Winter guide calendar of events

The Gift of Lights: Drive through holiday-themed displays illuminated by three million lights, Nov. 20-Jan. 2. $10 per vehicle. Idlewild Park, 1900 Idlewild Drive, 334-2262 or (7020 451-0344.

Turkey Trot: Sparks Parks and Recreation Department holds its sixth annual Turkey Trot Fun Run, 8:30 a.m. Nov. 25. $30 entry fee. Sparks Marina, 300 Howard Drive, Sparks, 353-2376.

Dake House Victorian Christmas: One of Genoa’s oldest homes is decorated for the holidays in a Victorian Christmas theme, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26-Dec. 8. Dake House Antiques Emporium, 2242 Main St., Genoa, (775) 782-4951.

Hometowne Christmas: Usher in the holiday season with Sparks’ annual parade and tree lighting ceremony, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Victorian Square, downtown Sparks, 353-2291.

Valhalla Holiday Gala: Tahoe Tallac Association celebrates the season with this holiday dinner and dance, 6 p.m. Dec. 4. $35-$50. Valhalla Grand Hall, Tallac Historic Site, three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89, (888) 632-5859.

Victorian Home Christmas Tour: Costumed docents lead tours of Carson City’s Victorian-era homes, which are decorated for the holidays, noon-6 p.m. Dec. 12. $5-$15. Tour begins at the J.D. Roberts House, 1207 N. Carson St., Carson City, 687-7410.

Spirit of Artown: Celebrate the season with this mini arts festival, through Dec. 13. Various locations. Call 322-1538 or visit renoisartown.com.

Boar Head’s Feast: The annual winter solstice celebration includes a medieval dinner and performances by madrigal singers, the Virginia City Theater Muckers and Around the Hearth, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18. $TBA. Piper’s Opera House, 12 N. B. St., Virginia City, 847-0433.

Big Blue Adventure Race: Teams compete in categories such as free heel skiing, snowshoeing, orienteering and map and compass skills, Jan. 9. $180 entry fee. Northstar-at-Tahoe, 100 Northstar Drive, Truckee, Calif., (530) 546-1019 or bigblueadventures.com.

Sheep Dip: The 41st annual event features satirical skits, humorous songs and silly dances that poke fun at local newsmakers and events, 8 p.m. Jan. 14-15. $TBA. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, 356-6600.

Brew Ha Ha: Sierra Arts Foundation’s annual beer tasting features music by Mumbo Gumbo and Buddy Emmer, Feb. 11. $TBA. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, 356-3300 or 329-2787.

Night of Arts and Oscars: Watch the Academy Awards in style at Sierra Arts Foundation’s annual event, Feb. 27. $TBA. Peppermill Hotel Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St., 826- or 329-2787.

North Lake Tahoe Snow Festival: Enjoy the remaining days of winter during this 10-day carnival celebration, March 4-13. Various locations at Lake Tahoe. Visit tahoesnowfestival.com.

Performing Arts/Theater

Ruthless! Brüka Theatre presents this musical comedy about an 8-year-old who will do anything to get the starring role in her school musical, 8 p.m. Nov. 26-27; Dec. 2-4, 10-11, 16-18; 2 p.m. Dec. 19. $14 - $20. 99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221.

A Single Woman: Nevada Shakespeare Company presents this Thanksgiving Day performance, 11 a.m. Nov. 25. Free. United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 209 W. First St., 324-4198.

The Nutcracker Ballet: Pinkerton Ballet Theatre presents its 16th annual performance of the classic ballet, 7 p.m. Nov. 26-27, 2 p.m. Nov. 28. $15-$20. Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City, 884-4603 or 882-6748.

The Graduate: Broadway Comes to Reno series continues with the musical version of the coming-of-age tale, 8 p.m. Nov. 26-27; 7 p.m. Nov. 28; 2 p.m. Nov. 27-28. $40-$70. Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., 686-6600.

Real Magic: Kalin and Jinger return with a holiday edition of their magic show, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26-27; Dec. 4-5, 9,16-18, 27-30; 3 p.m. Nov. 28; Dec. 5, 12, 26. $15.95-$23.95. Magic Underground at Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., 324-6007 or 686-6600.

The Gondoliers: Lyric Opera Theatre presents this Gilbert & Sullivan musical, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-30. $5-$10. Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts Complex, University of Nevada, Reno, 784-6847.

