Nevada Appeal File PhotoTom Van Ardoy from Pioneer Crossing serves up an Italian noodle dish - southern fettuccini alfredo with blackened New York steak - for those who lined up with their taste tickets during the 9th annual Oodles of Noodles Cookoff last year in Dayton.
Celebrating 10 years, Oodles of Noodles will this year become a two-day event. The fun takes place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Old Town Dayton.
Oodles of Noodles was established as a way to celebrate the Chinese and Italian culture that helped settle Dayton Valley, and includes the Pasta Cook-off on Saturday.
Judges begin tasting at 9:30 a.m., with public tasting beginning at 10 a.m. There will be nine contestants and include traditional Italian pasta as well as a Vietnamese noodle entry. The public can purchase tickets to receive 2-ounce tastes of the various entries at $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.
"We are so excited, ... (we) figured the 10th year was the perfect time for Oodles of Noodles to expand to two days," said Jojo Myers, Dayton Valley Chamber of Commerce vice president. She added that the chamber is no longer hosting Dayton Valley Days - the Healthy Communities Coalition is taking over that event - which opened more opportunity to expand Oodles of Noodles. "We decided we should play big or go home."
And big it will be. There will be 101 vendors featuring everything from arts and crafts to pony rides, as well as an expanded children's area hosted by We'll See Ya 4 Fun, of Fernley. This area will include a giant slide, several bounce houses, spin art, popcorn, hand-dipped corn dogs and cotton candy.
For the grown-ups, Tyler Street will be lined with the latest RVs from Carson City RV. Also featured will be 2011 Toyotas from Carson City Toyota, and ATVs and side-by-sides, courtesy of Michael's Cycle Works.
Live music by Impulse, a Dayton band just returned from a six-month tour for Carnival Cruise Lines, will be on stage both days. Other entertainment includes gunfights, performances by Carson City Jazz Band and danceSpirit, as well as martial arts demonstrations and a disc jockey.
"This is huge and another change this year is that we opened up the food to private vendors, because logistically for the Chamber to do food is just too much," Myers said.
The Tamale Lady will be there and other vendors will be serving everything from old-fashioned funnel cake to fire pizza. And of course, margaritas, beer and rum runners will be available in the food court.
In past years, attendance has averaged about 8,000 for the one day and expected to grow this year.
"We're expecting about 12,000 visitors," Myers said. "There's so much to see.
"It has been just incredible how all of this has come together and people have been tremendous in their support and participation."
A complete schedule is available in today's Nevada Appeal.