carols

Heading into Christmas Eve, activities around the capital city are winding down, but the last minute shopping will continue, so prepare for that rush on the roadways and at local stores. It is the last day of the Holiday Craft Show at Carson Mall, so stop on by. There are no planned Muscle Powered fitness events scheduled. Christmas Eve church services are at First Presbyterian Church in Carson City and other places of worship around town. Here's what's ahead Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.

Happy Sunday Carson City! We’ve got a bunch of great events for you today in our capital city! Check below to see what’s going on today:

Happy Saturday Carson City! Tired of the fog yet? Well, there's a big storm that's scheduled to push in tomorrow, so it'll be interesting to see how that changes the weather.

Either way, we've got a ton of excellent events scheduled throughout the weekend, fog or no! Check below to see what's happening int he capital city for today and tomorrow.

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of holiday events around the Carson City region over the next three days. Events include the Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights, the 24th annual Parade of Lights in Gardnerville, the annual Project Empty Bowls dinner held at the Carson Mall, a Holiday Crawl in downtown Carson City and much more! The Santa Train will roll into the Carson City Railroad Museum for weekend train rides. Visit the 2019 Santa Events Roundup below for more information.

Consort Canzona, a select group of instrumentalists and singers specializing in early music, will present “Something Old, Something New” concerts this holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m., at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church, 3680 Highway 395 (just south of Best Buy) in Carson City. Admission is free, donations welcome.

For 20 years I have been bringing Christmas events to Downtown Carson City, beginning in 2000 when I had my retail store on Telegraph Square with Santa and his real reindeer. The Santa Parade was created in 2007 and was always the Saturday after the Silver and Snowflake festival originating at Telegraph Square to bring awareness to the existing businesses in the area.

The Capital City Community will, once again, welcome the holidays with a free concert in the Boldrick Theater in the Carson City Community Center on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.

Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, also known as TOCCATA, presents its 14th annual performance of Handel’s beloved “Messiah,” along with seasonal carols. We bring the holidays to you, performing in Gardnerville and Genoa, as well as north and south Lake Tahoe and Reno. Just choose your venue: a beautiful Gardnerville church or an elegant golf club ballroom.

Enjoy a cherished Northern Nevada holiday tradition, close to home, in an elegant golf club ballroom, a casino theater, or a church – your choice as TOCCATA — Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus — presents its 14th annual performance of Handel’s beloved “Messiah,” along with seasonal carols.

During the cold winter months in a pocket of the capital city, a bit of magic is sprinkled about on the historic rail that once transported gold from Virginia City to the mint in Carson City, but now transports elves, hot cocoa, and silver bells for a few special weeks each year.

The Polar Express rolled into town on Nov. 15 with the help of the historic V&T Railway Commission, and with it, a certain jolly old man and his magical helpers.

CARSON CITY — V&T Railway will begin service to the North Pole onboard the Polar Express train beginning Friday, Nov. 15. The magical story comes to life when the train departs the Eastgate Depot for an hour-long, round-trip journey to the North Pole.

For all the darkness lovers out there, today is for you, because it's the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The almanac says sunrise on Friday morning is at 7:14 a.m. and sunset is at 4:39 p.m. Friday afternoon, giving the Carson City area just a little over nine hours of sunlight.

December 21 is the Silver Stage Food Pantry’s fifth annual “Shopping with the Elves” event. From 1-5 p.m., parents who are guests of the Food Pantry can shop for gifts for their children.

The event includes a chance for children to visit with Santa and have holiday refreshments while their parents shop. The Pantry is in need of gifts for ages infant to 18 years.

Home-bound Seniors: The Pantry also welcomes donations of gifts for seniors. They deliver baskets and gifts to 40 home-bound elders, and sing carols to them as well.

Holding with tradition, Virginia City is once again putting on its festive hat for a holiday celebration with music, lights, and heaps of holiday spirit.

There are some fairly excited kids throughout the valley. This last Friday before Christmas marks the beginning of winter break. The Carson City Library invites everyone in the community to participate in the annual Winter Read-a-thon with a goal of 90,000 minutes read (or listened to) over the next two weeks. Sign up on-line or at their kick-off event this afternoon. Comedian John Mencarelli headlines Carson Comedy inside the Carson Nugget, and you’ll find the Rebekah Chase Band on stage in their Loft. Even more awaits, so read on and have a great day.

Friday, Dec. 22

Thursday, December 21 is the winter solstice, making it the longest night and the shortest day of the year. With Christmas just a few days away, the holiday activities are still going strong. Share your wish list with Santa at Red’s Old 395 tonight and you’ll walk away with a free photograph. Your ugliest sweater is invited to make an appearance at the Carson Cigar Company; bring a white elephant gift if you’d like to participate in the gift exchange.

On a morning like this, I realize that I need to ask Santa for some windshield wipers. Stay safe out there, Carson City, the roads are wet. The Carson Library is usually a great place to retreat on days like this, but you’ll find their doors closed for the next few weeks: time for a makeover. If you’d like to check out a book or use the wireless internet, you’ll find a ‘pop-up’ library in the Community Center this week, and in the Adams Hub on Proctor Street next week.

Winter is settling in, even if our mountains are lacking their snowy blanket. It’s chilly out there, but the members of Muscle Powered head out for a walk and a hike every Tuesday unless the rain or snow is falling. Join them tonight for a walk around downtown Carson City to take in the twinkling lights and decorations; there will even be a stop afterward for a warm beverage. If you’d rather exercise your brain, the Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz at Sassafras and DJ Trivia at the Fox Brewpub are your choices.

