Dayton Chamber Presents Small Town Christmas and Night of Lights
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 11/20/2021 - 1:34pm
Event Date:
December 4, 2021 - 5:00pm “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” and he and the Grinch will be in Dayton at Our Park, 370 River Rd. on Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 5pm – 7pm.
Santa and the Grinch will arrive on a red firetruck courtesy of Central Lyon County Fire Protection District and they will be joined by the Dayton High School cheerleading squad.
Lyon County Facilities Department sets up the lights in the park and the official Christmas tree lights will be turned on at 5:30pm.
Parents and family are advised to bring their cameras for the Santa and/or Grinch photos!
The Dayton Valley Kiwanis Club will provide hot cocoa and cookies to participants and Soroptimists will be volunteering to help collect the canned food donations that will go to the Dayton Food Pantry.
The local Civil War group will have a fire pit and lots of Christmas stories to share from the olden days.
The Small Town Christmas began in 2012, when Nadine Hastings and a few other local ladies asked why Dayton didn’t have a Christmas Tree Lighting.
With support of county staff and other local groups, the first tree lighting was put together in 14 days and over 250 people attended.
For the last nine years (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID), it has been a great, free community event that people look forward to attending.
Bob Hastings, currently the Director of the Dayton Senior Center, said: “It saddens Nadine and I to give up the event, but we feel it is time for some fresh blood to take over. We are thrilled the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce has chosen to take over the event. Nadine and I will be there to support them in any way we can.”
Christie Fernquest, who serves on the Chamber Board of Directors, is chairing the Small Town Christmas for the chamber.
Fernquest noted that “while we are sad Bob and Nadine are giving up the event, we were honored that they asked the Chamber to take over. We are working hard to exceed the community’s expectations for this wonderful evening.”
Small Town Christmas will coincide with the second annual Dayton Chamber “Night of Lights.”
Beginning on December 4 through the 20th, area residents will be given a list of businesses in the area who are “lighting” it up for Christmas.
Everyone is encouraged to vote for their favorite light display by sending their vote via daytonnightoflights@gmail.com
The winner will receive a free one year Chamber membership. Last year’s winner was Larry’s Gourmet Coffee House.
Owner Larry Gongaware encourages businesses to participate and he is already working on his display for this year.
The deadline for businesses to submit their name and address is Monday, November 29, 2021.
Contact the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce at daytonnvchamber@gmail.com or (775) 246-7909 to enter and for more information.
