Nevada Travel Roundup – September – October 2006

Nevada Day: Nevada turns 142
V&T Railway highlighted at this year's Nevada Day celebration
The annual Nevada Day celebration in Carson City, the state capital, is one of the largest celebrations of statehood in the country.  This year the spotlight is on the state's railroad history with the theme: "Nevada Day Meets the V&T Railway."  Nevada Day is Oct. 31, although the festivities are scheduled throughout the week of Oct. 26-31.

The Virginia and Truckee Railway was once the richest shortline railroad in the country, transporting gold and materials between Carson City and Virginia City during the height of the Comstock Lode.  The state is currently working to restore the old railroad, and visitors can ride a portion of the route and see the old mining structures in the historic town of Virginia City.
 
            One of the highlights of the annual festivities is the Nevada Day Parade, and this year's grand marshal is the V&T No. 22 Inyo, an original steam engine used during the Comstock boom.  A limited commemorative coin depicting the V&T and the Nevada Day Parade is available for purchase at www.nevadaday.com
 
Nevada's dead come to life on annual ‘Ghost Walk'
            Meet the state's spirits and ghosts during the annual Kit Carson Ghost Walk Oct. 21 in downtown Carson City.  Spirits of the past appear along the way during this guided historic-homes tour, the largest historic-homes district in the West.  The ghosts tell their stories of Nevada's past, and visitors may decide for themselves which homes are really haunted. Groups will depart every half-hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and the cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12.  To make reservations, logon to www.visitcarsoncity.com or call 775-687-7410.
 
Nevada Day festivities
            While the highlight of Nevada Day is the hometown parade on Oct. 28 in Carson City, the entire week is filled with family fun and state celebrations.  Kicking off the week is the RSVP Nevada Day Celebration and Carnival, Oct. 26-29.  Admission and hours vary, so call 775-687-4680 for information.  And for a full lineup of Nevada Day events, visit www.nevadaday.com
 
On Friday, Oct. 27, head down to the Nevada State Museum, former home to the U.S. Mint, and watch the coin press fire up for a special minting of the V&T Coin, the fourth coin in this locomotive series.  The minting starts at 10 a.m. at the Nevada State Museum in downtown Carson City.  Call 775-687-7410 for more information.
 
On Saturday, Oct. 28, get to Carson City early to get a good seat along the Nevada Day Parade route.  The day starts with a pancake breakfast at the Governor's Mansion from 7 to 9:30 a.m.   At 8 a.m., look to the skies for a hot-air balloon lift-off, weather permitting, then turn skyward again at 10 a.m. for a jet fly-by, officially kicking off the parade.  Immediately after the parade, stick around the capitol lawn for the annual Nevada Day Beard Contest.  The man with the longest beard wins.
 
Also after the parade is a tour of the Governor's Mansion. Take this opportunity to peek into the life of a Nevada governor with a tour of the mansion until 4 p.m.  But don't expect to meet Gov. Kenny Guinn there, he'll be over at the Carson Nugget serving up bowls of chili at the Nevada Day Chili Feed with State Treasurer Brian Krolicki.  The Chili Feed is free but only lasts from noon to 2 p.m., so get there early.
 
 Honoring the hard workers of the gold mining era, the 32nd Annual World Championship Rock Drilling Contest challenges drilling heavyweights to prove their grit.  The competition starts at 11:05 Oct. 28 across the street from the Carson Nugget.  The entry fee is $60 but spectator admission is free.
 
Other events on parade day include the Silver State Rumble, live amateur boxing at 3 p.m.; a Patsy Cline tribute concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center; a Fireworks Extravaganza and Party at Silver Oak Golf Course featuring a large, traditional Basque dinner followed by fireworks and music starting at 6 p.m.; and the annual 1864 Grand Ball at Piper's Opera House in Virginia City.  The Grand Ball recaptures the spirit of the year Nevada gained statehood, 1864, and formal or period dress is required. 
 
What's Happening
 
Governor hosts ‘Tin Cup Tea'
            Get out your western garb for an evening dedicated to Nevada's western heritage when Gov. Kenny Guinn and First Lady Dema Guinn host the 7th annual Tin Cup Tea and Chuck Wagon BBQ at the Governor's Mansion Saturday, Sept. 9.
 
            The annual tea is a fund-raiser for the Nevada State Museum in Carson City and the W.M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum and has raised more than $250,000 over the last seven years.  More than 1,000 people are expected to attend this year's event, which will include a western barbecue, dancing to the music of David John and the Comstock Cowboys and tours of the Governor's Mansion. For more information, call 775-687-4810 Ext. 222.
 
