I Love Carson City’s Nevada Day Weekend List of Events and Activities: Oct. 29 – 30

Happy Birthday Nevada. My favorite holiday has arrived, and with it a mountain of fun to be had. Normally my weekend list is sorted by chronological start time, but for this one I will be separating out the downtown parade related activities for your ease. Keep reading and have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Parade Day Fun Stuff in Downtown Carson City:

• BAWN Pancake Breakfast Buffet at Red’s Old 395 (6am-10am; $6/$3 kids)
• Carson Lodge #1 Pancake Breakfast at the Masonic Lodge: 113 E. Washington St. (6am-11am; $5)
• Nevada Day Classic 8K Run/Walk (packet pick-up 6:30am-7:30am on the second floor of the Carson Nugget Casino – NO race day registration; 8am racers begin at Telegraph Square: W. Telegraph and N. Curry Streets; costumes encouraged; food and a raffle after the race)
• Republican Women’s Pancake Breakfast at the Governor’s Mansion (7am-9:30am; $6)
• ReMax Balloon Launch at Carson and Stewart Streets near the Carson Mall (8am)
• Free Admission to the Nevada State Museum (8:30am-4:30pm)
• Free Admission to the Nevada State Railroad Museum (9am-4:30pm; McKeen Motorcar Rides $8, $4 kids 10am-4pm)

Start the day with yummy breakfast. Pancakes at the Governor’s Mansion, Red’s Old 395, or the Masonic Lodge are Nevada Day Traditions, but you’ll find several bars and restaurants offering tempting morning treats.

• First Annual Northern Nevada Fall Fest in the Max Casino Parking Lot (9am-4pm; shopping, a kids zone, face painting, ponies, petting zoo, kids Halloween craft booth, a selfie photo booth, raffles, giveaways, swag bags, and food/toiletries drive)
• Open House, Breakfast Potluck and Dance at Yaple’s Ballroom (9am; stay to watch the parade; bring a dish to share)
• ’Nevada: Then and Now’ Parade down Carson Street: Williams Street to the Carson Mall (10am-2pm-ish)
• Annual Nevada Day Art Show at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery in the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• Annual Nevada Day Cornish Pasties at the Elks Lodge: 515 N. Nevada St. (11am-3pm; hamburgers and hot dogs also available)
• 42nd Annual World Championship Single Jack Drilling Contest – NEW LOCATION: held in the parking lot of the old Citi Bank building located at 308 N. Curry Street just south of Telegraph Square (11am)

As our downtown has undergone some changes, so have a few traditions. You’ll find the beard contest after the parade in the new McFadden Plaza by the Firkin and Fox. The Drilling Contest has moved, too. You’ll find it in the parking lot at 308 N. Curry, one block north of Telegraph Square.

• Annual Chili Feed hosted by Senator Dean Heller in the Carson Nugget Ballroom (12pm-2pm; free)
• Tours of the Governor’s Mansion (2pm-4pm; free)
• 'Tribute to Nevada's Birthday' Capital City Community Band Concert at the Amphitheater in the Legislative Mall (2pm; weather permitting, bring a chair/blanket to sit on)
• Annual Nevada Day Beard Contest NEW LOCATION -held in the McFadden Plaza at the corner of Third/Curry (following parade, approximately 2pm)
• Telegraph Square Street Party with Live Music by the Trippin King Snakes (3pm-6pm)
• Third Annual Carson Creepy Short Horror Film Competition Viewing and Awards in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall (3:30pm for the under 18 year old competition and 6:30pm for the 18 and over; $5 admission for both screenings)

From here on out, you’ll find everything else in the area: the RSVP Carnival, the annual La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow, live music and Halloween fun galore.

