santa

You better watch out, you better not cry, or you may be walking the plank. Santa Claus is coming to town, but he'll be arriving on the U.S.S. Nevada Burning Man Art Car instead of his usual sleigh. He will be escorted by some scurvy pirate elves. Come down to Telegraph Square in Downtown Carson City Saturday, Dec. 12 for the Christmas Parade sponsored by Carson City Downtown 20/20.

Washoe Lake State Park north of Carson City will offer two opportunities to learn about past holiday traditions and local history plus a unique full moon hike on Christmas Eve.

Northern Nevada Christmas Past will be a family-friendly, Christmas-themed slide show that covers past holiday traditions combined with local history from Virginia City, Fort Churchill, Buckland Station and other areas of Northern Nevada. Rangers will also discuss origins of holiday traditions, including Santa Claus, candy canes and Christmas trees.

Carson City Symphony does some great things: one of which is the Strings in the Schools program. Join our talented STRAZZ students tonight at the Community Center as they perform the annual ‘This is not a Christmas Concert’ concert. Sassafras will be filled with some swanky jazz; Judith and Rocky are hosting this week’s jazz jam. Santa has been spotted at Red’s Old 395 and, naughty or nice, little boys and girls will get a photograph to take home. Stick around and enjoy Janet Leigh in Holiday Affair with the Carson City Classic Cinema Club.

TUESDAY: National Day of Giving Charity Drive

• Kit Carson Toastmasters Weekly Meeting at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)
• World AIDS Day: Free HIV Test at Carson City Health and Human Services: 900 E. Long St. (8:30am-12pm, 1pm-4:30pm)

Chestnuts will be roasting at the Carson City Elks booth on Telegraph Street this Friday as thousands assemble to hear the Carson City School District Fifth Graders sing traditional carols on the steps of the capitol as part of the Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights.

For the 17th Year Friends To All volunteers will dress up in Santa Suits and Helper costumes to bring joy and cheer to senior citizens throughout Carson City.

On Saturday, December 19th these festive groups will log between 150 and 200 stops as they make their rounds visiting and delivering gifts.

Enjoy Hawaiian Santa Photos at the Carson Mall, Wednesday Dec. 2, from 4PM-6PM.

Come down to the Carson Mall and have a delightful visit with Santa Claus. Get a Keepsake photo with Santa on his beautiful sleigh.

This week's It's Your City with Cortney Bloomer looks to Friday night's annual Carson City holiday traditions: The Christmas tree lighting at the Nevada State Capitol Building and the Empty Bowls Project. Cortney talks with Robin McGregor of the Empty Bowls Project, which benefits Friends In Service Helping, also known as FISH and with Ronni Hannaman, executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.

See the video below.

This week's It's Your City with Cortney Bloomer looks to Friday night's annual Carson City holiday traditions: The Christmas tree lighting at the Nevada State Capitol Building and the Empty Bowls Project. Cortney talks with Robin McGregor of the Empty Bowls Project, which benefits Friends In Service Helping, also known as FISH and with Ronni Hannaman of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce about the tree lighting.

Sunday is always ideal for relaxing: comfy pajamas, turkey leftovers, and setting up decorations around the house are all good ideas. The football season is in full swing and you’ll find the game on just about everywhere. You have one last chance to catch the Nutcracker this year, so head to the Community Center this afternoon. Grab the whole family for a free concert at the United Methodist Church. Holiday favorites sung by women’s choir ‘Bella Voce’ will get you in the spirit.

SUNDAY:

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring Anna Louise Darden and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
• Raiders Booster Club at the Eleventh Frame Lounge in Carson Lanes (vs Miami Dolphins; 10am; for more info contact Rick Good at 775-267-4271)

The long weekend continues, along with great shopping, friends, family, and fun. It’s Small Business Saturday, which is a great time to explore our downtown shops, and the local businesses throughout town. Don’t miss the Christmas Kick-off at Evergreen Gene’s, complete with a visit from Santa. Carson Valley Inn hosts its annual Kandy Kane Holiday Craft Fair. You will also find great Nevada items in our Museum Gift Shops and at the Chamber of Commerce’s Artisan Gallery.

Small Business SATURDAY:

The Polar Express on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad has sold out for the fifth consecutive year, with more than 15,000 passengers securing rides to the North Pole.

A wait list sign-up is available online here that could offer a last chance to ride the Polar Express in 2015. Tickets for next year’s holiday train go on sale in August 2016.

Heritage trains at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, a capital tradition, are all set for the holiday season.

Trains operate during the weekends of December 5-6, December 12-13, and December 19-20. To order your tickets now click the "Get Tickets" tab on the NSRM Facebook page here.

The countdown to Turkey Day has begun, and living in Carson City gives us plenty to be thankful for: Beautiful views, our own deer herd, great shops, yummy restaurants, talented actors, artists, and craftsmen, and wonderful people. Get in the spirit of giving with a new tattoo from Hooligan’s Ink to benefit the Austin House. For something less permanent, drop off a turkey at one of the contenders in the Salvation Army’s Battle of the Bars. Giving your time is valuable, too. The Muscle Powered Trash Mob meets once a month to help keep Carson’s trails clean and litter-free.

