Jingle all the way

If you long to experience a “traditional” Christmas (at least the kind you hear about in all the holiday songs), Sparks’ 17th Annual Hometowne Christmas is probably as close to traditional as you can get. There will be arts and crafts, holiday food, a parade and other entertainment beginning at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 6 at Victorian Square in downtown Sparks. Brüka Theatre performs A Christmas Carol at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Victorian Street amphitheater, 10th Street and Victorian Avenue in downtown Sparks. More than 120 different groups will proceed down Victorian Avenue in this year’s parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell serve as this year’s grand marshals. International Folkloric Ballet provides a glimpse of the holidays as they are celebrated in Mexico with Fiesta Mexicana: Las Posadas, beginning at 4 p.m. Creative Performing Arts Center gives a preview performance of The Nutcracker at 4:30 p.m. Other highlights include musical quartet Rewind and Reed High School’s Intermezzo Choir. The festivities conclude with the lighting of Sparks’ Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call 353-2291 or visit www.sparksrec.com for details.