Nov. 18 through Jan. 1 - "Peter Pan" at the Eldorado - Peter Pan (with some extra holiday cheer) will be playing at the Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89501. This family-friendly show features holiday cheer as the cast sings classic carols and new holiday favorites in a wondrous finale. Character meet and greet available for $5 after Saturday and Sunday matinees and includes a commemorative cast photo. Note that children under 5 are not permitted in the Eldorado showroom.
Ticket prices start at $24.95 adults, $19.95 kids and seniors, and vary depending on date, seating location, and show/dinner packages that might be chosen. Tickets can be purchased online. For more information, call (800) 879-8879.
Nov. 22 - Rink on the River Opening Day - Rink on the River opens on Tuesday evening, November 22, for the 2011 - 2012 winter season. Skating begins immediately after the Holiday Tree lighting ceremony at 4:45 p.m. Bring the whole family to downtown Reno and enjoy ice skating by the Truckee River. Not knowing how to skate is no excuse - lessons and skate rentals are available.
Rink on the River is at the corner of First and Virginia Streets. ATM and credit cards are not accepted - bring cash or a check. For additional information, call (775) 334-2262.
Nov. 22 - Reno Holiday Tree Lighting -Reno's 2011 Holiday Tree will be ceremonially lit in the City Plaza, across from the City Hall in downtown Reno. The tree is at the corner of S. Virginia and First Streets, next to the skating rink. The lighting ceremony starts at 4:45 p.m. and will include holiday carols sung by the Billinghurst Middle School Choir. Bring two food items for the Evelyn Mount Community Outreach or a pair of mittens/gloves/socks for the Salvation Army and receive a pass for a free admission and skate rental.
Nov. 24 - Scheels Turkey Trot - Bring the family to the Scheels Turkey Trot and work up an appetite for that big meal later in the day. Participants can choose from a fun 2 mile walk or run, or a timed 10K run. Races start by Scheels in the Legends at Sparks Marina. The course follows the path around the lake and onto nearby streets.
Register by mail, online, or at 98 Richards Way in Sparks. Registration is $25 per person until November 17 and $30 on race day, between 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. For more information, call (775) 353-7898.
Thanksgiving at the Movies - Lots of new movies have been recently released or will hit theaters during this holiday season. You can lessen the holiday hassle and avoid lines at the theater by buying advance tickets online. And don't forget to consider movie tickets as gifts, something just about everyone enjoys.
Nov. 25, 26, 27 - Polar Express™ on the V&T Railroad - The special Polar Express™ excursions on the V&T during Thanksgiving weekend give families and kids a chance to experience the holiday spirit just like in the movie of the same name. There are three runs per day and tickets are going fast - get advance tickets online or you may be left at the station. For information, call (775) 687-7410 or toll-free at (800) NEVADA-1.
Visit the National Automobile Museum in Reno - The National Automobile Museum in Reno is among the best of its kind in the world. The Museum features cars from the dawn of the automobile age through the present day. A current exhibit, Mutant Rides: Origin of a Species, features art cars and other items from the Burning Man Festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert north of Reno. The Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours are Monday - Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $4 ages 6-18, 5 and under free. Admission includes audio tours in both English and Spanish.
Nov. 25 - 27 - Thanksgiving Weekend at the Nevada Museum of Art - This Thanksgiving, the Nevada Museum of Art has a number of on-going exhibits suitable for family visits. Of particular interest to families with children is the hands/ON! Sunday Family Program - Landscape Paintings, on Nov. 27. There will be sessions at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Admission to hands/ON! is free. The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25 through Nov. 27.
Nov. 25 - 26 - Animal Ark - Animal Ark will be open during the Thanksgiving weekend so that you can enjoy our animals in the cooler temperatures of late fall when they are active and frisky. The furry predators are putting on their gorgeous winter coats, while the bears are gorging themselves in preparation for their long winter hibernation. If you aren't wild about the annual holiday shopping frenzy after Thanksgiving, come out to the Animal Ark and get wild with the animals.
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 children and seniors, free for age 2 and under. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. From Reno, take U.S. 395 north, turn right on Red Rock Road, go 11.5 miles, then right onto Deerlodge Road to 1265. Donations of turkey necks and gizzards or uncooked, low-sodium turkeys to supplement the big cats diets would be appreciated. For more information, call (775) 970-3111 (area code required).
Nov. 19 - Sundance Bookstore - From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., local favorite Patty Cafferatta will sign and discuss her latest book, Tales of The Biggest Little City in the World: A Collection of Patty Cafferata's Columns on Reno, Nevada Volume III. Sundance Bookstore is at 121 California Ave., Reno, NV 89509. Call (775) 786-1188 for more information.
