free admission

Summer is holding on for dear life, and sending a miniature heat wave our way for this long weekend. For those of you not in Black Rock City, the Carson City region offers plenty of recreation and entertainment. Downtown will be hopping with the Farmers Market, monthly Wine Walk, and this season’s last outdoor concert at the Brewery Arts Center – and that’s just Saturday! Keep reading for three days of good times.

SATURDAY:

Labor Day weekend usually signifies the end of summer. Give it one heck of a send-off: the downtown Carson wine walk, rib cook-off in Sparks, Virginia City's Civil War Days, and the Heavenly Days carnival, music festival and car show in South Lake Tahoe are but a few of your options. Tonight, Improv at the Brewery Arts Center will get the belly laughs going. Unwind with some live music at Living the Good Life or some karaoke at the Spoke Bar and Grill. Artisan Gail Rogers is the featured guest at tonight's Carson City Art Gallery reception.

FRIDAY:

The question of the day at the Nevada State Museum is ‘who.’ Jenni Jeffers, a wildlife biologist, will answer that question at this month’s lecture focusing on the nearly dozen species of owls that call Nevada home. Those over 55 are in for a treat: the Carson City Hot Springs is offering free admission to their outdoor pools today. It may be a nice enough evening for patio karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar, but if not, there is plenty of room inside for everyone that wants to take a turn at the mic.

THURSDAY:

Make this weekend something special. School starts up on Monday and it will be Halloween before we blink an eye. The Carl Howell Memorial Music Festival at Battle Born Harley boasts a full day of live music, vendors, activities and family fun. Bowers Mansion plays host to the annual Bluegrass Festival – bring a picnic and enjoy. Downtown Carson City will see the first of three monthly Beer Crawls; if you get there early, head over to Remedy’s to witness their yearly Bloody Mary Competition. There is something for everyone this weekend, so keep reading and find your fun.

The Silver Saddle Ranch is always beautiful, but an afternoon filled with live bluegrass and western music, food, and family fun, makes today’s ‘A Day at the Ranch’ your best bet. Beat the heat up at Lake Tahoe as the Annual Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival wraps up its competition at Kings Beach. Learn some Dutch Oven cooking tips at Mormon Station State Park, just get their before all of their breakfast casserole and bacon bomb samples are gone. Read on for even more things to do.

SUNDAY: Jazz and Beyond Music Festival

The valley is alive with the sound of music: the Jazz and Beyond Music Festival, to be specific. Just about everywhere you go, you’ll be treated to something to soothe the soul or get the toes tapping. Get the kids up early for the Young Eagle Flights at the Carson City Airport – they’re free, but you need to be on time for registration. Keep reading and you’ll find a number of ways to enjoy this sunny summer weekend.

SATURDAY: Jazz and Beyond Music Festival

• -- Hot August Nights

Summer weekends make me wish I had a clone. With all the hustle and bustle in town, there is just no way to do and see it all. Start the day at the Silver Dollar Car Classic and you can get your fill of shiny chrome and breakfast, too; the Kiwanis will be serving up pancakes until 10:30 a.m. The Downtown Carson City Wine Walk has been infiltrated by the Jazz and Beyond Music Festival. Several of the stops will be hosting musicians, in addition to vino.

Ready to let the good times roll, rock around the clock, or twist again? The Silver Dollar Car Classic is throwing a party in the front parking lot of the Max Casino – plenty of hot rods, shiny chrome, and great music by Route 66 is in store. The 14th Annual Jazz and Beyond Music Festival opens tonight with a Garden Party at the historic Bliss Mansion across from the Governor’s Mansion. Bring a picnic and enjoy an art show, great live music and tours of the mansion.

It may be a universal truth that kids love helicopters. Alright, everyone loves helicopters. Head to Mills Park for the annual ‘National Night Out’ with the Carson City Sheriff’s Department for free hot dogs, cool equipment, vendors, and more. Take a team of smarty-pants to Fox Brewpub and fight for a place on the DJ Trivia leaderboard. You’ll be whisked to ‘Non-stop New York’ at the Brewery Arts Center during tonight’s Classic Cinema Club film viewing.

