CERCA CALENDAR
Summertime is the perfect time for a getaway in Cerca country.
Through August 13, Cedar City, Utah: The Neil Simon Festival. This summer the plays are "Barefoot in the Park", "The Nerd" and "Rumors". Tuesday through Saturdays with matinee and evening performances. Cedar City Heritage Theater. (866) 357-4666. www.simonfest.org/
Through August 21, Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. This year's play is "Twelfth Night". Sand Harbor State Park. (775) 832-1616. www.LakeTahoeShakespeare.com/
Through September 3, Cedar City, Utah: Utah Shakespearean Festival. This summer plays include "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Glass Menagerie," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Music Man," "Richard III" and "Noises Off!" (435) 586-7878. www.bard.org.
July 30, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah: Geology of Cedar Breaks. Spend the day with a geologist and learn about the complex geological past of the exposed rock layers at the monument. Zion Canyon Field Institute. Reservations needed. (435) 772-3264. www.zionpark.org.
Aug. 4-6, Panaca: Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo. Events include 4-H Club exhibits, Fun Run, Gymkana and other rodeo events and an art show featuring by county residents. Entertainment and food. Lincoln County Fairgrounds. (775) 728-4292. www.lincolncountynv.org.
Aug. 5-6, Cove Fort, Utah: Cove Fort Days. Living history demonstrations, entertainment, tours and wagon rides at this old Mormon fort. Hot dogs and beverages. Cove Fort Historic Site. (435) 438-5547 www.placestovisit.lds.org
August 6-7, Flagstaff, Ariz.: 62nd Annual Navajo Festival of Art and Culture: A Walk in Beauty. Learn about the Dine' Culture including the complex art of Navajo weaving and the importance of the Navajo Code Talkers. Entertainment and activities for children. Museum of Northern Arizona. (928) 774-5213. www.musnaz.org/
August 9-14, Reno and Sparks: Hot August Nights. Relive the 50s and 60s all over again when cars and rock 'n' roll ruled. Thousands of cars are registered for this event, from across the nation. Controlled cruises, show-n-shines. Live entertainment and food. (775) 356-1956. www.hotaugustnights.net/
Aug. 10-14, Eureka: Eureka County Fair. This multi-day family event features a horse show, team branding competition, hay contest, old fashioned saddle bronc riding, entertainment, exhibits, games and plenty of food. (775) 237-6026. www.co.eureka.nv.us/fair.htm
Aug. 11-13, Bullhead City, Ariz.: Bullhead City River Regatta. Decorated Inner tubes and boats float down the Colorado River decorated with this year's theme, "Pirates of the Colorado". (928) 763-0158. www.bullheadregatta.com
Aug. 13-14 and Aug. 20-21, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Big Bear City Renaissance Faire. This event features a variety of musical entertainment and historical reenactments. This event is located on Big Bear Lake's North Shore in Fawnskin. (909) 237-0448. www.bigbear.com
Aug. 19-21, Washoe Valley: The 26th Annual Bower's Mansion Bluegrass Festival. This year's bands include The Monday Night Volunteer Band, Code Bluegrass, Hick'ry Switch, Fremont's Cannon and the Barbecue Boys. Workshops and musical instruction. Bower's Mansion Regional Park. www.bowersbluegrassfestival.org
Aug. 18-20, Kanab, Utah: Annual Western Legends Roundup and Film Festival. This celebration of the old west includes cowboy poetry, fiddle contest, tent revival, Dutch oven cook-off, Indian dancing, quilt show and a quick draw contest. Street fair with art and food, parade and live cowboy music. (435) 644-3444. www.westernlegendsroundup.com
Aug. 18-20, Panguitch, Utah: Garfield County Fair. Events include Fish Grab, Dutch Oven/Chili cook-off, pet show and talent contest. Panguitch Fairgrounds. (435) 676-8949. www.brycecanyoncountry.com/
Aug. 18-21, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Big Bear Cowboy Gathering and Storyfest. This gathering features musicians, authors, storytellers and poets. Blacksmith demos, movie set tours, fashion shows, costume contest. Performing Arts Center. (909) 709-0449. www.bigbearcowboygathering.net
Aug. 26 through Sept. 5, Elko: Elko County Fair. This event features horseracing, stallion competitions, stock horse challenges, 4-H livestock shows, Basque food and arts and crafts. (775) 738-3616. www.elkocountyfair.com/
Aug. 27, Bryce Canyon, Utah: Bryce Canyon Rim Run and Walk. One of Utah's most scenic races as the 5-mile course follows the canyon rim and forests of ponderosa pines. (800) 468-8660. www.rubysinn.com.
Aug. 29 through Sept. 5, Black Rock City: Burning Man. This annual event is partly an art festival and partly an experiment in temporary community all dedicated to radical self-expression and self-reliance. "Rites of Passage" will be this year's art theme. www.burningman.com.
Sept. 1-5, Parowan, Utah: Iron County Fair. Called Utah's "Biggest Little Fair" events include 5K Fun Run and Walk, Miss Iron County Pageant, eating contests, Tour de Gap Bike Race, carnival, car show and parade. (435) 477-8380. www.ironcountyfair.net.
Sept. 2-4, Mesquite: Smokin' in Mesquite BBQ. This barbecue competition features the Mesquite BBQ Championship and the Backyard BBQ Cook-off. Teams from around the nation will be competing for $40,000 in cash and prizes. CasaBlanca Resort and casino. (702) 346-7539. www.mesquitebbqchampionship.com.
Sept. 2-5, Pioche: Annual Labor Day Celebration. The town's largest event of the year features mining events, 10K Fun Run, fishing derby, Chili cook-off and electric light parade and children's events. (775) 962-5544. www.piochenevada.com.