SATURDAY:

• Breakfast and Bowl at Carson Lanes (9am-12pm; breakfast and unlimited bowling until noon $13, $8 kids 12 and younger)
• Early Voting: All Registered Carson City Voters can go to the County Courthouse: 885 E Musser, First Floor (10am-2pm)
• Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine at the V and T Depot: 166 F Street, Virginia City (rides depart hourly 10am-3pm; $19; arrive one hour prior to departure time; advance ticket purchase recommended; Tickets can be purchased online at ticketweb.com/dowt , or call 866-468-7630, or in person at the Virginia City Depot.)
• Half-off Everything at the Carson City Senior Center Thrift Shop: 911 Beverly Drive (10am-3pm; benefits the Meals on Wheels Program)
• Trick or Tee at Carson Valley Golf Course: 1027 Riverview Dr, Gardnerville (10am Shotgun start; $40 includes green fee, cart, $10 prize fund and soup; Costume Contest)
• Pumpkin Patch Harvest Festival with Pig Races, Hay Slide, Kiddie Land, Straw Maze, Farm Animals and more at Corley Ranch: 859 Highway 395 South, Gardnerville (11am-5pm; Admission $7, Seniors $5, under 2 free; additional cost for some rides, etc.)
• Swim Class for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Carson City Aquatic Facility (11am; $4)
• WARF Cat and Kitten Adoption Event at Petco on Topsy Lane (11am-4pm; all cats are fixed, vaccinated and micro-chipped)

The carnival is always a great time for families: cotton candy, rides, and games. Make sure to catch the Carson Victory Rollers as they compete in a roller derby double header at the Marv Teixeira Pavilion. It’s the ‘Day of Service’ today, so have fun checking out the booths from our community organizations.

• RSVP Nevada Day Carnival and Celebration, and ‘Day of Service’ Event at Mills Park (12pm-9pm, Day of Service 1pm-5pm; all day wristband $30, discount coupon at RSVP booth)
• Halloween Party and Craft Fair at Nerdvana NV: 3220 Hwy 50 E, # 2 (12pm-10pm; $15 per family, no size limit; Food $5 per plate; Vendors $20 includes food; bobbing for apples and other fun Halloween games)
• 35th Annual La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow at the Carson Colony Gym: 2900 S. Curry (2pm-12am; Horseshoe Contest sign ups 12pm-1:30pm, tournament begins at 2pm, $20; potluck dinner break 5pm-7pm; Grand Entrance 2pm AND 7pm)
• Sign-ups for Carson Bulldogs Wrestling at ‘The Pound’: 200 Bath St. (2pm-4pm; open to all boys and girls ages 5-18)
• Harvest Festival at Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley: 28 Enterprise Way, Dayton (3pm-6:30pm; booths, games, candy)
• Roller Derby Double Header at the Marv Teixeira Pavilion in Mills Park (Free; 4pm Carson Junior Victory Rollers vs. SLOCO Junior Roller Derby; 6pm Carson Victory Rollers vs. Outlaws Roller Derby; Snacks and beer will be available for purchase)
• Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Event in the Carson Valley Inn Valley Ballroom, Minden (4pm-9pm, buffet time 5:30pm-7pm; Adult $15, family of four $40; a HelpHOPELive benefit for Deanna Lopes)

The zombies are coming! To Gardnerville, that is. The annual zombie crawl kicks off at 7 p.m. You’ll want a full belly before you hit the bars, so head to the Carson Valley Inn for a Spaghetti Feed fundraiser for Deanna Lopes.

