Blinky Man a different Halloween treat

Following the success of the summer solstice ride, Blinky Man, Carson City’s costumed nighttime bike ride with lights, will be at it again Halloween night.

“The first ride was to highlight Carson City as a bike-friendly city,” said organizer Kyle Horvath of Panacea Planning Group. “This one is highlighting the west side as the Halloween destination of Nevada.”

The bike ride is free, and participants are encouraged to dress up themselves and their bikes to celebrate the holiday with a blinking and biking tour of some of the best places to be in Carson City.

Riders of all ages should meet at the Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar patio between 5 and 6 p.m. The ride will start promptly at 6. The first stop on the tour will be at the Brewery Arts Center for Halloween-related activities. At 7, the cyclists will set out for the Governor’s Mansion, where children can get candy from the governor and first lady and trick-or-treat at nearby houses.

After 45 minutes, the tour will hit the street again, headed for the Blinky House, at an undisclosed location.

The street in front of the house will be blocked off, and the home will be decorated with an alien theme. The party will remain there until 9:45 p.m., with food and music. Children also can trick-or-treat in that neighborhood.

“It will be nice having a food stop right in the middle of trick-or-treating,” Horvath said.

At 10 p.m., the party becomes adults-only and moves to the Tap Shack for drinks.

It will conclude at the Haunted Alley between the Horseshoe Club and Mo & Sluggo’s for a costume contest, food, drinks and prizes from 11 p.m. to midnight.

“Halloween is for both adults and children,” Horvath said. “There’s no reason everyone can’t be out enjoying themselves on Halloween.”

Horvath said the initial Blinky Man tour to celebrate the summer solstice was a success and will continue.

“It’s going to become a part of the fabric of events in Carson City,” he said.

People who missed the first one, he said, have determined to make the Halloween ride. He said it will be a fitting conclusion to the festivities beginning next week to recognize Nevada Day.

“Why not make this the place to be in Nevada for that last week of October?” he asked.