Beatty gears up for centennial party

Friday, Oct. 15, 2004 | 8:58 a.m.

Nothing symbolizes an old western town like burro races, stage coach rides and Old West shootouts.

Add a dutch oven cookoff, pig chases, horseshoe tournaments and a fireworks display and you have the town of Beatty's centennial celebration.

Throughout October and early November Beatty (population 800) will host a series of weekend events ranging from poker runs to historic tours.

"We only do it once every 100 years," said Charlie Cook, volunteer for the Beatty Chamber of Commerce. "Everybody's excited."

The gateway to Death Valley National Park, Beatty formed in 1904 as as a supply center for travelers, railroaders and miners.

Nearby is the ghost town of Rhyholite, sand dunes, rock formations and the Goldwell Open Air Museum, home to large-scale outdoor sculpture by Belgian artists.

Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held at Beatty Park. Head north on 95 for about 115 miles. There will be directional signs throughout town.

Today

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Nevada Silver Tappers, Beatty Community Center

7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Smoke House Band / Lions Club BBQ, Beatty High School, Fourth Street, west of Main Street.

Beatty Homecoming Football Game, Beatty High School

Saturday

10 a.m.: Centennial Parade, featuring antique autos, pet parade, floats, equestrians, marching bands, Silver Tappers, color guard and Lonnie Hammargren, Main Street.

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Beatty Poker Run

10 a.m.: Goldwell Museum Symposium, Rhyolite

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Old West Shootouts.

10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Still Cruizin' Auto Show.

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Nature Conservancy Tours, Rhyolite tours.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Hiking Tours around Beatty

11:30 a.m.: Beatty Championship Bedraces.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Smoke House Band.

Noon to 6 p.m.: Dutch Oven cookoff.

Noon to 6 p.m.: Kids Games.

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Beatty Museum, book signing, historic tours, bake and rummage sale, Main Street.

3 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Beatty Music Festival featuring Exit 12 and Tony Marques. 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Lions Club Barbecue.

9 p.m.: Fireworks Display.

Sunday

10 a.m.: Small bore, rifle, pistol, trap and skeet shoot, Rifle Range, near Rhyolite.

Oct. 23-24

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Beatty Grand Prix Motocross, at the Boiling Pot, six miles north of town.

Oct. 30

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Horseshoe tournament.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Model railroad exhibition, Beatty Community Center.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Gold panning contest.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Stagecoach rides, Main Street.

11 a.m.: Beatty burro races.

1 p.m.: Pig chase and mudbath.

Noon: Fiddlers contest.

9 p.m.: Halloween costume contest, Beatty casinos.

Oct. 31

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Horseshoe tournament.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Model railroad exhibition.

Nov. 13

8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Sanctioned chili cookoff, downtown Beatty.

Nov. 14

2 p.m.: Michael Martin Murphy Concert, downtown Beatty.

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