Lights in the darkness
Jews around the world marked the start of Hanukkah starting at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14. Despite the tragedy that marred Hanukkah celebrations in Australia earlier in the week, public menorah lighting ceremonies are scheduled to take place at several locations in our area. Chabad of Northern Nevada will celebrate the Jewish festival of lights with a public menorah lighting, traditional food and music starting at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, at Bob McFadden Plaza, 223 W. Third St., Carson City. There will also be community menorah lightings at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, at Chabad of Incline Village, 120 Country Club Drive, Unit 1; and at 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, in the lobby at Everline Resort & Spa, 400 Resort Road, Olympic Valley. Visitย www.chabadnorthernnevada.comย for more information.
Attention shoppers
You could join the throngs of harried holiday shoppers scanning the aisles at various big-box stores, but wouldnโt it be more fun to try something off the beaten path? Take a gander at these holiday shopping events this week. Holland Project and Craft Wine and Beer will present the all-ages event Night Market, featuring hands-on activities, DJ sets, gift-wrapping services (for a small donation) and local vendors offering handmade and one-of-a-kind items. The market is open from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, in the back room of Craft, 22 Martin St. Entry is free. Visitย hollandreno.org.
Reno Public Market will hold its Deck the Halls vendor fair for one more weekend before wrapping up for the season. The free holiday festival is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, at the RPM, 299 E. Plumb Lane. Check outย www.renopublicmarket.com.
Shop from more than 80 vintage and antique vendors, take photos with Santa, and enjoy a free round of bowling at the Reno Antique Faire Holiday Market, from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the National Bowling Stadium, 300 University Way. Admission is free. Go toย www.renoantiquefaire.com.
Eat, drink and be merry
Downtown and midtown merchants will be spreading a little cheer this weekend at several holiday-themed events. Mexican restaurant Mari Chuyโs will hold La Posada, its community holiday celebration inspired by the traditions surrounding the religious festival of Las Posadas. The restaurant will serve special holiday meals and treats, including red pozole, tamales, champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate), ponche (a warm, spiced fruit punch), and its winter drink, called the Naughty Snowman. There will be festive music, games and giveaways, a visit from Santa Claus and a piรฑata party for all ages. The free fiesta starts at 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, at Mari Chuyโs, 764 S. Virginia St. Visitย midtown.marichuys.com or www.instagram.com/marichuysreno.
Learn pizza-making techniques and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus during Santaโs Pizza Workshop. The family-focused event offers two sessions: from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Noble Pie Parlor, 777 S. Center St. Tickets start at $35 for a parent-child pair and include a personal pizza and drinks. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Go toย noblepieparlor.comย for details.
Holiday revelers age 21 and older wearing their most colorful or cringey Christmas sweater can sip and shop at more than 15 participating small businesses in the downtown Riverwalk District during the annual Ugly Sweater Wine Walk. The event takes place from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, along the Riverwalk and surrounding streets in downtown Reno. Tickets are $30. Visitย renoriver.orgย orย www.facebook.com/RenoWineWalk.ย
Musical doodles
You canโt escape holiday earwormsโbut if youโve made it this long, you can handle one more week. Here are a few options for those folks with eclectic musical tastes.
Order a rum flight and settle in for an evening of โHoliday Jazzโ with Reno Jazz Trio, starting at 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, at Rum Sugar Lime, 1039 S. Virginia St. Thereโs no cover, and you must be at least age 21 to enter. Visitย rumsugarlime.com.
Dress in your best holiday tiki, lounge or retro attire, and dive into deep-cut exotica, surf, lounge and weird holiday records spun by guest DJs from Recycled Records at the Holiday Exotica Party. The vintage vinyl pฤสปina starts at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, at Pele Utu, 1275 Stardust St. Thereโs no cover, and you must be 21 or older to enter. Visit www.facebook.com/PeleUtu to learn more.
Take a trip down memory lane with โA Retro Radio Dolls Christmas,โ featuring classic hits from bygone eras and a retro spin on modern ones on Friday, Dec. 19, followed by the โ80s-themed โShe-Rock Christmas Specialโ on Sunday, Dec. 20. The all-ages shows start at 7 p.m. at the RPM, 299 E. Plumb Lane. Admission is free. Go to www.renopublicmarket.com.ย
Jingle all the way
If your holiday season isnโt complete without attending at least one Christmas concert, you have plenty of choices to hear those songs of yore. Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus will conclude its holiday concert series โHallelujah! Messiahโ with performances at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 701 Mount Rose Highway, Incline Village; and at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, at MountainHouse, 3580 Blackwood Road, South Lake Tahoe. Tickets are $30-50, and free for youth under age 23 in general admission. Visit www.tahoe-philharmonic.com/concerts.
