Western Week and Truckee Championship Rodeo
August 5 through 12
From cowboys to clowns and queens, the rodeo has it all. Western Week begins on Sunday, August 5 with the Queen Horsemanship Competition at 10:30 a.m. and is followed by a barrel race at 1 p.m. Did you know that cowboys golf? Monday is a golf tournament. Rodeo gates open on Tuesday at 5 p.m. for an evening of Cowboy Poetry and Music, featuring cowgirl-poet, Yvonne Hollenbeck and the yodeling and ramblings of Sourdough Slim. The show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 at the gate. Wednesday night is Music in the Park, and Thursday is Kids Day at McIver Arena, with games, demonstrations, the Junior Horsemen Drill Team, clowns and ice cream. This special day is free. Thursday night, the Hampton Inn and suites hosts the Truckee Rodeo Queen’s dinner and final competition, with speeches, modeling, entertainment and dinner. Reservations required. Sponsors team penning and appreciation dinner is Friday at 5 p.m.
Eh Capa Bareback Riders will appear on August 11 and 12 at the Pro-rodeo. This group of youngsters, ages 8 through 19, have been referred to as ‘tremendous ambassadors for their generation.’ Their performances of breathtaking maneuvers and jumps are real crowd pleasers. All kids are invited to enter the Kid’s Mutton Bustin’ Competition, where they’ll ride a sheep like a pro in the rodeo’s pre-show. No experience necessary, in fact, this is how many a rodeo champ got started.
Open to 25 contestants per day, ages 4 through 7, weighing 55 lbs or less. On Saturday, gates open at 2 p.m., Mutton Bustin’ is at 3.pm. and the Rodeo starts at 4 p.m. On Sunday the gates open at 11 a.m., Mutton Bustin’ is at high noon and the Rodeo starts at 1 p.m. at McIver Memorial Arena, 10500 Brockway Road in Truckee. For a complete listing of Western Week events and to download a Mutton Bustin’ Application go to truckeerodeo.com, 530-587-5555.
Free Fun at Northstar
All of these events are free and open to the public:
• Northstar Resort’s Sunset Movie Series takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 30 through Labor Day Weekend. Titles include ‘Cars,’ ‘You, Me and Dupree,’ ‘Pursuit of Happyness’. Free movies begin 15 minutes after sunset. Chairs are provided.
• Mine children’s store has arts and craft activities Sundays at 2 p.m. for kids 12 and under accompanied by a parent.
• The resort’s 9,000 square foot skating rink is open for roller skating daily from 1 p.m. through 8 p.m. Guests can bring their own skates or pay $5 to rent a pair. Retro Skate Nights every Tuesday from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m. DJs will spin 70s and 80s Retro apparel is encouraged!
• Complimentary scenic chairlift rides for hikers and sightseers. Leashed dogs are welcome on the Gondola Express, the Tahoe Zephyr Express lift, in the cabins on and on hiking trails. Northstarattahoe.com, 1-800-go-north.
KidZone Opens SpaceZone
Little astronauts will think the new exhibit is out of this world, and parents will be glad to know their kids can continue to learn through the summer while they play with stars, construct a space station and command a shuttle at KidZone Museum. Space Camp is July 9 through 13 and Creative Art and Science Camp is July 17 through 20. Locals pay just $1 for entry on the first Tuesday of the month. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 11711 Donner Pass Road, next to the high school football field, kidzonemuseum.org, 587-5437.
Fly Through the Air With the Greatest of Ease
Squaw Valley now offers flying trapeze classes Thursday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to people of all ages and abilities. Group or private classes range in price from $10 to $40. The Flying Trapeze is located in the preferred parking structure on the mountain side of the Village at Squaw, next to the Red Wolf Lodge, trapezearts@gmail.com, 866-435-9386.
Truckee Library Book Sale
August 4
Buy books for a fraction of the retail price and support your local library and its invaluable programs at the same time. Book donations will be accepted the week of the sale; volunteers are needed for the sale and to sort books on August 3. 10031 Levon Avenue, 530-582-7846.
