What's Happening in Northern Nevada: October's Third Week

This is the latest in our weekly roundup of what's happening in Northern Nevada, written to show California transplants what life actually looks like after the move. Every event below was verified with its name, date, and location on this run. The week of October 12 through 18 is the heart of fall here: Mark Twain Days brings authors and the Twain Train to the capital, the SkyFest air show returns to Minden, and the Genoa Harvest Festival closes out the Valley's festival season.

Carson City & Virginia City: Mark Twain Days

The big one is the 4th Annual Mark Twain Days Festival, running Tuesday, October 13 through Saturday, October 17 in downtown Carson City and Virginia City. Expect author workshops in the historic rooms of the Nevada State Capitol, a vendor fair and literary workshops at the Brewery Arts Center at 449 West King Street, the Picon Punch Off on Wednesday, October 14, and the Twain Train, a V&T Railway VIP excursion from Carson City to Virginia City. It is the kind of week that reminds you how much history this corner of Nevada carries. New to the capital? Our Carson City neighborhoods guide is a good place to start.

The Carson Valley: SkyFest, Genoa, and a Last Wine Walk

The Valley packs three events into the weekend. The Minden-Tahoe SkyFest, Northern Nevada's only air show, fills the Minden-Tahoe Airport at 1146 Airport Road from Friday through Sunday, October 16 to 18, headlined by the Patriots Jet Team. On Saturday, October 17, the Town of Genoa's Harvest Festival takes over Genoa Town Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music, arts and crafts booths, and the Sierra views that made Nevada's oldest town famous, free to attend. The same morning, the Paint it Pink 5k fun run and walk steps off at Heritage Park in Gardnerville from 9 to 11 a.m.

Before the weekend, the Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk makes its final stop of the season on Thursday, October 15, wandering downtown Gardnerville's shops with local pours. If the Valley is on your short list, our Gardnerville and Minden guide walks through the two towns.

Lake Tahoe: Marathon Weekend

Up the mountain, the Lake Tahoe Marathon Weekend runs Friday through Sunday, October 16 to 18, around South Lake Tahoe: a three-day running festival with 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, a full marathon, and a 72-mile ultra along the lake. Even if you are not running, the finish lines and lakefront energy make it a great weekend to be in town. The Tahoe City Farmers Market also keeps its Thursday run going at Commons Beach through October 22, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. Curious about lake living? Our Lake Tahoe area guide covers the communities behind all of it.

Still Going: Harvests and Haunts

The month-long favorites are still in full swing. Corley Ranch's Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch in Gardnerville runs daily through October 31, the Andelin Family Farm Fall Festival in Spanish Springs is open through the end of the month with its five-acre corn maze, and the Dark Prison Haunted House inside the historic Nevada State Prison in Carson City operates Friday and Saturday evenings through November 1, not for young kids.

On the Horizon

Two dates are worth penciling in now. Nevada Day weekend, Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1, brings the state's birthday parade down Carson Street on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., with the whole city celebrating. And the Carson City Wine Walk returns on Saturday, November 7 from 1 to 5 p.m., the first of the monthly downtown tasting strolls. The full season's calendar, verified week by week, lives on the Northern Nevada events page.

Welcoming You Like a Neighbor

That is the third week of October here: authors in the state capitol, jets over Minden, runners around the lake, and pumpkins in two valleys at once. If you are researching the move from California, this is the rhythm you would be buying into, and I would love to help you find where you fit. Take a look at the community guide, request personalized home options by area, or just reach out and we can talk it through over the phone.