History, frivolity join forces for Dayton Valley Days

The legacy of Adolph Sutro will be combined with watermelon-seed-spitting and noodle-sucking contests at the 17th annual Dayton Valley Days, a street fair that brings thousands of visitors into Old Town Dayton.

Despite the theme for this year's event - "Mining and the Sutro Tunnel" - visitors will be treated to some silly fun along with the history, according to organizer Fred Atkinson.

The Sutro tunnel was begun on Oct. 19, 1869, and was designed to drain water from Comstock mines. It was completed on July 8, 1878, after the boom of the Comstock was pretty much over.

The fun won't be passing anyone by during Dayton Valley Days, which offer two days of family-oriented fun and games including the spitting of watermelon seeds and sucking of noodles.

"I know it's kind of gross, but the kids love it," Atkinson said.

Another scheduled game is a horse race for children - mounts for this race are in the form of the trusty old-fashioned stick breed.

A tractor and five tram cars masquerading as a train will run from the museum to the old cemetery and back.

On a more sober note, there will be a wellness clinic by Carson Tahoe Hospital, a blood drive by United Blood Services and a fingerprinting and photograph booth by Child Find.

A fund-raiser for Hurricane Katrina victims will be held at Mia's Restaurant, which will reopen for the day to sell Bratwurst and cold drinks.

"There'll be a lot going on all the time," Atkinson said.

The preliminaries will begin at 4 p.m. today with vendor arrival and set-up until dark on Pike Street, with artwork submissions coming in at the Community Center.

Saturday's festivities begin with a pancake breakfast and include vendor booths and the Gold Creek Show N Shine car show.

A parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Depot and travel the length of Pike Street, with local residents Ed and Judy Harris as grand marshals.

An art show and contest at the community center will feature 12 varieties of artistic media, Atkinson said.

Also, the National Guard will provide a climbing wall where the more physically fit can test their skill.

The event, which benefits the Lyon County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, is expected to attract at least 4,000 visitors, some from as far away as Pahrump, Atkinson said.

Those joining the festivities Saturday will also get to see square dancers, join in a scavenger hunt, enjoy a barbecue dinner and party at a street dance. Fire dancers will be on hand to heat up the night.

Sunday's shorter schedule is no less full, with another pancake breakfast, a pet parade, more games, climbing, art, auctions and music.

If you go

Saturday's Schedule

7 a.m. - Pancake breakfast

8 a.m. - Vendor booths open

8:30-9:30 a.m. - Gold Creek Show N Shine sign-up at the Depot

8:30-9:30 a.m. - Parade sign-up at the Depot

9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Art Show at Dayton Community Center

9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Boomerang's Silent Auction

9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Child Find fingerprinting and photographs

9 a.m.-5 p.m. - National Guard Climbing Wall

10 a.m. - Parade begins at the Depot, goes down Pike Street

10 a.m.-1 p.m. - KBUL live remote

10 a.m.-3 p.m. - United Blood Services accepting blood donations

10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Carson Tahoe Wellness Center

10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. - Gold Creek Show N Shine on Main Street

11:30 a.m. - Train rides (all day at various intervals)

Noon - Square dancers

1-4 p.m. - Games

2 p.m. - Scavenger hunt

5-9 p.m. - Barbecue by Q's BBQ

6-9 p.m. - Band (Brick House) and street dance.

8 p.m. - Fire dancers

Sunday's Schedule

7-10 a.m. - Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

8 a.m.-5 p.m. - Boomerang's Junior Silent auction

9 a.m.-3 p.m. - Child Find fingerprinting and photographs

9 a.m.-3 p.m. - National Guard Climbing Wall

10 a.m. - Pet Parade

10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Train Rides

10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Carson Tahoe Wellness Center

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Games

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Band (Old Melodeon Minstrels)

11 a.m.-3 p.m. - United Blood Services accepting blood donations

3 p.m. - Road Kill Raffle Drawing

- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.