Events haunt the holiday weekend

Looking for something fun to do this Nevada Day/Halloween holiday weekend?

There's the Nevada Day parade through downtown Carson City, featuring marching bands, floats, and a variety of entertainment. The theme for this year's festivities is "100 Years of Aviation in Nevada."

Weather permitting, there will be a hot-air balloon launch at 8 a.m. on Carson Street, followed by a 10 a.m. flyover of F-18 Hornets and an F-16 Falcon from the Fallon Naval Air Station and a C-130 Hercules from the Nevada Air Guard.

The parade is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. Information at nevadaday.com/pages/parade.html.

For Halloween-themed fun on Saturday night, look no further than right here in the Ranchos.

Jethro's Oven-Grille and Sports Bar hosts a party and costume contest starting at 9 p.m. Saturday. The first-place winner in the costume contest takes $100, second-place takes $50. Music will be provided by DJ Billy the Kid.

Silver Strike Lanes features two bands on Saturday night; Lavish Green and Tragedy Spring will both play in the lounge starting at 9 p.m. Drink specials will be available at the bar. Bowlers can enjoy open bowling all weekend; games are $3 during the day and $3.75 after 5 p.m.

Upcoming concert for veterans

The Tahoe/Douglas Elks Lodge No. 2670 is sponsoring a special Veterans Day concert just for veterans and their immediate families on Thursday, Nov. 11.

This rousing show of the year features the talented and energetic Bobby Freeman and his Flaming Rockin' Piano.

You may have seen Freeman perform locally during Carson Valley Days, Hot August Nights or Nevada Day festivities. He's a national touring artist who lives right here in Carson Valley. Freeman, who also happens to be a veteran of the U.S. Army, is donating his talents, equipment and traveling museum for the concert. Learn more about this charismatic performer and hear some of his tunes by logging onto www.flamingrockinpiano.com.

The concert is exclusively for veterans and their immediate families. Complimentary tickets can be obtained by contacting one of the following Elks members, depending upon your area of residence: Jim Schramm at 783-4224 for the north Gardnerville/south Minden area, Rudy Hammond at 265-0580 for the Gardnerville Ranchos area, John Cole at 721-8368 for the Country Lane area, Ron Darrington at 267-1367 for the Johnson Lane Area, John Wise at 266-3941 for the Topaz Lake area, Roger Barragan at (530) 577-5408 for the South Lake Tahoe area. You may also call the Elks Lodge directly at 265-4523.

The concert is Nov. 11 at the St. Gall Parish Center, 1343 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for Bobby's Traveling Museum tour and no-host bar, with the concert at 7 p.m. The Douglas High School ROTC Color Guard will kick off the concert, along with a special guest speaker from the Fallon Naval Air Warfare Center.

Let's remember to thank our veterans, and not just on Veterans Day.

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com