It’s beginning to look like Christmas everywhere you go.
City crews began decorating the majestic Maine Street Christmas tree Tuesday morning, and shopkeepers began the holiday season last weekend with their Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales and offerings.
The Lahontan Valley, though, officially kicks off the Yuletide season Friday night with the annual lighting of the 50-foot Christmas tree and festive shoppers visiting the different craft fairs. Something new to ring in the holiday season is also occurring downtown to coincide with the tree lighting. The Lahontan Valley Concert Choir will be singing holiday favorites at the Fallon Theatres beginning at 6 p.m.
The Lights of Christmas and other activities continue the Hometown Christmas weekend on Saturday, capped by an evening performance of the Quebe Sisters at the Oats Park Art Center.
Many communities around the Silver State also use the first weekend of December to ring in the holiday cheer and to help those in need.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys for Tots has set up collection boxes in Fallon and Fernley. Every year volunteers from both the community and Naval Air Station Fallon work with the Toys for Tots campaign to gather thousands of toys to hand out later in December to hundreds of deserving youngsters. In what has become a tradition in our area, Toys for Tots gathers toys for not only Fallon but also for Fernley, Silver Springs and Gabbs.
A Toys for Tots truck will be at the tree lighting and Walmart on Friday and on Saturdays until toys are distributed. Another Toys for Tots truck will be parked at the Fernley Walmart this weekend.
The Wishing Tree program, which is sponsored by CC Communications ITPA and the Churchill County Social Services, is having a strong year, and it appears every child will be adopted.
Every year hundreds of Churchill County residents donate toys to these two groups, ensuring a child’s life will be a little brighter for Christmas. During past years, the community’s generosity has been so overwhelming that more children received toys, or additional toys were given to each child.
The Nevada Highway Patrol’s annual Cram the Cruiser is Sunday at Walmart from 11 a.m-4 p.m. Troopers from the Fallon/Fernley District Office gather in front of Walmart for their annual Cram the Cruiser campaign for meeting the needs of Fallon’s senior citizens.
What makes our community special, though, is how we celebrate the holiday season, but more importantly, how we help others, not only during December but also during the other 11 months.
LVN editorials appear on Wednesdays.