carols

The Annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights and Official Tree Lighting tonight, Friday, Dec. 5. is more than just flipping on the holiday lights in downtown Carson City; Santa, carolers, soup, hot chocolate, and ice skating all play a part in the fun.

The Itinerary for the festival is as follows:

Less than two months from departure, tickets aboard the 2014 Polar Express train are on the fast track countdown, with 60 percent of the coach seats and 91 percent of the VIP Parlor Car seats sold. Even with the addition of more trips and passenger cars, the month-long event has consistently sold out since debuting four years ago and is expected to draw record numbers again this holiday season.

More than two dozen Seeliger Elementary School first graders helped spread the good cheer Thursday morning among staff at the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

Led by local musician, singer-songwriter Duane "Beans" Sousa, the children did song and dance-in-place routines, introduced individual medleys and belted out several carols in front of the Christmas tree.

Among the favorites, judged by the enthusiasm of the kids were the Christmas standards "Up on the House Top," and "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer."

Thanks to big hearts and the spirit of giving, the fourth annual Cookies with Santa, a benefit for Ron Wood Family Resource Center’s holiday fund, takes place Dec. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Café at Adele’s.

Children of all ages are invited to enjoy hot cider, hot chocolate and cookies, visit with and have their picture taken with Santa, while helping provide Christmas for children in need.

"For unto you is born this day a savior, who is Christ the Lord." Celebrate Christ's birth tonight in the warmth of candlelight and carols at First United Methodist Church, Carson City, corner of Musser and Division Streets. Services are at 4:30, 7pm, 9pm and 11pm. Childcare is provided at 4:30 and 7pm. And a very merry Christmas to you and yours.

Being the capital city of Nevada, Carson City once again shines brighter and bucks the rest, turning the lights on Friday to not one but two Christmas trees during the kick-off of the two-day Snowflake Festival of Lights.

Perched on the State Capital steps, some 300 voices of the Carson City 5th Grade Singing Ensemble sang Christmas carols to a crowd of hundreds (if not thousands) of parents, siblings, dignitaries, retirees, state workers and locals who swelled onto Carson Street in good measure.

Carson City's annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights has become so well received over the years that the 2012 festival will now run for two days. The enhanced event is tonight, Friday, Dec. 7, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ice skating continues until 10 p.m.

Tonight's night's festivities begin on the capitol grounds with the state tree, a bristlecone pine, and downtown Carson City being lit along with a procession including Santa, Mrs. Claus and the 300 voices of the Carson City 5th Grade Music Students Singing Ensemble.

The Carson High School Chamber Choir - the most advanced group of choir students at the high school - gave an impromptu, and much applauded, selection of Christmas and Hanukkah music to the surprised (and delighted) patrons and employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles this Thursday afternoon. This is the third year they have appeared at the DMV.

Six weeks after tickets went on sale, The Polar Express™ has officially sold out, according to the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
More than 7,500 riders will board the magical holiday train on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, the only officially licensed Polar Express event in the region this holiday season.

Lake Tahoe South is New Year’s celebration central with Snow Globe, a three-day outdoor music festival with over 40 world-class musicians on three main stages, firework shows, combined with a myriad of outdoor recreation, entertainment and nightlife, providing action-packed holiday season for kids of all ages.

The Reno-Tahoe-Truckee community has six opportunities this December to enjoy TOCCATA’s wonderful tradition of producing selections from "Handel's Messiah" in a Holiday Concert, including a performance in Carson City on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
The Carson City performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. The Carson City concert features the 60-voice Carson High School Concert Choir, alumni and Carson soloists, and will be a benefit for the high school choir’s future tour presentations.

Other performances are:

Well over a thousand people were in downtown Carson City tonight to ring in the Christmas season with the Silver and Snowflake Festival and Christmas tree lighting at the Nevada State Capitol grounds.

Carson City during the holidays always springs alive with a festive collection of entertainment, music, and traditional favorites for the whole family.

Winter arrives just in time for Thanksgiving as the Arlington Square Ice Skating Rink opens for the season with daily skate sessions from Nov. 24 - Jan. 22. Group rates and multi-use punch cards provide savings to ice enthusiasts.

Don’t miss the “Holiday Harmonies” an offering of Christmas music presented by the Chorus of Comstock, a four part a cappella barbershop style chorus. This local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society was deemed “Plateau A Champion” at the spring NE Division Chorus contest. Under direction of B.J. Hill, bass for international quartet competition bronze medal winner “Special Feature”, the chorus will present an array of carols and songs of the season.