• Scarlet Stain: Free Show at the Valley Christian Fellowship: 1352 US Highway 395 N Ste 109, Gardnerville (5pm-6:30pm)
• Live Music with Sandi ‘Pipes’ Medley at 1862 David Walley's Restaurant and Saloon in Genoa (5pm-9pm)
• Halloween Bash at Hydra's Lair: 1802 N Carson St Suite 150 (6pm-10pm; BBQ, raffles, tabletop gaming, and a fun costume part for the kiddos. All the proceeds of this event will go to veterans in need)
• Rock’n N Bowl’n at Gold Dust West (6pm-10pm)
• Live Music at Bella Fiore Wine Bar (6pm-9pm)
• Live Music with Brian Lester at J’s Old Town Bistro, Dayton (6pm; Reservations recommended 775-246-4400)
• Bats in the Belfry’s Halloween Ghost Walking Tours of Virginia City – meet at the Washoe Club (6pm AND 8pm tours; $30; leave from the Washoe Club; Must buy tickets at http://www.virginiacityghosttours.com/halloween_night2016.htm)
• Star Party and Telescope Viewing at Western Nevada College’s Observatory: 2699 Van Patten Ave (6pm-10pm; free; weather permitting)
• Painting Class at Mona Lisa and Wine: 3821 S Carson St (6:30pm-9:30pm; $30 includes canvas, easel, brushes, paints, apron, instruction and a house wine/cocktail or soda)
• Spirit Circle, A Night of Other Worldly Fun at Gaia Wellness and Yoga: 1475 Old Hot Springs Rd, Ste 1 (7pm; Advanced registration is greatly appreciated. Please contact Annie at 775.434.9967 or email her highdesertgypsy1@gmail.com)
• Live Music with Terri Campillo, Craig Fletcher, and friends at Glen Eagles Restaurant (7pm-10pm)
• Sixth Annual Zombie Crawl in Downtown Gardnerville (7pm-11pm; $10 includes souvenir cup, a hot dog and sides, entry into games, and discounted drinks at the participating bars; costume contests; sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Women's 20-30 Club)
• Halloween Party and and Costume Contest with DJ Chicago Kid at Slotworld Casino (7pm)

The parade is over, so go grab that costume. The Spoke Bar and Grill, SlotWorld, and Caterpillar’s Hookah Lounge have Halloween parties tonight. You’ll find DJ Dance Parties at Living the Good Life and Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar.

• Live Music with Decoy at Casino Fandango (7pm-12am)
• Parade After party with Dj R Styles at Living the Good Life Nightclub and Bistro: 1480 N. Carson Street (7:30pm; No Cover)
• Live Music with Escalade in the Carson Nugget Sports Bar (8pm-12am)
• Live Music with Lady and the Tramps at the Max Casino (8pm-12am) at the Max Casino (8pm-12am)
• Live Music with the Blues Monsters in the Carson Valley Inn Cabaret, Minden (8pm-1am)
• Annual Halloween Party at Caterpillar’s Hookah Lounge (8pm; Live DJs, Hookah and drink specials; Costume Contest)
• Comstock Costume Party with Mo’z Motley Blues at the Red Dog Saloon, Virginia City (8pm)
• Halloween Party: Karaoke and DJ Clay Ambassador at Buckaroos: Main Street Gardnerville (8pm)
• Halloween Party with music by the 8 Track Maniacs at the Spoke Bar and Grill: 3198 N Deer Run Rd (8:30pm; prizes for best costume)
• Halloween Party with Live Music by the Astronaut Monkeys in Wink's Silver Strike Lanes Lounge: 1281 Kimmerling Rd, Gardnerville (9pm; no cover, drink specials; 21+)
• Live Music by Southbound Train in the Eleventh Frame Lounge at Carson Lanes (9pm-11pm; 21+)
• DJ Dance Party at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar (10pm-2am)
• Bats in the Belfry’s Afterhours Paranormal Investigation of Virginia City – meet at the Washoe Club (10pm; $80; leave from the Washoe Club; Must buy tickets at http://www.virginiacityghosttours.com/halloween_night2016.htm)

After an action-packed Saturday, Sunday is a day of rest. Let the South Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Washoe Valley take care of breakfast. Take the kids up to Virginia City for one last chance to catch Thomas the Tank Engine at the V & T Depot. It may be a little rainy, but the show must go on at the NV Day Carnival and Festival at Mills Park.

SUNDAY:

• South Valley VFD Safe Halloween Pancake Breakfast and Blood Drive at the Community Center at 3010 Lakeshore Blvd, New Washoe City (7am-12pm; costumes welcome; cost of breakfast is donation only)
• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring artists Anna Louise Dardin and Bob Hickox with Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
• Breakfast and Bowl at Carson Lanes (9am-12pm; breakfast and unlimited bowling until noon $13, $8 kids 12 and younger)
• CC BMX Racing at the Livermore (Edmonds) Sports Complex: 1555 Livermore Lane (weather permitting; signups 9am-10am; $10, must be USABMX member; new rider kits available)

The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada welcomes all the neighborhood goblins to their annual Halloween Celebration. If you’re looking to spot some ghosts, you may want to head up to Virginia City for a Bats in the Belfry Ghost Walking Tour.