Seams: A Theatrical Pieces of the AIDS Quilt: Brüka Theatre presents this fund-raising event, 7 p.m. Dec. 1. $20. 99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221.

Oliver Twist: Carson Performing Arts presents Charles Dickens’ tale of an orphan boy in search of a better life, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 3, 10, 2 p.m. Dec. 4, 11-12. $6-$8. Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City, 883-1976.

The Nutcracker: Western Festival Ballet presents this holiday classic, 7 p.m. Dec. 4, 3 p.m. Dec. 5. $17-$28. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Highway 50, Stateline, (800) 427-7247.

A Celtic Christmas: The Reno Irish Dance Company performs this holiday presentation, 8 p.m. Dec. 4, noon and 4 p.m. Dec. 5. $12-$20. Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., 686-6600.

A Thousand Cranes: Truckee Meadows Community College’s theater, music and dance programs present this play based on a true story about the effects of war on a 12-year-old girl, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3-4, 2 p.m. Dec. 4-5. $5-$10. TMCC Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center, 505 Keystone Ave., 789-5671.

Home on the Range: The Vintage Players sing, dance and perform skits from the Old West, 2 p.m. Dec. 8. Free. TMCC Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center, 505 Keystone Ave., 789-5671.

Sunny’s High Sierra Christmas Show: Entertainer Sunny returns to the area with this holiday production, 8 p.m. Dec. 10, 12, 17-19; 3 p.m. Dec. 11. $15-$29.75. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Highway 50, Stateline, (800) 427-7247.

The Nutcracker: Nevada Ballet Theatre and the Reno Philharmonic present this Christmas classic, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 11. $19-$54. Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., 686-6600.

Cinderella: Tahoe Players presents the Rodgers & Hammerstein fairy-tale romance, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 12. $12-$18. Reno Hilton Theater, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2285.

A Christmas Carol: Nevada Performing Arts’ production of the Charles Dickens’ holiday classic combines acting, dancing and singing, 7 p.m. Dec. 16-18, 2 p.m. Dec. 18. $12-$25. Reno Hilton Theater, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2285.

Macbeth: Carson Performing Arts presents the Shakespeare tragedy, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7-8, 13-15; 2 p.m. Jan. 9. $TBA. Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City, 283-1684.

Henry IV: Reno Little Theater presents the Shakespeare drama, Jan. 14-16, 21-23, 28-30. $10-$12. Hug High School Theater, 2880 Sutro St., 329-0661.

Honk, Jr: BAC Stage Kids perform this contemporary re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, 7 p.m. Jan. 21-23, 28-29; 2 p.m. Jan. 22-23, 29-30. $TBA. Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City, 883-1976.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: Broadway Comes to Reno series continues with this musical about a little Texas facing the ire of the moral majority, 8 p.m. Jan. 26-27; 7 p.m. Jan. 28; 2 p.m. Jan. 27-28. $35-$70. Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., 686-6600 or neweratickets.com.

Amadeus: Brüka Theatre presents this play about the genius musician, 8 p.m. Feb. 4-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26; March 3-5, 10-12; 2 p.m. Feb. 20; March 14. $14-$20. 99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221.

Laundry & Bourbon/Lone Star: Proscenium Players perform these one-act plays, 8 p.m. Feb. 18-19, 25-26. $TBA. Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City, 883-1976.

Epicene or The Silent Woman: Nevada Repertory Theatre presents Ben Johnson’s comedy on the battle of the sexes, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25-26; March 2-5; 1:30 p.m. March 6. $13-$17. Redfield Proscenium Theatre, Church Fine Arts Complex, University of Nevada, Reno, 784-6847.

Live Music/Performance

Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, 356-6600: Bill Engvall, 8 p.m., Nov. 26-27, $37 (Celebrity Showroom); Riders in the Sky, 8 p.m., Dec. 3-4, $20 (CS); Comstock Cowboys, 8 p.m., Dec. 10, $15 (CS); Delbert McClinton, 9 p.m., Dec. 31, $55 (CS); Smash Mouth, 8 p.m., Jan. 1, $40 (Rose Ballroom); Austin Lounge Lizards, 8 p.m., Jan. 7-8, $TBA (CS); Big Head Todd & The Monsters, 8 p.m., Jan. 21-22, $42 (CS); Tower of Power, 8 p.m., Jan. 28-29, $27 (CS); Todd Snider and the Nervous Wrecks, 8 p.m., Feb. 4-5, $27 (CS); Harry James Orchestra, 8 p.m., Feb. 9, $25 (CS); Danny Marona, 8 p.m., Feb. 11-13, $24 (CS); Royal Swing Orchestra, 8 p.m., Feb. 16, $25 (CS); Pied Pipers and the Clambake, 8:30 p.m., Feb. 23 (CS); Junior Brown, 9 p.m., Feb. 25; 8 p.m., Feb. 26, $20 (CS).

