Ghost tours, show-n-shine, chili cook-off and more featured at 2019 Dayton Valley Days

The 31st annual Dayton Valley Days kicks off this weekend with a street festival, food booths, plenty of games for kids, a host of family entertainment options including gold panning, ghost tours, a vehicle show and shine, chili cook-off, Sunday pet parade and more.

With the theme "The Haunting of Dayton Valley," there's a number of ghost tour events Saturday planned at the Dayton Community Center. You can follow the activities on the Dayton Valley Days Facebook page here or here on the official Dayton Valley Days website.

Dayton Valley Days Saturday
Fun and festivities begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with a Kiwanis pancake breakfast in front of the Dayton Community Center. Breakfast is served until 10 a.m. There will be the Boomerang's Silent Auction on Saturday and Sunday, also at the Community Center, running both days, as well as kids games next to the community center.

Then there's the 17th annual Gold Creek Show-n-Shine sign-in and staging at the intersection of Silver and River streets. Sign-ins are from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday's show and shine runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Main Street.

A street festival, including tours, crafts, food booths and entertainment will be at Old Town Dayton beginning at 9 a.m. and running to 5 p.m.

Other festivities around town that begin at 9 a.m. and run throughout the day are tours at the Dayton Museum at Shady Lane at Logan Alley, a Firehouse and Jail at Pike Street by Gold Creek, Speeder car rides on Pike Street across from the Odeon Hall and Saloon, gold panning and demonstrations by Comstock Gold Prospecting Club at Pike Street and Railroad Depot.

From 9 a.m. to noon is pinewood derby car building next to the Dayton Community Center. Pinewood Derby Racing is from 1 to 3 p.m.

At 10 a.m. Dayton Valley Glee, a community show choir, will perform in front of the Dayton Community Center.

From 11 a.m. until the chili is gone is the 9th annual "People's Choice" chili cook-off at Logan Alley.

At 2 p.m. is a historical monument dedication, "Where Nevada began on the California Trail" in front of the community center.

Three Ghosts of Dayton tours run from 6 to 7:30 p.m., 7:30 to 9 p.m. and 9 to 10:30 p.m. Locations are primarily at the Dayton Community Center, the community center main floor, community center basement, firehouse, jail, museum and school house. Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight and voice recorder.

Dayton Valley Days Sunday
Events Sunday begin with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in front of the Dayton Community center from 7:30 to 10 a.m.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be gold panning and demonstrations by Comstock Gold Prospecting Club between Pike Street and Railroad Depot. Also from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the street festival continues with tours, crafts, food booths, entertainment and more in Old Town Dayton.

Also during this time is the Firehouse and Jail located at Pike Street by Gold Creek. Speeder car rides continue, also on Pike Street across from the Odeon Hall and Saloon, tours of Dayton museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The 30th annual pet parade is Sunday at noon, with parading from the Museum to Pike Street, to Main Street and back.

There will be three pet categories: Best Costume, Most Unique, Best Dog. Each category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Winner.

You can print out the form from the Dayton Valley Days website here or pick one up at the pet parade booth.

Early registration for the pet parade is encouraged. Sign-in for the Pet Parade is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. in front of Dayton Community Center.

The Chili Cook-off fires up again at 11 a.m. at Logan Alley and ends when the chili runs out. Winners of the Chili Cook-off will be announced at 3 p.m. in front of the Dayton Community Center.