Things to do During the fourth of July weekend

Carson City

• The 18th annual July 4th Celebration hosted by Nevada Rural Counties Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), takes place through Sunday at Mills Park (corner of Roop Street and Highway 50). The family event is a fundraiser to support Home Companion, Respite Care and Lifeline programs, that help Nevada senior citizens live independent in their homes.

The four-day event features the carnival by Inland Empires Show, arts, crafts and vendors.

Food, arts and craft vendors can be visited without admission costs and are predominately local, so purchases support area businesses and people, he added.

Of course, the fireworks show on Sunday is always a sight to behold. The display begins at about 9:15 p.m. and lasts about 25 minutes.

The carnival opens at noon today and Sunday. The venue will close between 11 p.m. and midnight, depending on crowds.

• Glen Eagles, 3700 N. Carson St., will host back-to-back chili cookoffs today and Sunday.

The High Sierra And Nevada Capital Chili Cookoffs, sponsored by the International Chili Society, will take place in the parking lot.

Festivities include a craft fair and locals; cookoffs of salsa, verde and red chili.

Dry camping available at the cookoff site.

For more information contact Bob Grayson by e-mail at HotAirBob@aol.com or call 882-6878.

• 3rd & Curry St. Farmers Market, 9 a.m. -1 p.m. today at city owned parking lot on 3rd & Curry streets. Call 882-6741.

• Carson Chamber Singers, 4-5 p.m. today at Bartley Ranch, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road, Reno. They will perform today at Bartley Ranch in Reno and on Sunday in Genoa. Call 775-882-7464.

• Concerts at the Carson Mall, 5-9 p.m. today at 1200 S. Stewart St. Call 775-841-1199.

Virginia City

Virginia City's annual Fourth of July Spectacular is marked by its patriotic parade at noon Sunday. This year's parade honors the Virginia & Truckee Railroad and Robert and Ardelle Gray will be grand marshals.

Be sure to take lawnchairs for parade, concert and fireworks seating, if desired.

Throughout the day, all the saloons will host live music, stores will be open and the boardwalks will be filled with face painters, clowns, free giveaways for the children, and no end to historical figures, shootouts and more.

• David John & the Comstock Cowboys present their annual Second Amendment Concert from 6-9 p.m. Sunday at The Delta Saloon parking lot. Come out and dance to one of the area's favorite bands, before attending the fireworks which begin at dusk, about 9:15 p.m.

• The Virginia & Truckee Shortline will run all day Sunday, and there also will be two long runs to Carson City. The first departs Carson at 10 a.m., with the return departing V.C. at 3 p.m. and arriving back in Carson at 4:20 p.m. A dead end run departs from Carson at 5 p.m. and arrives in V.C. at 6:30 p.m. (except Saturdays). Shuttle tickets for a return to Carson cost $10. Contact Carson City Convention & Visitor's Bureau for departure, ticket and shuttle information at 1-800-NEVADA-1 or on the web at visitcarsoncity.com.

For more information go to visitvirginiacitynv.com or call 775-847-7500.

• Artown: Sweden Celebrates Virginia City, 7-8 p.m. today at Piper's Opera House, Virginia City. Call 775-847-0433.

DAYTON

Freedom Festival 2 - 5 p.m. Sunday, CenterPoint Christian Fellowship, 100 Breakwater Drive, Dayton. Everyone will be able to play free carnival games with prizes while enjoying hot dogs and drinks. Come enjoy a free fun day. Call 775-720-2798.

Pyramid Lake

For those wanting to enjoy the outdoors, Pyramid Lake offers camping, fishing.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe reminds visitors that all laws and regulations will be in effect, and that fireworks are prohibited.

Visitors can save time and print their own day use, camping, boating, fishing and other permits online. Unlike at area stores, online permit sales do not charge a convenience fee and are available 24 hours a day. For more information, list of rules, permits and more visit pyramidlake.us. Information only, call 775-476-1155.

More celebrations

• Kirkwood Celebration. Kirkwood's Fourth of July celebration is today and Sunday. The Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department barbecue is 3:30-6 p.m. today, with music by the Kingtones, fireworks at 9 p.m. Weekend events include skiing, mountain biking, and a fly-fishing clinic. For more information, visit kirkwood.com.

• The Downtown Wine Walk is the first Saturday of every month. Purchase a wine glass and map for $10 and enjoy the wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, art galleries, gift shops, casinos and restaurants. For information, call 883-2211.

• Andrews Sisters Revisited: Special concert by Terri Bond, Haley Bond and Cherie, who have teamed up, complete with costumes, to bring the Andrews Sisters to St. Teresa's of Avila, 3000 Lompa Lane, Carson City. Bring a dessert to share and stay to view the city's fireworks. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Sunday with the concert at 7:15 p.m. For information, call 882-1968.

• The Sierra Philharmonic League hosts its 27th annual Pops in the Park at Mormon Station State Historic Park in Genoa on July 4. The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra will play patriotic musical selections and TV personality John Tyson will narrate the Gettysburg Address. The Reno Philharmonic Chorus and the Carson Chamber Singers are also scheduled to perform. The concert starts at 4:15 p.m. Entertainment gets underway at 1 p.m. and includes a silent auction, food, drinks, face painting, a Children's Instrument Petting Zoo and fun for the entire family. Free. For additional information, call Theresa at 781-0150 or Brenda at 267-2403.

• The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Eubanks, presents their Independence Day concert, 2 p.m. Sunday, at Heritage Park in Gardnerville. Bring the family and a picnic for the free concert of patriotic favorites and music about the American West. For more information, e-mail cvpops@hotmail.com or call 530-515-5492.

SOUTH LAKE

"Lights on the Lake," Lake Tahoe South Shore's July 4th Fireworks extravaganza is one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations in the West with 100,000-plus onlookers. The event has received national media exposure in USA Today, Travel & Leisure and ForbesTraveler.com as one of the nation's top Fourth of July weekend festivities.

Holiday weekend visitors can expect the fireworks show to explode into unusual and whimsical shapes such as jellyfish, stars, butterflies and smiley faces around 9:45 p.m. This annual family tradition is choreographed to music and broadcast on local radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490.

The fireworks are launched from offshore barges and can be seen from all corners of town. Vantage points include:

• South Lake Tahoe's two paddle wheelers, the Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II

• Beaches including Nevada Beach State Park, Regan and El Dorado

• Bijou Community Park

• The Tallac Historic Site, off Emerald Bay Road

• The more adventurous, hike to the top of Mount Tallac for a bird's eye view (don't forget your headlamp for the trek back down.

• Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course's 4th of July Celebration and buffet. Go to www.edgewoodtahoe.com.

• The Beacon Bar & Grill offers live music on the beach during the holiday weekend from 2 - 6 p.m.

• Other lakefront places to soak in the views, grab a bite to eat or catch the breathtaking sunset include Blue Water Bistro, Fresh Ketch, Lakeside Beach Grill, Riva Grill and Zephyr Cove Lodge.

For real time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and what's happening in South Lake Tahoe, The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is on Twitter: twitter.com/South

ShoreTahoe and on Facebook. For information about Lake Tahoe South Shore, call 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or visit www.TahoeSouth.com.