The City of Fallon spent days preparing the downtown Christmas tree for Friday night’s festivities.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
When the city of Fallon held its first Christmas tree lighting celebration on Maine Street 95 years ago, Don and Dawna Audrain Johnson were each infants, but almost a century later, they are this year’s honored citizens who, together, will push the plunger switch and light the tree on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Judy Pratt, a retired educator who helps organize the annual tree lighting, noted the similarities. Both Johnsons are 95 years old this year, the same age of the downtown tree lighting.
Born on Jan. 6, 1929, Don Johnson grew up in Gerlach and Golconda and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in education before coming to teach at Oats Park School in 1948.
Dawna Johnson was born Jan. 8, 1929, in Reno and grew up there. She eventually graduated from UNR with a degree in business administration and a double minor in math and education. She met her future husband when she, too, started teaching at Oats Park School. Their first date was on Dec. 7, 1950, and they were married on Jan. 27, 1951, after a very brief courtship.
Today, the couple still lives at the Johnson family farm on Sheckler Road which they purchased from Johnson’s father, Clarence, in 1953. Early in their marriage, they were also active in the 20-30 Club, the 30-20 Anns and the Mr. and Mrs. Club.
Dawna Johnson began and operated the Churchill County Federal Credit Union from the farm from 1961 to 1983. Don Johnson retired after 38 years in education as a teacher, principal and business manager.
The Johnsons have a daughter and three sons, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They said that they always enjoy Christmas and the wonderful lights of Fallon.
Other events:
• Prior to the tree lighting, a Christmas open house will be held at Fallon City Hall and the Douglass House beginning at 4:30 p.m. A cookie decorating tent will be set up in the courtyard, and the Fallon on Ice skating rink across the street will be open. The Churchill Kids Choir will lead guests in singing Christmas carols. Santa Claus drops in for his annual local appearance after the tree is lit.
• Immediately following at 7 p.m., the Fallon Theatre will host a free “Winter Wonderland” Christmas concert by the Lahontan Valley Concert Choir and special showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the 1979 edition of “Jack Frost.”
• Additional holiday events include Santa’s Wonderland hosted by the city of Fallon on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in the Fallon City Hall courtyard. Free activities include decorating cookies, making ornaments and writing letters to Santa. Photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and sessions at the ice skating rink will also be available for purchase.
• The High Desert Grange and Toys for Tots Convoy of Lights parade begins Saturday at 6 p.m. from the Churchill County Museum. The convoy heads north, then down Maine Street and ends at Center Street. Parade entry registration is available online at https://form.jotform.com/220085593831154.
• The Churchill County High School Grad Nite 2025 committee hosts a self-guided tour of Fallon’s finest Christmas homes on Saturday from 3-7 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and available at Jeff’s Digitex, Just Country Friends or from any Grad Nite committee member. For information call 775-225-7079.
• A Christmas craft fair will be held at Churchill County High School Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission price is a non-perishable food item, a new unwrapped toy or a pair of socks.
• The Churchill County Museum will host its annual holiday open house Dec. 14 from 1-3 p.m.
The free event features “O Biggest Little Town,” a performance by handbell ensemble Tintabulations, cardmaking crafts, light refreshments and Christmas stories read by museum Director Mel Glover. For information, call 775-423-3677 or follow the event on the museum’s Facebook page.
• The Fallon City Ballet and The Studio for the Performing Arts present “The Nutcracker” in the newly remodeled CCHS auditorium Dec. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and children 4-14 years old. Children under 3 years old are free.
Tickets may be purchased at The Studio, Jeff’s Digitex Printing or from any Fallon City Ballet Company member. For information email jeklhorne@gmail.com.