BEATTY — Beatty’s big doings are upon us again.
Beatty Days comes every year the last weekend in October. The event brochure describes it as “A fun-filled weekend with cars, games, chili, great music, good food, and lots of fun!”
Things get started mid-day on Friday, with all vendors to be open at 1 p.m. The model railroad exhibit in the big room of the Community Center is scheduled to open at noon, and it will be on display every day of the event. This involves layouts by the Las Vegas Garden Railroad Club and the Pahrump Model Railroad Club.
Friday events also include a carved or decorated pumpkin contest, tricycle races, a Halloween costume contest, a 1900s historical reenactment performance, and the crowning of Miss and Jr. Miss Beatty Days.
A poker walk will begin at noon. All cards from the walk need to be turned in by 3 p.m. on Saturday, and winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday will see the Tombstone 5K run and 2K walk, and an ICS chili cook-off. The parade begins at 10 a.m., downtown. Classic cars in the parade will line up for a show and trunk-or-treat in the park following the parade.
Other Friday events include chicken drop bingo, bed races, pinata breaking, the pickle liquor hoot-n-holler contest, and a root beer drinking and belching contest.
Sunday events include a kite-flying and Frisbee contest, a pet parade, and a hula hoop contest. Sheriff Sharon Wehrly will also be officiating at a dedication at 10 a.m. at the Beatty Justice Facility to honor Nye County’s fallen officers.
There will be live music throughout the event by CJ Roberts and the Wildhorse Band; Bill Tracy; and Tru-Blu Band.
New this year is the Aaron Huisman Desert Art Contest. Entered artworks will be on display in the small room of the Community Center from 12-5 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Winners will be announced at 12:30 on Sunday.
Honorary grand marshals for this year’s parade are David Spicer and Brad Hunt. Senior King and Queen are Marty and Joanne Campbell.
The Boy Scouts will have a climbing wall in the lower park area. The Beatty VFW will be serving a pancake breakfast in the park at 7 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will also be reprising their walking tours of Rhyolite on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Archeologists will guide visitors through the ghost town giving history of structures and events.
Richard Stephens is a freelance writer living in Beatty.