Season’s greetings
The city of Reno kicks off the holidays with the official annual Christmas-tree lighting ceremony during the two-day Holiday Lights Festival in downtown Reno. The free festival, presented by Great American Craft Fairs, includes holiday shopping, live music, food trucks and seasonal ales, as well as photos with Santa Claus and a Christmas train ride. The tree lighting starts at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29. Festival hours are 4-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, at Reno City Plaza, 30 N. Virginia St. Free parking is available in the City Hall parking garage located at University Way and East First Street. Visit www.reno.gov or www.facebook.com/greatamericancraftfairs.
Grunt, squeak, squawk with the animals
Head out to Animal Ark for some fresh air and a chance to observe some of the resident animals at play before the wildlife sanctuary closes for the season. Dress for the weather and stroll through the property as you view bears, raptors and reptiles, as well as tigers, wolves and other felines and canines, all in their enclosures. Afterward, you can stop by the gift shop to purchase a few mementos or holiday gifts. The Ark will hold its Thanksgiving Weekend sale offering visitors up to 20 percent off items in the store, plus free gifts with purchase. The facility will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday through Sunday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, but call ahead to confirm the hours of operation in case of bad weather or poor road conditions. Admission is $18 adults, $15 for seniors age 62 and older, and $10 for children ages 3-12. Entry is free for kids age 2 and younger. Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary, 1265 Deerlodge Road, is located about 25 miles north of Reno, off Red Rock Road. Call 775-475-9626 or www.animalark.org.
Larger than life
Fans of the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender can re-live the adventures of Aang and his friends Katara, Sokka and Toph on the big screen. Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert presents a live orchestral rendition of the series’ iconic soundtrack, paired with a nearly two-hour special recap of the show’s three seasons displayed on a full-size cinema screen. The projection will feature the original dialogue and sound effects without any pre-recorded music, allowing the live orchestra to perform the score live and in perfect sync with the show scenes. Taiko drums and erhus will share the spotlight with violins and clarinets, while the series’ fan-favorite scenes are presented in chronological order on the film screen, breathing life into Aang’s liberating quest. The concert starts at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, in the Grand Theatre at the Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St. Tickets are $29.50-$49.50. Call 775-789-1115 or go to www.grandsierraresort.com.
Stargazers
Long before screen time was a thing, ancient peoples spent their evenings observing the large screen in the sky. While different cultures have developed their own stories and explanations about the stars and their place in the universe, our ancestors often marked time and the seasons by what appeared in the nighttime sky. Learn more about how ancient peoples viewed the heavens at a showing of One Sky. This full-dome feature is a collection of short films, each representing the perspective of a different culture or indigenous society from around the globe. Each film stands alone as a short story or in combination as a longer narrative—organized around themes of “Finding Patterns.” One Sky ends its monthlong run this weekend with showings at 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, at Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center on the north end of the University of Nevada, Reno campus, 1664 N. Virginia St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and service members. Call 775-784-4812, or go www.unr.edu/planetarium.
Slide of hand
Roy Rogers and The Delta Rhythm Kings bring their blend of blues, rock and boogie rhythms to Carson City this weekend. Rogers has released more than 20 recordings over his 40-plus year career and garnered eight Grammy Award nominations as a recording artist, songwriter and producer. The Northern California native started playing guitar at age 12, eventually focusing on the blues as a teen and learning to master the slide guitar. He has performed with music legends like John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt, and has captivated audiences around the world at festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and Montreux in Switzerland, among others. His band, the Delta Rhythm Kings, are not only famous for their high-energy performances but also for their versatility in the blues genre. The group hits the stage at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, in the Swan Music Hall at the Nashville Social Club, 1105 S. Carson St., Carson City. Tickets are $35-$50. Call 775-515-0020, or go to thenashvilleclub.com.
Tune in
The University of Nevada, Reno, announces several concerts performed by student musicians next week, starting with the UNR Symphony Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3. The Fall Choral Concert featuring the UNR Concert Choir and Chamber Chorale starts at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, followed by Jazz Lab I & II featuring large jazz ensembles at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5. The concerts take place at Nightingale Concert Hall, inside the Church Fine Arts building, 1335 N. Virginia St. General admission tickets are $12. Admission is free for children, students, educators and UNR staff. Call 775-784-4278, or go to events.unr.edu/arts.
Dress for the occasion
Enjoy an evening of food, film and fun at the Cordillera International Film Festival’s Mix, Mingle & Jingle Party. Show off your most hideous store-bought or homemade Christmas sweater, or get creative and come as something relating to a traditional or unconventional holiday movie. Then, enter in the costume contest and compete in the categories of Best Ugly Xmas Sweater, Best Dressed Duo, Most Original Overall Christmas Ensemble and Best Dressed like a Holiday Film. The party includes a hosted bar, light hors d’oeuvres, costume contest awards and raffle prizes. Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $25. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or $20 for five tickets. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the costume contest starting at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at Wild River Grille, 17 S. Virginia St. Visit www.ciffnv.org/ugly-xmas-sweater-party.
Bodies in motion
The TMCC Dance Department presents its winter dance concert, Continuum, featuring new works created by local choreographers and dance faculty. Showcasing innovative choreography and a range of movement styles, Continuum invites audiences into a dynamic exploration of time, cycles and continuity in motion. Performances start at 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 5-7; and 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Red Mountain Building, Room 240, at the TMCC Dandini Campus, 7000 Dandini Blvd. Tickets are $18 for general admission and $5 for for TMCC students with valid ID. Call 775-674-7610, or go to www.tmcc.edu/visual-performing-arts.
Siamsa—A Celtic Christmas (Sponsored)
As we approach the holiday season, it is a wonderful time to absorb the shows and celebrations of the Christmas spirit. One of the best shows in Reno is the annual performance of Siamsa—A Celtic Christmas, a holiday musical featuring International Irish Dance Champions Rory Patrick and Katie Meikle, a dazzling ensemble of outstanding dancers, vocalists, actors and musicians. The enchanting tale follows three young orphans searching for the “candle in the window,” the light that represents the true meaning of Christmas. The orphans’ whimsical journey immerses the audience into a world of Celtic traditions and customs from Galicia, Spain, throughout Ireland, Scotland and beyond, creating a magical evening of holiday fun for the entire family. New this year is the dance “Muneura,” a story of the three kings who follow the light of the NorthStar. The cast consists of approximately 75 performers including Irish dancers, musicians including world renowned harpist Marina Roznitovsky, fiddlers, the Sierra Highlands Bag Pipe Band, the Celtic Women’s Chorus under the direction of Cami Thompson, and dazzling costumes and choreography. This holiday production shows one night only, Thursday Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., at the Grand Sierra Resort. Tickets can be purchased online at www.grandsierraresort.com or by calling the GSR box office: 775-789-1115. Child and senior discounts are available at the box office. (Sponsored content)
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Want your event included in 11 Days a Week? Email [email protected] for consideration. Email [email protected] for advertising info!
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