free admission

With Thanksgiving just days away, the holiday season is just around the corner. The annual Holiday Craft Fair at Carson High features a plethora of handmade and locally crafted gifts for the loved ones on your shopping list. Take the plunge at the Carson Aquatic Center if you want to get a picture with Scuba Santa. Grab a coat, some friends, and your ID and head downtown for this month’s beer crawl. $15 gets you a glass and your first beer, from there you’ll pay only $1 for refills at several watering holes. There’s even more to enjoy this weekend, so keep reading for your options.

Happy Sunday, Carson City. There's theater, bike rides, book sales, BINGO and more today. Read on and have a great day.

SUNDAY:

Although Veterans Day was observed yesterday, there are several things today that honor our former members of the military. Battle Born Harley Davidson is throwing an appreciation party complete with food trucks. Virginia City’s annual Veterans Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. and the City of Reno will commence their parade after a short ceremony beginning at 11:11 a.m. You’ll find an abundance of craft fairs in Carson City, Carson Valley, and Dayton. Western Nevada Musical Theater Co.

Every year for Veterans Day, several local and national businesses go out of their way to say thank you to the men and women who have served, and are actively serving in our armed forces. Below, you’ll find a list of our local companies that have something special for our active and retired military members. Be prepared to provide proof of service in order to take advantage.

SPECIALS AND FREEBIES FOR VETERANS DAY:
SATURDAY – SUNDAY:

Welcome to the weekend, Carson City. Now that we are in November, thoughts turn to the holiday season. That means craft fairs. St. Paul’s Lutheran Family on Saliman welcomes you to their annual Craftique Open House. You’ll find the Young at Heart Seniors Club hosting a faire at the Douglas County Community Center. The Carson Nugget’s Sierra Room will be home to several artisans, vendors, and crafters during today’s wine walk. There’s quite a bit more, and plenty that doesn’t involve shopping, so take a look and have a great time.

SATURDAY:

The wind yesterday has blown some winter our way. The snow levels aren’t expected to reach Carson City, but stranger things have happened. November is a month filled with holiday craft shows, and it starts now. Check out what the Young at Heart Seniors Club has to offer at their annual show at the Douglas Community Center. Capital City Arts Initiative celebrates 15 years of bringing arts and culture to our valley: help them celebrate at the Adams Hub on Proctor and enjoy their silent auction featuring the works of several local artists.

We’ve got a wine walk weekend coming our way, come rain, snow, or shine. This one could get a little blustery; there’s a storm moving in. I’m just grateful that Mother Nature waited until after the parade and trick-or-treat night to send us some winter.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada State Museum and Western Nevada College Latino Cohort have teamed to present an El Día de los Muertos, or, Day of the Dead, celebration with a reception Thursday evening and a full day of activities on Saturday in downtown Carson City.

Chances are, you’ll need to recover from yesterday a little. Downtown Carson City has you covered with a ‘Sunday, Bloody Mary Sunday’ bloody mary contest in Arlington Square. Get your trick-or-treat on at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada or at the historic Wungnema House at the east end of Mills Park. Grand Entrance at the La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow begins at 12 p.m. Its new home at the Multi-purpose Athletic Center (MAC) has let the annual event become even bigger. You’ve got one last chance to get your fill of cotton candy and the Ferris Wheel: the RSVP Nevada Day Carnival closes at 8 p.m.

SUNDAY:

It’s Nevada Day weekend, and that means the annual parade and festivities will bombard downtown Carson City with thousands of revelers. I made the decision to put all of the parade related events into a separate list for a few reasons: one, this list would be way too long otherwise; two, Halloween fun is plentiful all weekend long; and three, I want my list to be as easy to read as possible. Read on for events throughout Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, Silver and Virginia Cities.

