Saturday, Dec. 3: Things to do in Carson City and beyond

I hope you got your fill of naps last weekend because this weekend is chock full of fun to be had for all. You can Wine Walk until you Holiday Crawl downtown. Take your pick of craft shows in town. Kids won’t want to miss the Santa Train at the State Railroad Museum or one of the two performances of ‘The Peanutcracker’ at the Community Center. Whether you’d like to spend the days indoors or out, there is something for all ages in the Carson City area this weekend.

SATURDAY:

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-6pm)
• Coffee and Donuts with EAA Sierra Chapter 403 at 2500 E. College Pkwy (8:30am-12pm, all welcome)
• Breakfast with Santa at the Genoa Town Hall, Genoa (three seatings for Breakfast: 8:30am, 9:40am and 10:50am; $5, kids 4 and under free; Seating is limited; For details or to purchase tickets, contact the Genoa Town Office 775-782-8696 or stop by the office at 2289 Main St.)
• Third annual Holiday Faire at St. Mary’s Art Center: 55 R St., Virginia City (9am-4pm)
• Christmas Kick Off and Open House with Santa: Food Drive / Sock and Glove Tree for the Do Drop In at Evergreen Gene’s: 1811 N. Carson (9am-5pm; bring a camera for pictures with Santa 12pm-1pm, pets welcome)
• Breakfast and Bowl at Carson Lanes (9am-12pm; breakfast and unlimited bowling until noon $13, $8 kids 8 and younger)
• Metropolitan Opera Live: The Magic Flute at the Galaxy Theater- Fandango (9:55am; $15; presented in a shortened English-language version)

Carson Lanes, the Carson Colony, Carson Mall, and Fuji Park are all jam-packed full of goodies for your gift list. You’ll have all weekend to visit these crafts shows.

• Carson Colony's Christmas Craft Fair in the gymnasium of Carson Colony: 2900 S. Curry St. (10am-7pm; Indian tacos and over 50 vendors)
• Pictures with Santa Claus at Billow’s Custom Embroidery and Screen Printing: 1894 E. Williams St, Ste 1 (10am-4pm; make reservations at 775-315-0632 or email santadennis2016@gmail.com; pets and walk-ins welcome)
• Carson City 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; Refreshments, including hot cocoa, available for purchase; raffle)
• Annual Holiday Open House at the Silver Saddle Ranch off Carson River Rd. (10am-2pm; photos with Santa, tours, bike rides, bird watching, warm fire and hot cider, and much more; all welcome; Co-hosted by the Friends of the Silver Saddle Ranch and Muscle Powered)
• Cookie Decorating for kids at Genoa Coffee and Candy in Carson Lanes (10am-7pm; one free cookie for kids 10 and under)
• Arlington Square Ice Rink (Sessions 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm, 6pm-10pm; $7/$5 kids, $3 Skate Rental)
• NV Reads Book Reading and Discussion: ‘Grind’ with author Mark Maynard at the Carson Library (10am-12pm; registration required at http://carsoncitylibrary.libcal.com/... )
• PPI presents: Introduction to Directing in the Brewery Arts Center Black Box Theater (10am-12pm; $20, to register for this event, please email ppicarsoncity@yahoo.com)
• Holiday Craft Fair at the Carson Mall (Vendors 10am-5pm; Santa photos 10am-6pm)

Looking for Santa? Check out the Open House at Evergreen Gene’s. You’ll find him at the Carson Mall, Billow’s Embroidery, and aboard the Steam Train at the State Railroad Museum.

• Christmas Shopping Extravaganza at Fuji Park (10am-6pm; handmade gifts, local businesses, local reps, jewelry, makeup, healthcare, home decor, and more)
• Douglas Co. Historical Society Holiday Gala and ‘Gallery of Trees’ at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center: 1477 Hwy 395, Gardnerville (10am-3pm; Free admission; Gingerbread decorating contest, demonstrations, sweet shop, Santa selfies, and more)
• Christmas Craft Fair at the Virginia City Senior Center: 100 Mill St, Virginia City (10am-4pm; 2pm-3pm meet the Christmas Care Bear)

Take a step outside the box and enjoy the tranquility at the Silver Saddle Ranch off Carson River Road. Bring your bike to explore, or just spend some time bird watching. Some hot cider and a warm fire will make your time at their Holiday Open House nice and toasty.