The Reno Pops Orchestra will showcase holiday music and traditions from around the globe in its program โFestive Carols: World Editionโ at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, at Nightingale Concert Hall, inside the Church Fine Arts Building, 1335 N. Virginia St., at the University of Nevada, Reno. The show is free, but donations are welcome. Visit www.renopops.org.
Finally, the Great Basin Carolers will finish off the holiday home stretch with free performances from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday through Wednesday, Dec. 20-24, at The Village at Palisades Tahoe, 1750 Village East Road, Olympic Valley. Go toย www.palisadestahoe.com.
The light will return
Mark the winter solstice in one of several ways on Sunday, Dec. 21. Take a stroll around the Labyrinth Garden at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. There isnโt a public event planned, but some locals have made it an annual tradition to follow the path while reflecting on the past and looking ahead to a new year. The garden is located near the south entrance of the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden, at the first parking lot off San Rafael Drive. Winter park hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitย www.facebook.com/ranchosanrafaelregionalpark.
Grab your yoga mat and go with the flow at the Winter Solstice Yoga Celebration: 108 Sun Salutations. Yoga instructor Sean Johnstoneโalong with his wife Nikki on the turntableโwill guide participants of all levels through breath and movement sequences to a curated live playlist. The session starts at 11 a.m. inside the Sky Room at Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St. Tickets are $10-$15. Register atย www.nevadaart.org.
Bring a pair of snowshoes and join members of Reno Tahoe Adventures for a morning trek to Chickadee Ridge along the Tahoe Rim Trail. Visitย www.meetup.com/reno-tahoe-adventuresย to sign up.
Read, craft or chat quietly and enjoy some complementary hot cocoa and cider to celebrate the solstice from 6 p.m. to midnight at Thistle and Nightshade, 5365 Mae Anne Ave., Suite A38. The bookstore is located above Pizza Plus, and is accessible from the back parking lot. Go to www.thistle-nightshade.com.
Sometimes you feel like a Nutcracker
Last call to see visions of sugar plum fairies, toy soldiers and mice in uniform leaping across the stage at local productions ofย The Nutcracker. A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will present its rendition of the popular ballet featuring a large local cast and principal dancers who have danced with professional ballet companies such as Ballet West, Kansas City Ballet and the Diablo Ballet in the leading roles. The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Laura Jackson, will perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovskyโs magical score. Performances begin at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19; and 1 and 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. Ticket prices are $33-$72 with discounts for seniors and children. Children can meet the Nutcracker characters at the Sugar Plum Party following the Saturday and Sunday afternoon shows. Visitย www.avaballet.comย orย pioneercenter.com.
The Tahoe Dance Collective will presentย The Tahoe Nutcracker, a reimagined version of the holiday classic featuring guest dancers from the New York City Ballet. Performances start at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19; and at 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, at North Tahoe High School, 2945 Polaris Road, Tahoe City. Tickets are $30-$35. Visitย www.laketahoedancecollective.org.
Finally, the Reno Dance Company brings its production of the holiday classic to Lake Tahoe with performances starting at 7 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22-23, in the showroom at Bally’s Lake Tahoe Casino Resort, 55 Highway 50, Stateline. Tickets are $42.80.$67.90. Go toย casinos.ballys.com/lake-tahoeย for tickets.
The sweetest chill
Welcome the arrival of winter, and bid adieu to 2025 at Belfryโs The Darkest Night. The all-ages goth night will mark the yuletide with a T-shirt-decorating contest followed by an evening of darkwave, postpunk and ’80s goth classics spun by Ritual DJs Xenobia and Uncle Rusty. T-shirt decorating starts at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, in the Serva Pool space at the Holland Project, 140 Vesta St. The $20 ticket includes a Belfry graphic T-shirt, materials for decorating, entry in the contest and the dance party, which starts at 6 p.m. in Hollandโs show space. There are limited shirt sizes, so order tickets in advance. Those who just want to dance can get in for $10, but are encouraged to vote for their favorite T-shirt designs from 8 to 9 p.m. Contest winners will be announced shortly after. Visit hollandreno.orgย orย www.instagram.com/belfryreno.
In related news, Ritual will present its annual Unholy Night for those dark angels who wonโt be attending Midnight Mass. The 21-and-over Xmas Eve bash starts at 9 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 24, in The Cellar at Alturas Bar, 1044 E. Fourth St. Cover is $5 cash. Go to www.facebook.com/renogothย or www.instagram.com/renogothicย for details.
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Want your event included in 11 Days a Week? Email 11days@renonr.com for consideration. Email advertising@renonr.com for advertising info!
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