Sample the ‘Best in the West' barbecued ribs
            John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks, just outside of Reno, is again the epicenter for all things barbecue at the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cookoff, Aug. 30 through Sept. 4.  This is the biggest, most prestigious rib cook-off in the United States and returns for its 18th year, cooking and smoking up the most succulent ribs money can buy.
 
            The weekend is filled with food, drinks and music, as well as lots of napkins!  Entertainment this year includes the blues-country-rock band Mumbo Gumbo, ska pioneers English Beat and Latin-influenced rock band deSoL.  Of course, the ribs are the stars of the show, and the best barbecuers from around the nation dust off their tastiest recipes and vie for first place and bragging rights.  Admission is free, although you'll have to fork over the cash for a sampling of ribs.  For more information, visit www.nuggetribcookoff.com
 
Outhouses, camels and emus – oh my!
            The historic town of Virginia City, just outside Reno, hosts two unusual events this fall: the Championship Outhouse Races and the International Camel Races.  The Outhouse Races challenge pit against pit, through the main street of Virginia City. Camels and emus are the main attractions at the Camel Races, which attract animals and riders from all over the world.

            Camels hit the racetrack Sept. 8-10 for the 47th annual International Camel Races, which also feature emu and ostrich heats as well.  The races began as a prank by the then-editor of the Territorial Enterprise, Virginia City's newspaper. His prank turned to reality when another newspaper's editor called his bluff and sent rival camels to Virginia City the following year.  Ever since, residents and visitors alike have been flocking to Virginia City to catch a glimpse of these odd desert-animal races.  For details, visit www.virginiacity-nv.org
           
The Championship Outhouse Races, Oct. 7-8, kick off with an Outhouse Parade where spectators will get an up-close view of these outrageous contraptions.  These are not just your ordinary outhouses, after all.  The wheel-mounted structures must weigh at least 200 pounds, be at least six feet from floor to roof, must be enclosed with an operating door – for privacy, of course – must contain a toilet seat, roll of toilet paper, and of course, must be functional as a lavatory. Steering and brakes are optional.
 
            While points are not awarded for artistry, plain-looking outhouses are few and far between at this wild event. Enter your own outhouse creation by 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Bucket of Blood saloon parking lot in Virginia City. For rules and photos from past events, visit www.otsnv.com or call 775-742-4086.  
Feelin' good vibrations at Street Vibrations
            Get your motor running with three days of motorcycle tours, live concerts, a parade, poker run and food and fun during the annual Street Vibrations motorcycle rally in Reno.
 
            Street Vibrations always hits the pavement the fourth weekend in September, this year falling on Sept. 20-24.  Reported to be the sixth largest motorcycle event in the nation, Street Vibrations attracts H.O.G.s and motorcycle mamas from near and far. To find out more, visit www.road-shows.com/street_vibrations.htm.  
It's a bird, it's a plane… it's balloons
            The Great Reno Balloon Race, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is more than just an exhibition of giant, beautiful flying machines, it's a skilled competition of some of the nation's top balloonists. 
 
            Three days of hot-air-balloon races are just the start of this unusual event.  Balloonists will play a "hide and seek" type of game called the Hare and the Hound, collecting points each day for being the closest "hound" to the "hare."  They will also test their navigational and speed skills in the "Fly In" competitions, in which pilots must maneuver toward a specified target with various factors determining the winner.  For those with a gambling spirit, the Balloon Blackjack Tournament is an annual favorite.
 
            The fun isn't just for the pilots, however.  An annual highlight is the Glow Show, kicking off at 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday during which the illuminated balloons ascend into the early morning sky, creating an awesome glow effect over Reno. There will also be a special Balloons, Jazz and Wine Walk along the banks of the Truckee River.  The Wine Walk is $10, but the rest of the balloon festival is free to the public.  Visit www.renoballoon.com for more information.
 
            Can't get enough of hot-air balloons?  The Ruby Mountain Balloon Festival launches Sept. 22-24 in Elko, four hours east of Reno.  Admission is free to watch scores of balloons fill the skies above the Ruby Mountains.  Call 800-428-7143 or visit www.rubymountainballoonfestival.com for more information.
 
Have a sweet time at the Genoa Candy Dance
            The 86th annual Genoa Candy Dance is a Northern Nevada tradition not to be missed.  Held Sept. 23-24 in the small town of Genoa in Carson Valley, about 45 miles from Reno, the Genoa Candy Dance is the perfect place to start your holiday shopping. It's the ultimate candy and craft sale to which artisans from all over Northern Nevada flock to sell their wares.  Breathe in the small-town spirit of an old-fashioned craft sale and stock up on candy and sugarplums for the upcoming holidays.
 
