Cerca Calendar, March 2012

While most of Cerca country continues to celebrate winter, a few spots are starting to think spring.

THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, Laughlin: Avi River Stampede PRCA Rodeo. Hundreds of participants compete in eight traditional rodeo events, including bareback riding, team roping and bull riding. (719) 589-9444. www.honeycuttrodeo.com.

FRIDAY THROUGH MARCH 11, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.: 31st annual Snowfest. North Lake Tahoe celebrates winter with on- and off-the-mountain events. The festival includes parades, live music, contests, comedy shows, ski races and a polar bear swim. (530) 583-7167. www.tahoesnowfestival.com.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, Lake Havasu, Ariz.: Bluegrass on the Beach. This year's lineup includes the U.S. Navy Band Country Current, the Spinney Brothers and Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. Lake Havasu State Park. (209) 785-4693. www.landspromotions.com.

SATURDAY, Brian Head, Utah: Spring Fair. Brian Head Resort hosts a day of laughs including pond skimming, Around the Mountain Relay and a Dummy Jump Contest. (866) 930-1010. www.brianhead.com.

SATURDAY, Death Valley, Calif.: Spring Death Valley Century, Ultra Century and Double Century. This intense bike race travels from Furnace Creek through the Badwater area and beyond in Death Valley National Park. www.adventurecorps.com.

SATURDAY, Lone Pine, Calif.: Early Opener Trout Derby. Sign-up starts at 6:30 a.m. Fishing continues until the 3:30 p.m. weigh-in. Prizes and cash prizes. Diaz Lake. (760) 876-4444. www.lonepinechamber.org.

MARCH 6, Tahoe City, Calif.: The Great Ski Race. More than 1,000 Nordic ski racers compete on a 30k course from Lake Tahoe to Truckee. Fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team. (530) 583-5475. www.thegreatskirace.com.

MARCH 9, Cedar City, Utah: 18th annual Art Auction. An auction featuring paintings, drawings, prints, photography, ceramics and jewelry by some of the Southwest's finest artists. Rusty's Ranch House. (435) 586-5432. www.scenicsouthernutah.com.

MARCH 10, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Bald Eagle Count. Join Forest Service biologists to count bald eagles around Big Bear Lake. No experience necessary. Bring your own binoculars. Meet at Big Bear Discovery Center at 8 a.m. (909) 866-3437. www.sbnfa.org.

MARCH 16, Eureka: Utah Shakespeare Festival Tour. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be performed at the historic Eureka Opera House. 7 p.m. (775) 237-6006. www.co.eureka.nv.us/opera.

MARCH 17, Prescott, Ariz.: Go! Off Road Duathlon. This triathlon-styled race combines a 1.5-mile trail run, an 8.2-mile mountain bike and a 2.2-mile trail run. The event is open to those 16 years old and older. Pioneer Park/Brownlow Trails. (928) 445-8700. www.go-ar.com.

MARCH 17, Springdale, Utah: St. Patrick's Day Celebration. Parade starts at 2 p.m. followed by a "Green Jell-O Sculpture Contest." Children's games, bagpipers and entertainment. (435) 772-0700. www.zionpark.com.

MARCH 17, Virginia City: St. Patrick's Day Parade and Oyster Fry. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a parade that travels down streets painted with shamrocks, then feast on oysters during the Annual Oyster Fry. (775) 847-4386. www.virginiacity-nv.org.

MARCH 24, Parowan, Utah: Spring Equinox Observation. A presentation of the ancient Native American solar calendar and observation of the equinox sunset. Parowan Gap Petroglyphs National Historic Site. (435) 477-3734. www.scenicsouthernutah.com.

MARCH 28, Zion National Park, Utah: Wednesday Naturalist Walk. Learn about the physical and biological worlds of Zion with zoologist/ecologist Dr. Allen Brown. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959. www.zionpark.org.

MARCH 29, Zion National Park, Utah: Thursday Trek. Join a naturalist and learn about the geology, flora, fauna and cultural history of Zion. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959. www.zionpark.org.

MARCH 30, Zion National Park, Utah: The field institute teams up with the Utah State Poetry Society for their third annual "Poetry in the Park" at the Zion National Park Nature Center. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959. www.zionpark.org.