Atlantis Casino Resort, 3800 S. Virginia St., 824-4467: The Platters, the Marvelettes and the Shirelles, Nov. 26-27. $22.50-$27.50. Atlantis Casino Resort, 3800 S. Virginia St., 824-4467.

Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City, 883-1976: John Gorka, Kate Cotter, 7 p.m., Dec. 4, $15-$17.

Caesars Tahoe, 55 Highway 50, (800) 648-3353: KC and the Sunshine Band, 9 p.m. Nov. 27, $30 (Circus Maximus Showroom); Guru from Gang Starr, 9 p.m. Nov. 27, $TBA (Club Nero); MTV’S DJ Teck Money featuring DJ Ricky Lee, 9 p.m. Dec. 31, $TBA (CN); Sinbad, 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, $35- $60 (CMS); DJ Ricky Lee, 9 p.m. Jan. 1, $TBA (CN); Thriving Ivory, Dig Jelly, Lavish Green, 9 p.m. Jan. 8, $5 (Stone St. Bar).

Carson Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City, 883-1976 or 883-4154: Holiday Treat Concert with Carson City Symphony and Carson Chamber Singers, 4 p.m. Dec. 14, $10-$12; Carson City Symphony with guest soloist Jennifer Tibben-Lembke, 4 p.m. Feb. 27, $10-$12.

City Center Pavilion, 55 E. Fourth St. (888) 288-1833: Steve Miller Band, 9 p.m., Nov. 26; 8 p.m. Nov. 27, $50-$72; Journey, 8 p.m., Dec. 11, $50-$71.

Crystal Bay Club Casino 14 Highway 28, Stateline, (775) 831-0512: The Fixx, Nov. 26, $20; Tommy Castro, Nov. 27, $15, $20; Porter, Batiste & Stoltz, Dec. 4, $25; Coco Montoya, Dec. 31, $TBA; Harmonica Blowout with Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson, James Cotten and Charlie Musselwhite, Jan. 14, $TBA.

Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700: Robert Goulet, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Nov. 29-Dec. 2, $30.95; Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., Dec. 30, $65.95-$82.45; Starship and Friends, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Dec. 31, $43.95-$54.95; Abracadabra, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jan. 1, $30.75; Darren Romero: The Voice of Magic, Dec. 26-29; Jan. 2-Feb. 27, $25.95; $30.95.

Golden Phoenix, 255 N. Sierra St., 785-7080: Hitsville USA, Legends of Motown, Nov. 26; J.C. Smith Band, Ray Johnson, Nov. 27; Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas show, Dec. 10. $34.95-$74.95.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Highway 50, Stateline, (800) 427-7247: Tower of Power, 8 p.m. Nov. 26-27, $35; America, 8 p.m. Dec. 11, $30; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 8 p.m. Dec. 28-29, $35; The Fabulous Thunderbirds, 8 p.m. Dec. 30, $30; Smokey Robinson, 8 p.m. Jan. 16, $65-$75; Queensryche, 8 p.m. Feb. 12, $30; Creedence Clearwater Revisited, 8 p.m. Feb. 19-20, $49-$59.

Hyatt Regency, 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, (775) 832-1234: Holiday Jazz Festival with Bobby Caldwell, 8 p.m., Nov. 26; Peter White, Rick Braun, Mindi Abair, 8 p.m., Nov. 27, $50-$75.

Lawlor Events Center, 15th and Virginia streets, 784-4444: Scorpions, Tesla, Keith Emerson, 7 p.m. Dec. 5, $30-$40; KRZQ Ball with The Used, Taking Back Sundays, My Chemical Romance, others, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, $23-$25; Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 10, $24.50-$29.50.

TMCC Nell J. Redfield Performing Arts Center, 505 Keystone Ave., 789-5671: Truckee Meadows Community College holiday concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, free.

Park Lane Mall, 310 E. Plumb Lane, phone: Tuba Christmas 2004, 3 p.m., Dec. 4, free.

Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., 686-6600: Sierra Nevada Master Chorale Holiday Concert: A Living Christmas Tree, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, $12-$40; Michael Lington, Joyce Cooling, Gerald Albright, 7 p.m. Dec. 12, $28.50-$40; Reno Philharmonic Master Classics 4, 4 p.m. Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25, $21-$58; B.Y.U. Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, $10; Side Street Strutters, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, $20.

Reno Hilton, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2285: Jo Dee Messina, 8 p.m. Nov. 27, $38.50-$49.50 (Theater); Spirit of the Season: Home for the Holidays with Reno Philharmonic and Toni Tenille, 4 p.m. Dec. 5, $15-$55 (Theater) Dolly Parton: Hello, I’m Dolly, 8 p.m. Dec. 11, $71.50-$93.50 (Theater); Deric Wan, Christine Ng, 8 p.m. Dec. 25, $38.50-$55 (Theater); Rockin’ New Year’s Party w/Nathan Owen’s Motown Revue and Madison Avenue, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, $35-$75 (Pavilion); Tony Rock, Ruben Paul, Johnny Sanchez, 8 p.m. Jan. 16, $27.50-$38.50 (Theater); Lui San, Mimi Chu, 8 p.m. Feb. 12, $38.50-$55 (Theater); Viva La Diva! with Jennifer Lamore, 4 p.m. Jan. 23. $TBA (Theater).

Sands Regency, 345 N. Arlington Ave., 348-2264: Circle’s Edge Spiritual Center Holiday Concert Fundraiser, noon Dec. 19. $5-$20.

Siena Hotel Spa Casino, 1 S. Lake St., 327-4362: John Lennon musical tribute with Mark Staycer, 6 p.m., Dec. 8, $15-$20.

Silver Legacy, 407 N. Virginia St., 325-7401: Sandra Lang, Alice Lau and Annabelle Louie, 8 p.m., Nov. 25, $38- $58, (Grand Exposition Hall); Five for Fighting, 8 p.m. Dec. 18, $20-$35 (GEH).

Speakeasy Hotel, 200 E. Sixth St., 329-7400: Mystical Man, 8 p.m. Dec. 2-4, free.

University of Nevada, Reno, 784-6847: University Jazz Lab Band I & II, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 (Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts Complex); Holiday Choral Concert, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 (ASUN Auditorium, Jot Travis Student Union); University Orchestra, 8 p.m., Dec. 2 (NCH); University Jazz Combos, 7 p.m., Dec. 5-6 (NCH); Flute, Oboe and Bassoon recital, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6 (NCH); University Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 7 (NCH); Reno Chamber Orchestra featuring guest conductor/guitarist Angel Romero, 8 p.m., Jan. 15, $15-$40 (NCH); The Western Wind, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 24, $5-$20 (NCH).

Art

Artists Co-Op of Reno, 627 Mill St., 322-8896: Christmas Magic, through Dec. 28.

Metro Gallery, Reno City Hall, 1. E. First St., 329-2787: Suellen Newhouse Cupp’s encaustic paintings, through Dec. 17; works by Rhonda Wiison, Dec. 20-Feb. 11

McNamara Gallery, Church Fine Arts Complex, University of Nevada, Reno, 784-6658: Mask: Works by Ahren Hertel, Melissa Jones, Chad Sorg and Kris Vagner, through Dec. 17.

Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333: Roman de Salvo: Power Maze 3 through Jan. 16; Ansel Adams: Masterworks through Jan. 30; Pasha Rafat: Untitled through Jan. 30; The Wynn Collection through March 30. $8-$13.

Record Street Café, 945 Record St., 329-7227: Naked Politics: Works by Stephanie Hogan, Nick Van Woert, Chris Atcheson and other artists, through Dec. 31.

Sierra Arts Gallery, Riverside Artist Lofts, 17 S. Virginia St., 329-2787: “Biggest Little Art Show in Nevada V” Nevada: The Energy Within, through Jan. 7; works by Rossitza Todorova, Jan. 10-March 4.

Stremmel Gallery, 1400 S. Virginia St., 786-0558: Works by Wolf Kahn through Dec. 3; works by Tom Judd, Feb. 24-March 19.

VSA arts of Nevada Gallery, 135 N. Sierra St., 826-6100: Holiday Art Mart: Works by 25 regional artists, through Dec. 13.