Silver & Snowflakes festival to light up Carson City

Thursday night Carson City will ring in the holidays with its annual tree-lighting extravaganza complete with caroling and a Christmas market in Telegraph Square.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Capitol with a ceremony presented by Gov. Gibbons, followed by the official tree lighting. There will be free hot chocolate and cookies.

Main Street will be closed between 5:30-8 p.m. from Robinson to Fifth street for a caroling procession to the city tree led by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus on horse and sleigh, the Civil War Choir and the community.

Merchants along Musser and Main streets will be ready for the masses with holiday goodies and hot tea.

The winner of the 2010 Kit Carson Trail Holiday Art Contest, sponsored by Arlington Group and the Nevada Appeal, will be announced here as well.

Santa then gallops along to Telegraph Square where merchants and vendors will offer gifts, crafts, flowers, antiques, tea, hot cider, cookies and other goodies. There will be a kids Treasure Chest Coin Hunt, rocks for the kids, and free face painting. Telegraph Square will be open till 9 p.m.

Santa's final destination is the Laxalt Plaza, next to the Carson Nugget, where he will give away candy canes. The Nugget will offer eggnog, hot apple cider, popcorn, candy apples and roasted chestnuts.

Across the street is the ice skating rink, sponsored by the Downtown Business Association, which will serve free hot chocolate. The Elks Club will have a booth serving hot dogs and chili dogs.

To complete the evening, visit the shops on Curry Street and take a walk down to DeBug Computer, where the kids can e-mail Santa.