Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal Kelsey Machart, 12, of Carson City, collects beads Saturday afternoon while playing the Incredible Journey game at the Earth Day Fair, which was held at the Capitol Mall.
Despite months of planning, sometimes Mother Nature has the last word - even if the celebration she interrupts is in her honor.
Spring showers cut short the Earth Day celebration in Carson City on Saturday, but not before about 1,000 people browsed through the 32 booths set up in the Capitol Mall.
"We've had a steady stream of people all day, but it's been a manageable amount," said Lesley Bensinger, Waterfall fire project assistant with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. "That gives you enough time to actually talk to visitors before having to move on."
Aside from information about recovery efforts to the Waterfall fire area, the cooperative extension also put together scavenger-hunt questions for children attending the event. The questions asked for information gleaned from each of the participating organizations.
The International Order of the Rainbow Girls was on hand to help with the coloring contest and scavenger hunt.
"We want to give service to our community, and what a great way to do that, by celebrating Earth Day," said Debbie Ohl, Carson City Rainbow Girl mother advisor.
The Carson City Fire Department was also on hand to help visitors prepare for a disaster.
"You have to be prepared for any kind of disaster. In Carson City we've had fires, floods, high winds, earthquakes. They all happen here so we need to prepare for all of them," said Lee Horton, Carson City fire inspector.
The fire department is encouraging people to prepare a disaster kit and evacuation plan, as well as having useable fire extinguishers available.
Horton said that several stores in Carson City carry basic pre-assembled emergency kits that can be personalized to suit specific needs, including Lowe's, which had a booth at the celebration.
"Our purpose here is to get involved with our community, not to move products," said Jo Misuraca, Lowe's sales specialist. "We want to help."
Lowe's was also offering information about energy-saving products, like a tankless water heater and water crystals. The crystals are planted with potted plants and expand to help save water.
Bensinger said she hopes people come away from the event with an appreciation for the natural beauty of Carson City.
"We asked everyone here to make their booths relate to the idea of protecting and enjoying Carson City's natural resources," she said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.