Arts & Entertainment Briefs

Free day at state museums

Nevada’s seven state museums — Lost City Museum in Overton; East Ely Depot Museum; Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas; Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City; Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City; Nevada State Museum in Carson City and the Nevada Historical Society in Reno — have expanded operating hours.

All will offer free admission for adults on Saturday (children ages 17 and younger always are admitted free). In addition, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City will offer half-price train fares on Saturday. For details on museum hours, see Museums.NevadaCulture.org.

Wally’s World

The Comstock History Center presents Wally’s World: The Loneliest Art Collection in Nevada, featuring 35 pieces of art from Wally Cuchine’s collection.

Known for his unflagging commitment to and support of artists, as well as his unswerving faith that the art and artists of Nevada are a valuable resource, Cuchine has acquired an unparalleled personal collection of Nevada art. The exhibit is named for Nevada’s Highway 50, known as “The Loneliest Road in America.”

Cuchine is a resident of Eureka, a midway point on the “loneliest road,” where he was director of the Eureka Opera House, a venue that consistently presents Northern Nevadans and visitors with first-class entertainment and art.

WHAT: Wally’s World: The Loneliest Art Collection in Nevada, art exhibit

WHEN: Through Aug. 18. Museum hours are Thursday-Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Comstock History Center – 20 North E Street, Virginia City, Nevada

COST: The exhibit is free and open to the public.

CONTACT: Jeff Wood at 775-847-0419

MORE INFORMATION: Exhibit artists include Ron Arthaud, Lyle V. Ball, Cherlyn Bennett, Ralph Bennett, Max Bunnell, Thelma Calhoun, Robert Cole Caples, Mary Chadwell, Diane Dunn, Mary Lee Fulkerson, Ruth Hilts, Larry Jacox, James Lawrence, Jean Legassick, Laverne Lightfoot, Gary Link, Barbara Maclean, Sharon Maczko, Jack Malotte, Jim McCormick, Marilyn R. Melton, Jeff Nicholson, Ron Oden, Dennis Parks, Mimi Patrick, Nancy Peppin, Brent Perkins, Roy Powers, Barbara Prodaniuk, Shirley Shaft, Annabelle Shelly, Craig Sheppard, Sidne Teske, Wally Wallace and Larry Williamson.

August events at Fort Churchill

Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of events during August, including a night hike, Chautauqua at Buckland Station and a full moon hike. Programs are free, but there is $7 per-vehicle entrance fee; Nevada residents receive a $2 discount. Tours of nearby Buckland Station are $1 per person; children 12 and under are free. Cash and checks are accepted; no credit cards. Contact Kim Clawson at 775-577-4880 or at bucklandstation@hotmail.com for more information on these events.

Aug. 3: Discovering Nocturnal Animals

Discover how nocturnal animals find their way around in the dark on this hike. The Carson River flows through Fort Churchill and is home to many animals that come out at night. This will be an easy two-mile hike. Reservations are required starting July 29 by calling 775-577-4880 or emailing bucklandstation@hotmail.com, leaving your name, phone number and how many are in your party. Meeting location and route are made known upon reservation. Dogs are not permitted.

Aug. 17: Margaret Breen Chautauqua at Buckland Station

Dr. Doris Dwyer will present Donner Party survivor, Margaret Breen, in this lively look into Nevada’s early history. In 1846, the Donner Party set out across Utah and Nevada, heading for

California. Tragedy struck along the way and the party lost human lives, wagons, horses and cattle. Margaret Breen was one of the few who survived a harsh winter in the Sierras and made her way to California.

This “Humanities on the Road” event is sponsored by Nevada Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Aug. 21: Full Moon Hike

Explore Fort Churchill’s ruins in full moonlight. On this 0.6 mile long hike, discover what life was like for the soldiers stationed at the fort in the 1860s. Participants should bring water, good shoes, warm clothes and insect repellent. Flashlights are recommended. Dogs are not permitted.

Celebration of Nevada

From sagebrush and sand dunes to wildflowers and wetlands, Nevada is home to amazing landscapes. More than 20 prominent regional artists will share their visions of the state today and Saturday in a special art show and sale at the Wilbur D. May Museum in Reno.

