A&E BRIEFS

love and theft tickets

Tickets are still available for this year’s opening group for the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair, Love and Theft, who will play on Sept. 2.

General admission is $25, and VIP tickets are $45 for the country group that swept the music world seven years ago with their top 10 hit, “Runaway.” Tickets may purchased online at http://falloncantaloupefestival.tix.com, or for general admission at Fallon Ford-Toyota and CC Communications.

All additional information is available on the festival’s website, falloncantaloupefestival.com or its Facebook page, Fallon Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair.

Robyn Jordan, marketing director for the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival, said the VIP package includes a weekend pass to the festival, two drink tokens and admittance to the VIP tent.

Rachel Steele and Road 88 and Stephen Christie and Kyle Rothchild will open for Love and Theft. Gates open at the Churchill County Fairgrounds at 5 p.m., and Love and Theft performs at 8 p.m.

FORT CHURCHILL EVENTS

Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of family-friendly, ranger-led programs during the month of August.

Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

Junior ranger program

Calling all kids to Fort Churchill. Come and explore the rich history and natural wonders found in and around Fort Churchill State Historic Park on Aug. 13 from 2-3:30 p.m.

A variety of activities, crafts, and short hikes will be part of the fun. Please bring plenty of water, sun protection and wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Cameras, binoculars and insect repellant are also encouraged.

Coffee with a Ranger

Bring your favorite mug and join a ranger on Aug. 14 or Aug. 28 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. for some early morning conversation.

Ask questions, learn about the park, share your experiences and make new friends.

History Hike

Join a park interpreter for a short hike (less than 1 mile) around historic Fort Churchill on Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.. See the fort ruins, learn about the early history of the area and hear stories about daily life at a frontier fort.

Meet at the Fort Churchill museum.

Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and wear comfortable close-toed shoes. Cameras, binoculars, and insect repellent are also encouraged.

Trail Mixer

Happy National Trail Mix Day! Celebrate this day on Aug. 31 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on a trail enjoying a tasty trail mix.

Visit Fort Churchill for an evening program that includes a MYOM (Make Your Own Mix) session and a short hike around the park to trail-test our concoctions. The park will provide the fixings.

Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, bring plenty of water and a flashlight.

Park entrance fees apply at $5 per vehicle for Nevada residents and $ per vehicle for out-of-state visitors (cash or check only). There is no additional cost to participate in the programs.

Fort Churchill is located 8 miles south of the Highway 95A/Highway 50 intersection on highway 95A at 10000 Highway 95A, Silver Springs.

REUNION MUSEUM EXHIBIT

Are you celebrating a Churchill County High School reunion? Here’s an exhibit you’ll enjoy at Churchill County Museum & Archives

On display now through Sept. 1 are photos of Churchill County High School graduates wrapping the walls and honoring seniors from 1947 to 1984. Rediscover faces of friends from the past, appreciate experiences you’ve enjoyed and the wisdom you’ve acquired. Admission is free. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 775-423-3677 for further information.

SAFARI-THEMED EXHIBITIONS

The spirit of adventure lives at the Wilbur D. May Museum at Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Regional Park this fall with the opening of two new safari-themed exhibitions from Aug. 6-Oct. 20.

See the world through the eyes of pioneering explorers who documented disappearing landscapes, wildlife, and cultures of remote areas of the world in the early 20th century – leaving an important source of ethnological and zoological material for researchers of today.

“Married to Adventure” tells the story of Martin and Osa Johnson — daring naturalists, filmmakers, photographers, explorers, and American heroes of the 1910s-1930s.

The Johnsons brought the adventure and fascination of far-away lands into the homes of millions of Americans with their sold-out movies, books, and lectures.

Together, Martin and Osa escaped cannibals in the South Pacific, filmed wild animals in Africa, and more.

Osa Johnson was a role model for women everywhere as she published books, hosted her own wildlife series for television, and even designed her own line of safari clothes for women!

This fascinating exhibition is on loan from the Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas and features more than 100 original photographs, movie posters, and artifacts that capture the romance and adventure that characterized Martin and Osa’s life together.

