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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)

Even though Carson City is awash with Nevada Day festivities, Halloween is just as important. Here is an updated list of all the reasons to throw on a costume Saturday through Monday in Carson City and the surrounding valleys. Remember, rain is expected on Friday and Sunday, so consider an umbrella if you don’t want your make-up to run!
Adults only parties are in italics.

Let’s just call this Nevad-oween weekend. So much crazy fun awaits: whether it’s the celebration of our ‘new’ downtown, Halloween parties for kids and adults alike, or our State Museum’s 75th Anniversary. Start your day at the Museum, hang around for the downtown ribbon cutting and festivities, then join in the costumed fun as Blinky Man hits the streets. Do the time warp at the Brewery Arts Center: the Rocky Horror Picture Show Party starts at 8:30 p.m. This is going to be one amazing weekend, so let’s get this party started.

If today is any indication of how hard it is going to choose between fun activities, we have a tough few days ahead. The Carson Tahoe Spooktacular is an annual favorite for the kids, complete with treats, activities, and helicopers. It’s Family Night at the RSVP Nevada Day Carnival: thanks to Carson City Toyota-Scion, all rides are just $1. Dayton offers a Haunted Hayride through their old town history. Costumes are encouraged for this family fun event. Root beer floats await at the grand opening celebration of the newly renovated FISH.

It’s that time of year again. The ghosts and ghouls come out of hiding and paint the town orange. Halloween isn’t just one night around here. Combined with the festivities of Nevada Day, you can be sure to enjoy at least a week’s worth of celebrating.

Here is a comprehensive list of fall festivals, Halloween parties, and fun for all. Items in italic are for those 21 and older only.

Saturday, Oct. 22:

Hold onto your broomstick, this weekend is bound to sweep you up in Halloween fun. First you’ll need a pumpkin. The Harvest Train Festival and Pumpkin Patch at the Nevada State Railroad Museum is a good place to start. Take the costumed kids to a Trunk or Treat at Advantage Auto Works off Old Hot Springs Road courtesy of the members of Carson Cruise Meet and Greet. Team up with Mark Twain for a ghostly tour of our haunted downtown or you can choose a shorter tour that’s perfect for families. Keep reading, this is just the tip of the candy corn.

SATURDAY:

Recognized as one of a handful of the most haunted towns in the U.S., Virginia City rattles the chains, cages, ballroom floor and railroad tracks for the rest of the month as part of its “Hauntober” celebration, offering up ghostly adventures culminating Oct. 31, Nevada Day and Halloween.

Restless spirits of the old west haunt the Nevada Northern Railway on the weekly Haunted Ghost Train. Every Saturday in October, this fun train ride with ghost stories, track-side vignettes and spooky spirits is a fun outing for the whole family. Passengers are encouraged to dress in costumes.

Go to www.nnry.com to find out more or to purchase tickets – reservations are suggested as most Haunted Ghost Train rides sell out, and go to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum’s YouTube page to get a sneak peek at the Haunted Ghost Train.

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes, business lessons come flying at me faster than I can take notes about them. Ideas are sort of like orbs. Some you can’t see unless you are looking for them. Some people believe in them, some don’t. Yet they are always a topic of discussion. The orbs were flying like crazy at The St. Charles Hotel this past weekend.

The weekend continues for school students. While Columbus Day is usually not celebrated in Nevada, it is a professional development day for our school district. Take the kids to Carson Lanes for $1 bowling. Carson Library is offering a Makerspace for Kids this afternoon with hands-on STEAM activities that make learning fun. It’s the Buccaneers versus the Panthers for Monday Night Football: drink specials can be found all over town. Sing the ‘weekend’s over’ blues during karaoke at the Firkin and Fox.

MONDAY:

• Carson City School District: No School today

Carson City’s spooky and intriguing history is explored and theatrically relived in our 24th annual all day Carson City Ghost Walk.

Tuesday has arrived, and that means a new stroll with Carson City Parks and Recreation. Today's Easy Walk is the Annual Art Tour, visiting eight galleries and exhibits downtown. If you can't join them on this excursion, just grab the new art walk map at the Carson Visitor's Center to make sure you don't miss anyone. Today also marks the beginning of the Nevada Day Treasure Hunt, an annual tradition that has history buffs and Nevada aficionados combing the grounds for the lucky medallion. Read on, and enjoy your day.

TUESDAY:

I don’t know who asked for this chilly, windy weather, but it’s here. Heck, it even snowed in Reno overnight. Grab a few extra layers and enjoy the day. Western Nevada College has invited the local candidates to a debate; head to Marlette Hall on the first floor of the Cedar Building. You can watch the Vikings take on the NY Giants tonight, or get your swing on with the High Sierra Swing Dance Club. Firkin and Fox has karaoke tonight: it’s a great way to start the week.

MONDAY:

Carson High is abuzz this week with Homecoming activities. The annual bonfire tonight is coupled with a Club Fair and Food for Thought food drive. Monday Night Football between the Falcons and the Saints can be found anywhere a TV is plugged in. Head down to Alatte decked out in your favorite partisan gear as a Presidential Debate Watch Party gets underway. Monday has even more to offer, so keep reading to see it all.

MONDAY:

• Carson High Homecoming Week

Street Vibes and the Candy Dance are always the endcap to September. Arts and crafts take over the small hamlet of Genoa this weekend; get a jump on your holiday gift list. All the other corners of Northern Nevada are a playground for the thousands of motorcycle riders and enthusiasts here to enjoy the bike rally. Battle Born Harley on Research Way offers a huge party without ever leaving the valley. Those two events are hardly all that Carson City and our neighboring counties have to offer, however. Keep reading for more fun than you’ll know what to do with.

