Carnival worker "Snake" puts together one of the carnival rides at the R.S.V.P. Spring Fair which opens at Mills Park Thursday afternoon and continues through the weekend.
"Salute to Moms" is the theme of the 18th annual RSVP Spring Fun Fair on Thursday through Sunday at Mills Park. On Sunday, Mother's Day, moms ride the carnival rides all day for free.
It's the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program's salute to the moms of Northern Nevada. The four-day event features a carnival, with special all-day ride passes every day, food and beverages galore and arts and crafts of nearly every kind. Admission to the carnival is free.
There will be cotton candy, corn dogs, ice-cold sodas, popcorn and more for the taste buds as carnival-goers stroll upon the green grass amid booths promoting games of chance and skill.
The weather outlook calls for a chance of showers Thursday and Friday, with cloudy skies forecast for Saturday and Sunday. But for the diehard carnival fan, or the child who wants to treat Mom to fun and games on Sunday, weather is irrelevant.
Janice Ayres, executive director of RSVP, said Royal West Amusements will provide the midway rides.
"I've had them about 20 years," Ayres said. "We'll have the Ferris wheel, Zipper, Gravitron, Tilt-a-Whirl, all the big rides, plus plenty of kiddie rides"
-- all the fun stuff one can manage, or stomach if you're not keen on thrill rides.
Food delicacies available include prime rib, pork chops, barbecue ribs, hamburgers, funnel cakes, alcoholic beverages as well as soda, Chinese food, tempura shrimp, teriyaki sticks.
There are about 700 homebound seniors currently in the Home Companion program. Cost to care for one person is about $80,000 a year according to Ayres.
"That is how much money we save the state each year through the program," Ayres said.
The program helps senior individuals remain capable of staying in their own home for as long as possible, rather than have them move to an assisted-living or care facility.
One of the fastest-growing age segments of Northern Nevada is retirees. The RSVP program provides aid to the homebound and this annual spring carnival is one of four key fund-raisers.
Special all-day ride passes are available each day as well as individual ride tickets.
Parallel parking will be allowed adjacent to the shoulder of William Street along Mills Park for all days of the carnival.
IF YOU GO
What: RSVP Spring Fun Fair
When: Thursday-Friday 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturday noon to midnight, Sunday noon to 11 p.m.
Where: Mills Park
Information: 687-4680