FALLON -- Fuel prices of more than $4 a gallon may keep people a little closer to home on the Fourth of July weekend.
Rob Holley, parks supervisor for Lake Lahontan, said activity will be different this year because the holiday falls on a Friday.
He is expecting 400 to 500 camps to be occupied with crowds of more than 4,000 a day staying for the long weekend.
He said the breach of the V-Line Canal several weeks ago may be bad for farming, but the water level of the lake has remained constant at 121,000 cubic feet.
In past years, many from the Fallon area traveled to Lake Tahoe for the holiday, but he expects more people to visit Lahontan this year because of the high fuel prices.
"It will be a very busy weekend," Holley said, adding people will begin showing up today. He said visitors will still bring their recreational vehicles and boats, but he thinks they will not be used as much. He said most people visit the lake for a day and return home at night.
"We are within an hour drive for a half million people," Holley said.
He said the lake is going to be fully staffed with law enforcement for the weekend and cautioned visitors from using fireworks. He added if help or aid is required or needed, people should dial 911.
Another relatively close option for the Fourth is the Silver State International Rodeo in Fallon where about 500 teenagers from across the nation will compete. The participants are those who finished fifth to ninth place in state rodeos.
The rodeo runs through Saturday, and the last day is scheduled for the top 15 finalists to compete. The rodeo starts at 7 p.m. every night except for the July 5 competition, which begins at 6 p.m.
Marcia de Braga, an organizer of the rodeo, said trade shows with vendors will be open throughout the competition, and teen dances starting at about 9:30 will be held through today.
De Braga said mud volleyball games will be at 2 p.m. each day of the rodeo.
The highlight of the rodeo could be the Fourth of July parade that travels north on Taylor, Street east on Williams Avenue and south on Maine Street.
After the parade, there will be a barbecue at the Churchill County Fairgrounds for the public.
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