CERCA CALENDAR
When school's out and the car keys are burning a hole in the pocket, look to this list for a place to go and have fun.
Monday-June 29, Overton: Lost City Museum features Leigh Neibaur's pen-and-ink sketches of people and scenery encountered in Zion National Park. (702) 397-2193
Thursday, Zion National Park, Utah: Thursday Trek. Explore the park with a naturalist and learn about the animals and plants that call Zion home as well as the geological activity that formed Zion. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute, (800) 635-3959, www.zionpark.org.
Friday- June 7, Virginia City: Sesquicentennial celebration in the town atop the Comstock Lode recalls 150 years of colorful history. Banjo excursions on V&T Railroad, Western States Cavalry Competition, Civil War re-enactments; restaurants will serve special Comstock recipes. (775) 847-4386, www.visitvirginiacitynv.com.
Friday-June 13, Sedona, Ariz.: Festival of Native American Culture includes film screenings, dance, song. (928) 284-4764, www. festivalofnativeamericanculture.org.
Saturday, Lake Tahoe: National Trails Day. The day starts with a groundbreaking ceremony for the 15-mile Daggett Summit Trail System. Help build the new trail, take part in outdoor workshops and enjoy a barbecue. Event will take place at Stateline. Tahoe Rim Trail Association, (775) 298-0012, www.tahoerimtrail.org.
Saturday, Pioche: National Trails Day. Wildflowers should be in bloom while hiking an easy five-mile trail through the pinyon pines and junipers. Event begins at 9 a.m. at the Pioche Elementary School. No pre-registration necessary. Lincoln County Trails Coalition, (775) 728-4579, www.lincolncountynevada. com.
Saturday, Zion National Park, Utah: Saturday Bird Watching. Explore different habitats in the park looking for as many birds as possible. This all-day workshop breaks in the afternoon and then reconvenes at night to observe nocturnal birds. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959.
Saturday -June 7, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Big Bear Pirate Faire. Search for buried treasure, sail on a pirate ship and watch entertainment on four stages. Grog and vittles. John's Harbor in Fawnskin will be transformed into a 17th-century buccaneer village. (800) 424-4232, www.bigbear.com.
June 7, Lake Tahoe: America's Most Beautiful Bike Race. This event features a 35-mile fun ride, 72-mile ride around the lake, and a full "century," or 100-miler. (800) 565-2704, www.bikethewest.com.
June 8-July 31, Flagstaff, Ariz.: "Flagstaff Goes to the Moon." This exhibit celebrates Flagstaff's role in lunar exploration, including astronaut training, moon mapping and instrument testing. Lowell Observatory, (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.
June 11-14, Gardnerville: Carson Valley Days. Now in its 98th year, festival includes tractor pulls, tug-o-war, arm wrestling, a carnival, parade, live music and food. (775) 790-0114, www.carsonvalley2030.org/.
June 12-14, Carson City: Carson City Rendezvous. This year's theme is "Salute to the Gunfighters." Mountain man and civil war encampments, camel rides, Native American Village, Pueblo de Nevada, fiddle contest and Dutch oven cook-off. Food court, children's activities and entertainment. www.eventsnevada.com.
June 13, Zion National Park, Utah: Hanging Gardens of Zion. Local botanist Walt Fertig leads the group to various hanging gardens in the park. These unique ecological systems have distinctive flora of ferns, orchids, monkeyflowers and primroses. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959.
June 13 & 27, Zion National Park, Utah: Zion Narrows Service Project. Join a naturalist to discover the world famous Zion Narrows. This 7-mile hike will include discussing the geology, plants and wildlife of the area and a short service project while in the canyon. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute, (800) 635-3959, www.zionpark.org.
June 18-27, Reno: Reno Rodeo. This is the 90th installment of the "Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West," drawing participants from around the world. There also will be a parade, carnival, and plenty of children's activities. (775) 329-3877, www.renorodeo.com.
June 19-20, Austin: Gridley Days, featuring flour-sack race, auction, parade, entertainment, street dance and town barbecue. (775) 964-2200. www.austinnevada.com.
June 19-20, Death Valley National Park, Calif.: Scotty's Castle Organ Concert. Jonas Nordwell will play the famous pipe organ in the music room. Reservations necessary. 7 p.m. Death Valley Natural History Association, (760) 786-2146, www.dvnha.org.
June 21, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Notes on the Moon. At Lowell Observatory, internationally acclaimed harpist Megan Methany plays music written about the moon. Telescope viewing throughout the campus. (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.
June 21, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Elden Pueblo Public Day. The Elden Pueblo ruins will be open to tour. Take part in an excavation and artifact analysis. Atlatl and rabbit-stick throw. Highway 89 at Townsend-Winona. (928) 527-3475, www.flagstaffarizona.org.
June 29-July 5, Prescott, Ariz.: Prescott Frontier Days, World's Oldest Rodeo. Prescott's biggest event of the year includes rodeo performances, parade, fireworks, fine arts and crafts fair, 10K and 2-mile fun run, live entertainment. (866) 406-6336, www.worldsoldestrodeo.com.
June 29-Oct. 17, Cedar City, Utah: Utah Shakespearean Festival. Plays this season include "The Comedy of Errors," "As You Like It," "Foxfire," "Private Lives," "The Secret Garden," "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare," and "Tuesdays with Morrie." Matinees and evening performances, dark Sundays. (800) 752-9849, www.bard.org.
Contact Cerca Calendar editor Deborah Wall at deborabus@aol.com.
