Beatty Days features plenty of activities

Beatty annually celebrates its colorful history during Beatty Days, slated to coincide with the upcoming statewide three-day holiday for Nevada Day, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The little town 115 miles from Las Vegas on U.S. 95 schedules family-style events and entertainment reminiscent of celebrations during Beatty's early years more than a century ago.

The boom and bust cycles that plague mining towns doomed many of Beatty's contemporaries. Beatty survives because it strives to change with the times.

Learn more about Beatty's past with a visit to the Beatty Museum and Historical Society, which preserves the history of the town and the Bullfrog District, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Now a town of about 1,200 residents, Beatty no longer serves the bustling railroads of yesteryear, but it still serves travelers along one of Nevada's busiest highways. It remains a major tourist portal for nearby Death Valley National Park. Surrounding ranches, settlements and mines depend on Beatty's businesses.

The celebration begins Oct. 31, with vendors setting up and the opening of several special displays that run all weekend. Look for a model railroad exhibition in the Beatty Community Center presented by the Las Vegas Garden Railroad Club and a display in the park of antique gas engines and equipment used in farming, mining and the military. Register early for several events and contests, or download registration packets at www.beattynevada.org.

A new two-day poker run through Death Valley begins Friday at 12:30 p.m. Costumed participants vie for awards in a Halloween contest judged from 4 to 6 p.m. during a party in the park. Others compete in a poker walk through town from 4 to 7 p.m. A live music performance entertains attendees from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Attend a short historical re-enactment at 5:45 p.m. Be on hand to applaud this year's Beatty Days junior and senior princess selections at 6:15 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1, begins at 7 a.m. with a new event, the Tombstone 5K run through town and past the graveyard. After cheering the runners, head for the park for the Lions Club pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., contestants in two sanctioned chili cook-offs assemble their ingredients and start cooking. The Beatty Days parade begins at 10 a.m. on the main street through town, an old-fashioned event involving kids of all ages and every dog, horse, politician, wheeled conveyance and band instrument in town.

Throughout the day, look for Old West shoot-outs in the park and take a horse-drawn wagon ride through town. Bands in both park areas perform following the parade until evening. Clog dancers perform at noon. Stroll over to the lower park on Amargosa Street for the motorcycle show ongoing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Beatty Bed Races at 12:30 p.m. pit costumed racers piloting decorated beds against other teams during a hilarious race over a course in the park. Other contests of skill slated for the afternoon include a quick-draw competition and motorcycle games.

A few contests require very little skill, such as the Pickle Liquor Hoot 'n Holler, Chicken Poo Bingo, the Cherry Stem Tongue Tie and the Root Beer Belching Contest.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, the Lions Club breakfast attracts early risers at 8 a.m. The model railroad display opens for visitors from 9 a.m. to noon. The small engines display continues. Cooks competing in a Dutch oven cook-off fire up at 9:30 a.m. Musical groups perform until mid-afternoon.

The pet parade at noon brings out animal lovers and their leashed pets. At 1 p.m. sit in the shade at the park for a high school band concert. This year's Beatty Days competitions conclude with a hot dog eating contest at 1:20 p.m. followed by awards to the winning Dutch oven cooks.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears on Sundays.