“On Safari” comes from the May Museum archives and features never-before-seen photographs and artifacts from Wilbur May’s first African safari in 1929. At the age of 30, Wilbur traveled to Africa alongside famed hunter and guide Sir Denys Finch Hatton (portrayed by Robert Redford in the film Out of Africa). Wilbur documented the months-long expedition in photographs of the people, places, and animals of the countries he visited.

polar express

Tickets for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad’s wildly popular holiday adventure to the North Pole via THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride will go on sale starting Aug. 19 at 6 a.m.

The schedule of enchanted train rides runs from Nov. 17 through Dec. 23. For the past five years, every seat on every train has sold out for the V&T’s magical trip to the North Pole, making it imperative for parents and grandparents to make arrangements early.

Set to the sounds of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ motion picture soundtrack, families aboard the holiday train can relive the story’s magic in a one-hour journey filled with music, songs and a cast of characters all the way to the North Pole. Once onboard, hot chocolate and treats are served as passengers read along with the classic children’s book “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa Claus and his helpers greet passengers at the North Pole and then board the train, where each child is given the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell. Elves in each train car lead families in Christmas carol favorites on the ride back to Carson City.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride begin Nov. 17 with evening runs at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8p.m. Thursday-Sunday with special final runs up to the week of Christmas.

Limited VIP tickets aboard the historic 32-seat Parlor Car are available with additional entertainment, extra time with Santa, a special holiday treat, and an exclusive THE POLAR EXPRESS™ ceramic hot chocolate mug. Passengers in this car enjoy the best views of the North Pole and room for dancing and games during the trip.

VIP tickets are $82 for adults and $72 for children 2-12 — free for children under 2 who sit on a lap. Coach tickets are $46 for adults and $36 for children. Arrival at the station 30 minutes prior to departure is recommended. The V&T’s engine and holiday decorated passenger cars leave the Carson City Eastgate Depot (seven miles east of downtown Carson City) and travel nearly two miles before stopping at Santa’s North Pole retreat.

The boarding area at the Carson City Depot, Eastgate Siding Road offers indoor heated areas where riders can take photos with Santa Claus and purchase holiday souvenirs. Every ticket includes hot chocolate, cookies, entertainment, a reading of “The Polar Express,” and a keepsake silver bell that preserves the special memories.

To purchase tickets, call 877-724-5007 or 775-291-0208 or visit www.vtrailway.com. Information is also available at www.polarexpressride.com.

UNR SCHOOL OF ARTS

The School of the Arts invites you to join them for the 2016-17 Performing Arts Series for another stunning season at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Season tickets are on sale now, while tickets for individual shows go on sale Sept. 1.

Tickets are available online at www.unr.edu/pas or at the box office at Lawlor Events Center, 1500 N. Virginia St., lower level entrance, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tickets also can be bought one hour before performances at the Church Fine Arts Building box office.

The fall lineup includes R. Carlos Nakai on Sept. 15, Julie Fowlis on Oct. 13, and BodyVox + Amphion String Quartet on Nov. 3.

All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts Building south of 14th Street on North Virginia Street.

R. Carlos Nakai with William Eaton and Will Clipman

Thursday, Sept. 15

Over the past three decades, Nakai has melded his classical training with his expertise on the cedar flute to form a complex sound that covers the spectrum of musical genres: from devotional meditations to jazz ensembles to full symphonic works. Nakai has written and performed scores for film and television, including selections for the National Park Service, Fox Television, the Discovery Channel, IMAX and the National Geographic Society. Performing with Nakai is luthier and guitarist William Eaton and percussionist Will Clipman. www.rcarlosnakai.com

Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles

Thursday, Oct. 13

Fowlis is an award-winning Gaelic singer with a career spanning four studio albums. An artist with a curiosity to explore other traditions, Fowlis has collaborated with artists such as James Taylor and Mary Chapin Carpenter. She was nominated as Folk Singer of the Year at the 2015 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and Best Artist at the Songlines World Music Awards 2015. She performed the theme song to “Brave,” the animated Disney Pixar film. www.juliefowlis.com