By Brett Fisher

  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Parade bicyclists wave to supporters in the parking lot of Carson Hot Springs Resort Saturday.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Parade bicyclists wave to supporters in the parking lot of Carson Hot Springs Resort Saturday.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Belly dancers perform Saturday at Sassabration.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Belly dancers perform Saturday at Sassabration.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Tye-dye t-shirts for sale at Sassabration.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Tye-dye t-shirts for sale at Sassabration.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Man on a tall custom tricycle at Sassabration.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Man on a tall custom tricycle at Sassabration.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Visitors mingle at the Sassabration Festival Saturday.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Visitors mingle at the Sassabration Festival Saturday.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Participants in the Sassabration Festival Saturday.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Participants in the Sassabration Festival Saturday.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. A colorful vendor at Sassabration Saturday.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. A colorful vendor at Sassabration Saturday.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Starr Nixdorf of Carson City belly dances to music Saturday.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Starr Nixdorf of Carson City belly dances to music Saturday.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Sculpture art on display at Sassabration.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Sculpture art on display at Sassabration.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. The Westside Pour House food truck in the hot springs parking lot.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. The Westside Pour House food truck in the hot springs parking lot.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Shoe Tree Brewing Company booth at Sassabration.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Shoe Tree Brewing Company booth at Sassabration.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Guests participate in a belly dancing demo.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Guests participate in a belly dancing demo.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Vendor lane at Sassabration on Saturday.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Vendor lane at Sassabration on Saturday.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Sassafras is front and center at Sassabration.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Sassafras is front and center at Sassabration.
  • Photo by Brett Fisher. Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint sign framed by sunflowers.
    Photo by Brett Fisher. Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint sign framed by sunflowers.

The second annual Sassabration Festival, sponsored and organized by Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint, kicked off this morning at 11 a.m. with a parade of bicycles, whose riders left the Brewery Arts Center on King Street and paraded to the Carson Hot Springs Resort on Old Hot Springs Road in Northeast Carson City.

The festival opened at noon with live music and dance routines, food and refreshments supplied by Sassafras, as well as eats from the Westside Pour House food truck, and brewed beverages made by The Shoe Tree Brewing Company.

Festivities continue through the evening until 10 p.m. tonight.

A silent auction is scheduled for later, along with a raffle and free swimming at the hot springs from 2 to 8 p.m. today.

Sassabration is an annual celebration of diversity, community and unity originally organized by Jayme Watts and Tony Fish, owners of Sassafras, after making their move last year from downtown Carson City out to the Carson Hot Springs Resort property.

Watts said she is encouraged by the turn-out so far, and is hopeful activity will increase as the afternoon wears on.