pumpkin

The weekend is here and you’ll find plenty to do in Carson City and the surrounding valleys. Run from zombies in Virginia City as the REDRUN obstacle race returns. Find the perfect pumpkin at the annual Seeliger Elementary Pumpkin Patch. The long-awaited Animal Shelter has been built and is now home to adoptable pets waiting for a home: take a tour at their open house after the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting. Keep reading and you’ll find a great way to enjoy the weekend.

SATURDAY:

• Nevada Day Treasure Hunt: today’s clue at http://www.nvdaytreasurehunt.com/

Filled with the spirit of fall in the air, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, and its supporters, Friends of the NSRM, will host the second annual Harvest Train event over two weekends in October.

The weather cools down just as the fun heats up. Fundraisers, contests, food, football, outhouse races and more. Carson Valley Community Theater has one last performance of ‘The Savannah Sippin Society.’ Pooches in costume are welcome at Genoa’s last Sweet Sippin Sunday: there will be a pet parade at 3 p.m. And for all those brides out there's there's a fall wedding faire at Silver Oak Golf Club. Read on: there is something for everyone.

SUNDAY:

Good luck, Carson City. The options for this weekend are endless, but you can’t be everywhere at once. CASI’s annual Pooch Plunge at the Carson Aquatic Center is always a fun time for your furry friends. Red’s Old 395 welcomes back the THiNK PiNK kick-off to breast cancer awareness month. Downtown you’ll find the wine walk, a rummage sale at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and the Fall Vintage Market at Due Sorella. Toast the season at Fandango: Oktoberfest has returned. Keep reading and be prepared to make some hard choices.

SATURDAY:

Beginning Saturday and running the entire month of October, Michael Hohl Motor Company in Carson City hosts its third annual "Give A Dog A Bone" pet food drive for the nonprofit organization Pets of the Homeless.

Holy smokes, it’s the last day of September! We’ve enjoyed a summer and now it’s time to embrace the pumpkin, scarves, and all things autumn. Enjoy the nice evenings while we have them with an outdoor concert at Living the Good Life or a presentation on the night sky at Washoe Lake State Park. Sassafras is the place for some bluesy Americana with Muddy Boots and the Porch Pounders. Help cheer on our new Wildcats Soccer Team as they take on UC Davis and shout GO BIG BLUE as the CHS Varsity team battles Galena at tonight’s Homecoming football game. Keep reading for all of our local happenings.

So long, summer. Cozy sweaters, soft scarves, scarecrows, crunchy leaves underfoot, and pumpkin spice will soon take over. Sunday means football for the next few months, but for those looking for something else to do, read on.

SUNDAY:

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:

Man's best friend was the guest of honor Saturday on the veranda at the Café at Adele's, where the Carson-Tahoe SPCA is holding its "Paws on the Veranda" fundraiser until 9 p.m. tonight.

With late summer here and school in session, dozens of families spent Saturday afternoon at Carson Mall celebrating the coming fall with scarecrow building, pumpkin decorating and face painting — all for a good cause.

When are apples, pears or vegetables ripe and ready to pick? Size and color are not always reliable in determining picking time for apples and pears. They develop to the highest quality when picked “mature,” a stage of development prior to “ripe.”

So many wonderful things happen as the summer winds down. Glow Patrol, camels, ostriches, not to mention the return of all things pumpkin. Enjoy the last of our balmy evenings with the Mark Castro Band on the stage at Living the Good Life. Let Mike Thomas wow you with tales of ‘Undersea Wonders’ during his presentation at the Plaza. Rockabilly takes the stage at Sassafras when the Scoundrels from Vegas get started around 8:30 p.m. Meet Michael Malley at the artist reception celebrating his exhibit 'Silver State Swimmer' in the Community Center Sierra Room.

Back by popular demand is the Scarecrow Festival at the Carson Mall, held Thursday through Saturday this week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

It's the last day of August. Scarves, sweaters, and pumpkin everything are just around the corner. Enjoy today with some country line dancing at Carson Lanes or the trivia pub quiz at Westside Pour House. Matt Theilen opens his photography exhibit at WNC today; the reception begins at 4:30 p.m. Head to Sparks today if you want to beat the weekend crowds at the Best in the West Rib Cook-off. Josh and Jenera of the Whitehats are holding an open mic jam at Firkin and Fox; bring your guitar, or just enjoy the music on the patio.

WEDNESDAY:

Northern Nevada Dream Center has teamed up with Carson High School's Culinary Arts program to help feed families. You can support the Culinary Arts team by letting them bake your Thanksgiving pies. You can order them Friday and Saturday at the Carson High School Craft Fair.

The Northern Nevada Dream Center is partnering with CHS Culinary Arts students for the 5th annual Pie to the Rescue.

Students from the awarding winning Carson High School Culinary Arts program will be joining some of Northern Nevada’s best chefs in baking pies to help feed those in need this holiday season.

Are you ready for this? Nevada Day weekend has arrived and brings with it a downtown filled with friends, neighbors, and fun. Hot air balloons, the annual beard contest, the parade, tours of the Governor’s Mansion, and more make this time of year amazing. The carnival at Mills Park, and the Pow-Wow at the Carson Colony take the festivities to the next level.