The Salvation Army serving Carson City and Douglas County is seeking gifts for boys and girls ages 13 to 17 during their annual holiday toy drive.

Even with 82 locations around Carson City and Douglas County, including 27 of the Salvation Army’s ubiquitous red-kettle bell-ringers, Lt. Mark Cyr of the Salvation Army said teenagers are the most often overlooked population during holiday gift giving.

We've got a winner of the Silver & Snowflakes Festival of Lights Holiday Art Contest and are pleased to reveal 8th grader Carson Middle Schooler Ava Covington is the winner.

CASI and Benson's Feed team up to bring Santa and his elf for photo shoots with your pets. Bring your furry critters down to Benson's Feed at 2750 Hwy 50 in Carson City on Saturday, December 5th from 10 AM to 2 PM. The cost is $15 for one 4x6" print and a digital copy (emailed to you). Enjoy the magic of the season with your furry friends while helping to raise money for the new animal shelter. Prizes will be given for largest, smallest and best dressed critters courtesy of Benson's Feed. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while you wait.

Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 are evenings filled with fun. The annual tree lighting, Empty Bowls, and a Christmas Faire return to downtown to kick off the season. The Holiday Crawl on Saturday begins a new Carson City tradition.

With the holiday season right around the corner, the Carson City Sears Hometown Store is joining more than 1,200 Sears Hometown stores nationwide in supporting the 2015 Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. holiday campaign with Make-A-Wish.

It can be difficult to get away from the commercialism of Christmas and the holidays with all the fuss about best deals and “red cups.” Step back in time this season and capture the family-friendly spirit of Christmas with a trip to historic Virginia City, Nev.

The holiday season comes to life with the Reno Phil’s annual celebration, Spirit of the Season, Dec. 5 and 6 at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.

On November 22nd from 9:30-11:00AM, Caring Santa will be visiting Meadowood Mall. Caring Santa provides a subdued and welcoming environment for children with special needs and their families to visit Santa.
Reserve your spot at: meadowoodmallcaringsanta.eventbrite.com.

For more information please call (775) 827-8450 or visit http://www.simon.com/mall/meadowood-mall.

All aboard, Carson City. The Polar Express returns to the Virginia and Truckee Thursday. This annual tradition features hot chocolate, caroling, and a read-along of Chris Van Allsburg's Christmas story, in addition to a visit to Santa at the North Pole.

The Carson High School Craft Fair coming this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21. Hundreds of crafters from all over Nevada and Northern California will fill both gymnasiums and halls of CHS. All money raised from the craft fair is donated to the various student clubs and organizations at CHS. Come support this annual tradition. Santa will also be on hand for photos.

The Nevada Northern Railway Museum transforms into Chris Van Allsburg’s classic children’s book, The Polar Express, this Christmas season.

Children of all ages are welcome on a special ride from Ely, Nev. to the North Pole. Hot chocolate and cookies are served while listening to the Polar Express story and music from the Polar Express soundtrack.

Santa’s helpers are on board, and Santa Claus awaits the train’s arrival at the North Pole, where he presents children with the special gift of a silver bell.

Two weeks before The Polar Express takes its first ride from Carson City to the completely reimagined North Pole aboard the Virginia and Truckee Railroad 88 percent of tickets have already been sold.

A testament to the popularity of the Polar Express — the train ride has completely sold out each of the previous four years — now’s the time to secure tickets so the kids aren’t disappointed.

Welcome to the weekend, Carson City. The temperatures will be brisk, but nothing a scarf and sweater can’t help guard against. The real cold shows up late Sunday and brings with it a good chance for snow. Mary Poppins would advise we bear it with a spoon full of sugar.

Evergreen Gene's Inc. Christmas Kickoff begins Saturday November 28, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
1811 N. Carson Street in Carson City.

Come See Santa Claus from noon to 1 p.m. Bring a camera to take pictures of your kids and/or Pets with Santa Claus! Sample Hot Wassail, hot Christmas Tea, Other Goodies. Shop Small. Shop Local.

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, and sooner than we may be ready for him! As the Nevada Day festivities ramp us this week and close on Sunday, the frantic holiday season that follows is soon upon us.

As part of the 26th Annual Silver & Snowflakes Festival of Lights to be held Friday, Dec. 4, children of all ages enrolled in any of Carson City’s schools — whether public or private — are encouraged to submit original drawings to win cash prizes and to be featured on the cover of the Silver & Snowflakes special edition published by the Nevada Appeal. Winning art will be on display at the library until after the new year.

Amgen Tour of California, presented by AEG, announced Thursday that professional cyclists return to Lake Tahoe for the men’s Stage 5 finish, as well as the women’s Stage 1 start on Thursday, May 19, 2016. The men will take off in Lodi, Calif. and finish at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. The women will also start/finish at Heavenly Mountain Resort on May 19.