HWY 395

I’m going to suggest that you keep this weekend’s plans flexible. There’s only a chance of rain, but the chance of it showing up at the wrong time is always high. The very early morning is best spent watching the hot air balloons against the Reno skyline, but you’ll probably want a sweater for the pre-dawn chill. Head up the hill to Virginia City this weekend. If you’ve never been to the annual International Camel Races, you’ve been missing out. Keep reading, there’s something for everyone on this list. Find your fun.

SATURDAY:

One might think that after Labor Day, it starts to get quiet around here. They would be mistaken. September is chock-full of adventure, starting with this weekend’s Virginia City International Camel Races and the Great Reno Balloon Races. You won’t want to miss the last of the Third Street Stage Concerts in McFadden Plaza: Shane Dwight is tonight’s featured performer. It’s the last day to see the Photography and Regular Art Show at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery, they’ll have their new Autumn Show on display Sunday.

FRIDAY:

It’s back to school and back to work, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Get your kicks on the dance floor in Carson Lanes’ Eleventh Frame Lounge; DJ Bobby will teach you how to line dance. The Classic Cinema Club presents Edmond O'Brien and Pamela Britton in ‘D.O.A.’ Get there at 6:30 p.m. for discussion and film trivia. For the true trivia junkies, the Fox Brewpub hosts DJ Trivia tonight – all ages are welcome and there are prizes at stake. Halloween lovers of all ages will want to participate in the upcoming production of ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ at Piper’s Opera House.

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:

CARSON CITY — The crews aboard two Nevada Army Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters will begin firefighting efforts Friday at the Slinkard Fire at Topaz Lake near the Nevada and California state border.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, Chili's Bar and Grill will donate 100 percent of profits from its restaurants nationwide, including Carson City, to the relief efforts of those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

UPDATE FRIDAY 2:15PM: Voluntary evacuations are underway west of Topaz, Calif., according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Sierra Front reports the fire, believed to have started by lightning on Tuesday, has burned an estimated 7,200 acres and is zero percent contained as of Friday afternoon.

Meet at the parking area on Jacks Valley Road approximately 1.8 miles from Hwy 395. Water and closed-toed shoes required. Bring a flashlight and walking sticks recommended.

Muscle Powered Evening Conditioning Hikes Program: Evening hikes of 4-6 miles in length with an elevation gain, sometimes over 500 feet and usually on single track trail. The evening hike will usually be 1½ hour duration or more.

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.

Yoga is designed to teach easy movements to promote deep breathing and can offer a multitude of mental and physical health benefits. Pull some balance in your life by joining instructor Jill Mustacchio for a one-hour mellow flow yoga classes every Wednesday at The Yoga Loft in Minden. Register today by call Carson Tahoe Cancer Resource Center. $5.00 per class. The Yoga Loft 1620 B HWY 395 Minden, NV 89423

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

Are you itching for the weekend? It will be musically magical with a plethora of Jazz and Beyond Music Festival events throughout town. It’s a classic car lover’s dream come true, as well, with Hot August Nights in Reno and Sparks. But don’t get ahead of yourself, today has some great options for a good time. Enjoy some air conditioned entertainment with the Carolyn Dolan Band at the Carson Mall. ‘Elvis, Marilyn and the Space Aliens’ and their place in the movies is the topic of this month’s Douglas County Historical Society’s lecture.

GENOA, Nev. – Join Park Rangers at Mormon Station State Park for a special breakfast Dutch oven cooking demonstration. Rangers will be cooking up a breakfast casserole and a bacon bomb, all while explaining the basics of Dutch oven cooking.

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.

The Salvation Army is collecting school supplies and backpacks for at-risk children through August 14. Children from Carson City, Douglas County and the surrounding communities will receive school supplies and backpacks as needed.

