Cerca Calendar: February 2013
Cerca country celebrates winter with skis, snowshoes and marching bands.
Monday through Saturday, Elko: 29th Annual National Cowboy Gathering. A celebration of Western life featuring traditional and contemporary arts, including poetry, music, film, photography. There also will be exhibits, workshops, film screenings. Western Folklife Center. 775-738-7508. www.westernfolklife.org.
Saturday, Death Valley National Park, Calif.: Death Valley Borax Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k. The relatively flat course runs from Furnace Creek Ranch along state Route 190 and into the heart of Death Valley. www.envirosports.com.
Saturday and Feb. 9, 16, 23, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah: Guided Snowshoe Walks. Enjoy a free guided snowshoe hike with a ranger. Hikes are two-mile round trips with a break at the Winter Ranger Station. Snowshoes provided. Reservations required. 435-586-9451. www.nps.gov/cebr.
Feb. 7-10, Wickenburg, Ariz.: 65th Annual Gold Rush Days. Head "Out Wickenburg Way" to celebrate the town's gold mining origins. One of the highlights is the parade that has more than 125 entries, including 1,000 horses, classic auto floats and marching bands. Other activities include a carnival, food booths and arts and crafts. 800-942-5242. www.wickenburgchamber.com.
Feb. 9, Zion National Park, Utah: Native Plant Seed Propagation. This workshop focuses on native plant landscaping from propagating seeds to the care of your new plants in the pot and in the ground. Reservations needed. Zion Canyon Field Institute. 800-635-3959. www.zionpark.org.
Feb. 9-10, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: 28th Annual Winterfest. A weekend of family fun featuring a giant street fair with merchandise vendors, music and entertainment. Children's activities include pony rides and bounce houses. 928-855-4115. www.golakehavasu.com.
Feb. 12-17, Clarkdale, Ariz.: Chocolate Lovers' Festival. Take a romantic ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad while enjoying a decadent chocolate platter for two in celebration of Valentine's Day. Reservations recommended. 800-582-7245. www.verdecanyonrr.com.
Feb. 14, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: 24th Annual Winter Blast Western Pyrotechnics. During this annual meeting of the Western Pyrotechnics Association, visitors will be able to watch random launching and detonation of new fireworks, as the "pyros" test various products and show off their newest mixtures. SARA Park. 928-453-3444. www.westernpyro.org.
Feb. 16-17, Camp Verde, Ariz.: Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo Soldiers will celebrate African-American Heritage Month with living history demonstrations. Fort Verde State Historic Park. 928-567-3275. www.pr.state.az.us.
Feb. 16-18, Bryce Canyon, Utah: Bryce Canyon Winter Festival. This annual event features cross-country ski races, an archery clinic and an archery biathlon competition. Snowshoe tours, photography clinics, snow sculpture, children's fun races, entertainment and other events also featured. Ruby's Inn. 866-866-6616. www.rubysinn.com.
Feb. 22-24, Carson Valley: Eagles and Agriculture. This three-day event features opportunities to view and photograph birds of prey. Falconing field demonstrations, photography workshops will be included, along with access to some of the area's working ranches and historic barns. 800-727-7677. www.visitcarsonvalley.org.
March 1-10, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.: 32nd Annual Snowfest. North Lake Tahoe celebrates winter with on and off the mountain events. The festival includes parades, live music, contests, comedy shows, ski races and a polar bear swim. 530-583-7167. www.tahoesnowfestival.com.
March 2, Death Valley, Calif.: Spring Death Valley Century, Ultra Century and Double Century. This intense bike race travels from Furnace Creek through the Badwater area and beyond in Death Valley National Park. www.adventurecorps.com.
March 2, Lone Pine, Calif.: Early Opener Trout Derby. Sign-up starts at 6:30 a.m. Fishing continues until the 3:30 p.m. weigh-in. Prizes and cash prizes will be offered. Diaz Lake. 760-876-4444. www.lonepinechamber.org.
March 3, Tahoe City, Calif.: The Great Ski Race. More than 1,000 Nordic ski racers compete on a 30k course from Lake Tahoe to Truckee. It is a fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team. 530-583-5475. www.thegreatskirace.com.
