By Brett Fisher

  • Santa Claus gives a little girl a candy cane in Bob McFadden Plaza Friday night.
    Santa Claus gives a little girl a candy cane in Bob McFadden Plaza Friday night.
  • A five-generation family poses in front of the Capitol grounds after the tree lighting ceremony.
    A five-generation family poses in front of the Capitol grounds after the tree lighting ceremony.
  • Festive canines dressed in their Christmas best Friday night.
    Festive canines dressed in their Christmas best Friday night.
  • A Belgian draft horse waits for the signal to pull his sleigh along Carson St.
    A Belgian draft horse waits for the signal to pull his sleigh along Carson St.
  • Santa Claus rides down Carson Street on a sleigh from the Capitol to McFadden Plaza.
    Santa Claus rides down Carson Street on a sleigh from the Capitol to McFadden Plaza.
  • A cup of soup is passed from one hand to another Friday night during Empty Bowls.
    A cup of soup is passed from one hand to another Friday night during Empty Bowls.
  • Cream of mushroom soup is ladled during the Empty Bowls fundraiser.
    Cream of mushroom soup is ladled during the Empty Bowls fundraiser.
  • Carson City Supervisor Karen Abowd serves chili on the Empty Bowls soup line Friday night.
    Carson City Supervisor Karen Abowd serves chili on the Empty Bowls soup line Friday night.
  • Guests select their bowls Friday night during the Empty Bowls fundraiser.
    Guests select their bowls Friday night during the Empty Bowls fundraiser.
  • Hand made clay bowls for sale during the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.
    Hand made clay bowls for sale during the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.

With the flip of a switch, the Nevada State Capitol and downtown Carson Street came alive with bright lights and festive colors, ushering in the Christmas season during the annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights and annual tree lighting ceremony at the Capitol building Friday night.

Hundreds converged on the Capitol grounds and on North Carson Street, which had been closed down for the event.

Youth singers and carolers, draft horse-pulled sleighs, empty bowls and soups, Santa Claus and even the Grinch were all in downtown Carson City for Friday night’s yuletide celebration.