Oodles of Noodles to take over Old Town Dayton

Oodles of Noodles, Dayton's annual celebration of its Italian and Chinese heritage, will kick off its eighth session Saturday morning with a health fair, games and live music.

"It might be the biggest year so far," said Susan Skaggs, executive director of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. "We're expecting about 10,000 people to come to the Old Town area."

The event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Old Town district of Pike Street. More than 100 vendors and pasta cook-off competitors will greet visitors, as will about 30 booths representing local health organization, the Dayton Valley Task Force. Also new this year is a partnership with Nevada River Wranglers, Skaggs said.

"The river wranglers teach local students about conservation and looking out for the river," she said. "(The Carson River) is an important part of the community."

Historic buildings such as the Dayton Museum and the local firehouse and jail will also be open for public tours, organizers said.

Still, the traditional pasta feed remains the centerpiece of the festival, Skaggs said. Cooks from throughout the region will prepare Asian- and Italian-style noodle dishes, which will be judged in an open ballot of visitors around 3 p.m. Pasta feed tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for children, while other vendors will offer hot dogs and other food.

Along with the pasta feed, visitors can enjoy pony rides, a bounce house, a raffle and a Civil War re-enactment, as well as a DJ, jazz performances and other live music, Skaggs said.

Oodles of Noodles, one of two annual events created to benefit the chamber of commerce and local museums, is still seeking vendors and cook-off competitors, Skaggs said.

"As far as we're concerned, it's the more, the merrier," she said. "We'll take people right up until the day of the festival."

Oodles of Noodles will run Saturday from 9 a.m. until about 3:30 p.m. For more information or to join the event, visit dayton nvchamber.org or call 246-7909.