be humming along in no time.

• — Capital City Community Band’s annual Holiday Concert: A Tribute to the American Red Cross, A Salute for our Servicemen, and Music for the Holidays in the Bob Boldrick Theater at the Carson City Community Center (3pm-5pm; free admission, donations always appreciated)
• — Holiday Showcase of Music and Photography at the Coventry Cross Episcopal Church: 1631 Esmeralda, Minden (3pm-6pm; free piano recital performed by local music school students, sing Christmas carols, and admire the photography of local photographer, Patrick Wilkes)
• — A Small Town Christmas at Our Park in Dayton (5pm-8pm; Caroling, Hot Chocolate and Cookies, Tree Lighting, pictures with Santa, and Ugly Sweater Contest; bring a donation of non-perishable food items or Winter hat/gloves for a chance to be the official tree lighter)
• — Nevada Christmas: music and video sequenced light display at 1176 Chaparral Ct., Minden – off Stephanie Way (5:30pm-10pm, no show if raining/snowing; please turn off all head/running lights and do NOT block or park in driveways; donations appreciated, but not required, to benefit the Carson Valley Active 20/30 Club)
• — Candy Cane Lane: custom outdoor drive-thru Christmas light display at Carson Valley Inn, Minden (6pm-9pm; Accompanying music can be heard by tuning your car radio to 89.9 FM)
• — Piano Bar Karaoke hosted by John Shipley in the Crown Point Restaurant Main Dining Room at the Gold Hill Hotel, Gold Hill (6:30pm-9:30pm; dinner and drink specials)
• — Big Screen Classics: White Christmas at the Galaxy Theater - Fandango (7pm; $10.25 adults, $7.75 kids)

Every week, I create a list of the fun stuff and events going on around the Carson City area for my Facebook page, I Love Carson City. There is quite a bit to do in our beautiful capital this week, so grab the kids, your friends and family, and have a great weekend.

My weekly Facebook list includes Friday-Thursday, so please go HERE for events beyond Sunday, or just wait for my daily ‘Things to do’ here on Carson Now. You do NOT need a Facebook account to access the information.

As always, Carson Now welcomes reader contributions to our website. Go HERE to submit an event, photo, or item of interest.