KINGSTON - Kingston Days Celebrating 150 Years of Kingston will be held Aug. 2 - 4 and will include a slew of activities over the three days, including live music, a poker run, fireworks, barbecues, a pancake breakfast, helicopter rides and much more.
The event, which is being held at the Orchard and Kingston Pond, is being hosted by the Kingston Volunteer Fire Department and the new Kingston Fire Association (formerly the department's auxiliary) with all of the proceeds going toward the fire department, said Assistant Fire Chief Bradley Ward, who is the main event organizer. There will be more than 25 volunteers helping to host the event, he added.
Aug. 2 will begin with a Kingston open house that will last into the evening and participating Kingston businesses will offer drink and food specials. A fireworks show, put on by the fire department, will be held on the island at Kingston Pond starting around 9 p.m.
Aug. 3 will feature bingo, live and silent auctions, a horseshoe tournament, beverages, kids games, a fishing derby, helicopter rides and more. The bingo will feature a mix of prizes donated by individuals and businesses and some purchased by the fire department.
Ward said he is looking for items to be donated for the auctions, raffles and bingo. Anyone who would like to donate is asked to call Ward at (775) 964-1034. One of the auction items will include a mountain lion pedestal mount, valued at $2,000.
There will be a general raffle with a tablet, such as an iPad, as the main prize along with other prizes that Ward is hoping people will mostly donate.
There will be a gun raffle for a Stag Arms AR-15 rifle, valued at more than $1,000, and a Rossi Circuit Judge, valued at $700, both purchased by the fire department.
The horseshoe tournament will feature cash prizes. The barbecue lunch will start at noon and consists of tri-tip beef, various salads, desserts and a non-alcholic beverage. It will cost $10 a plate with the drink included. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately.
There will be a bounce house for the kids and numerous kids games, Ward said. There will also be a rubber duck race for kids and adults, a wheelbarrow race for the adults and a watermelon eating contest for all ages.
Select vendors have also been invited to sell goods at the event to include fresh produce from Fallon, handmade jewelry, baked goods and custom clothing items. Those interested in applying to be a vendor are asked to contact Ward.
Representatives of the U.S. Forest Service with Smoky Bear, the Bureau of Land Management, the Lander County Sheriff's Office and Lander County EMS have committed to attending.
The fishing derby is for all ages and will be $10 for 15 minutes of fishing with the person having to catch a tagged trout to win $100. Kids pay only $5 with children 7 and under participating for free.
Registration for the derby begins at 11 a.m. with the event starting at noon. Valid Nevada fishing licenses and trout stamps are required for those 12 and older. Barbless hooks and bait will be provided but people are ask to bring their own poles. The derby will be managed by Bruce Kent, of Stillwater and Kingston.
There will be approximately five-minute helicopter rides offered by John Sullivan with all proceeds going to the fire department. The helicopter will take off across from the pond and fly over the town and surrounding area.
Sign-up will begin at 10 a.m. and approximately 100 ride slots will be available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Prices will be $35 for adults and $25 for children (12 years and under). Infants are not recommended.
Aug. 3 will also feature live music from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Peavine Pickers will start at 3 p.m. and Whiskey and Wine will take the stage at 7 p.m. There is no charge to enjoy the music.
There will be a $12 spaghetti dinner that evening that will include all-you-can-eat spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, an Italian sausage, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage. Draft beer will be sold for $2, canned beer will be $3, wine will be $3 and soda or water will be $1 each.
Aug. 4 will kick off at 8 a.m. with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Kingston firehouse, followed by an ATV, four-wheel poker run at 10 a.m. with cash prizes. Registration for the poker run begins at 8 a.m. at the firehouse.
All four-wheel vehicles and dirt bikes are welcome to participate, Ward said. It will start at the firehouse and hit three check points before it ends at Zach's Lucky Spur Saloon. Entrants must check in by 3 p.m. for their final cards.
It will go up Kingston Canyon and over the summit at which point riders can either choose the easy route or the hard route. The fee is $40 per entrant. The $40 will include a commemorative item as well as a rib and chili barbecue that afternoon.
The cash prize is $250. There will be free water offered at the check stations. Only paid entrants will receive poker cards but anyone can go along for the ride.
"The route goes through some beautiful country," Ward said.
The rib and chili barbecue will take place in the park at 3 p.m. for $15 a plate and will feature baby back ribs, chili, salads, cornbread, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage. Beer and wine will also be available for $3 each.
Each meal will be cooked and served by the fire department and the association volunteers. All of the food will be purchased by the fire department unless anyone comes forward to donate anything.
Meal discounts will be provided to active military, police, fire and EMS personnel with ID. Children 7 years and under can eat for free at all meals with hot dogs being substituted for tri-tips or ribs.
Both the fireworks show and helicopter rides are subject to prevailing weather conditions and may be rescheduled or canceled for safety reasons.
The event was largely funded with $2,500 from the Lander County Convention and Tourism Authority, Ward said.
Free camping will be allowed all weekend at the Kingston ballfield. Campers must depart by noon on Aug. 5. For lodging, Ward suggests people book early since it will fill up quickly. The Kingston Creek Lodge can be reached at (775) 964-1301 and Miles End Lodge Bed and Breakfast can be reached at (775) 964-1046. Lodging options are also available in Austin, 27 miles northwest of Kingston.
A complete schedule of events for Kingston Days is available at www.kingstonnevada.org.[[In-content Ad]]