• Annual Nevada Day Art Show at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery in the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• Auditions for the Carson Valley Community Theater’s ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ at the Carson Valley Community Theatre: 1572 Hwy 395 N, Minden (10am; auditions consist of a one minute cold reading from script and song – bring CD or sheet music for accompaniment; For more info call Lucille Rao at 775-843-3493)
• Monthly meeting of F.E.A.T. (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) in the back room at Comma Coffee (10:30am)
• Swim Class for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Carson City Aquatic Facility (11am; $4)
• Winter Craft Fair at Carson Lanes (11am-7pm)
• WARF Cat and Kitten Adoption Event at Petco on Topsy Lane (11am-4pm; all cats are fixed, vaccinated and micro-chipped)
• Hohl 4 the Holidays: Catmandu Cat/Kitten Adoption Event at Michael Hohl Subaru: 2910 S. Carson St. (11am-3pm; No adoption fees, cats are fixed and vaccinated; refreshments and prizes)
• Tales and Wags Therapy Dogs at the Carson City Library (11am-12pm; Participants can read to the dogs and will receive a free book; under 9 yrs old must be accompanied by someone 13+)
• Rock Point Mill Tour at Dayton State Park – meet in the northeastern corner of the Gold Ranch Casino parking lot (1pm-2pm, please arrive 10 minutes early; $7 per vehicle, $5 for NV residents; walk is less than one mile in length and involves climbing rocky stairs. Some areas on the trail are rocky and uneven. Participants should dress in layers for the weather and wear sturdy hiking boots)

It’s wine walk weekend. But this one is followed by the Second Annual Holiday with a Hero Crawl. Bundle up, pace yourself, and track down a designated driver or a taxi if you plan on participating.

• Downtown Business Association's Wine Walk: sign up at the Carson Nugget, Cactus Jacks, Carson Jewelry and Loan, Remedy's Bar, Touched By Angels, Comma Coffee, or the Brewery Arts Center Artisan Store (1pm-5pm, raffle at 5pm in the Carson Nugget Alatte Coffee and Wine Bar; $15)
• Author Meet and Greet with local historian Bonnie Boice Nishikama "Nevada State Orphans/Children's Home" at Morley’s Books: 201 W King St (1pm-5pm)
• Dart Tournament at Westside Pour House (1pm; $10 buy in; $500 in guaranteed prizes)
• Sierra Nevada Ballet presents ‘Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell’ at the Bob Boldrick Theater in the Community Center (2pm; $11/$6 kids 10 and under)
• ’Elf Jr. The Musical’ presented by Wild Horse Children’s Theater in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall (2pm; $10, $5 kids)

Take the kids to the theater. Elf Jr. The Musical can be found on stage at the Brewery Arts Center at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The ballet, The Peanutcracker, is a shorter, condensed version of the Nutcracker and is just the perfect length for young attention spans.

• Poetry Reading: David Lee "Bluebonnets, Firewheels, and Brown-Eyed Susans, Or, Poems New and Used from the Bandera Rag and Bone Shop" and Pop-up Art Show at the Silver City School House Community Center: 175 High St., Silver City (2:30pm; free public event that will include appetizers and a little pre-event acoustic blues by Mylo McCormick)
• An Exceptional Olive Oil Show with Chef Don Pepe at Villa Basque Cafe: 730 Basque Way (3:30pm-5:30pm; free; seating limited, must RSVP at 775.884.4451)
• Sierra Nevada Ballet presents ‘Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell’ at the Bob Boldrick Theater in the Community Center (4pm; $11/$6 kids 10 and under)
• Artist Spotlight and Reception: potter, jewelry maker and author Kym Maehl in the Artisan Shoppe at the Brewery Arts Center (4pm-7pm)
• Book Signing: children’s author Patti Higdon Santos ‘Ruby, the Red-Footed Booby’ at Living the Good Life (4pm-6pm, reading at 4:30pm)
• Fundraiser for Douglas Pop Warner Cheerleaders at Yogurt Beach – Gardnerville (4pm-8pm; 30% of purchase to benefit them)
• ’Festival of Lessons and Carols’ Holiday Concert with Consort Canzona at Carson Valley United Methodist Church: 1375 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville (5pm; free, donations welcomed)

Head to the little town of Genoa for one of the three seatings of ‘Breakfast with Santa.’ Wander over to the Carson Valley Cultural Center and Museum for their Gallery of Trees, Christmas Gala, and a wonderland of Gingerbread. Don’t miss the annual Parade of Lights at 5 p.m. or the fun in Minden Park that follows.