SATURDAY:

Ahoy, mateys. ‘Tis International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so don’t ye be a scallywag. Grab a bucko or a pair 'n make sail fer a jolly the hour. Roust up some spiced grog, or sin' a shanty at th' Firkin 'n Fox. Monday Night Football sees the Eagles battle the Chicago Bears; most everywhere in town will have the game on. Western Nevada College celebrates National Hispanic-Latino Month with a special spoken word poetry performance by the talented Gabriela Garcia Medina. Have a great day. Keep readin' fer all ye options.

Madame Curry paid special tribute to the spirits Saturday night during the Mary Ann Bennett Memorial Ghost Walk through sections of Carson City’s historic west side neighborhood.

Whoa doggy, what a weekend. Dayton Valley Days, the Steampunk Ball and Parade in Virginia City, and the Western Heritage Festival at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park are just the tip of the iceberg. Whether it’s in Carson City, or just over the hill in one of our neighboring counties, you’ll find something fun to do. Read on.

SATURDAY:

Monday has returned, but it is bringing football with it. A double dose of grid-iron action is on the way. Karaoke has returned to the Firkin and Fox for those who don’t have a pigskin addiction. Poet Glade A. Myler will be at the Browser’s Corner Book Store for a meet and greet and book signing. Shake off the Monday blues with the High Sierra Swing Dance Club; their night out at El Charro Avita kicks off at 6pm.

MONDAY:

The long weekend lets us hold onto summer a little bit longer. Enjoy an interfaith community picnic on the lawn at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Bring something to share, your plates and utensils, and something for the F.I.S.H. food drive. Watch out for playa dust. Burning Man has ended and the roads will be packed with burners headed back home. Keep reading for all that Labor Day has to offer.

MONDAY: Labor Day

Ribs and cantaloupes are on the menu today if you want to head out to Sparks or Fallon, respectively. Stay local and let the Elks Club serve you up some pancakes at their monthly breakfast. Genoa offers up a fun afternoon with friends: Sweet Sippin Sunday begins at 1 p.m. The Summer Concert Series at the Nugget offers up a tribute to Tom Petty and Bob Seger with Double Trouble. Continue on for even more weekend fun.

SUNDAY:

There are multiple ways to say farewell to summer this weekend. The Best in the West Rib Cook-off is a local favorite, as is the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival. It has finally cooled down a little, so the Downtown Carson Wine Walk is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Keep reading and have a great time.

SATURDAY:

Welcome back, Wildcats. Western Nevada College kicks off a week of festivities at today with some free donuts and pizza. Those not headed back to school might be headed back to the Playa: Burning Man has begun, so keep your eyes peeled for some crazy looking cars on the road. A new exhibit featuring local high school artists can be found downtown in the Community Development building next to City Hall.

At the 24th annual Carson City Ghost Walk, you can walk, but you can’t hide from the supernatural entertainment and historical folly. This is not your high school history class: Carson City’s rich and intriguing history will be fully explored and theatrically relived.

Time to hit the books, Carson City, the new school year begins today. Keep an eye out for kids on bikes and in crosswalks all over town, and please drive safely. Mondays are usually quiet in our valley, but you’ll find the High Sierra Swing Dance Club jazzing it up at El Charro Avita. Head up to Gold Hill for a tour of their haunted hotel and stick around for drinks or dinner. Have some family fun at Carson Lanes: games are only $1 all day.

MONDAY:

• Carson City School District’s First Day of School

Are you ready for the new school year? One last weekend of summer break before the kids of Carson City head back, so make the most of it. Jazz and Beyond takes it up a notch in its final few days with eight hours of non-stop music downtown. Western Nevada College new soccer team plays its first home game today against Folsom Lake Community College. Head to Carson High for the inaugural ‘A Place to Shine’ Show and Shine for fun for the whole family. Keep reading, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Carson kids have one last week to lay about, while their neighbors in Douglas and Lyon County are headed back to school. Jazz and Beyond continues with some fun times downtown. Me and Bobby McGee will appear in the Comma Courtyard, followed by the Rosebud Dance Band in the McFadden Plaza. Head to the Carson City Library to meet the Heroes of the Carson City Fire Department as part of the ongoing series, ‘What’s up in your community?’ Keep reading for all of Monday’s options.

Just a few more weeks until the kids head back to school, so get out and enjoy the summer while you can. Jazz and Beyond brings a free outdoor concert to the Minnesota Street Stage at the Brewery Arts Center this evening. It’s the Carson Dreamers tonight, but you can go HERE for all of the upcoming music festival events. The Nevada Arts Council welcomes Justin Favela’s new exhibit to their OXS Gallery with a reception and talk by the artist.

August means many things: Hot August Nights, the Jazz and Beyond Music Festival, the return of football, and the last few weeks of summer vacation. The construction downtown is showing signs of advancement with the recent completion of the Bob McFadden Plaza.

Get thee to a gallery! Carson City has three art exhibits in their last week of viewing: the Spirit of America Show at the Nevada Artist Association Gallery, ‘Vantage Point of Distance’ by Dave Rowe at the Nevada Arts Council’s OXS Gallery, and ‘Always Lost: A Meditation on War’ on display in the Western Nevada College Gallery. This week will also see receptions for two of those exhibits. The Nevada Arts Council welcomes Dave Rowe on Tuesday.