Enjoy October in the Reno/Sparks/Lake Tahoe Area

Northern Nevada is a wonderful area with plenty of fun year round offerings to entertain and delight. Here are a few things you may want to check out if you are in the area around Halloween time.

Kit Carson Trail - Ghost Walk
Take this guided, historic walking tour of the Kit Carson Trail. You may run into some spirits of the past on Saturday, October 21, as you wind your way through one of the largest historic residential districts in the west. You will see beautiful turn-of-the-century mansions, courthouses, a depot and a brewery.
First tour departs at 9:00 am from the Nevada State Museum and the last tour departs at 3:00 pm with tours leaving every 30 minutes.

Sparks 20th Annual Great Pumpkin Carnival
On Thursday, October 26, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, come by the Recreation Gym located at 98 Richards Way. This is where you will find an entertaining and safe alternative to trick-or-treating. This event is even broken down into age groups so that the younger children can have just as much fun as the older ones. Bring children 1st grade and younger between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm is reserved for 2nd through 6th grades. Cost is only $1.

Make sure to have your little ones in costume so they can participate in the homemade costume contest, sponsored by K-BULL 98 FM, where they will have the chance to win some fun prizes.

Lattin Farms Corn Maze
At Lattin Farms, located in Fallon at 1955 McLean Road, you will have a blast at their Fall Festival. You can choose between a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, cow train, scarecrow factory, and pick your own food or you can do it all. The Fall Festival occurs every Saturday in October.

This is the best time of year at the farm. The colors are beautiful and there is so much to do.
Reno Pops Orchestra, Monsters and Magic Halloween Concert for Families
The Reno Pops Orchestra is offering up some great music for your listening pleasure including selections like Danse Macabre (Saint-Seans) and Watergoblin (Dvorak) as well as selections from the Lord of the Rings, Beauty and Beast and the Nightmare Before Christmas.

The concert is on Friday, October 27 at 7:00 pm at Billinghurst Middle School in Reno. Admission is free but donations are welcome and gratefully appreciated.

Boomtown Reno
Scare up a good time at the Boomtown Reno Family Fun Center. In addition to the normal attractions such as game room, climbing wall, flight simulator and miniature golf; there will also be Halloween fun to be had from October 28- 31.

The 3-D Motion Theatre will be playing "Haunted Mine Ride" and the Fun Center will offer discounted wristbands, treats, and prizes to costumed kids under 12. There will also be a DJ and dancing in the Teen Escape Zone for teens aged 14 - 20.

Trick or Treat in Streets at the National Automobile Museum
This is an event on October 31 for families who want to trick or treat safely and warmly inside the museum. Some of the spooktacular activities are pumpkin patches, candy stations and a haunted fun house. Admission is only $1 and the festivities run from 4:30 pm to 7 pm. For more information, call 775-824-4467.

Here in Nevada, not only are we celebrating Halloween this time of year, but we are also celebrating Nevada Day. Nevada officially joined the union on October 31, 1864. Therefore, every year our celebrations of Halloween coincide with celebrations of statehood. The schoolchildren are happiest, this year, on October 27 when Nevada Day is observed. They get the day off school and if you work for the government, you will likely get a paid holiday. If you are in need of something to do, you can check out these local Nevada Day festivities.

Nevada Day Parade and Celebration
Nevadans turn their attention to Carson City and its festivities on Nevada Day. Who doesn't love a parade? This year, the theme is "Nevada Day Meets V & T Railway". The parade takes place on Saturday, October 28, this year and begins at 10 am with fun activities running throughout the day. Some of the other festivities included in this year's celebration are music and arts show, RSVP Carnival, 1864 Grand Ball, Pancake Breakfast, Beard contest, floats, marching bands, and more.

This truly is a celebration you do not want to miss!

I hope that you are sufficiently interested in October in Nevada. There are activities for the whole family to enjoy. I will see you at the Parade!