• 21st Annual Parade of Lights –begins at Eddy Street 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)
• Live Music with Catfish Carl at 1862 David Walley's Restaurant and Saloon in Genoa (5pm-9pm)
• Holiday with a Hero Holiday Pub Crawl in Downtown Carson City (Crawl 5pm-10pm; Check-in begins 4pm at the Adam’s Hub: 177 W Proctor; $25, first drink will be free, then discounted drinks and food will be available at participating bars, restaurants, and booths)

-- Live Music with the Whiskey Heroes at the McFadden Plaza Stage
-- Live Music with Stereo Galaxy at the Telegraph Square Stage
-- Live DJs at the Blue Bull, Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar, and Living the Good Life
-- Karaoke at Westside Pour House
-- Live Music at Mystique Restaurant and Lounge and Bella Fiore
-- Costume Contests: Jimmy G's Cigar Bar (sexiest costume at 8:30pm), Mystique Restaurant and Lounge (best costume at 9pm), and Living the Good Life Nightclub-Bistro-Lounge (best Mr. and Mrs. Claus costumes at 10pm)

• Nevada Christmas: music and light display at 1176 Chaparral Ct., Minden – off Stephanie Way (5:30pm-10pm, no show if raining; donation drive for Austin’s House: food, money, gift certificates; please do NOT block or park in driveways)
• High Sierra Swing Dance Club Member Appreciation Dinner- Holiday Dance in the Brewery Arts Center Ballroom (Dinner catered by Mitch Tufts 6pm-7:30pm, Dancing 7:30pm-10pm; free for members, non-members join that night and get in free, otherwise $10)

The Holiday with at Hero Crawl is the main event for Carson City tonight with live outdoor music, costume contests, and more. If you’re in the mood for something else, though, the High Sierra Swing Dance Club’s holiday dinner ball is tonight in the Brewery Arts Center Ballroom.

• 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)
• Star Party and Telescope Viewing at Western Nevada College’s Observatory: 2699 Van Patten Ave (6pm-10pm; free; weather permitting)
• Rock N Bowl at the Gold Dust West Bowling Center (6pm-10pm)
• Live Music with Gary Douglas at J’s Old Town Bistro, Dayton (6pm; Reservations recommended 775-246-4400)
• Live Music with Dale Poune at Bella Fiore Wine Bar (6pm-9pm)
• Christmas Comedy/Music Party starring Clint and Ila at the Silver Queen Hotel and Saloon, Virginia City (6:30pm; $5)
• ’Elf Jr. The Musical’ presented by Wild Horse Children’s Theater in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall (7pm; $10, $5 kids)
• Live Comedy: Sister's Christmas Catechism in the Carson Valley Inn Valley Ballroom, Minden (doors 6:30pm, 7pm; $22)
• Mortal Combat Competition at Butts Out Vapor TOO: 2200 E William St (7pm-10pm; $5 entry, prizes for winners; all proceeds go to Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation)
• Live Music with Terri Campillo, Craig Fletcher, and friends at Glen Eagles Restaurant (7pm-10pm)
• Live Music with the Lost Mountain Band at Casino Fandango (7pm-12am)
• Christmas in the Sierra Concert: David John and the Comstock Cowboys at Piper’s Opera House, Virginia City (7:30pm, doors open 6:30pm; $25, $15 kids; seating is first come)
• Live Music with Mixed Company at the Eleventh Frame Winners Lounge, Carson Lanes (8pm-12am; must be 21+)
• Live Music with Cool Phat Daddy in the Carson Nugget Sports Bar (8pm-12am)
• Live Music at the Max Casino (8pm-12am)
• Live Music with the Nighthawks in the Carson Valley Inn Cabaret, Minden (8pm-1am)
• Live Music with the Trippin King Snakes at the Red Dog Saloon, Virginia City (8pm)
• Karaoke at the Westside Pour House (8pm)
• Karaoke at the Spoke Bar and Grill (8pm)
• Holiday Crawl After Party with DJ R Styles at Living the Good Life: 1480 N. Carson St. (9pm; costume contest; kitchen open until 11:30pm, food discounts for crawlers)
• DJ Dance Party at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar (10pm-2am)