Nevada

Santa Crawl, ‘Nutcracker,’ Christmas drone show this week in Northern Nevada

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2024

Press Room

Santa Crawl, ‘Nutcracker,’ Christmas drone show this week in Northern Nevada

There’s a slight chance of precipitation and a 100% chance of Santas this weekend in Reno.

A new front is expected to send snow into the Pacific Northwest by the end of the week, and the system could drop rain and snow as far south as the Sierra beginning on Friday.

Also heading into the area this weekend: thousands of Santas for downtown Reno’s annual Santa Crawl.

Here’s what else is happening in northwestern Nevada for the week of Dec. 9-15, 2024.

Reno-Tahoe events, Dec. 9-15

“The Golden Girls Holiday Extravaganza,” Dec. 11-15: The Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company recreates holiday episodes of the sitcom “Golden Girls” live on stage. Tickets are $28, $15 students, $23 for seniors/military. Performances are at 124 W. Taylor St. For details, visit goodluckmacbeth.org.

“Little Miss Buttcracker,” Dec. 12-15: The Brüka is hosting this Nutcracker parody described as “‘Little Miss Sunshine’ meets ‘Dance Moms’” on select dates through Dec. 21. Tickets are $35 in advance; $31 for seniors, students and military; and $40 at the door. Performances are at 99 N. Virginia St. For details, visit bruka.org.

Matt Axton and Badmoon, Dec. 13: Formerly a Tahoe resident and longtime musician in that scene, Axton — who is the son of legendary songwriter Hoyt Axton — now lives in southern Cali and leads this band through an eclectic mix of country, soul and rock music. He and the group will play at 7 p.m. at Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane. Details at renopublicmarket.com.

La India Yuridia, Dec. 13: A popular comedian in Mexico, Yuridia combines family humor with up-to-date topical material in her standup act, and she’s reached social media fame for her lively videos. She performs at 8 p.m. at the Grand Theater, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, 2500 E. 2nd St. Tickets range from $40-$120. For details, call 775-789-1115 or visit grandsierraresort.com.

Tracy Lawrence, Dec. 13: Emerging as a popular country singer in the ‘90s, Lawrence continues to release new music and tour the country. His biggest hits include several country No. 1s: “Time Marches On,” “Alibis” and “Sticks and Stones.” Lawrence takes the stage at 8 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom, Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks. Tickets are $65-$115. For details, call 775-356-3300 or visit nuggetcasinoresort.com.

Boombox, Dec. 13-14: This group is one of the better ones that merges the improvisational spirit of jam bands with electronic music. They are now a big enough draw to do two shows in Tahoe — each starts at 9 p.m. in the Crown Room at Crystal Bay Club Casino, 14 State Highway 28, Crystal Bay. Tickets are $27-$30 for each night. For details, call 775-833-6333 or visit crystalbaycasino.com.

Hi-Dez Holiday Market, Dec. 14: This is the annual art and craft holiday marketplace put on by The Holland Project, including local artisans and special holiday activities at each location, which this year includes Tooti Frooti, The Radical Cat and Our Center, all near the venue. It begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. starting at The Holland Project, 140 Vesta St. Admission is free. For details, visit hollandreno.org.

Parade of Lights and Christmas Drone Show, Dec. 14: Virginia City hosts its annual holiday parade down C Street starting at 5 p.m., followed by its first-ever Christmas Drone Show at 6 p.m. For details, visit visitvirginiacity.com.

Santa Crawl, Dec. 14: Local costumed Santas will be joined by a bunch of folks from over the hill in California (and beyond) for this wildly popular pub crawl through Reno. The sight of thousands of partying Santas and elves under the Reno Arch has become a city tradition. It takes place starting at 8 p.m. throughout downtown Reno and along Fourth Street. Details at crawlreno.com.

Reno Dance Company presents “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 15: Tchaikovsky’s classic is being staged by this local troupe, which includes 25 professional dancers and an extra cast with more than 80 children. Performances are at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, 2500 E. Second St. Tickets are $25-45. For details, visit grandsierraresort.com.

Reno Wind Symphony presents “A Musical Winter Wonderland,” Dec. 15: This community symphony will perform seasonal favorites in a winter setting. It takes place at 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at Nightingale Concert Hall, University of Nevada, Reno, 1335 N. Virginia St. Reserved (free) tickets available at renowindsymphony.com.

