Cerca Calendar

March hares couldn't be much livelier than the doings in Cerca Country over the next month. See if our list has an event for you.

Saturdays and Sundays through March, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Snowshoe Tours. Learn about winter ecology and natural history with a naturalist guide, traveling by snowshoes, which are provided, around Big Bear Lake. Weather dependent. Big Bear Discovery Center, (909) 866-3437, www.sbnfa.org.

Saturdays and Sundays through March 26, Minden: Weekend tours through the 15-room residence at Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park. Settler Heinrich F. Dangberg built this house in 1857. Archiving classes offered. Reservations required. (775) 783-9417.

Wednesday, Cedar City, Utah: 18th Annual Art Auction. An auction featuring paintings, drawings, prints, photography, ceramics and jewelry by some of the Southwest's finest artists. Rusty's Ranch House. (435) 586-5432. www.scenicsouthernutah.com.

Thursday-March 6, Reno: 27th Annual Elk Camp & Outdoor Expo. Outdoor-oriented seminars and hundreds of exhibits, including those displaying wildlife art and outdoor gear. Reno/Sparks Convention Center. (406) 523-4500. www.rmef.org.

Friday-March 6, Lake Havasu, Ariz.: Easy Pickin': Bluegrass on the Beach. This year's lineup includes Josh Williams, the Navy Bluegrass Band, Country Current and the Spinney Brothers. Lake Havasu State Park. (209) 785-4693. www.landspromotions.com.

Friday-March 13, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.: 30th Annual Snowfest. North Lake Tahoe celebrates winter with events both on and off the ski slopes. The festival includes parades, live music, contests, comedy shows, ski races and a polar bear swim. (530) 583-7167. www.tahoesnowfestival.com.

Saturday, Lone Pine, Calif.: Early Opener Trout Derby. Sign-up starts at 6:30 a.m. Fishing continues until the 3 p.m. weigh-in. Prizes. Diaz Lake. (760) 876-4444. www.lonepinechamber.org.

Saturday, Pipe Springs National Monument, Ariz.: Pipe Spring-Prehistoric Pottery Talk. Archeologist David Van Alfen discusses how experts use prehistoric ceramics to interpret archaeological sites. The park is located on the Arizona Strip, about 50 miles east of Hurricane, Utah. (928) 643-7105. www.nps.gov/pisp.

March 6, Tahoe City, Calif.: The Great Ski Race. More than 1,000 Nordic ski racers compete on a 30K course from Lake Tahoe to Truckee. Fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team. (530) 583-5475. www.thegreatskirace.com.

March 11-14, Laughlin: Wings and Wildlife Festival of Southern Nevada. Tours to various habitats to view birds and other area wildlife. Educational seminars include topics such as bat mistnetting and burrowing owls, as well as hiking and kayaking excursions. www.snbwtp.org.

March 12, Prescott, Ariz.: Go! Off Road Duathlon. This triathlon-styled race combines a 1.5-mile trail run, a 8.2-mile mountain bike and a 2.2-mile run. The event is open to those 16 years old and up. Pioneer Park/Brownlow Trails. (928) 445-8700. www.
go-ar.com.

March 12, Virginia City: St. Patrick's Day Parade and Oyster Fry. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a parade that travels down streets painted with shamrocks, then feast on oysters during the Annual Oyster Fry. (775) 847-4386. www.virginiacity-nv.org.

March 17, Laughlin: PT River Run at Riverside Resort, in its eighth year, attracts not only fans and drivers of the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but also followers of Prowlers, 330-C's, Challengers, Magnums, Vipers, and assorted trucks. (800) 227-3849, www.ptriverrun.com.

March 18, Eureka: Utah Shakespearean Festival Tour. "Macbeth" will be performed at the historic Eureka Opera House. 7 p.m. (775) 237-6006. www.co.eureka.nv.us/opera.

March 19, Parowan, Utah: Spring Equinox Observation. A presentation of the ancient Native American solar calendar and observation of the equinox sunset. Parowan Gap Petroglyphs National Historic Site. (435) 477-3734. www.scenicsouthernutah.com.

March 19, Pipe Springs National Monument, Ariz.: Pipe Spring Star Party and Paiute Stories. Local astronomers and special guests share stories and stargazing pointers. Bring a chair, flashlight and warm clothing for this outside event. The park is located on the Arizona strip, about 50 miles east of Hurricane, Utah. (928) 643-7105. www.nps.gov/pisp.

March 26, Mesquite: Not Just for Kids-Animation Mania. The Mesquite Symphony Orchestra features music from "The Incredibles," "The Flintstones," Disney and "Scooby-Doo." Mesquite Arts Center Concert Hall. (972) 216-8127. www.cityofmesquite.com.

March 30, Zion National Park, Utah: Wednesday Naturalist Walk. Learn about the physical and biological worlds of Zion with zoologist/ecologist Allen Brown. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959. www.zionpark.org.

March 31, Zion National Park, Utah: Thursday Trek. Join a naturalist and learn about the geology, flora, fauna and cultural history of Zion. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. (800) 635-3959. www.zionpark.org.

March 31-April 3, Laughlin: Laughlin River Stampede PRCA Rodeo. Hundreds of participants compete in eight traditional rodeo events, including bareback bronc riding, team roping and bull riding. www.honeycuttrodeo.com.