Explore vibrant scenes from the Silver State in oil, acrylic, and mixed media pieces. Proceeds from the three-day event benefit the Nevada Land Trust, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of our state’s open spaces and special places.

What: “Open Spaces and Special Places” Art Show & Sale

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Noon-4 p.m. on July 21

Where: Wilbur D. May Museum, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park 1595 N. Sierra Street, Reno

Cost: Free

Details: 775-785-5961 or www.maycenter.com

Canoe Trips at Lahontan

Glide through the waters of Lahontan, enjoying the serenity and wildlife of the Carson River. Canoe trips start just below the Lahontan Dam along the Carson River and go down to the Irrigation Diversion Dam. This route is relatively flat and will be great for beginners learning the basics of canoeing. Participants must provide their own canoes and bring sun block and drinking water. Space is limited, so make reservations by calling 775-577-2226 and specify which Saturday for canoeing.

WHEN: Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Aug. 3, 10, 17, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

WHERE: Lahontan Dam River Camp is located at 16799 Lahontan Dam Road in Fallon. From Highway 50, in between Silver Springs and Leetville Junction, turn south onto Lahontan Dam Road. Continue on Lahontan Dam Road, past the bridge, and stay on the paved road to the main entrance of the park.

WHO: The event is open to the public.

COST: There is no cost for the canoe trip, but there is a per-vehicle entrance fee of $7; Nevada residents receive a $2 discount.

A WNC space photography

A fascinating and colorful exhibition of space photography is on display at the Western Nevada College Main Art Gallery through Aug. 23.

The collection contains several dozen large photographs of Earth’s moon, planets in our Solar System and their moons, and colorful nebulae.

A photograph of the observatory under the night sky, taken over a 40-minute duration, offers a fascinating look at the movement of stars in the night sky.

The 2-foot long images are the creations of John Dykes, a Western Nevada Astronomical Society Member and Jack C. Davis Observatory volunteer. His works are printed on thin metal plates that enhance the brilliant colors. Copies of the photographs may also be ordered with the proceeds to help support the observatory.

The gallery is located in the Bristlecone Building on the Carson City campus.

Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Camel races

The 54th Annual International Camel Races take place in historic Virginia City for a race unlike any other. Jockeys compete at this popular event on both camels and ostriches in races that not only challenge speed, but pure luck.

For more than 50 years, tens of thousands of spectators and jockeys from around the globe come to witness and ride at this tradition amid the historic landmark.

Event Times:

Friday, Sept. 6 — 10 a.m. gates open, 12 p.m. Media Day races

Saturday, Sept. 7 — 10 a.m. gates open, 12 p.m. races start

Sunday, Sept. 8 — 10 a.m. gates open, 12 p.m. races start

General Admission Tickets:

Adults $12 Friday or Sunday; $15 Saturday

Premium Seating $15 Friday or Sunday ; $18 Saturday

Kids 4 and under, Free

Family pack, includes four tickets, $40 Friday or Sunday; $50 Saturday

A Night in the Country

A Night in the Country 2013 will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday for their new event venue at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, 100 highway 95A South, Yerington. Festivities begin at 3 p.m..

This year’s all-new, larger festival venue was built from the ground up, to accommodate an increase in participants. It is complete with a 2,560 sq. ft stage, two digital video walls for easier stage viewing and an expanded camping area for festival guests.

The music festival venue is located at the Lyon County Fairgrounds and will continue to be Nevada’s largest country music festival. The festival is produced by and benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving youth in the community with character-building educational and recreational programs.

Fireman’s Ball

Silver City Fireman’s Ball is July 27 at the park in Silver City from 2-10 p.m.

The volunteer fire department in Silver City was established in 1863, one year before Nevada became a state, during the era of the great Comstock Lode. This once sprawling little city was rich in silver ore and boasted a population of over 1200 residents.

Now 150 years later, this small town and its volunteer fire department are still rich in tradition and community spirit.

Come check out this historic town and enjoy a day of family fun and celebration. Silver City is located just four miles south of Virginia City on State Route 341/342. Live music starts at 2 p.m. with Whitney Myer headlining the show at about 8 p.m.

There will be a kidz midway with games and prizes, photos with the antique fire engine, raffle, food, beverages, commemorative memorabilia and much more.