It may be Monday, but the next one on the way is Christmas. If you still have some loved ones on your holiday shopping list, the Craft Fair at the Carson Mall is sure to have something for everyone. Monday also means football. Watch the Falcons take on the Buccaneers at Living the Good Life. You’ll find good food, good drinks, and the game on all of their screens. Put some swing in your step at Carson Lanes. The High Sierra Swing Dance Club meets weekly to learn some new dance moves and put them into action. Santa has been spotted at Red’s Old 395: from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

It’s beginning to look, and sound, a lot like Christmas. Let the Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble entertain you with the in the warmth and magic of the holiday season during their free Winter Wandering concerts. ‘Elf’ is a modern holiday classic, and you’ll find it on the big screen today and Wednesday at the Galaxy Theater. Track down Santa at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada; a family membership to the museum makes a great gift for anyone with little ones. Keep reading for even more Sunday fun day activities.

Santa comes in all shapes, sizes, and apparently, vehicles. Hop aboard the Santa Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum. It’s an out-of-this-world Alien Santa at the annual Zen Christmas at A to Zen. A cookie-loving Santa can be found at Adele’s during their annual toy drive for the Ron Wood Resource Center. If your ‘kids’ are the four-legged kind, then head over to PetSmart or Paws to Pur-fection Dog Grooming for your holiday photos. In addition to the Santa-mania, you’ll find a downtown Carson Beer Crawl, two plays at the Brewery Arts Center, and plenty of music.

Friday has finally arrived, and it has brought some nightlife with it. Enjoy the Trippin King Snakes on stage at the Max Casino. The Carson Nugget gives you comedian John Hilder in Carson Comedy and the band Adrenaline playing in ‘The Loft.’ Kids will love the Wild Horse Children’s Theater production of ‘Honk, Jr.’, while ‘Love/Sick,’ performed by the Proscenium Players, is meant for an older audience. Let Roska Entertainment take you into late-night with their weekly dance party in Battle Born Social’s Sage Lounge.

FRIDAY:

Time to make some joyful noise in the capital city. The annual community holiday show at the Brewery Arts Center features John and Cherie Shipley, with the special addition of the Joyful Noise Children’s Chorus. These chilly December evenings are perfect for checking out the lights and decorations around the area. Candy Cane Lane, the drive-thru display at Carson Valley Inn in Minden, runs every night. Nevada Christmas, a private home in the Stephanie Way neighborhood, goes all out with a light show that’s choreographed to music.

Welcome to Wednesday. If you haven’t had a chance to tell Ole’ Nick what you’d like to see under the tree, then wander over to Red’s Old 395 for a complementary picture and a moment on his lap. See what our local crafters and artisans have to offer at the Christmas Craft Show inside Carson Mall. It’s karaoke night at Caterpillar’s Hookah Lounge for those over 18. Families with younger ones will be interested in the Polar Express playing on the big screen at the Galaxy Theater.

WEDNESDAY:

Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus hosts its annual production of Handel's Messiah with performances this weekend in Gardnerville and South Lake Tahoe.

I’m always surprised at how busy Tuesdays can get around here. Every week you can discover a new trail with Muscle Powered, get your boot-scootin’ boogie on at Carson Lanes, or test your trivia knowledge at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint and at the Fox Brewpub. Today, however, you can also enjoy the monthly Mile High Jazz Band gig at Comma Coffee, with a special serving of poetry. Christmas Beers are on tap at Cowboy Liquors for their weekly tasting event.

It’s the beginning of another work week, and a chilly one, at that. Take an hour to get yourself grounded and ready for what life throws your way during ‘Motivation Monday’ Yoga at the Adams Hub. Learn something new in the kitchen at this month’s cooking demo and dinner at the Dayton Community Center.

You are in for a Holiday Treat today; the annual Carson City Symphony Winter Concert with Victorian Dancers in beautiful costumes takes to the stage. Take in a play at the Brewery Arts Center or play BINGO at the Senior Center. The Santa Train, the Living Nativity at the Methodist Church, and a remembrance ceremony at Walton’s Chapel are on the list, too. Sunday’s aren’t sleepy this time of year, so read on and take a look at your options.

The Carson City area is awash in entertainment, shopping, and family-friendly options this weekend. Santa Claus is popping up all over, including at Benson Feed for the annual CASI Pet Photos with St. Nick and aboard the train at our Railroad Museum’s Santa Train. The musical ‘Honk, Jr’ for the young ones and Love/Sick for the older crowd are on the stage at the Brewery Arts Center. Spend the day at the Silver Saddle Ranch: their annual Holiday Open House is the perfect time to explore their trails and learn more about the working ranch’s preservation.

We’ve got one heck of a weekend on its way, and it’s starting right now. Start off with a trip to the Governor’s Mansion with something non-perishable for the annual Share Your Christmas Food Drive: you won’t even have to leave the warmth of your vehicle. Break a leg to Wild Horse Children’s Theater and to the Proscenium Players. Both troupes begin the run of their winter plays tonight at the Brewery Arts Center. It’s a Christmas Shopping Extravaganza at Fuji Park. You’ll find a plethora of vendors, crafters, and artisans waiting to help make your holiday shopping hassle-free.