Reno-Tahoe weather, Dec. 9-15

Monday: Sunny and cool, with highs in the low 40s in the valleys and in the mid-30s to mid-40s at higher elevations. Mostly clear overnight, with lows in the upper 10s in the valleys and in the 10s at higher elevations.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-40s in the valleys and in the low 40s at higher elevations. Mostly cloudy overnight, with lows in the mid-20s in the valleys and in the low 20s at higher elevations.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with highs near 50 in the valleys and in the upper 40s at higher elevations. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows near 30 in the valleys and in the 20s at higher elevations.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-50s in the valleys and in the mid-40s to mid-50s at higher elevations. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows near 30 in the valleys and in the upper 20s at higher elevations.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of precipitation; highs in the low 50s in the valleys and in the 40s at higher elevations. Partly cloudy with a chance of precipitation overnight, with lows near 30 in the valleys and in the 20s at higher elevations. Snow levels at 5,500 feet.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a chance of precipitation; highs in the upper 40s in the valleys and in the low 40s at higher elevations. Snow levels between 5,200 and 5,900 feet. Partly cloudy overnight in the valleys with a slight chance of precipitation and lows in the mid-20s; a chance of snow showers at higher elevations, with lows in the low 20s.

Sunday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of precipitation, with highs in the mid-40s in the valleys and in the low 40s at higher elevations. Mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of precipitation overnight, with lows in the upper 20s in the valleys and in the low 20s at higher elevations.

Northern Nevada roadwork, Dec. 9-15

Steamboat Parkway, south Reno: Crews are wrapping up the expansion of a section of Steamboat Parkway from four lanes to six between Marketplace Drive and Veterans Parkway.

U.S. 95-A in Yerington: Single-lane and shoulder closures will take place between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays through early December as the Nevada Department of Transportation improves roadway drainage.

I-80, west Reno: Lane reductions and overnight ramp closures will continue as part of NDOT’s multiyear project to repave and improve the stretch of freeway between West McCarran and Keystone. Expect lane shifts and speed reductions.

U.S. 395, North Valleys: Northbound traffic will continue to be reduced to two lanes on 395 through mid-2025 due to NDOT’s work to widen 395 between North McCarran Boulevard and Golden Valley Road. The on-ramp at Panther Valley, north of Reno, will be closed through late 2024. Watch for intermittent ramp closures overnight.

Mark Earnest contributed to this report.

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Nevada

Is USPS breaking vow not to use Sacramento for Northern Nevada mail?

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Is USPS breaking vow not to use Sacramento for Northern Nevada mail?

After widespread condemnation last year, the U.S. Postal Service backed away from plans to move its Reno mail-processing operations to Sacramento — but did it stay true to what it told the public?

The question arose recently after letters sent from one Carson City address to another in Carson City were both postmarked in Sacramento.

Northern Nevadans did not want first class mail sent from one Northern Nevada address to another going first to California. They sent a unified message to the USPS all the way up to the postmaster general.

Critics of the USPS plan were especially worried about delays from mail having to go back and forth over the Sierra during winter.

The Washoe County District Attorney’s office filed a lawsuit over the plan, the Washoe County Commission voted to oppose the plan, public comment was universally opposed, and Democratic and Republican elected officials from across the state joined to stop it.

Could it possibly have happened anyway? The answer is yes, temporarily, for a brief time.

How letters sent in Carson City came to be processed at Sacramento USPS facility

A reader told the Reno Gazette Journal they’d twice had letters internal to Carson City postmarked in Sacramento, so we asked USPS if the policy had changed.

“Mail processing for First Class mail that originates in Northern Nevada and is destined to Northern Nevada has not changed,” USPS spokesperson Sherry Patterson responded by email.

“However,” she added, “without the specific mail piece and class of mail, we cannot determined if there is an issue.”

The reader then supplied a photo of the two envelopes postmarked Nov. 5 in Sacramento, and this was shared with USPS.

“Our processing machine in Reno was temporarily out of service while we awaited a replacement part,” Patterson said after viewing the postmarks to nail down the specific date the letters went through Sacramento.

“To ensure that mail was not delayed during this time, we implemented a contingency plan that involved routing certain mail to our Sacramento facility for cancellation and processing. This measure allows us to maintain service continuity and minimize disruptions for our customers. We understand that this may cause some confusion, and we are committed to ensuring that all mail is processed efficiently and accurately.”

Bottom line: Regarding first class mail that’s being sent to and from Northern Nevada addresses, it’s still USPS policy to process that in Reno at its Vassar Street facility, she said.

The path these particular letters took, Patterson added, “is indeed an unusual occurrence.”

Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.

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Nevada

Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones

Published

14 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Loneliness has become a significant health issue for people everywhere, and the holiday season sometimes intensifies those feelings. For many, December looks like family gatherings, matching pajamas and bustling homes. But this time of year can also be very difficult for those who may be battling distance, work commitments or recent life changes.

Marc Valli, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, has lived in Las Vegas since 1988. He moved to Nevada to join a ministry and be closer to his wife’s parents.

WATCH| Shellye Leggett talks to an army vet who’s recently moved into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility

Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones

“I wanted to come and join ministry here. Also my wife’s parents lived here,” Valli said.

Valli’s wife Barbara, known to friends and family as Bobby, passed away in 2018 after 54 years of marriage.

“I’m still counting the years. We’ve been married 54 years,” he said.