            The vendor booths are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are scattered all throughout town, so wear walking shoes and get there early.  For more information, visit www.candydanceartsandcraftsfaire.org.  
High-flying fun fills the air at National Championship Air Races
            The National Championship Air Races return to the Reno-Stead Airport Sept. 13-17 for five days of high-flying races and stunts.  The event includes a world-class air show with aerobatic performers, military and civil flight demonstrations and a large display of aircraft.
           
            In addition to the in-air attractions, spectators can visit the pits and watch race teams work on their aircraft, or browse the hundreds of vendor booths and enjoy a wide variety of food and beverages.  A highlight of the event includes the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, renowned for their precision aerial maneuvers and jaw-dropping stunts. 
 
The air races have become a Reno tradition since their inception in 1964 and have gained world-wide attention for the variety and skill level of the racers and performers.  For more information, visit www.airrace.org
 
Top athletes test their endurance at 72-Mile Tahoe Ultra
            Lake Tahoe has long been a favorite destination among runners and bikers for its vast beauty and challenging trails and climbs.  It's no wonder there's a whole week devoted to running around the lake: the Lake Tahoe Marathon Race Week, Sept. 26 through Oct. 1.  A new endurance race, the 75-Mile Tahoe Ultra, joins the roster of Race Week events this year.
 
            The Ultra begins just after midnight at 12:01, Sept. 30, on Highway 89 just north of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.  Runners will circle the lake, running along the 72 miles of shoreline and mountain roads, finishing with the other Lake Tahoe marathon runners at South Shore's Pope Beach.  Other events that week include a 35- and 72-mile bicycle race, as well as a 20-mile Power Walk and Run.  For more information and course maps, visit www.laketahoemarathon.com or call 530-544-7095.

Bite into a ‘Heart O' Gold' in Fallon
            The juicy, tasty harvest of "Hearts O' Gold" cantaloupes is in and the town of Fallon celebrates its prize crop Sept. 1-4 at the annual festival and fair.  This is the 21st anniversary of the event, and festivities include music, a parade, a livestock show, mud volleyball, kids' games, and of course, cantaloupes. 
 
            Visit the Churchill County Fairgrounds in Fallon, 60 miles east of Reno, to taste the sweet fruit of autumn.  The cantaloupes are also available at grocery stores in Northern Nevada, but supplies won't last long so don't wait to try them out.  For more information on the Hearts O' Gold Festival, call 775-423-2544 or visit www.gofallon.com.   
Nevada Senior Games kick off in September
            The 2006 Nevada Senior Games start Sept. 23 and continue through Oct. 15 with more than 25 sports and games running the gamut from triathlon to table tennis.  Winners of the state games in Las Vegas may qualify to compete in the National Senior Games to be held in Louisville, Ky., in 2007.
 
            Athletes must be 50 years or older by Dec. 31, 2006, and must register for their sport at least five days before the first day of that sport's competition. A schedule and registration forms are available online at www.nevadaseniorolympics.com or by calling 702-242-1590.
 
Nevada's Colorful Past

Nevada universities host centennial boxing match
            To commemorate the historic 1906 Gans-Nelson Lightweight Championship of the World bout in Goldfield, the Universities of Nevada, Reno and Las Vegas, are planning a centennial boxing match Sept. 8.  The Gans-Nelson fight is touted as the longest world title fight in history, lasting an astounding 42 rounds.  The match will be held in Goldfield, about four hours northwest of Las Vegas, and an awards ceremony will be held afterward in neighboring Tonopah.  Tickets to the fight are $20 and dinner tickets are $15.  For more information, call 775-751-1923.
Two Nevada families win Centennial Ranch and Farm Award
            The Duval family of Ruby Valley and the Capurro family of Sparks received the Centennial Ranch and Farm Award on July 29 in Reno. Ranching is such an integral part of Nevada's history, as well as much of the Western United States, and those who continue to toil on behalf of ranching and farming well deserve a moment of appreciation.  The award was created by the State Historic Preservation Office to recognize families who have kept a Nevada ranch or farm in the family for at least 100 years.
 
            The Duval Ranch was established in 1892 by John Helth, a native of New York who was released from the U.S. Army in 1869 after the closure of Fort Ruby and stayed in the Ruby Valley area in north-eastern Nevada near Elko.  The Capurro brothers of Sparks, just outside of Reno, have maintained a livestock ranch on land that has been in the family since 1876 when James Gault bought it and helped develop the Orr Ditch with several other Truckee Meadows settlers.
 
            For more information about the State Historic Preservation Office and its programs, visit www.nevadaculture.org

‘Nuclear West' on display at Nevada State Library and Archives
            The Nevada State Library and Archives is hosting "Nuclear West," an exhibit of landscape photographs from Western states with an ongoing history of atomic weapons, nuclear energy and military land use. 
 
            Part of the exhibit will include photos from the Nevada Test Site in the desert outside Las Vegas.  This site has seen more than 40 years of nuclear weapons testing, including many above-ground detonations that sent mushroom clouds and spectacular explosions into the desert sky. 
 
            The exhibit includes work from a diverse group of photographers working in the West and reflects a relatively new interest in documenting landscapes altered by human presence and politics.  It will be on display at the library's John Anderson Exhibit Gallery in Carson City through Sept. 12.  For more information, visit www.nevadaculture.org

Experience the ‘Health and Wealth of the Comstock' at Fourth Ward School
The Fourth Ward School in historic Virginia City continues its mission of education by offering a series of "parties" including classes, tours, hikes and lectures, all designed to reveal and celebrate the historic mining area of Virginia City and the surrounding Lake Tahoe region. 
 
On Sept. 30, the party takes an upscale turn exploring the "Health and Wealth of the Comstock," one of the richest gold discoveries in the West.  This party will take participants back in time to the days when millionaire gold barons ruled the land and lived in the finest homes, ate the finest fare and demand the finest care.  A trolley will take party-goers to The Castle on Millionaire's Row in Virginia City for a tour through the 1868 mansion while sipping champagne. The party continues at the St. Mary's Art Center, once a hospital, for appetizers, fine wine and a millionaire's dinner. 
 
The Fourth Ward School will also host a special Halloween Party called the Halloween Witching Hour on Oct. 31.  Participants will find out if the historic building is truly haunted while they help bewitch and spook Halloween visitors. 
 
For more information on these and other parties through the end of the year, visit www.fourthwardschool.org or call 775-847-0975.
 
Tourism Tidbits
 
Southern Nevada debuts RV Concierge program
            The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is helping RVers get the most out of their Southern Nevada vacations with an RV Concierge program in Laughlin, Boulder City, Primm and Mesquite.  Visitors can visit the RV Concierge at the towns' visitors centers and get answers to all their RV questions, such as where to park, where to find propane and a fueling station, which car wash has the best values and even hotel accommodations for those taking a break from their RV.  For more information on the concierge program, visit www.visitlaughlin.com
 
Get shaken or stirred at new Grand Sierra Resort martini lounge
            The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, recently transformed from the Reno Hilton, opened the doors of its new Aspen Lounge as an instant hot spot among Reno's nightlife.  Aspen Lounge boasts a special martini menu with a little something for everyone.  Try the "Pamapolitan" with pomegranate liqueur, mandarin vodka and cranberry juice, or the "Washington Appletini" with Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey, sour apple schnapps and cranberry juice with a lemon twist.  Of course, purists can still get an Old Fashioned or dry martini just the way they like it.  For more information, visit www.grandsierraresort.com
 
Mirage Hotel hosts Lakers during Las Vegas visit
            In April, the Los Angeles Lakers named The Mirage Hotel as their official Las Vegas hotel.  This means that when the pro basketball team visits Southern Nevada, they will stay and play only at the Mirage.  As part of this exclusive partnership, the Mirage will host the NBA basketball team during their preseason games in Las Vegas Oct. 16-19.  The hotel will also serve as the entertainment center for the Lakers when the NBA All-Star game is played in Las Vegas in February 2007.  For more information on the Mirage, visit www.mirage.com
 
‘Lunchtime With Ira' now available on podcast
            "Lunchtime With Ira, Live from the Las Vegas Hilton," a weekly radio show broadcast from the property's Shimmer Cabaret, is now available as a podcast on the hotel's Web site, www.lvhilton.com.  The show, produced live every Monday at noon, features Ira David Sternberg talking with the celebrities, entertainers and personalities that make Las Vegas one of the most exciting cities in the world.  The show airs on KDWN AM 720 in Las Vegas, is carried nationally on Cable Radio Networks, and is now available for download to an iPod.
           
Caesars Tahoe transforms into MontBleu Resort
            The transformation has been ongoing, but Caesars Tahoe is now no more, and MontBleu Resort has taken its place on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.  The resort takes sophistication and contemporary style to a new level from its elegant casino floor to its updated clubs and restaurants.  The new Club Blu, once Club Nero, offers private cabanas and champagne while HQ boasts a circular bar surrounding a fire-and-ice pit.  For more information about the new MontBleu Resort, visit www.montbleuresort.com
 

August 31, 2006   Posted in: United States West