Too much fun comes to two city blocks

Kids of all ages will have many activities to choose from during the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada's fifth annual Kids Karnival on Saturday.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be dozens of activities, games and special guests lined up on Ann and Plaza streets, which will both be closed to traffic.

Volunteer and board member Penny Holbrook said she sees the event, a fundraiser for the museum, as an outreach for children to experience the museum and have fun.

"This place (museum) is like the hidden gold of Nevada," Holbrook said. "It's a safe place to bring your kids and have fun."

Among the games and activities scheduled are tip the trolls, face painting, miniature golf, bouncy house, plant a plant, go fish, cake walk, hula hoop, dunk tank - with Sheriff Kenny Furlong and Carson City District Attorney candidate Neil Rombardo, bubble mania, nail painting, a yo-yo contest, hair braiding and more.

Special guests include McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, Smokey Bear, Bobby the Boat, Nevada National Guard, Pluggie, and there will be Model Dairy Ice Cream and hot dogs for sale.

"Our biggest draw has been the table where kids can create something out of nothing," Holbrook said.

"They can make things out of broken toys, garbage, anything on the table. The Nevada State Railroad Museum will have a handcar, and there will be a lot of free things.

There is no admission fee, but some of the games are 25 cents and 50 cents.

"I think the kids will really like the dinosaur dig. We'll have a pool filled with sand and bones and the kids can pretend to be paleontologists, dig up the bones, dust them off and identify them."

Holbrook said about 300 children attended the carnival last year.

The museum will be open during the carnival; monetary donations will be accepted.

Parking will be available east of Plaza Street in the field, or one block west of the museum on side streets adjacent to North Carson Street.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

If you go

WHAT: Fifth annual Kids Karnival

WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, 813 N. Carson St.

COST: Free admission. Games 25 cents and 50 cents; food cost varies

CALL: 884-2226