Cerca calendar: August 2013

August in Cerca country is full of fairs and festivals to draw people outdoors.

Through Aug. 10, Cedar City, Utah: The Neil Simon Festival. This summer’s plays are “The Sunshine Boys,” “45 Seconds from Broadway,” “Lost in Yonkers” and “Song-Poems Wanted!” Matinee and evening performances. Cedar City Heritage Theater. 866-357-4666. www.simonfest.org.

Through Aug. 25, Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. This year’s play is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Sand Harbor State Park. www.LakeTahoeShakespeare.com. 775-832-1616.

Through Oct. 19, Cedar City, Utah: Utah Shakespeare Festival. This season’s plays are “King John,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” “The Tempest,” “Anything Goes” and “Twelve Angry Men” through Aug. 31; “Peter and the Starcatcher” through Oct. 18; and “Richard II and “The Marvelous Wonderettes” Sept. 19 through Oct. 19. Matinees and evening performances. Dark Sundays. 800-752-9849. www.bard.org.

Friday and Saturday, Cove Fort, Utah: Cove Fort Days. Living history demonstrations, entertainment, tours and wagon rides at this old Mormon fort. Cove Fort Historic Site. 435-438-5547 www.placestovisit.lds.org.

Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 18, Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Big Bear City Renaissance Faire. This annual event features a variety of musical entertainment and historical re-enactments. 800-424-4232. www.bigbear.com.

Saturday and Aug. 4, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Navajo Festival of Art and Culture. Learn about the Dine Culture, including the complex art of Navajo weaving and the importance of the Navajo Code Talkers. Museum of Northern Arizona. 928-774-5213. www.musnaz.org.

Aug. 6-11, Reno and Sparks: Hot August Nights. Relive the ’50s and ’60s, when cars and rock ’n’ roll ruled. Thousands of cars are registered for this event. Controlled cruises, show-n-shines. Live entertainment and food. 775-356-1956. www.hotaugustnights.net.

Aug. 8-10, Bullhead City, Ariz.: Bullhead City River Regatta. Decorated inner tubes and boats float down the Colorado River decorated with this year’s theme, “Mardi Gratta.” 928-763-0158. www.bullheadregatta.com.

Aug. 8-10 Panaca: Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo. Events include 4-H Club exhibits, Fun Run, Gymkana and other rodeo events and an art show featuring county residents. Lincoln County Fairgrounds. 877-870-3003. www.lincolncountynv.org.

Aug. 8-11, Eureka: Eureka County Fair. This multiday family event features a horse show, team branding competition, hay contest, old-fashioned saddle bronc riding, entertainment, exhibits, games and plenty of food. 775-237-6026. www.co.eureka.nv.us/fair/.

Aug. 16-18, Washoe Valley: The Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival. This year’s acts include Michael Martin Murphey, Run Boy Run, Anderson Family Bluegrass and Wild Horse Drive. Bower’s Mansion Regional Park. www.bowersbluegrassfestival.org.

Aug. 22-24, Kanab, Utah: Western Legends Roundup and Film Festival. This celebration of the Old West includes cowboy poetry, a Dutch oven cook-off, Indian dancing, a quilt show and a quick draw contest. Street fair with art and food, parade and cowboy music. 435-644-3444. www.westernlegendsroundup.com

Aug. 23 through Sept. 2, Elko: Elko County Fair. This event features horse racing, stallion competitions, stock horse challenges, 4-H livestock shows, Basque food, and arts and crafts. 775-738-3616. www.elkocountyfair.com.

Aug. 24, Bryce Canyon, Utah: Bryce Canyon Rim Run and Walk. The 5-mile course follows the canyon rim and forests of ponderosa pines. 800-468-8660. www.rubysinn.com.

Aug.26-Sept. 2, 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. www.burningman.com.

Aug. 29-Sept. 2, Parowan, Utah: Iron County Fair. Events include 5K Fun Run and Walk, Miss Iron County Pageant, eating contests, rodeo, horse races, carnival, car show and parade. 435-477-8380. www.ironcountyfair.net.

Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Pioche: Labor Day Celebration. The town’s largest event of the year features mining events, 10K Fun Run, fishing derby, chili cook-off, electric light parade and children’s events. 775-962-5544. www.piochenevada.com.

Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Mesquite: Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ. This barbecue competition features teams from around the nation competing for $40,000 in cash and prizes. CasaBlanca. 888-711-4653. www.mesquitebbqchampionship.com.