Dayton Valley Days, other chances to volunteer coming up

One of my favorite events is coming up in Dayton " Dayton Valley Days. I always get a booth at the event and sell raffle tickets for a gun to raise money for Virginia City's annual fireworks show, and Dayton people are the coolest. One, most of them like guns and buy tickets, and two, even if they don't buy tickets, they stop to talk about guns, or Virginia City, or Old Town, or anything else that comes to mind.

I have been to bigger events, like the Sunset festival in California, where the festival is like a mall, hurry up, find what you want and move on. I like Dayton's better.

As a member of the Virginia City Chamber of Commerce and an event planner on the hill, I admit I am a little bit jealous of Dayton because you guys get to close off the street for your whole event.

Since C Street in Virginia City is part of SR 341, we can only close it for short periods, like a parade. When we do the Outhouse Races, we close it for a race, then reopen it; then close it again a half-hour later. That's why we have to have so much time between races.

If we could shut it down and have people able to walk around without worrying about traffic, and have events in the street all day, we'd be able to have an incredible event, maybe even as fun as Dayton Valley Days.

These events take a ton of work, raising money, getting permits, finding volunteers, silent auction gift items, you name it, but pitching in is very rewarding. You meet new friends, help a good cause and have a good time.

There's still time to volunteer for Dayton Valley Days. Organizers meet on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Makin' Coffee, 655 Highway 50 East, Dayton. Call 246-3378 to help out.

There also are vendors and parade entries needed. Call 246-3378 for a booth or other information, and call John Dickinson at 246-4024 or Robert and Sharon Glashan at 241-0408 for a parade form.

The parade is open to floats, cars, trucks, motorcycles, antique tractors, marching groups, horse-drawn cart, mounted horses, rescue and fire equipment and other entries appropriate for an old-fashioned parade. The theme for this year's Dayton Valley Days honors Old Town Dayton businesses: "New Faces in Old Places." Trophies will be awarded for the best entry in each category. Entry fees are: Clubs and organizations $5 per entry or unit; businesses $15; and political parties $25. The parade is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 20, and will travel down Main Street to Pike Street, terminating at Terrible's Casino.

Sometimes you can help out a cause just by showing up (cash in hand). This weekend, an event to benefit Carson Advocates for Cancer Care will be held at the Dayton Valley Golf and Country Club at Legado, and will feature one of my favorite bands, David John and the Comstock Cowboys.

The event is suitable for all ages, and is particularly family-oriented. Kids 10 and younger get in the concert for free, with meals costing $5.

The Cowboys will take the stage from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, and ticket buyers can get three tickets for the price of two.

The cost is $45 per person, or $80 a couple, and for that you not only get the show, but also entrance to a carnival, a barbecue, horse-drawn carriage and pony rides. Visitors should bring lawn chairs, but no coolers, and meet at the driving range. Call 246-7888, ext. 708.

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If you are a Silver Springs resident, you also have a few fun events coming up, and these event organizers need your help.

Silver Springs High School is organizing a Craft Fair, set for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Silver Springs Elementary School. Organizers are seeking vendors at a cost of $20 per booth. Call Renee Degn at 223-3173.

The annual Founders Day event set for Oct. 23-26 requires volunteers as well.

The event includes a parade, children's activities, bounce house, dunk tanks and softball players, as well as a Show N' Shine, vendors and more.

Volunteers are needed to assist with the parade, vendors, children's activities, Show N' Shine and more. The sponsor, the Silver Springs Chamber of Commerce is also in need of cash donations and donations of prizes.

The parade will be held on Oct. 25. Donations can be sent to: Silver Springs Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 617, Silver Springs, NV 89429. The Chamber office is located at the Silver Strike Casino.

Speaking of parades, the Virginia City Labor Day Parade will honor Storey County Library Director Lucy Bouldin as grand marshal. All entries are welcome, including late entries. We already have quite a lineup, but could always use more. There is a Civil War battle planned immediately following the parade. The last two years the Confederates won. Maybe this year the Union side will be true to history and win it all. The Civil War folks will be in Virginia City all weekend.

- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-7351.