What's Happening in Northern Nevada: November's Third 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 16 through 22 is the week the season turns: the mountains open for winter at the lake, the first big holiday craft fair lands in Carson City, and the market halls of Reno fill with vintage treasures.

Carson City: Craft Fairs, Ghost Walks, and Starry Nights

The capital's big Saturday is November 21. The 12th annual Carson Christmas Craft Fair runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E William St, with more than 60 local artisans and crafters, and it repeats December 5 and December 12 if you need a second pass at gift shopping. That same evening, the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society hosts its Ghost Walk at the historic Nevada State Prison, a 7 to 9 p.m. paranormal history walk that is part of the November 7, 14, and 21 series; tickets run $50, and space is intentionally small. For something calmer, the Saturday Night Star Party at the Jack C. Davis Observatory, 2269 Vanpatten Ave on the Western Nevada College campus, runs 6:30 to 11 p.m. under some of the clearest skies in the West. And Thursday, November 19 at 6 p.m., PPI Improv Thursdays bring a free night of comedy to the Maizie Black Box Theater at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W King St. More of what makes the capital tick lives in our Carson City guide.

Reno and Sparks: Vintage Markets and a Full Concert Calendar

Reno's week starts young and loud: Tuesday, November 17, TRSH plays The Holland Project with Adjust the Sails, Dear Maryanne, and Dear Cincinnati, an all-ages show with doors at 6 p.m. and music at 6:30. Thursday, November 19 at 7 p.m., The Funeral Portrait headlines Cargo Concert Hall at the Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N Virginia St, with PINKNOISE opening. The weekend belongs to the market halls: the Big Reno Fall Show runs Friday through Sunday, November 20 to 22 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks (Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., firearms, antiques, and collectibles), Totally Rad Vintage Fest takes over the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on Saturday, November 21, and Tanners Marketplace Antiques, Retro & Crafts Show fills the same convention center, 4590 S Virginia St, Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m. Sunday night, November 22 at 7 p.m., Leftover Crack plays The Underground for a proper close to the weekend. Planning a weekend in the Biggest Little City? Start with our Reno guide and the Sparks guide.

The Carson Valley and Dayton: Quiet Weeks, Holiday Warm-Ups

The Valley keeps a slower pace this week, which is exactly its charm. In Gardnerville, the Copeland Gallery at 1572 US Hwy 395 is showing featured artist Susan Musil, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December 11. In Dayton, the holiday season gets an early start Thursday, November 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. with the Shop with a Sheriff Christmas Toy Drive at Stone & Skillet in the Odeon building, 65 Pike St in Old Town Dayton. And if you are looking for a true small-town tradition, Dayton Monday Night Bingo runs every Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Dayton Valley Community Center, 170 Pike St, with doors opening at 5 p.m.; it is a friendly, low-key way to meet neighbors. Curious about the towns behind all this? Our Gardnerville and Minden guide and Dayton guide walk through them.

Lake Tahoe: The Mountain Opens for Winter

This is the week the Tahoe ski season really begins. Heavenly Mountain Resort targets opening Friday, November 20, and Northstar California targets the same day, both weather permitting; Mt. Rose opened November 6 and is already spinning lifts, so the snow is definitely here. Off the slopes, the Tahoe Knight Monsters host the New Mexico Goatheads for three games at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline: a 10:30 a.m. education matinee Thursday, November 19, a 7 p.m. Friday night game November 20, and a 7 p.m. Saturday game November 21. The Valhalla Holiday Faire runs Friday through Sunday, November 20 to 22 at the Valhalla Grand Hall in South Lake Tahoe, a cozy early-holiday market. And across the lake, Tahoe City lights up with the Downtown Holiday Festival and Bud Fish Tree Lighting on Friday, November 20. Lake town living has its own rhythm, and the Lake Tahoe area guide covers the communities behind the fun.

On the Horizon: Thanksgiving Week

Three turkey trots anchor Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26: the Scheels Turkey Trot at 8:30 a.m. from the Sparks Marina Gazebo, the Carson City Turkey Trot from 8:30 to 10 a.m. starting at the Governor's Mansion, 606 Mountain St, and the 10th annual Carson Valley Turkey Trot at Minden Park, 1610 Esmeralda Ave, with check-in at 8:30 a.m. and the start at 9 a.m. Then the Reno Holiday Lights Festival returns for two weekends, November 28 to 29 and December 5 to 6, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Downtown City Plaza, 30 N Virginia St, with the tree-lighting ceremony around 7 p.m. For the full Thanksgiving picture, our first Thanksgiving guide has the weather, the traditions, and the travel tips. And the season's whole verified calendar, week by week, lives on the Northern Nevada events page.

Welcoming You Like a Neighbor

That is the third week of November here: craft fairs and ghost walks in the capital, vintage markets and live music in Reno, a quiet Valley, and the mountains finally open at the lake. 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. From the events page 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.