What's Happening in Northern Nevada: November's First Week

This is the latest in our weekly roundup of what's happening in Northern Nevada, written to show California transplants what life actually looks like after the move. Every event below was verified with its name, date, and location on this run. The week of November 2 through 8 is when the region exhales after Nevada Day weekend and starts pointing at the holidays: a Wolf Pack home game in Reno, a Día de los Muertos celebration in the Carson Valley, the Wine Walk in Carson City, and the first big holiday craft fair of the season in Sparks.

Carson City: Wine Walk, Bingo for Seniors, and an Ugly Sweater Workshop

The Carson City Wine Walk returns Saturday, November 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. in downtown, with check-in at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W King St. Strollers visit 35-plus downtown businesses pouring wines, with deals, entertainment, and a monthly dress theme. Tickets are online only, $25 for an official glass or $20 if you bring an official glass from a previous walk. Friday night has two community fundraisers: Boots & Bingo runs 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Governors Mansion, 606 Mountain St, benefiting local seniors through the Senior Service Network, and the Veterans Toys for Tots Banquet starts at 6 p.m. at Gold Dust West. And if you like to get ahead of the season, the Ugly Sweater Holiday Workshop is Thursday, November 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Western Nevada College, 2201 W College Pkwy. New here? Our Carson City neighborhoods guide and the city overview are both good places to start.

Gardnerville: Día de los Muertos on Main Street

Saturday, November 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Main Street Gardnerville hosts a free Día de los Muertos Festival with mariachi music, folkloric and Aztec dancers, and a big community celebration in the heart of the Valley. It is a lovely mashup of the region's heritage and a reminder that Northern Nevada's culture is about as far from a strip-mail suburb as you can get. Curious about the Valley towns behind the festival? Our Gardnerville and Minden guide walks through them.

Reno: Wolf Pack Football, Fight Night at the Silver Legacy, and Dragon Lights

The headline of the week: the Nevada Wolf Pack host New Mexico on Friday, November 6 at Mackay Stadium, their first home game since Halloween weekend. Kickoff time is finalized closer to game day, so check the official schedule, but plan on a night game under the lights on campus. Saturday, November 7 at 6 p.m., King of the Cage brings its Future Legends 69 MMA card to the Silver Legacy Resort Casino downtown. And Dragon Lights Reno, the lantern festival at Rancho San Rafael Park, 1595 N Sierra St, keeps glowing nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. through November 29, a dependable stop whenever the early dark starts to get to you. Want the lay of the city first? The Reno guide covers it.

Sparks: Handmade for the Holidays Kicks Off

The first big holiday craft fair of the season opens the weekend in Sparks. Handmade for the Holidays runs Saturday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Red Hawk Golf & Resort Event Center, 6600 N Wingfield Pkwy, with more than 45 local artists, crafters, and small businesses and free admission. It is the kind of low-pressure shopping trip that doubles as a first look at local makers. If Sparks is a contender on your list, the Sparks overview is worth a read.

On the Horizon: Veterans Day and Hockey at the Lake

Two dates are worth penciling in now. The Reno Veterans Day Parade steps off Wednesday, November 11 at 11:11 a.m., Nevada's official salute to its veterans: the opening ceremony is at the Virginia Street Bridge and the parade heads north on Virginia Street from Liberty to 6th. And after a road stretch, the Tahoe Knight Monsters return to the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline to host New Mexico on Thursday, November 19 (a 10:30 a.m. education matinee) and Friday, November 20 at 7 p.m. Lake town living has its own rhythm, and the Lake Tahoe area guide covers the communities behind the fun.

Welcoming You Like a Neighbor

That is the first week of November here: a wine walk down the capital's main street, mariachis in the Valley, a packed Friday night in Reno, and the holiday craft season kicking off in Sparks. If you are researching the move from California, this is the rhythm you would be buying into, and I would love to help you find where you fit. The full season's calendar, verified week by week, lives on the Northern Nevada events page. From there you can wander the community guide, request personalized home options by area, or just reach out and we can talk it over on the phone.