TUESDAY:

Happy Thursday, Carson City. Help move the workweek along by doing something fun. You’ll always find the boys of J and M Productions running the karaoke show at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar. Living the Good Life has music every night Tuesday through Saturday, and tonight it is Dougie L’s turn to entertain. The Café at Adele’s is always a good choice for date night, but when they also have music on their veranda, you’ve got all the ingredients for a memorable night.

THURSDAY:

It’s almost like Christmas Day for some of us locals: the long awaited Taste of Downtown has finally arrived. Food, drink, live music, rubbing elbows with friends and neighbors, and a new wine-tasting add-on make this one of the best parties of the year. The morning brings an unparalleled opportunity: you’ve got one chance to walk, run, or bike right down the middle of the freeway before the new bypass is open to vehicle traffic alone. Grab your favorite four-legged friend and head to Adele’s: Dining for Dog Town is a delicious way to help out this amazing rescue organization.

The third annual Sassabration diversity festival launched Saturday morning with a parade from the Brewery Arts Center to Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint at Carson Hot Springs Resort in Carson City.

If you’ve been longing to crawl out from behind your air conditioning this summer, eat some mouth-watering food and experience colorful hijinks, then plan to attend the third annual 2017 Sassabration this Saturday in the parking lot of Carson Hot Springs Resort, 1500 Old Hot Springs Road in Carson City.

On September 22, 23 and 24 we are offering 19 gourd classes for a hands-on learning experience. Gourds are a wonderful canvas for painting, wood burning, carving and weaving. Our experienced teachers will guide and teach students techniques used to work with the dyes, tools and of course gourds.

The summer sun offers so many wonderful options: an early morning bike ride, a trip to Virginia City on the historic V and T railroad, or maybe a picnic and some live music in a park. All these and more are available today. Beat the heat with a trip to the movie theater – The Sandlot will take you back in time. The Chili Cook-off and Craft Fair continues at Glen Eagles. The Corvettes have taken over at Michael Hohl. Over 50 members of the Reno Corvette Club are competing for bragging rights and a trophy. Keep reading for even more summer fun.

What are you in the mood for? The Third and Curry Farmers Market is always a great place to start off your weekend. Kids won’t mind getting up early for the Young Eagle airplane flights at the Carson City Airport – they are free of charge for kids 8 – 17, you just need to be on time for registration. The Annual Chili Cook-off returns to Glen Eagles this weekend; with live music, a craft fair, and lots of yummy stuff to eat, raising money for Honor Flight has never tasted so good. Keep reading, there is plenty more in store.

SATURDAY:

Whether you are looking for a night on the town with friends or something for the whole family, Carson City has got you covered. The Friday night concerts in the McFadden Plaza will get everyone movin' and groovin' - especially when a band like Mojo Green hits the stage. Kids will love the Dive-in Movie night at the Carson Aquatic Center. Moana will be playing on their big, new LED screen. The Trippin' King Snakes kick off the Summer Concert Series at Living the Good Life, followed by a DJ into the wee hours of the morning. Keep reading and prepare to have a great day.

Sailors from the USS Nevada nuclear submarine were in Carson City on Sunday for tours of the Nevada State Museum and Nevada State Railroad Museum.

Let the good times roll, Carson City. Cars, chrome, choppers, and kruzers are in abundance. Run Whatcha Brung at Fuji Park is open to any and all cars that can get themselves there. The Rockabilly Riot and T Bucket Alliance at Mills Park is an American Graffiti flashback. Cheer on our local motorcycle cops at the Extreme Motor Challenge, or hop on your own bike and go on a poker run with the Lords of Iron Motorcycle Club.

SATURDAY:

Please remember that I am just the messenger and the bad news is that you can only be one place at once. You'll have to choose between a Beatles Experience in McFadden Plaza and the concert at the Brewery Arts Center Minnesota Street Stage, where the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies kick off the first of the Levitt Concert Summer Series. Get yourself registered for the Karson Kruzerz' annual 'Run Whatcha Brung' at the Max Casino and stick around for Route 66 on the stage. You'll have to keep reading for the rest of it - summer fun has arrived in full force.