Today’s the day. Archie, the Reno Aces mascot, has been entrusted to once again oversee the grand opening of the Carson City Fair at Fuji Park. The soft opening of the accompanying carnival begins at 6 p.m. with one dollar rides. It’s Miss Scarlet with the lead pipe in the Observatory as the Carson City Library hosts a super-sized game of Clue for teens. Families will enjoy Beauty and the Beast, complete with a craft, if they sign up for the Library’s movie night. See what Teddy Roosevelt has to say at Dangberg Home Historic Ranch Park during tonight’s Chautauqua.

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.

It is going to be a beautiful Tuesday: toasty, but not too hot, and with a nice afternoon breeze. As the summer goes along, kids get a little antsy. Take your grade schooler up to Silver City for their annual Bike Safety Rodeo and you’ll leave confident that they know the rules of the road. Hit the dance floor tonight. You can learn some beginning swing dance moves at El Charro Avita. Grab your partner and head to Carson Lanes for lessons in country line dancing and a good time with DJ Cowboy Bobby Truesdale.

TUESDAY:

What to do, what to do? That’s the question that starts most every weekend. If you’ve got kids, test their mettle at the annual Capitol City Triathlon. Open to kids of all ages, they will bike, run, and swim their way to the finish line. The third annual Sassabration event kicks off with a multi-colored, costume bike parade from the Brewery Arts Center to the celebration at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint. Multiple bands, vendors, non-profit booths, free swimming at the Carson Hot Springs, not to mention the yummy food and drink available make this a not-to-be-missed festival.

The sun keeps shining and the summer fun keeps on coming. Great live music tonight can be found on the Veranda at Adele’s, at Living the Good Life, on the stage at Sassafras, in the Glen Eagles Lounge, and at Battle Born Harley Davidson's Bike Night. The Carson Library starts the day with story time for the little ones, and ends with an exciting science presentation featuring Fire and Ice. Learn a little about Nevada with photographer Ernie Winters at the Gold Hill Hotel. He’ll take you back in time with color photographs of Virginia City in the 50s.

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:

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:

Holy moly, what a way to start the weekend. The Nevada State Fair kicks off today in Carson City’s Mills Park and so does the Annual Carson Valley Days celebration in Douglas County. No matter where you are, there is a carnival nearby. You’ll find some fun in downtown Carson tonight with karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar or at the Westside Pour House. Kick start your bike and head to Battle Born Harley; their Bike Night features live music by the Smoken Rabbits. Keep a sweater handy, the temperature is dipping a little, and will drop even further as soon as the sun goes down.

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:

If you happen to be up very early on Saturday morning, you may just see some runners in the pre-dawn hours. The Reno-Tahoe Odyssey, a 178 mile relay, passes through Carson City on its way to Virginia City. A huge congratulations goes out to the Class of 2017; the Carson High graduates will get their diplomas today. It’s wine walk weekend, so downtown will be hopping with sippers, strollers, and plenty of summer fun. Keep reading, and you’re sure to find something to make this weekend special.

SATURDAY:

GENOA, Nev. – The Pony Express was a massive operation that began in 1860 to satisfy the demand for a fast mail service. Though it only lasted 18 months, it is still romanticized throughout the west today. Bring a chair and join a Park Ranger for a history talk on the Pony Express.

Carson City you did it again, you lent a hand and kept our water, waste lands, and citizens safe by properly disposing of 247 pounds of prescription and non-prescription medications and 91 pounds of needles at the April 29th Prescription Drug Round Up.

Fire up that grill, Carson City, we’ve got the perfect weather to kick off the summer. The early Farmers Market at Musser and Nevada offers the perfect finishing touches to any picnic or bar-be-que. It’s all aboard for train lovers: the V&T begins its runs to Virginia City this weekend and the historic Glenbrook Engine is all steamed up at the Railroad Museum. Keep reading and have a safe weekend.

SATURDAY:

• -- Breakfast and Bowling at Carson Lanes (breakfast served 7:30am -11am, unlimited bowling 9am-12pm; $13, $8 kids 8 and younger)

CARSON CITY, NV – Let Chili’s restaurant at 3784 US Hwy 395 S do the cooking while supporting Pets of the Homeless. Chili’s will donate 15 percent of the event day sales, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. To participate mention “Pets of the Homeless Give Back” to your server.