CERCA CALENDAR

In high summer, head for the higher altitudes of Cerca Country and the fairs, festivals and other fun offered there. Take your pick of these.

Through Aug. 9, Cedar City, Utah: The Neil Simon Festival. This summer the plays are "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Fools" and "I Do! I Do!." Tuesday through Saturday, matinee and evening performances. Cedar City Heritage Theater. (435) 327-8673, www.simonfest.org.

Through Aug. 17, Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor State Park. Now in its 36th season, festival features Shakespeare's "Richard III" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," plus the contemporary musical "Cambio." (800) 747-4697, www.laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Through Aug. 30, Cedar City, Utah: Utah Shakespearean Festival. Summer season features Shakespeare's "The Two Gentleman of Verona," "Othello," and "The Taming of the Shrew," plus classics "Cyrano de Bergerac," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The School for Wives." Matinee and evening performances. Dark Monday. (800) 752-9849, www.bard.org.

Friday, Zion National Park, Utah: Bat Biology and Conservation. This workshop focuses on the 18 species of bats that call Zion home. Learn about their importance to the ecosystem and how to build a bat house; take part in the park's ongoing bat study. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute, (800) 635-3959, www.zionpark.org.

Friday and Saturday, 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.

Friday through Aug. 10, Reno and Sparks: Hot August Nights. Relive the '50s and '60s when thousands of classic cars descend on Reno and Sparks for street cruising, poker runs, car auctions, parades, drag races and vintage music. More than 700,000 people are expected to attend this event. (775) 356-1956, www.hotaugustnights.net.

Saturday and Aug. 3, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Navajo Festival of Arts and Culture. In its 59th year, this is the oldest Navajo art show in the world. Visit more than 50 booths set up to display and sell art; watch artists demonstrate jewelry, painting, beading and pottery techniques. Museum of Northern Arizona, (928) 774-5213, www.musnaz.org.

Saturday, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah: Late-night star party starts 10 p.m. at Point Supreme, under some of darkest and clearest night skies in the U.S. Use telescopes provided or bring your own. Dress warm. Optional pre-party campfire at Cedar Breaks Campground starts 9 p.m. (435) 586-9451, www.nps.gov/cebr.

Aug. 3, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Dog Days Star Fest. Featured speaker Joan Horvath will give an indoor presentation about her new book, "What Scientists Actually Do." Numerous telescopes will also be set up for viewing throughout the campus. Lowell Observatory. (928) 233-3235, www.lowell.edu.

Aug. 7-10, Eureka: Eureka County Fair. This four-day family event features a horse show, team branding, 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. 8-9, Lake Tahoe: Wooden Boat Week and Concours D'elegance. This two-day competitive and educational event features a gathering of some of the most elegant antique wooden boats in the nation. (530) 581-4700, www.tahoeyc.com.

Aug. 9, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah: The Geology of Cedar Breaks. Learn about the complicated geologic past of the monument. Zion Canyon Field Institute. Reservations needed. (435) 772-3264, www.zionpark.org.

Aug. 15-17 Washoe Valley: Bower's Mansion Bluegrass Festival. This year's bands include Sawmill Road, Sidesaddle & Co., Wild Creek, and the Bar BQ Boys. Workshops and musical instruction. Bower's Mansion County Park. (775) 747-4830, www.bowersbluegrassfestival.org.

Aug. 20-23, Kanab, Utah: 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. 20-24, Reno: Nevada State Fair. This annual fair at Livestock Events Center features exhibits, entertainment, children's rides, carnival and games. (775) 688-5767, www.nvstatefair.com.

Aug. 21-24, Battle Mountain: Pony Express 130. The longest open road race in the country. The 130-mile race starts at Mile Marker 116 on State Highway 305 in Battle Mountain and travels 83 miles to Austin, then returns to the rest area at "Pay Phone Ranch." (702) 614-6108, www.openroadracing.com.

Aug. 22-Sept. 1, Elko: Elko County Fair features horseracing, stallion competitions, stock horse challenges, 4-H livestock shows, Basque food and arts and crafts. (775) 738-3616, www.elkocountyfair.com.

Aug. 23, Bryce Canyon, Utah: Bryce Canyon Rim Run and Walk. One of Utah's most scenic races as the five mile course follows the canyon rim and forests of ponderosa pines. (866) 866-6616, www.rubysinn.com.

Aug. 23, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah: Late-night star party at Point Supreme, under some of darkest and clearest night skies in the U.S. starts 10 p.m. Use telescopes provided or bring your own. Dress warm. Optional pre-party program starts 9 p.m. at Cedar Breaks Campground. (435) 586-9451, www.nps.gov/cebr

Aug. 23, Flagstaff, Ariz.: "The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe." A special evening presentation at Lowell Observatory by docent Howard Israel. Numerous telescopes will also be set up throughout the campus for viewing. (928) 233-3235, www.lowell.edu.

Aug. 24, Reno: Great Truckee River Duck Race. This annual event features adopted rubber ducks racing down the Truckee River to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation of Northern Nevada. (775) 826-8008, www.nevadawish.org.

Aug. 25-Sept. 1, 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. This year's theme will be "American dream." www.burningman.com.

Aug. 28-Sept. 3, Parowan, Utah: Iron County Fair. Called Utah's "Biggest Little Fair." Events include 5K fun run, Miss Iron County Pageant, eating contests, Tour de Gap Bike Race, carnival and parade. (435) 477-8380, www.ironcountyfair.net.

Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Pioche: Labor Day Celebration. The town's largest event of the year features mining skill competitions, 10K fun run, fishing derby, chili cook-off and electric light parade and children's events. Now in 103rd year. (775) 962-5544, www.piochenevada.com.

Aug. 31, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Labor Day Star Fest. Guest speaker Sasha Karcz will give an indoor presentation called "Radioactivity and You." This will cover the types of radiation, where they come from and how we can use them. Numerous telescopes will be set up for viewing throughout the campus. Lowell Observatory. (928) 233-3235, www.lowell.edu.

Sept. 5-7, Virginia City: Virginia City Camel Races. Camels are just one part of this extraordinary event. Ostrichs and emus also compete; there are specialty acts and a daily parade. (775) 847-7008, www.virginiacity-nv.com.

Sept. 5-7, Reno: Great Reno Balloon Race. Watch some of the nation's top balloonists compete in events. Rancho San Rafael Park. (775) 826-1181, www.renoballoon.com.

Sept. 6, Zion National Park, Utah: Zion Narrows Service Project. Join a naturalist to discover the Zion Narrows. This 7-mile hike will include discussing the geology, plants and wildlife of the area. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute, (435) 772-3264, www.zionpark.org.

To offer items for the Cerca Country Calendar, contact the calendar editor, Deborah Wall, at deborabus@aol.com.