The Nevada Day parade, with all of its corresponding events, is my favorite thing that Carson City has to offer. Normally, I would just have the complete listing of everything Saturday has to offer in my weekend event summary, but Parade Day offers a few challenges. Namely, there is just so much going on in downtown Carson City that creating a separate listing seems easiest for all of my readers. Whether it’s the bloody marys, the beard contest, or running into long-lost friends that gets you there, it's going to be a beautiful, sunny day.

Finally, Nevada Day weekend is here. State offices are closed, the kids are off school, and Carson City is hoppin’. Join the Downtown Business Association for the ‘Passport to Downtown’ with live music, a raffle, craft and vendor show, and a family fun center, complete with petting zoo. Stick around for the annual fall Blinky Man Costumed Nighttime Bike Ride Pub Crawl with Lights. Halloween festivities, a carnival in Mills Park, and opening night of the La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow are on today’s list, as well.

It’s that time again. The Battle Born state celebrates its admission to the United States on the last Friday of October, with the annual Nevada Day parade on Saturday. New this year is a ‘Passport to Downtown’ event on Friday. Also new this year is the one-night-only curated art show, Capital Collage, on Friday night featuring over 20 diverse artists and organizations.

The countdown continues. Nevada Day is observed Friday, so get ready for an action-packed three-day weekend. Head down to Old Town Dayton for their annual Haunted Hayrides into History. You’ll find games, refreshments, Ghostly Pioneers, and it’s the perfect place for your costume. The Boys and Girls Club invites you to their ‘Lights on Afterschool’ event with an ice cream social, face painting, games, bounce house, S.T.E.M. labs and more. A Dodgeball battle at the Multi-Purpose Athletic Center raises money for Domestic Abuse Awareness.

The Nevada State Museum and the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City are offering free admission to patrons both Friday and Saturday in recognition of Nevada Day.

We have arrived at my favorite week of the year. I am a great lover of all things Nevada Day, and it’s practically moments away. Luckily, we have plenty to keep us busy until Saturday. Two new art exhibits have appeared over the weekend: the annual Nevada Day Show at the Nevada Artists Association gallery, and ‘Inspirations’ at the Community Development Building, across from City Hall on Proctor.

Nevada Day is just around the corner, but don’t jump the gun. This weekend offers fun for the young and young-at-heart. If you’ve got more apples than you know what to do with, the Greenhouse Garden Center has a cider press available today. Play BINGO for a good cause at the Carson City Senior Center, and don’t forget your costume. Carson City Symphony Association begins their 34th Season today with a concert at the Bob Boldrick Theater; as always, those under 18 get free admission.

SUNDAY:

Welcome back to the weekend, readers. Halloween stuff is plentiful (go HERE for a complete list of upcoming activities), pumpkins are patched, the ghosts are walking, and there are loads of events to keep you, your friends and family entertained. The Harvest Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum is a fun treat for kids of all ages. It’s time for the annual all-day downtown Ghost Walk. From 10 a.m.

I don’t know what is about Tuesdays in our valley, but they’re hopping. Join Parks and Recreation as they take a walk to the Kings Canyon Waterfall, one of Carson City’s not-so-hidden treasures. Enjoy the Carson High Orchestra during their Fall Concert at the Bob Boldrick Theater tonight at 7 p.m. It’s Adult Coloring Night at the Carson City Library: bring your favorite doodle book, or choose from one of theirs. Know-it-alls can strut their stuff during DJ Trivia at Fox Brewpub, or at the Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint.

Leaves turning, wind blowing, and all things pumpkin sprouting up everywhere. It is absolutely autumn in Northern Nevada. Get ready for Halloween with your choice of pumpkin patches. Seeliger Elementary School is hosting theirs for the twenty-fifth year in a row. Take a trip on the V and T Steam Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum, actually take several trips. The annual Harvest Train event offers an all-day wristband that allows for as many rides as you’d like, in addition to museum admission. So many more fun activities are available to you, you’ll have to read on to see them all.

