Pahrump offers several fall community events

Pahrump Valley styles itself the "Valley of Festivals," scheduling various kinds of community activities throughout the year. With summer's heat abating, oncoming autumn provides perfect weather for outdoor community events such as the upcoming Pahrump Wild West Extravaganza, Friday-Sept. 20, the Fall Festival Old-Fashion County Fair, Sept. 24-27, Pahrump Valley Winery's annual Grape Stomp on Sept. 26 and the County Days Arts and Crafts Fair in October.

Pahrump Valley lies less than 65 miles from downtown Las Vegas following Interstate 15 to Highway 160 and heading west toward a pass through the Spring Mountains. The highway roughly parallels the historic Old Spanish Trail, an early trade route, as it climbs over the 5,500-foot summit near the tiny community of Mountain Springs. The traders continued westward from the pass aiming for the California missions and ranchos, while modern visitors head north to Pahrump.

Now the largest town in sprawling Nye County, Pahrump started with a ranch that supplied early travelers and miners with meat, eggs, milk, produce, fruit and hay. Mining booms came and went all around Pahrump. Legal brothels bolstered the local economy. In the mid-1900s, the crossroads community produced abundant alfalfa and long-stapled Egyptian cotton. Golf courses and casinos helped to draw visitors to this portal to Death Valley. Real estate development drew new residents. Today, an expanding economic base includes Nevada's finest winery. Service and commercial interests meet the needs of the area's growing population and increasing number of visitors.

Pahrump's Wild West Extravaganza plays upon the community's rough and tumble Western beginnings. Sponsored by the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Saddle West Casino, the annual event re-creates an Old West boomtown's main street complete with assay office, banks, saloon, sheriff's office, American Indian village and more.

Many activities entertain those who attend the extravaganza. Organizers plan live music entertainment, plenty of food, melodramas, dinner theater, Civil War re-enactment and gunfighters shooting it out. A Pony Express trail ride invites horsemen to join the fun. Contests and games appeal to visitors of all ages. For details, call (775) 751-3734.

The Fall Festival on Sept. 24-27 offers all the attractions people expect from an old-fashioned county fair, including a parade, carnival, rodeo, livestock shows and fair exhibits. The parade at 9 a.m. Saturday follows Highway 160 through town, ending at Basin Street in Petrack Park. Other events take place in the park and in the adjacent community center.

Carnival rides and attractions remain open Sept. 25-27. PRCA rodeo events take place at 8 p.m. Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Sept. 26 and at 2 p.m. Sept. 27. Rodeo tickets cost $15. Children under 10 years old get in free with an adult on Sept. 25 and Sept. 27. Veterans, military personnel and seniors over 55 pay $10 for Sept. 27's rodeo. Gates open two hours early. Mutton-busting events take place 45 minutes before the main rodeo starts.

Judging of fair exhibit entries in traditional home, garden and arts and crafts categories takes place earlier in the week. Attendees tour the exhibits in the community center from noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 27. Features of the county fair include a giant pumpkin contest, a reptile pet show, a stuffed toy parade and a dog fashion show.

Young people in 4-H work all year on their livestock projects. This fair gives them a chance to show their goats, sheep and poultry. Animal exhibits remain open daily all three days, except for the poultry, exhibited Sept. 26 only. A youth goat show is scheduled for Sept. 26.

The Grape Stomp on Sept. 26 begins at 1 p.m. Admission is $5. Participants must pre-register. Call the winery at (775) 751-7800.

The Country Days Festival in October features arts and crafts booths and a farmer's market. Saddle West Casino sponsors this special event. Call for details at 727-5800.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears on Sundays.