It's simple really, like tying your shoe or riding a bike. But, as with those two skills, it takes some practice to master. The skill: remembering when exactly we celebrate Halloween here in Carson City.
Before 2000, the Nevada Day Parade was always on Oct. 31 - the anniversary of the state's admission to the union, and, coincidentally, Halloween. In order to keep the children out of the way of revelers drunk with state pride, and maybe Jagermeister, trick-or-treating was moved to Oct. 30.
In 2000, the Legislature decided to observe Nevada Day on the last Friday in October, and the Nevada Day Parade on the last Saturday of the month. Halloween would return to being celebrated on Oct. 31.
Unless ...
When Halloween and the parade both fall on Saturday, Oct. 31, as it did last year, Carson City officials decided trick-or-treating will move to Oct. 30.
This year, as in most years to come, Halloween will be celebrated on Oct. 31. It will move to Oct. 30 in the following years: 2015, 2020, 2026, 2037.
See? Simple.