Tree lighting kicks off the holidays

The Yuletide season officially begins Friday with the traditional Christmas tree lighting at the Maine Street Fountain followed by other events throughout the weekend and month of December.

An open house at the Fallon City Hall and historic Douglass House is from 4:40 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. followed by the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s honoree to light the tree is 96-year-old Lillie Dyer Bright. She grew up on the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Reservation and had 12 siblings. Bright was a nurse at Churchill County Hospital for many years before becoming a nurse for the Churchill County School District. She continued to raise many foster children along with nieces and nephews after she retired.

Bright has four children — Charlene Starlight, Chris Hicks, Mary Williams and Bobby Wayne (who is deceased) — 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

During the tree lighting, various groups will serve hot chocolate and cookies.

After the tree lighting, the Fallon Theatre will present a Christmas concert performed by the Lahontan Valley Concert Choir. Also that evening the theater will the show the children's movie, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” “A Christmas Story” also will show.

Friday and Saturday

• Christmas Craft Fair is at the Wolf Center, 457 Esmeralda St., on Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 pm.

• Toys for Tots will be at Walmart on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday

• Christmas Craft Fair at the William N. Pennington Life Center is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry fee is $1 adults and children. Children under 10 are free.

• High Desert Grange and Toys for Tots are sponsoring their third annual Christmas Convoy of Lights on Saturday.

Toys for Tots has a large presence in Churchill County where they accept donations to give to children who would otherwise go without gifts at Christmas. The High Desert Grange is committed to supporting those people and groups whose actions benefit the good of our community.

To enter this growing annual event, a toy or cash donation to Toys for Tots is required. Trucks, tractors, trailers, ATVs, and UTVs are permissible entry vehicles. However, no animals are allowed.

Entrants should meet at the Churchill County Museum parking lot at 5 p.m. From the parking lot, this year’s route will be north on Maine Street to Center Street to the large parking lot on the north side of the street where the convoy will disband.

Santa has promised to squeeze in an appearance. He’s very busy at this time of year, but he has assured us that Fallon is one of his favorite places and he will definitely be in the convoy!

Entry forms are available at form.jotform.com/220085593831154. For information, contact Gloria Montero at 775- 427-8210.

• Photos with Santa. Photos with Santa will be at the Telegraph Coffee and Tap, 1805 W. Williams Ave. Noon-3 p.m. $10 donation. Funds raised will help the Churchill Animal Protection Society.

• Churchill County Motorcycle Toy Run. Registration opens at 1 p.m. Bring an unwrapped toy or $30.

The toy run begins at Nobody’s Clubhouse, 4629 Reno Highways. For assistance, call 775-866-0152.

• Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk — Churchill County Parks and Recreation is celebrating the holiday season with the second annual Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk. Join us to enjoy the hot cocoa stand, ugly sweater contest, 5K and ugly sweater scavenger hunt.

Make sure to wear your ugliest sweater for a chance to win fun prizes. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., followed by the ugly sweater contest at 9:30 a.m. The 5K begins at 10 a.m.

For information and pre-registration, visit churchillcountyrecreation.org.

• Holiday Art Bar— Join us for a reception featuring selections from the collection of Kirk Robertson and Valerie Serpa on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 151 Park St.

Local duo Money Back Guarantee featuring Cliff Van Woert and Scott Payne will be providing some light holiday cheer with their fluid and stylish two-guitar-take on jazz, blues and beyond.

The Robertson Serpa Collection includes works from many artists, including Joan Arrizabalaga, Mary Ann Bonjorni, Evan Dent, Jane Waggoner Deschner, Jack Fulton, Dayna Galletti, Tom Gilbertson, Keith Goodhart, Michael Greenspan, Jerry Iverson, Richard Jackson, Gesine Janzen, Christine Pinney Karkow, Michelle Lassaline, Julia Schwadron Marianelli, Edward Martinez, Bob Morrison, Gordon McConnell, Walter McNamara, Michelle Osman, Elaine Parks, James Pink, Austin Pratt, Fred Reid, Sharon Rosse, Robert Royhl, Michael Sarich, Catherine Schmid-Maybach, Tawni Shuler, Theodore Waddell and D. R. Wagner.

The Robertson Serpa Collection is on display in the E. L. Wiegand & Kirk Robertson Galleries through Feb. 25.

• Saturday night the Fallon Theatre will be showing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” playing at 6 p.m. and “A Christmas Story” at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday

• First responders food drive: The first responders of Churchill County are having their Holiday Food Competition on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the Fallon Walmart.

During this competition, people are encouraged to give any food item to the agency of your choice. The agency that receives the most food in weight wins.

Agencies competing are the Fallon Police Department, Churchill County Sheriff’s Office, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal police, Fallon-Churchill Volunteer Fire Department, Nevada Highway Patrol and Banner Churchill Community Hospital EMS.

Dec. 8

• Choir — The Lahontan Valley Concert Choir presents The Colors of Christmas on Dec. 8 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Churchill County High School Theater.

The event will also have assorted raffle prizes.

Dec. 10

• The annual Christmas Home Tour is Dec. 10 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person or $15 for people 65 years and older.

Tickets are available at Digitex, Enamel Salon and His Inspirations.

All proceeds go to Grad Night.

Dec. 17

• Museum open house: Mark your calendars. The Churchill County Museum annual holiday open house is Dec. 17.

We’ll have crafts and light refreshments starting at 12:30 p.m. and a performance by the delightful Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble at 1 p.m.

Dec. 21

• The Fallon Theatre will have Nashville-based country duo, Luke and Kaylee, perform. They take our stage for a holiday show and will be playing some country, Christmas and original songs. Tickets are $20 per person with 20% of ticket sales donated to a local charity.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with performance starting at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit lukeandkayleemusic.com/merch.

Dec. 31

• The Churchill County Museum Association’s Mad Hatter’s Ball and Auction is Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets are $75 individual or $550 for a table of eight. Tickets are available at the Churchill County Museum.