Carson City’s annual Persian New Year feast to benefit local veterans

A festive fundraiser filled with food, music and dancing is planned to help local veterans manage stress, find jobs and live healthy lives.

The annual Nowruz “New Year” Celebration Feast to benefit Veterans Healing Camp will return 5-10 p.m. March 21 at the Casino Fandango Buffet Banquet Room.

Nowruz is the Persian New Year that has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years. It occurs on the first day of spring at the vernal equinox.

Veterans and their supporters are invited to enjoy the festivities, which offer a silent auction and door prizes.

The event will open at 5 p.m. with fun, fellowship and information about Veterans Healing Camp, a nonprofit located on a two-acre property on Highway 50 East in Silver Springs.

The camp provides veterans a safe place for activities and fellowship while also helping with job search and placement, alcohol and drug awareness, life skills assistance, financial management and suicide prevention. The facility has plans to offer on site counseling with qualified professionals.

Attendees of the fundraiser will enjoy a buffet feast at 6 p.m. with all-you-can-eat corned beef and cabbage, chicken breast, curry sauce, steamed rice, pizza, green salad, fruits, cheeses, dinner rolls, and dessert. Enjoy a cup of healing tea in the tea tent draped in vibrant colors and complete with pillows for lounging.

The celebration will heat up after dinner with the traditional “fire jump” in the courtyard. According to tradition, the fire jump represents releasing negative events from the past year and using the energy of the fire to fuel rebirth and new beginnings.

Sean Cummings will perform bagpipe music, then the celebration will continue with live music and dancing in the banquet room with Randy Ide.

Tickets for $40 are available at Casino Fandango’s cashier cage or by contacting Shahla Fadaie at 775-781-2394.

For information about the nonprofit, visit veteranshealingcamp.org.