His children moved him into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility in June, making this his first holiday season in his new home.

“People are very nice, they treat you good,” Valli said.

Come Christmas Day, the facility’s common room will be filled with residents ready for holiday activities, but Valli hopes to get outside these walls to see his family that still lives nearby.

“I have grandkids. One goes to Cal Poly. He’s here right now, but he’s on vacation, and then I have two little granddaughters, one’s 11, one’s 7,” Valli said. “I don’t know if they’re gonna come for Christmas or I’m going there.”

Gus Farias, the executive director of Escalante at the Lakes Assisted Living, says many of his residents don’t have family nearby. Keeping their spirits high throughout the holidays is an important task.

“We can tell when our residents are feeling down. There’s a lot of pressure during the holidays because some of our residents don’t have families that are nearby, but they have us,” Farias said.

The organisation A Mission for Michael released a study showing just how many people are expected to spend the holidays alone this year. Nevada ranked 43rd on the list of loneliest states, with more than 212,000 people expected to spend Christmas by themselves.

“It’s pretty surprising that there’s so many Nevadans that are gonna spend the holidays by themselves,” Farias said.

He says combating loneliness will take a community effort.

“When you’re at the grocery store or whatever, reach, look back and ask them, you know, wish them a merry Christmas or happy holidays and ask them how they passed their holidays in the past because we, we as a younger generation than our seniors, we can learn a lot from that,” Farias said.

It’s an effort that Valli says makes the holidays a little brighter.

“Oh, it makes a big difference,” he said.

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Nevada

Nysos, Nevada Beach Set for Clash in Laffit Pincay Jr.

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Nysos, Nevada Beach Set for Clash in Laffit Pincay Jr.

A trio of grade 1 races are set to take place on Santa Anita Park‘s opening day Dec. 28, but the undercard of graded stakes action will add to the fireworks with an expected clash of recent grade 1 winners in the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2).

Those grade 1 winners both emerge from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with Nysos carrying the silks of Baoma Corp. and Nevada Beach racing for Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.

Nysos is aiming to cap his 4-year-old season with a fourth consecutive triumph. Although it has been challenging at times to keep the son of Nyquist on the track, his talent has never been in doubt with six wins from seven starts. He proved himself at the top level Nov. 1 with a thrilling, stretch-duel victory over champion Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

A $550,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale has raced the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Pincay only once before, triumphing by 2 3/4 lengths in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. He’ll be on comfortable ground as his three starts at Santa Anita have been won by a combined 23 1/2 lengths.

Santa Anita has also been a productive track for Nevada Beach, who won the Goodwood Stakes (G1) there in September. Going into this race, the son of Omaha Beach bounced back from a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to outgame British Isles by a half-length in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Nov. 22.

British Isles is among five rivals entered in the Pincay from outside the Baffert barn, a group that includes grade 3 winner Cornishman .

Entries: Laffit Pincay, Jr. S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, December 28, 2025, Race 6

Grade II
1 1/16m
Dirt
$200,000
3 yo’s & up
1:30 PM (local)

Namaron, Maaz Meet Again in Mathis Mile

Seven 3-year-old runners are entered in the $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) traveling a mile on turf.

Hronis Racing’s Namaron is the lone contender with winning success at the graded level, courtesy of a group 3 triumph in Germany in April. The Amaron gelding’s two American starts for trainer John Sadler have both resulted in third-place finishes against stakes company.

The most recent came in October’s Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita where he finished a half-length behind runner-up Maaz . That French-bred runner trained by Michael McCarthy for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, Sabby Racing, and Michael House returned in the Hollywood Derby (G1T), finishing seventh and beaten 4 3/4 lengths after his saddle slipped early in the race.

Entries: Mathis Mile S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, December 28, 2025, Race 5

Grade IIT
1m
Turf
$200,000
3 yo
1:00 PM (local)

Endlessly Aims to Right the Ship in San Gabriel

Considered one of the top turf talents of his crop as a 2-year-old, Endlessly is aiming to right the ship and close out his 4-year-old season with a win in the $100,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G3T).

Photo: Chad B. Harmon

Endlessly trains for the 2024 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

The Amerman Racing homebred finished third in the American Stakes (G3T)—his seasonal debut this spring and first start in 8 1/2 months—but has not reached the board in three starts since. McCarthy gave the 4-year-old Oscar Performance colt a little break following the Aug. 30 Del Mar Handicap (G2T) where he loomed a threat early but then faded to ninth. McCarthy also removes the blinkers he added two starts back.

McCarthy will also saddle grade 1-placed Mondego for Cheyenne Stables.

Also looking to right the ship is Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit for trainer George Papaprodromou. After defeating Endlessly in the American Stakes, he went on to hit the board in four straight graded attempts. However, the typical pacesetter had competition on the lead in his most recent start, the Nov. 29 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) and faded to finish eighth.