There have been quite a few exciting changes to downtown this year. Today we celebrate the grand opening of the Union Carson eatery, taphouse and coffee bar with a ribbon cutting and tasty fundraiser. $20 gets you a few hours of food, beer and wine, and great live music, and it’s all for a great cause. Artist Adrienne Harrington is the star of this evening’s reception at Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery. The Gold Hill Hotel hosts a weekly lecture series: learn more about the near-by historical ghost town, Bodie, while enjoying a meal. Hoops with Heroes at Dayton High School pits the varsity and j.v.

Some weekends are pretty cut and dry, just a few things to choose among. This, however, is not one of those weekends. High-flying, death-defying action takes over the Minden Airport as the Aviation Roundup Air Show takes to the skies. Pasta-lovers won’t want to miss the Eldorado Great Italian Festival in downtown Reno. Carson City’s monthly Downtown Wine Walk gets a dose of nostalgia as the Western Airstream Convention sets up shop and welcomes the curious.

This weekend is going to be packed. Vintage Airstreams will line the streets, a wine walk, the Aviation Roundup in Minden, Virginia City’s Outhouse Races, Oktoberfest at Fandango: and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Get a jump on the festivities tonight with plenty of live music, two artists’ receptions, karaoke, comedy, or the Witchcraft and Wizardry Ball at the Boys and Girls Club. Join in solidarity with our famous city to the south by wearing blue and silver today and attending the Candlelight Vigil at the Capitol Building.

FRIDAY:

Fall motorcycle riding has never been better and will be even more so this week as the Battle Born Harley Davidson 2017 Street Vibrations Fall Rally begins this Wednesday and runs through Sunday in Carson City.

One might think that the end of summer means that the fun times are over: they would be wrong. This list of happenings in the Carson City area isn’t getting any shorter. The annual Genoa Candy Dance is a favorite among locals and visitors alike, and this weekend welcomes the first ever Silver State Arts Festival at Fuji Park, as well. The first ever Community Garage Sale at the Community Center offers one-stop bargain hunting. Swing into the season at the monthly dance party hosted by the High Sierra Swing Dance Club.

SATURDAY:

Autumn is coming. It seems our days of 80+ degree weather is over, but so are rainy days we’ve seen this week. The Carson Aquatic Center welcomes everyone to a ‘Dive-in Movie’ on their new LED screen: Finding Nemo is a perfect flick for the whole family. Funnyman Adam Stone headlines this week’s Carson Comedy inside the Carson Nugget for those needing a good laugh. The Carson Area Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will gather to honor those who have given their all and have yet to come home during a POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial on the Capitol Grounds.

As you drive through Carson City today, the flags at half-mast are a somber reminder of the lives lost during the attack on the World Trade Center. If you’d like some time to reflect, the memorial in Mills Park is the perfect setting. Learn how to lend a hand to the next generation during a volunteer workshop at the Senior Citizen’s Center: reading help is needed and the volunteer commitment is only one hour a week. They say laughter is the best medicine, and funny-lady Kat Simmons is the prescription.

I’m going to suggest that you keep this weekend’s plans flexible. There’s only a chance of rain, but the chance of it showing up at the wrong time is always high. The very early morning is best spent watching the hot air balloons against the Reno skyline, but you’ll probably want a sweater for the pre-dawn chill. Head up the hill to Virginia City this weekend. If you’ve never been to the annual International Camel Races, you’ve been missing out. Keep reading, there’s something for everyone on this list. Find your fun.

SATURDAY:

One might think that after Labor Day, it starts to get quiet around here. They would be mistaken. September is chock-full of adventure, starting with this weekend’s Virginia City International Camel Races and the Great Reno Balloon Races. You won’t want to miss the last of the Third Street Stage Concerts in McFadden Plaza: Shane Dwight is tonight’s featured performer. It’s the last day to see the Photography and Regular Art Show at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery, they’ll have their new Autumn Show on display Sunday.

FRIDAY: