Cerca Calendar

Though the shoulders of mountains be cloaked with ice in much of Cerca Country, there'll be a hot time in its small towns all month. See if any of these events warm your imagination.

Through Saturday, Elko: National Cowboy Poetry Gathering celebrates the Western life through arts, including poetry, music, photography, motion pictures, and handmade gear for horses and cowboys. Keynote speaker is retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner. Western Folklife Center, (888) 880-5885, (775) 738-7508, www.westernfolklife.org.

Tuesday through March 8, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.: Snowfest. Community celebrates winter with parades, live music, comedy shows, ski races, polar bear swims and other contests throughout the North Tahoe area. (530) 583-7167, www.tahoesnowfest.com.

Feb. 1, Sedona, Ariz.: The National Old Trails Road presentation takes a historic look at the first coast-to-coast highway, established in 1912, which crossed more than a dozen states. Reservations recommended. Red Rock State Park, (928) 282-6907, www.pr.state.az.us.

Feb. 7, Death Valley National Park, Calif.: Death Valley Trail Marathon and 30K. The grueling course runs from Beatty through Titus Canyon to finish in Death Valley, climbing 2,300 feet in the first 12 miles and descending 5,000 feet over the last 14 miles. The 30K duplicates the last part of the marathon course. (415) 868-1829, www.envirosports.com.

Feb. 7, Zion National Park, Utah: Native Plant Seed Propagation workshop. Learn to propagate, plant, and care for landscapes created with vegetation natural to our region. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute, (800) 635-3959, www.zionpark.org.

Feb. 7-8, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: Winterfest. A weekend of family fun featuring the 24th Annual Havasu Idol Contest, gun fighters, and musical acts including the Bittercreek Outlaws. Children's activities include a petting zoo, bouncers and slides. (928) 855-4115. www.golakehavasu.com.

Feb. 9, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Writer and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams reads a selection from her new book, "Finding Beauty in a Broken World," 7:30 p.m. at High Country Conference Center, on campus of Northern Arizona University. 928-774-5213, Ext. 219.

Feb. 11-15, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: Winterblast. During this annual meeting of the Western Pyrotechnics Association, city visitors will be able to watch random launching and detonation of new fireworks, as the "pyros" test and show off new products. On Feb. 14, visitors can see a spectacular $100,000 fireworks show. SARA Park. (928) 855-4115, www.westernpyro.org.

Feb. 13-15, Bullhead City, Ariz.: The Colorado River Bluegrass Festival. This year's lineup includes the James King Band, Rarely Heard and the Bluegrass Patriots. Craft, food and beverage booths. Davis Camp, (928) 201-5819, www. coloradobluegrass.com.

Feb. 13-15, Wickenburg, Ariz.: Gold Rush Days. Head "Out Wickenburg Way" to celebrate town's gold-mining origins. One highlight is a parade that has more than 125 entries, including 1,000 horses, classic auto floats and marching bands. Also gold panning, rodeo and carnival. (800) 942-5242, www. wickenburgchamber.com.

Feb. 14-16, Bryce Canyon, Utah: Winter Festival features cross country ski races, archery clinic and an archery biathlon competition. Snow shoe tours, photography clinics, snow sculpture, children's fun races, entertainment. Ruby's Inn, (800) 468-8660, www.rubysinn.com.

Feb. 15, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Winterfest Star Fest features indoor programs and numerous telescopes set up for viewing throughout the Lowell Observatory campus. (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.

Feb. 16, Flagstaff, Ariz.: School's Out & Kids are Free. This daytime event at Lowell Observatory will offer science demonstrations, space theater shows, telescope viewing, scavenger hunt, tours, presentations and movies. (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.

Feb. 18, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Pluto Night. Pluto was discovered here on Feb. 18, 1930. Hear the exciting story of that discovery, and about astronomers' current efforts to understand Pluto and its neighbors. Also, use the telescopes provided to check out the Orion Nebula and other faraway subjects. Lowell Observatory, (928) 774-3358, www.lowell.edu.

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