I Love Carson City’s Christmas Weekend Event Summary: Dec. 23 - 25

If you’re anything like me, there are still plenty of last-minute preparations for the holiday. Luckily the shops and businesses around Carson City are there with open arms. Find something one of a kind at the Carson Mall Craft Fair, drop it off at the Rainbow Girls Assembly #7 gift wrapping booth, and grab lunch while you wait. Breakfast with Santa at the Fox Brewpub serves as a toy drive for area kids and as no-fuss way to get start the day with a full belly. Read on for a weekend full of holiday happenings.

SATURDAY:

• — Breakfast and Bowling at Carson Lanes (breakfast served 7:30am -11am, unlimited bowling 9am-12pm; $13, $8 kids 8 and younger)
• — Coffee and Donuts with Experimental Aircraft Association, Sierra Chapter 403 at 2500 E. College Pkwy (8am-12pm, all welcome)
• — Breakfast with Santa at the Fox Brewpub (9:30am-11am; breakfast buffet $14.95, kids $8.95; toy drive for Claus for a Cause, please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need)
• — Santa at the Galaxy Theater – Casino Fandango, on the skyway (10am-2pm)
• — Annual Nevada Day Art Show in the Nevada Artists Association Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• — 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)
• — 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)
• — Christmas Craft Fair in the Carson Mall (11am-5pm; 10am-6pm Visits and Photos with Santa Claus, Rainbow Girls gift wrap)
• — Meet the Author and Book Signing: ‘Rescued 2’ by Camille May at Catmandu Adoption Center and Sanctuary: 1829 Brown St (1pm-4pm; book available for $13.99, a portion of sales will benefit Catmandu)
• — Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting at Raleys (1pm-4pm; must be 21+)
• — ‘Christmas Past’ at the Washoe Lake State Park Office: 4855 East Lake Blvd, Washoe Valley (2pm-3pm; program is free, but donations are appreciated; Join park staff for a presentation on how Christmas has been celebrated over the years and learn a little about the history of some of our favorite Christmas traditions like Santa Claus, candy canes, and Christmas trees. We will also share some Christmas scenes from around Northern Nevada and mining towns, including Virginia City and Tonopah; hot chocolate and tea will be available)

Bundle up and head out to see the decorations. Downtown Carson City and the historic west side are always beautiful this time of year. Nevada Christmas, a full-blown choreographed light show off Stephanie Way, has been thrilling locals for years.

• — 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)
• — Weekly Star Party with Telescope Viewing at the Western Nevada College Jack C. Davis Observatory: 2699 Van Patten Ave, off Murphy Drive (Weather permitting 6pm-11pm; free to participate)
• — Ladies Night at Crossroads Lounge (7pm-close)
• — Live Music with Terri Campillo, Craig Fletcher, and friends at Glen Eagles Restaurant (7pm-10pm)
• — Live Music with Hindsight at the Casino Fandango (7pm-12am)

Head out on the town for some Christmas cheer. The uglier the better for the Sweater Party with drinking games at Remedy’s Bar. Living the Good Life is looking for your coziest or sexiest pajamas for their party.

• — Rock 'n Bowl Night at Carson Lanes Family Fun Center (7pm-11pm; music and laser lights; Bowling Discounts for groups of 10 or more)
• — 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 at the Max Casino (8pm-12am)
• — Live Music in the Carson Valley Inn Cabaret, Minden (8pm-1am)
• — Live Music with Musicole at the Ponderosa Saloon, Virginia City (8pm)
• — Ugly Sweater Party and Drinking Games at Remedy’s Bar: 306 E Williams (beer pong, flip cup, and corn hole with pitchers to purchase for the games; snacks and prizes will be provided; pitcher specials, cheap bottles of beer, and dessert martinis)
• — Christmas Pajama Jam Decades Party with DJ BeBop at Living the Good Life: 1480 N. Carson (9pm-1am; each hour features music from a different decade; Sexy and Cozy PJs Contest; no cover)
• — Live Music with the Rebekah Chase Band 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+)

Before you break into the cookies, you might want to consider a morning bike ride with Muscle Powered; it won’t do anything for the calories, but it may assuage some guilt. If you’re over 21, then test your luck at the Senior Citizen’s Center. BINGO today raises money for the Meals on Wheels program that feeds home-bound seniors. You’ve got one last chance to see Santa Claus. Find him at the Carson Mall until 5 p.m. and then he’s off for his midnight ride. Follow St. Nick's journey with the Official NORAD Santa Tracker HERE.

SUNDAY: Christmas Eve

• — 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)
• — 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)
• — Annual Nevada Day Art Show in the Nevada Artists Association Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• — Christmas Craft Fair in the Carson Mall (11am-5pm; Vendors, 10am-5pm Visits and Photos with Santa Claus, Rainbow Girls gift wrap)
• — Kids Eat Free at the Fox Brewpub (11am-10pm; with purchase of adult entree)
• — Christmas Bingo: fundraiser for Meals on Wheels at the Carson City Senior Center (doors 11:30am, 12:30pm-3pm; $10 buy in, extra packs $5, Special games $1 each; Bring a dish to share if you’d like; 50/50 raffle and door prizes; We have a 50/50 game and a Can Food Game all year round. Bring a can of food or a non-perishable item and we will give you a free game sheet for our Can Food game; lunch available; must be 21+)
• — 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)
• — Nevada Christmas: music and video sequenced light display at 1176 Chaparral Ct., Minden – off Stephanie Way (5:30pm-11pm, 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)
• — Ninth annual Christmas Eve Party at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar

Happy Holidays, Seasons’ Greetings, Merry Christmas, and Happy Monday to you and yours.

MONDAY: Christmas Day

• — Monday Night Football: Oakland Raiders at the Philadelphia Eagles (5:30pm on ESPN)
• — Nevada Christmas: music and video sequenced light display at 1176 Chaparral Ct., Minden – off Stephanie Way (5:30pm-11pm, 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)

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 Monday, 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.