• Nevada Day Fun Shoot at the Capitol City Gun Club: 3590 Arrowhead Drive (9:30am-4:30pm; $5 Tokens for 25 Trap or Skeet targets: $30 for 100 Sporting Clay targets; $3 BBQ chicken lunch 11:30am-1:30pm for paid shooters; PRIZES for shooters that hit and break a FLASH target; open to members and non-members)
• Raiders Booster Club at the Eleventh Frame Lounge in Carson Lanes (vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 10am; food/drink specials; supervised kids under 21 welcome)
• Annual Nevada Day Art Show at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery in the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)
• Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine at the V and T Depot: 166 F Street, Virginia City (rides depart hourly 10am-3pm; $19; arrive one hour prior to departure time; advance ticket purchase recommended; Tickets can be purchased online at ticketweb.com/dowt, or call 866-468-7630, or in person at the Virginia City Depot.)
• Pumpkin Patch Harvest Festival with Pig Races, Hay Slide, Kiddie Land, Straw Maze, Farm Animals and more at Corley Ranch: 859 Highway 395 South, Gardnerville (11am-5pm; admission $7, Seniors $5, under 2 free; additional cost for some rides, etc.)
• RSVP Nevada Day Carnival and Celebration at Mills Park (12pm-8pm; all day wristband $30, discount coupon at RSVP booth)
• 35th Annual La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow in the Carson Colony Gym: 2900 S. Curry (1pm-6pm)

Carson City is luckily home to a plethora of indigenous culture. The La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow at the Carson Colony is just one example of what our local Washoe and Paiute tribes do to stay connected to their roots.

• Barony of Fal Dare, Amtgard Live Action Role Play Plus Combat Group at Mills Park, at the end of Oxoby Loop (12pm-4pm; Foam sword fighting, crafts, classes; child-friendly, under 18 must have a waiver signed by their parents; newcomers welcome, for info email FalDareMonarchy@gmail.com )
• Sunday Funday: Free game of pool with drink purchase at Westside Pour House
• Bottle Night Light Painting Class at Van Gogh and Vino (2pm-4:30pm; $22 per painter)
• Weekly Pool Tournament at Whiskey Tavern (register 1pm; 2pm start; $10 per person)
• Pool Tournament at Remedy’s (2pm-5pm; $5 buy-in; APA Rules)
• The Foundation for Carson City Parks and Recreation (FCCPR) hosts an Open House for the historic Wungnema House on the east end of Mills Park - The building is accessible by the Park entrance on Saliman Road, opposite the high school (2pm-5pm; Free)
• Special Olympics Bowling Practice at Gold Dust West (2:30pm-4pm)
• Annual Safe Halloween Celebration with Costumes and Crafts at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada: 813 N. Carson Street (6pm-8pm; $5 per child, adults free)
• Bats in the Belfry’s Halloween Ghost Walking Tours of Virginia City – meet at the Washoe Club (6pm AND 8pm tours; $30; leave from the Washoe Club; Must buy tickets at http://www.virginiacityghosttours.com/halloween_night2016.htm)
• Bats in the Belfry’s Afterhours Paranormal Investigation of Virginia City – meet at the Washoe Club (10pm; $80; leave from the Washoe Club; Must buy tickets at http://www.virginiacityghosttours.com/halloween_night2016.htm)

Every week, I create a list of the fun stuff and events going on around the Carson City area for my Facebook page, I Love Carson City. There is quite a bit to do in our beautiful capital this week, so grab the kids, your friends and family, and have a great weekend.

My weekly Facebook list includes Friday-Thursday, so please go HERE for events beyond Sunday, or just wait for my daily ‘Things to do’ here on Carson Now. You do NOT need a Facebook account to access the information. As always, Carson Now welcomes reader contributions to our website. Go HERE to submit an event, photo, or item of interest.