SATURDAY: PARADE DAY!

• Nevada Day Classic 8K Run/Walk (same day registration: $40 from 6:30am-7:30am on the second floor of the Carson Nugget Casino; 8am racers begin at Telegraph Square: W. Telegraph and N. Curry Streets; costumes encouraged)
• BAWN Pancake Breakfast Buffet at Red’s Old 395 (6am-10am; $6/$3 kids)

FRIDAY: Nevada Day Observed and Trick or Treat Night in Carson City ONLY
•*NAA Art Exhibit by Mark Kyle and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
•*Free Admission to the Nevada State Museum (8:30am-4:30pm; coin press demonstrations 10:30am-12pm AND 1-3pm)
•*Free Admission to the Nevada State Railroad Museum (9am-4:30pm; McKeen Motorcar Rides $8, $4 kids 10am-4pm)
•*Nevada Day Art Show at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery in the Brewery Arts Center (10am-4pm)

Here’s the 2015 Nevada Day event lineup and Halloween happenings, Thursday through Sunday. For all Halloween events go here. For everything Nevada Day, check out the official Nevada Day website here. Otherwise, see the event listing below.

THURSDAY
RSVP NEVADA DAY CARNIVAL, MILLS PARK IN CARSON CITY
Carnival rides for adults and children, live music, food booths, craft vendors & more. Hours: 10/29: 5pm - 9pm; 10/30-31: Noon - 9pm; 11/1: Noon - 8pm

The kids can get a jump start on the Halloween festivities today at the Carson Tahoe Medical Center. The annual Spooktacular Stroll is a fun time not to be missed. Take a ride on the Ferris Wheel or win your sweetheart a prize at the RSVP Carnival that opens today at Mills Park. It’s Family Night, so all rides are only one dollar. Enjoy dancing with DJ Bobby G at Living the Good Life or learn to salsa dance at El Charro’s. Celebrate your October birthday at Carson Cigar Co. with music by the Trippin King Snakes.

THURSDAY:

Happy Wednesday, Carson City. One of my favorite weekends of the year is just around the corner. Nevada Day is something special here in the capital city: the parade, beard contest, fam fest, and so much more. Go here for the official Nevada Day website and here for a schedule of events, courtesy of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. Parade day falls on Oct. 31 this year, and when that happens, trick or treating in Carson City gets bumped up a day to Friday. If you can’t wait that long to wear your costume, head to Carson Lanes for their Halloween Line Dance Party.

WEDNESDAY:

• Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. Here's what's going on today in the area.

TUESDAY:
•*Kit Carson Toastmasters at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)
•*’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
•*NAA Art Exhibit by Mark Kyle and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
•*Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

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

I know it’s Monday, but it just brings us one day closer to the Nevada Day/Halloween festivities next weekend. Check out my list of things to do, and the week will go by quickly. Go here for a list of all Halloween fun coming up this week.

MONDAY:

• Last day to RSVP to the Chamber of Commerce’s Soup's On Luncheon on Wed. Oct. 26 ($16; 775-882-1565)
• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)
• NAA Art Exhibit by Mark Kyle and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)

In the 1990s, I was the coordinator of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program for four counties. Volunteers signed up for 45 hours of horticulture classes in exchange for a fee and 45 hours of volunteering.

I had one very dedicated volunteer, Michael Janik, now of Michaels Apples, who went on to become a leader in Northern Nevada in raising, training and pruning apples and other fruits.

If you are a newcomer to our area or if you have never been there, fall is a great time of the year to visit Apple Hill, one of our favorite destinations. And, if you are a newcomer, about now you are probably wondering, “What and where in the heck is Apple Hill?”

One last weekend until Nevada Day, and the ghosts and ghouls are coming out of the woodwork. Learn our haunted history with the Downtown Ghost Walk. For thrills and chills, don’t miss the Second Annual Carson Creepy Short Horror Film Competition in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall. For a complete list of all Halloween activities this week go here.

SATURDAY:

Time to kick off the weekend. Here's a list of what's going on today in Carson City.

FRIDAY:
•*Nevada Day Treasure Hunt is over: MEDALLION FOUND at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park
•*’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
•*Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)
•*NAA Art Exhibit by Mark Kyle and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)

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

Friday Oct. 23:
-- Carson City Pumpkin Patch at Red Horse Ranch: 4849 Cochise St (10am-6pm; free admission)
-- Pumpkin Patch Harvest Festival with Hay Slide, Kiddie Land Straw Maze, Farm Animals and more at Corley Ranch: 859 Highway 395 South, Gardnerville (11am-4pm; free admission on weekdays)

Welcome to Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. Here are things to do in and around Carson City today:
•*NV Day Treasure Hunt (www.NVDayTreasureHunt.com)
•*’Lines and Fields: Abstract Narrative Paintings’ by Liz Penniman at the Western Nevada College Main Gallery in the Bristlecone Building
•*Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)
•*’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)