Reno is still in recovery mode after a night of partying Saturday as hundreds of Santas converged on downtown during the Seventh Annual Reno Santa Pub Crawl.

More than two-dozen local nightlife hot spots participated with drink specials and music, while locals and visitors mingled in their Santa suits.

The night culminated with a gathering of the Santas under the iconic Reno Arch and shortly after the real Santa was on his way home to continue getting ready for Christmas Eve. Don’t worry, though, we got a picture of him. He’s the one in the red hat.

Although we’ve had a couple healthy early-season storms in the Sierra Nevada the weather has been pretty dry the last couple weeks – but temperatures are finally dropping, which means that ski and board resorts have been aggressively building their bases with snowmaking.

Here are the latest opening day projections and resort updates for the beginning of the 2008-2009 ski and board season (as of Dec. 5 – conditions are subject to change.)

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: Open seven days a week turning two lifts with terrain features. Tickets are $20.
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: Opening Dec. 6
• Alpine Meadows: Opening Dec. 12
• Squaw Valley USA: Opening Dec. 6 with intermediate skiing and snowboarding from the Exhibition/Searchlight Lift
• Diamond Peak: As conditions permit
• Heavenly Mountain Resort: Open seven days a week with six lifts
• Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort: As conditions permit
• Boreal: Open seven days a week with one lift and terrain features. Tickets are $20.
• Sugar Bowl: As conditions permit
• Kirkwood: As conditions permit

Reno-Tahoe knows how to throw a party, and one of the biggest excuses of the year is Halloween. Here’s a breakdown of some the region’s Halloween events. If you know of an event not listed here, please submit in the comment section:

• Magic Underground: Through Oct. 31 Famous magician couple Kalin and Jinger will present a special Halloween show at the Magic Underground in Reno.
• Halloween Hallow: Downtown Reno merchants put on this annual event, with fun for the kids, candy and entertainment.
• Ghost Night: Bring the kids to historic Virginia City for “Ghost Night,” with a parade, costume contests and other haunted happenings.
• Trick or Treat in the Streets: Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. at the National Automobile Museum in downtown Reno.
• Trick or Treat Street: Oct. 31 from 4-7 p.m. at Circus Circus in Reno.
• The Reno Zombie Crawl: Bring your best zombie outfit and hit several downtown Reno hot spots the evening of Oct. 31.
• Halloween Skin and Scare Ball: Oct. 31- Nov. 1 at Edge nightclub, or hit Cal Neva, Gold Dust West, Harrah’s Reno or the Peppermill Reno for one of several local parties.
• Halloween Monster Mash: Oct. 31 at Pearl Champagne Lounge at the Grand Sierra Resort.
• 11th Annual Freakers’ Ball: Oct. 31 at Bruka Theatre in Downtown Reno.
• Freaks of Fashion – Circus of Wonders: Oct. 31, 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. – features live music by Keyser Soze, fashion by Haute Trash, drink specials and a costume contest.
• Night at the Mansion: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. at BuBinga Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel Casino.

The fifth-annual Reno River Festival was the best one yet, with record attendance estimated at nearly 40,000. Spectators spent the weekend at Reno’s Truckee River Whitewater Park, watching amateur and professional kayakers compete for prize money and bragging rights. Music, food, vendors and some new land-based events, combined with great weather to make this year’s festival a great kickoff to summer in Reno-Tahoe.