Pony Express

Jack Frost definitely has his icy fingers wrapped around today. It’s going to be a chilly one, so bundle up. With Christmas morning just three weeks away, the holidays are in full swing. Get a look at all of the seasonal fun that’s on it’s way in my list of holiday happenings HERE.

With December arriving we are counting the days until Christmas. So deck the halls, get some jingle bells and wassail away this holiday season. Here's what's happening now through Christmas around Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton and Virginia City areas.

Even Santa Claus enjoys his time aboard Carson City's famed trains. With appearances at the Brewery Arts Center, Santa can be found throughout the area, including the Nevada Railroad Museum. Elsewhere, 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.

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.

December has arrived, and all things holidays are on the way. The annual Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting Celebration tonight will shut down traffic on Carson City for a little while. Sleigh rides, caroling, the Empty Bowls Soup Fest, and a performance by the Youth Theater Carson City Showstoppers are just some of the planned festivities. Stay downtown for comedy at the Carson Nugget, Improv at the Brewery Arts Center, or a live DJ at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar and at Battle Born Social. Keep reading, though, that’s just the tip of the Friday happenings iceberg.

FRIDAY:

Carson City will soon be home to a championship disc golf course complex on the east side of town with a tentative opening sometime in spring 2018, according to Carson City Parks and Recreation officials.

The Carson Mall is pleased to invite all of you to a series of “events within an event.” During the Carson Mall Christmas Craft Fair, running through December 24th, there will be several limited-time events.

Today we say goodbye to November, and in just one month we’ll be ringing in the new year. The weekend promises to bring a plethora of fun times to our town, but you can get the party started tonight. Verbal Kint, the acoustic incarnation of Keyser Soze, takes the stage at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint; get there early for a good seat and great food. Kids will love meeting Santa, singing carols, and watching the fireworks at Gardnerville’s Kickoff to Christmas in Heritage Park this evening.

THURSDAY:

We are days away from a winter wonderland: halls will be decked, and everything will be merry and bright. On Thursday, Gardnerville will flip the switch on its holiday lights, with help from Santa. Friday, the capital city hosts the Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting Celebration, as well as the very yummy Empty Bowls Soup Fest. Saturday, in addition to Carson City’s monthly downtown wine walk and the annual Holiday with a Hero Crawl, Minden holds its annual Christmas Parade.

Tis the season for visits with Santa, holiday twinkle lights, and craft fairs and festivals. In order to make your December planning a little easier, take a look at what is coming up in the Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, and Virginia City area. Go deck the halls, get some jingle bells, and wassail away.

Black Friday, small business Saturday, cyber Monday: I didn’t name these, but I can truly get behind Day of Giving Tuesday. Carson City is home to several great charities and non-profits that could use your financial love. Throw a few dollars at your favorite one if you’re able. It’s not warm outside, but a brisk hike will warm you up. Muscle Powered shows off one of Carson City’s great trails every Tuesday afternoon. If you’d rather exercise your brain, DJ Trivia at the Fox Brewpub or the Geeks who Drink Pub Quiz at Sassafras are a great mix of friends and friendly competition.

Let's get this show on the road. The long holiday weekend is behind us, and I hope everyone ate too much. Mondays are a little quiet in our capital city, but that doesn't mean that there is nothing to do. You'll find several changing art exhibits throughout town, so visiting them every few months gives you the chance to experience new art. Monday Night Football is always a fun time to cheer on your team; this week you'll see the Texans and the Ravens battle it out. For family-friendly karaoke, the Fox Brewpub is the place to be.

MONDAY:

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, you’ll see twinkling lights appearing everywhere. Carson City doesn’t light up our downtown until next Friday, but if you need an immediate fix of holiday decorations, Minden has got you covered. Candy Cane Lane at the Carson Valley Inn is a custom outdoor drive-thru Christmas light display. ‘Nevada Christmas’ is a private home on Chaparral Court, just off Stephanie Way, and puts the holly jollies into the holiday.

SUNDAY:      

Once the turkey has been devoured, all thoughts turn toward shopping. Shop Small Saturday helps to throw a spotlight on our local gems, and the great gifts you’ll find. New this year is Museum Store Sunday with both the Nevada State Museum and the Nevada State Railroad Museum participating. Make time for family and friends at the annual Nutcracker Ballet performed by Pinkerton Ballet at the Carson City Community Center. Keep reading and have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

FRIDAY:

Here is an updated parade list for all the entries in the Nevada Day Parade on Saturday. Note, there was a last-minute change in streets where the entries are supposed to line up that is different than the printed program. The change was made to accommodate some larger floats. Above is the line-up map, and the list is below:

Author Melba J. Ray-Leal will speak on her book, "Women and the Pony Express," in a free event at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, August 19, at 10:00 am.

