cerca calendar

October is one of the fairest months Cerca Country offers and filled with lighthearted events. Read this list and see if one beckons to you.

Through Oct. 16, Cedar City, Utah: Utah Shakespearean Festival. Fall season features "The Adventures of Pericles," "Greater Tuna," and "The Diary of Anne Frank." Performances daily, dark Mondays. (800) 752-9849, www.bard.org.

Through Oct. 30, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Oktoberfest. Sing Bavarian songs, clog dance, enjoy games and contests, drink authentic German food and beer. Weekends-only event. Convention Center of Big Bear Lake. (909) 585-3000. www.bigbearevents.com.

Saturday, St. George, Utah: St. George Marathon, one of the largest in the United States. Race begins in Pine Valley and descends nearly 2,600 feet into St. George. (435) 627-4500, www. stgeorgemarathon.com.

Saturday-Oct. 3, Reno: Reno Celtic Celebration features bagpipe bands, Irish and highland dancing, Celtic crafters and athletic competitions. Bartley Ranch Regional Park. www.renoceltic.org.

Saturday-Oct. 3, Virginia City: World Championship Outhouse Races. Teams push or drag their privies toward finish line. (775) 847-4386. www.virginiacity-nv.org.

Saturday-Oct. 4, Death Valley, Calif.: Furnace Creek 508, one of the world's premiere ultramarathon bicycle races. The nonstop 508-mile race runs from Santa Clarita to Twentynine Palms via California's Death Valley and Mojave Desert. www.the508.com.

Oct. 8, Zion National Park, Utah: Rim to Floor. Learn about the park's geology, botany and biology as you hike 10 miles from the East Rim of the park down to Zion Canyon. This is a strenuous hike, and participants must be fit. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute, (800) 635-3959, www.zionpark.org.

Oct. 8-10, Lone Pine, Calif.: Lone Pine Film Festival. Now in its 21st year, features film screenings, celebrity panels, parade, arts-and-crafts fair and tours to various movie sets. www.lonepinefilmfestival.org.

Oct. 9-10, Reno: Great Italian Festival. Celebrate Italian heritage with grape-stomping, spaghetti-eating contests, other Italian foods and gelato. Arts and crafts, bocce ball tournament, farmers' market and live entertainment. Eldorado Hotel. (800) 879-8879. www.visitrenotahoe.com.

Oct. 8-10, Yermo, Calif.: Calico Days. This three-day event pays tribute to the town's origins in 1881. American Indian village and gunfight exhibitions throughout weekend. Wild West parade. (760) 254-2122. www.calicotown.com.

Oct. 10, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Autumn Star Fest at Lowell Observatory. Celebrate the night skies of autumn with numerous telescopes set up around campus for stargazing. (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.

Oct. 14, Laughlin: Chef's Food Fest. Now in its 23rd year, features best cuisine from top chefs along the Colorado River. Aquarius Casino Resort. (888) 662-5825. www.visitlaughlin.com.

Oct. 16, Dolan Springs, Ariz.: Dolan Springs Day starts with pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., parade at 11 a.m., plus car show, vendors, and beer garden. (702) 381-2229.

Oct. 16, Fallon: Dune Riders International Sand Mountain Open. Slalom, big air, drags and exhibitions. All are welcome to participate. (541) 997-6006. www.sandboard.com.

Oct. 18-19, Zion National Park, Utah: Archaeology Workshop. Work outdoors while taking part in fieldwork at archaeologically significant areas of Zion. Learn about the settlements of Zion from the Basket Maker culture to the Mormon pioneers. Moderate-to-strenuous hiking. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (435) 772-3264, www.zionpark.org.

Oct. 20, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Orionid Meteor Shower event at Lowell Observatory. Evening features an indoor program focusing on the upcoming Orionids, then outdoor telescope viewing of various celestial objects, including Jupiter (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.

Oct. 20, Zion National Park, Utah: Wednesday Naturalist Walk. Zoologist/ecologist Allen Brown will lead participants on a low-to-moderately strenuous walk to learn about the geology, human history and botany of the park. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959. www.zionpark.org.

Oct. 22, Carson City: Friends in Low Places. A guided sunset tour of Lone Mountain Cemetery, where spirits of the past will share their stories. (775) 687-7410. www.visitcarsoncity.com.

Oct. 22-26, Reno: Tahoe International Film Festival features more than 60 diverse films from independent film makers. There are also film discussions, workshops, tributes and parties. (775) 298-0018. www.visitrenotahoe.com.

Oct. 23, Carson City: Ghost Walk. Take a walking tour of historic Carson City along the Kit Carson Trail and meet spirits of the past. Tours start at 10 a.m. and run to 3 p.m., leaving every 30 minutes. (775) 687-7410. www.visitcarsoncity.com.

Oct. 23-30, Sedona, Ariz.: Sedona Plein Air Festival. Enjoy some of the finest painters from around the country as they create works of art in the outdoors throughout Sedona. (928) 282-3809. www. sedonapleinairfestival.com.

Oct. 23-24, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Celebraciones de la Gente. A lively observance of Day of the Dead, an ancient Meso-American holiday. Musical and theatrical performances, storytelling and artists from throughout Arizona. Museum of Northern Arizona. (928) 774-5213, www.musnaz.org.

Oct. 29-30, Cedar City, Utah: Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival. The festival features a "novice to professional" Dutch oven cook-off, stock dog competition and a parade including hundreds of sheep on Historic Main Street. Cross Hollow Events Center. (435) 586-8132. www.scenicsouthernutah.com.

Oct. 23, Cedar City, Utah: Great Pumpkin Festival. Pumpkin carving and painting, leaf corral and other fall activities. Presented by the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Randall Jones Theater grounds. (435) 586-7880, www.scenicsouthernutah. com.

Oct. 29-31, Beatty: Beatty Days. Celebrate the history of Beatty with three days of events including a chili cook-off, Dutch oven cook-off, Old West shoot-outs, parade, bed races, antique car show and a 5K run and 2K walk. Music and entertainment. (775) 553-2424. www.beattynevada.org.

Oct. 30, Carson City: Nevada Day Parade, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., is the state's biggest Nevada Day event. Longest beard contest takes place on the Capitol steps and a rock-drilling competition will take place at the Nugget's parking area. (775) 882-2600, www.nevadaday.com.