Things to do in Centennial

In your neighborhood

n Young readers are invited to gather for story times and dinosaur exploration this week at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive. Story time for children 3 to 5 is planned for 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Story time for newborns to 18 months is set for 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Family story time for children 11 or younger is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday. An all-ages event, Day of the Dinosaurs, is planned for
4:30 p.m., and participants can learn about creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. Visit lvccld.org or call 507-6114.

Plan ahead

n Help solve a mystery at the Resort on Mount Charleston during "A Touch of Mystery, the Mystery at Mount Charleston Saloon," planned for 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at 2 Kyle Canyon Road. Actors and the audience become part of the mystery experience during the event. The fee is $87, which includes dinner.

A second package, which includes two entries to a pre-dinner wine and cheese mixer at 5 p.m., two dinner tickets and a standard hotel room, is $280 per couple. The pre-dinner mixer offers a chance to interact with the actors and get some early clues. The rate for a second-night stay is $49.90. Any extra dinner tickets are $87 each. Visit mtcharlestonresort.com or call 872-5500.

Worth a Drive

n Aviation Nation 2011, a U.S. Air Force open house and air show, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Nellis Air Force Base. Public parking will be provided at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gates are scheduled to open daily at 9 a.m. Opening ceremonies are set to begin at 11 a.m. Visit nellis.af.mil/aviationnation.

n The Las Vegas Academy Theater Department plans to present the musical "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Nov. 17-19 in the school's Lowden Theatre, 315 S. Seventh St. Tickets are $18. Visit lvacademytheatre.org or call 799-7800.

n Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1753 is slated to host a Veterans Day parade at 10 a.m. Friday. The parade is expected to start at South Fourth Street and Gass Avenue. Call 218-4231 or 384-4161 or email vfwpost1753@gmail.com.

n The Musical Arts Chorus plans to perform Felix Mendelssohn's St. Paul Oratorio at 3 p.m. Sunday at Artemus W. Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Guest soloists are to include Amy Cofield Williamson, soprano; Valeria Ore, contralto; Scott Williamson, tenor; and Neil Wilson, bass-baritone, in the role of Paul. For ticket information, call 455-7340 or visit pac.unlv.edu.

n The Norris Foundation Las Vegas Hot Air Balloon Festival is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Southern Hills Hospital, 9300 W. Sunset Road. Spectator admission is free. The public is invited to take rides for $200 per person. A balloon glow is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday. Visit smilerides.com or call 247-6905.

n Fresh52's Autumn Harvest Festival is planned for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday at Tivoli Village, 302 S. Rampart Blvd. Expect pumpkin decorating, a pie-eating contest, petting zoo, live music, face painting, kid's arts and crafts area and games. Admission is free. Visit fresh52.com or call 900-2552.

n City of Las Vegas staffers are set to say goodbye to the Bridge Gallery on the second floor of Las Vegas City Hall, 400 Stewart Ave., with "A Walk on the Wild Side," an exhibit featuring city and Zappos staff shoes transformed into art. The gallery's final show is scheduled to be on display Thursday through Jan. 26. A public reception is scheduled from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 17. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-1012.