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West returns to Dangberg Historic Park on Saturday, August 26 at 11:00 am as the park’s final major event of the 2017 Dangberg Summer Festival.

The show features Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley, the Pony Express, The Mayfield Gang and the 1st Nevada Cavalry. The Douglas High School Marching Band and western singer-songwriter Krista Jenkins return for a second year to draw the audience back in time to the frontier of the American West.

Author Bonnie Boice Nishikawa will speak on her book "Nevada State Orphans/Children’s Home: My Life as a 'Home' Kid" at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park this Sunday, August 6, at 10:00 a.m.

Author David C. Antonucci will speak on his book "Fairest Picture: Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe" at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, August 12, 10 a.m. In 1861, Samuel Clemens, the man who would become Mark Twain, hiked to Lake Tahoe to stake a claim for a timber ranch.

He spent many blissful days on the Lake but carelessly allowed his campfire to escape, creating a spectacular wildfire. He later wrote about his experiences in his 1872 memoir, Roughing It.

Historian Patty Cafferata will present “By Gas, Rope, Bullet or Poison: A History of Capital Punishment in Nevada” on Saturday, July 29, at 10:00 am at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

In February of 1870, the sparkling new steam-powered coin press inside the United States Mint in Carson City struck its first coin, a Seated Liberty silver dollar with a crisp CC mint mark.

Engines will be revving across Carson City this weekend as three car shows and a motorcycle competition roll into town. Mills Park will host the bulk of the shows on Saturday — Rockabilly Riot, T-Buckets and the Carson City Motor Officer Challenge.

The annual National Pony Express re-ride strolled through 2nd and Curry street in Carson City earlier than expected Wednesday morning. But those who arrived early to watch came prepared with cameras and bright smiles as two riders exchanged horses and pleasantries in middle of the road.

The Pony Express rides again. Actually, the re-ride is an annual occurrence, and always comes right through the heart of Carson City. See the mochila hand-off at the corner of Second and Curry Streets today around 12:30 p.m. (but can be up to three hours early or late) and you can follow its historic route online HERE. The Nevada National Guard celebrates Flag Day and the Army’s anniversary on the Capitol Grounds at 10:00 a.m.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY 11:20 AM: A Pony Express rider arrived at 2nd and Curry street more than an hour ahead of schedule with the Carson City mail exchange now having been made.
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UPDATE WEDNESDAY: The Pony Express re-ride is running around an hour ahead of schedule, organizers say. The exchange at 2nd and Curry streets in Carson City is expected to happened at around 11:30 a.m.
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Imagine the year 1860 with vast wilderness and wide-open plains between Missouri and California. You're one of the chosen riders on top of a horse with a mochila strapped on your saddle, navigating along the trail where unknown dangers lay ahead.

Paul Sampson broke 27 bones in a stock car crash and knocked out 17 teeth, but the injuries did nothing to dull his passion. “I’ll just always love cars,” he said.

Planes, trains, and automobiles take over Carson City this weekend. Steampunk ‘N’ Trains at the Nevada Railroad Museum features train rides, fun costumes, food trucks and more. You’ll find two car shows in town – the Party at the Pavilion as part of the Nevada State Fair and the Carson City Downtown Revival Car Show at the Carson Nugget. The Carson Airport Fly-In and Open House has plenty of aeronautic fun in store. You’ll have to keep reading for all of the fun options in Carson City and the surrounding valleys.

SATURDAY:

GENOA, Nev. – The Pony Express was a massive operation that began in 1860 to satisfy the demand for a fast mail service. Though it only lasted 18 months, it is still romanticized throughout the west today. Bring a chair and join a Park Ranger for a history talk on the Pony Express.

Ride back in time on the Pony Express Limited where you’ll learn the history of the Pony Express. Tickets include a program, specially printed envelopes and stamps. The program will feature a map of the Pony Express and highlight the stations in Nevada, of which a few still exist.

In fact, Nevada’s Sand Springs Station is considered the best-preserved Pony Express Station still in existence.
http://nnry.doubleknot.com/registration/calendardetail.aspx?ActivityKey=...
$39 Adult $20 Child

http://nnry.com

A continuation of Bikepacking Fallon to Carson City on the Pony Express Route – Day 1.
On the second day of our ride, we veered off our planned route along the Carson River ...