FRIDAY:

The weekends seem to start earlier in summertime. Head down to Mills Park for the first of the rat-rods rolling in for this weekend’s Rockabilly Riot and to catch the motorcycle cops running some practice loops around the obstacle course. Seniors can head to the Community Center for vouchers good at the Third and Curry Farmers Market, residency and income restrictions apply. Join Mo’z Motley Blues on the lawn of the Dangberg Home Historic Ranch for a summer twilight concert – bring a chair or blanket, I suggest some bug spray and a picnic, as well.

THURSDAY:

Happy Wednesday, Carson City. The Wild West is still alive and well; the Reno Rodeo and Carnival is going on right now. Snowshoe Thompson comes to life at the Dangberg Home Historic Ranch as Steven Hale performs a Chautauqua tonight. Head over to the Carson Mall for their Home and Garden Show. The Greenhouse Garden Center has set up lovely displays and will help you find just the right thing to make your yard a little slice of heaven. Tonight you can choose a jazz jam, karaoke, or trivia to get you over the mid-week hump.

WEDNESDAY:

There will be a Carson City Home and Garden Show at the Carson Mall, June 21-24, 2017. The event is coordinated by Greenhouse Garden Center.

If you are looking for home and garden improvement ideas, you will find them at the Carson Mall at the Home/Garden Show. Displays, seminars, decorating ideas, Indoor/outdoor items.

Planes, trains, and automobiles take over Carson City this weekend. Steampunk ‘N’ Trains at the Nevada Railroad Museum features train rides, fun costumes, food trucks and more. You’ll find two car shows in town – the Party at the Pavilion as part of the Nevada State Fair and the Carson City Downtown Revival Car Show at the Carson Nugget. The Carson Airport Fly-In and Open House has plenty of aeronautic fun in store. You’ll have to keep reading for all of the fun options in Carson City and the surrounding valleys.

SATURDAY:

For the third consecutive year, multi-talented actor and musician Justin Timberlake will join superstar athletes and entertainers at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe this summer. The highly-decorated performer is an avid golfer who plays to a 4-handicap and is renowned in the sport for his philanthropic endeavors.

Historic Barns of the Carson Valley: The Douglas County Historical Society’s “Barn Tour Fundraiser” will be held on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

As the thermometer approaches 90, remind yourself that snow fell a few weeks ago and the heat is well overdue. We bypassed spring and lept right into summer. Enjoy a bluesy morning in Silver City as local musician, Mylo McCormick, takes the stage for a free acoustic concert. Bad man, John Wayne, tussles with an angel at tonight’s Classic Cinema Club offering at the Brewery Arts Center. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a friend on today’s Conditioning Hike up Goni with Muscle Powered.

TUESDAY:

Congratulations on surviving yet another school year, it's officially summer. Celebrate with a family outing to Bower's Mansion and stick around for some live music by Acoustic Solution. Watch out for motorcycles, now that the Spring Rally has rumbled into town, the bikes will be out in full force. Tonight, head over to the Fandango to enjoy the Trey Stone Trio or grab a Hawaiian shirt and join in the Beach Party Karaoke fun at Carson Lanes.

FRIDAY:

Nevada residents and visitors are invited to “Discover Nevada State Parks” on Saturday, June 10. Park visitors will receive free day use admission and free fishing — no license required — at all of Nevada’s 23 State Parks.

I’m not exactly sure what a ‘cupcake war’ is, but whatever the Carson Library has planned, it sounds delicious. Just make sure you register online to participate. Today is relatively quiet around town: we always have some great art exhibits to discover, but not too many planned events. DJ Trivia Night at Westside Pour House pits your smarts against other teams while surrounded by good food and drink. Jazz at Living the Good Life will put some swing in your step for the next few days.

WEDNESDAY: