Pictures with Santa

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.

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.

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.

On Veterans Day, we take time to honor those men and women that have served in our armed forces. The holiday is observed today, meaning schools and public offices will be closed. Several locations have something special for Veterans this weekend, go HERE for a list of freebies, specials and discounts good today or tomorrow.

DeBug Computer’s annual Pictures With Santa is almost here! In collaboration with the Carson City Holiday With a Hero fundraiser, we will be offering photos with Santa Claus and your child or well-behaved pet. The event is Dec. 2, 2 to 4 p.m.

Bring your child to the DeBug Carson City store located at 1817 N. Stewart St., #30 to tell Santa their holiday wishes and receive a professional quality photo for $5 or multiple digital images can be purchased on CD for $25.

Bring your child (or well-behaved pet) to DeBug Computer on
Saturday, December 2nd between 2-4pm for our annual Holiday
With a Hero fundraiser! A donation of $5 per photo/digital image will be accepted. 100% of donations will go to help provide a
Christmas for a local child in need.

Rumor has it, there’s a storm on the way. Bundle up and do a snow dance if you want a white Christmas. It’s the first day of winter break hours at the Arlington Square Ice Rink; it’s a perfect place for the kids to burn off some holiday energy. Genoa Candy and Coffee invites everyone to enjoy story time tonight.

Just a few days left before the big day. Get your fill of holiday music as the Ninth Annual Christmas Carol Play-along for Strings returns to Carson Mall. Even if you don’t play an instrument, voices are more than welcome to contribute to the tunes. Wintertime is perfect for curling up with a good book, join the Library’s Winter Read-a-thon to win some great prizes. Carson Cigar Company is throwing a party featuring Ev ‘Cheese the Knife’ Musselman of the Tripping King Snakes: they’ve been selling raffle tickets to benefit Food for Thought, so head down to support this great charity.

The winter solstice is today: the shortest day and longest night of the year. I’m always happy to hear that because it means longer days are on their way. The holiday frenzy continues, so don’t miss out on those pictures with Santa. Red’s Old 395 will send you off with a complementary 4”x6” photo, and Santa’s Village at the Carson Mall is open all day. See what the great folks of the Carson Visitor Bureau and Nevada Day, LLC are up to at their open house today; from here on out you’ll find all the fun stuff from the Nevada Day Trading Post inside our Visitor’s Center.

The countdown continues. Just one weekend is separating us from Christmas, so go enjoy the friends, family, and holiday cheer that surround us. The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada welcomes a special visit from Santa and offers fun crafts for the kids. Browse the sale in their gift shop and consider a membership for a year full of free entry. The talented kids of All About Dance perform at the CVIC Hall in Minden. Handel’s Messiah will fill the rafters of Corpus Christi Church when the Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus take to the stage. Continue reading for even more options.

The Carson City Library has something in common with the epic spaghetti western ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly’: they are both 50 years old. Celebrate the classic film and our classy library with an afternoon showing of the movie. Join Cherie Shipley at the Brewery Arts Center; the annual ‘Joyful Noise’ Community Holiday Show is full of cheer for all ages. Our high school and middle school student orchestras invite you to their free winter concert at the Community Center this evening. Living the Good Life welcomes singer/songwriter Liam Kyle Cahill back to their stage tonight.

Batten down the hatches, Carson City, it’s going to get blustery. Brave the weather for a visit with Santa at Red’s Old 395 and they’ll send you home with a free picture. Local photographer Robin Travis is featured in the Backseat Gallery of Comma Coffee; head over tonight for an artist’s reception honoring her exhibit.

Brace yourself, Carson City. We could be in for some wet and windy weather this weekend. The more adventurous of you will be participating in the Be Bold, Run in the Cold ‘Run with Rudolph’ 5/10K near Western Nevada College. If you’d rather be indoors, the Carson Mall is hosting a Holiday Craft Fair, and at noon will celebrate the grand opening of Ogres-Holm Pottery. Celebrate a Country Christmas with Mary Kaye and the Kaye Sisters in Genoa or get your Celtic fix at the Brewery Art Center with a performance by County Clarke. Read on for local fun for young and the young-at-heart.

If you haven't asked your pets if they've been good for Christmas, now might be a good time.

Santa Claus will be at Benson's Feed and Tack, located at 2750 Highway 50 East in Carson City, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 for pictures with your best furry friends.

It’s a winter wonderland out there, but it does come with unique perils. Please give yourself extra time to get where you’re going, the roads may be slick. The weekend is quickly approaching bringing fun events like the State Railroad Museum’s Santa Train, a special performance by Antsy McClain at the Brewery Arts Center, and the return of the drive-through Living Nativity at the United Methodist Church. If you’re itching for the chance to get your picture with Santa, head to Red’s Old 395 tonight. Stretch your vocal cords with karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar or at Living the Good Life.

75 years ago, the USS Nevada was one of the battleships trapped when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. She was the only battleship to get underway during the attack, and according to Naval historian Kermit (Kit) H. Bonner the ship was "the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal and depressing morning" for the United States. Today we remember those lost in that attack, and remember the history behind the battleship that is our battle born namesake. A special exhibit of USS Nevada artifacts, and a lecture on her history are free for all at the State Museum at 1 p.m.

The annual Dayton Christmas Tree lighting is today, Sunday, Dec. 4 beginning at 5 p.m. at Our Park. Festivities include pictures with Santa, a Civil War Christmas display, cookies and hot drinks, music, carols, an ugly sweater contest, plus if you donate a non-perishable food item, you have a chance to be the official tree lighter.

Don’t think that Sundays are just for rest, there is plenty to coax you out of your pajamas today. Take a trip with Santa at the Nevada Railroad Museum. Search for treasures and do your Christmas shopping at Fuji Park today, one of the multiple craft shows in town. Enjoy a free concert at the Community Center courtesy of the Capital City Community Band. Dayton is celebrating a small town Christmas tonight; bust out your best ugly sweater and join the fun. Keep reading and have a great day.

SUNDAY:

I hope you got your fill of naps last weekend because this weekend is chock full of fun to be had for all. You can Wine Walk until you Holiday Crawl downtown. Take your pick of craft shows in town. Kids won’t want to miss the Santa Train at the State Railroad Museum or one of the two performances of ‘The Peanutcracker’ at the Community Center. Whether you’d like to spend the days indoors or out, there is something for all ages in the Carson City area this weekend.

SATURDAY:

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-6pm)

Tonight’s the night! With one flip of the switch all of downtown joins in the Christmas Spirit. The Silver and Snowflakes Festival includes carols, sleigh rides, hot chocolate, and of course, the lighting of the Capitol. Don’t forget to head to the First Presbyterian Church for the Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser. You’ll get a handmade, hand painted ceramic bowl to keep and lots of yummy food to keep you warm. The talented kids of Wild Horse Children’s Theater hit the stage for opening night of ‘Elf Jr.

The eighth annual Cookies with Santa takes place Saturday, Dec. 17 at Cafe at Adele’s in Carson City. This local tradition combines a visit and pictures with Santa, music, and cookies all for the cause of collecting toys and raising money to provide Christmas to area children in need.

NV Energy invites the community to a grand opening celebration this Saturday to mark the opening of the new NV Energy Carson City truck barn located on East Long Street.

The turkeys have been cooked, the dishes done, and the largest shopping weekend of the year is off and running. Show some love locally during Shop Small Business Saturday. Great little shops, restaurants, and services offer something unique for those on your gift list. Gift Certificates are never a bad way to go either: who wouldn’t want a massage, a night on the town, or maybe some music lessons? Santa has returned to town and can be found at the Carson Mall or at Billow’s Embroidery. Keep reading and you’ll find some great ways to spend this holiday weekend.

Once again Benson's Feed will team with CASI to host pictures with Santa. Santa and his elf will be at Benson's Feed Store located at 2750 Hwy 50 East December 10th from 10 AM to 2 PM. Bring your pets and family members for pictures with Santa. The cost is $15 for a 4x6 print and a digital copy to share.

It’s finally Friday. The annual Salvation Army Turkey Drive runs 6 a.m. until six this evening: drop off your donation at the Max Casino in Carson or at the C.O.D. Casino in Minden. Get to know Supervisor Karen Abowd during her monthly walkabout at the Community Center; head inside to get a peek at the new art exhibit in the Sierra Room while you’re there. The Craft Fair at Carson High School is a local favorite: over 125 vendors, music, and pictures with Santa. It starts tonight and continues tomorrow.

A special family-oriented craft fair will be held this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19-20, at historic Piper’s Opera House, 12 North B St., Virginia City.

The event will feature local handmade crafts, a raffle and silent auction, as well as a DJ with holiday music, and a snack bar featuring hot dogs, chips, cookies, soda, water and juice. Admission to the craft fair is free.

Seems like just yesterday it was Thanksgiving, and now we’ve arrived at Christmas Eve. Last minute shopping trips, cooking baking, and non-stop holiday movies are all on the menu for today. And keep the hot chocolate close; it’s going to be chilly. Please drive safely. The last minute crunch can be stressful, but icy roads are a force to be reckoned with.

THURSDAY: Christmas Eve

• Carson City School District Winter Break