Corley Ranch Hosts October Harvest Festival

For those of you with kids, you already know that October is an exciting month. The anticipation of dressing up to score a bag full of candy late at night while pretending to be your favorite villain or superhero is enough to make little ones shake and shimmy with enthusiasm. Lucky for you, though, there’s more than just sugar to peak the interest of little goblins in magical Carson Valley.

The Corley Ranch Harvest Festival, in particular, is a great way to spend any one of your weekends throughout October. 2011 marks the seventh annual celebration every Saturday and Sunday in October from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission ($6 for adults; kids age 3-17 and seniors pay $5 each; kids 2 and under are free!) includes live entertainment, a petting zoo, Kiddie Land, bounce house for kids 5 and under, photo opportunities, a pumpkin patch, pig races, and a two-acre corn maze. Also available—but for additional costs—are vendors, crafts, food and drinks, miniature horse rides, hay rides, mini golf, train rides, pumpkins and fresh produce for purchase, a giant pumpkin slingshot, and more.

This year, the corn maze takes the shape of the state of Nevada, with paths representing major Highways throughout the state and points of interest within the maze at major town and city locations. Test your wits with questions throughout to win prizes once you make your way out of the maze. To take the corn maze a step further, be sure to check out the “Night Crawler Maze Event” on Saturday evenings from 7-9 p.m. when you can enter the maze with your own flashlight.

If you’ve yet to venture South of Gardnerville on Hwy 395, and are wondering what to do with the kids this weekend, The Corley Ranch Harvest Festival is sure to delight. With enough activities to keep them busy the entire afternoon you need not make additional plans. Pick your pumpkins, watch the pigs race to their favorite treat of Oreo cookies, and enjoy the autumn weather. You’ll be placing this event on your October calendar for years to come. Who knows, you may even end up booking a wedding, private party, or special event there. It’s a family affair!

The Corley Ranch is located at 859 Highway 395 South in Gardnerville. Additional info can be found at corleyranch.com or by calling 775-721-1047.

Golden Nugget Announces WNFR Headliners

Golden Nugget Las Vegas now has tickets on sale for some of the top names in country music during the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, December 1-10.

The property will welcome Clint Black Dec. 2 and 3, Travis Tritt Dec. 4 and 5, Clay Walker Dec. 6, Tanya Tucker Dec. 7, and Merle Haggard Dec. 8 and 9 into its intimate 600-seat showroom, with tickets starting from $39-$59*. All concerts begin at 10 p.m.

In addition to these headlining performances, live closed-circuit viewings of WNFR will be available nightly at the Golden Nugget. The property’s fun-filled giant screen viewing parties received rave reviews from previous years’ rodeo fans, making it the best spot to view all the action. Admission into the viewing parties is free.

Golden Nugget will also offer other exciting WNFR promotions, including an autograph session with all Team Roper contestants on Monday, December 5 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Rush Lounge.

Ticket prices for WNFR headliners vary depending on the show and VIP seating with an artist meet and greet are available for all five headliners. Tickets may be purchased by calling 866-946-5336 or online at goldennugget.com.

For more information on the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, visit nfrexperience.com. Biographies for all Golden Nugget headlining entertainers are detailed below. To read about more rodeo events and the cowboy culture in Nevada, click here.

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*Ticket prices not including taxes and fees.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival with Bluegrass and Beyond

If you feel like summer is slipping by, join the ranks. With August wrapping up soon and school clothes finding their way to the top of dresser drawers, it feels like the season is gone before we really got to take as much advantage of it as we should have. Don’t fret, though. If you’d like to hold on to a few great events to take you through the end of August, you’re in luck. 

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, located within beautiful Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park at Sand Harbor, hosts their remaining three shows this weekend on Friday, August 19, Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21.

This summer the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents Shakespeare's comic masterpiece, TWELFTH NIGHT - an exhilarating production that features beautiful costumes, lavish sets and one of the most talented professional acting companies in the West! Meet the artistic company here!

With three seating options to choose from (premium, lower gallery, and upper gallery), you're sure to find a price range and comfort level to meet your desires. Bring your own food and drinks or take advantage of Shakespeare's Kitchen, which serves up appetizers, gourmet tacos, hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, salads, sides, desserts, and of course, hot chocolate and coffees for keeping you warm during intermission.

In addition to the final three showings of Twelfth Night, The 3rd Annual Lake Tahoe Bluegrass and Beyond Music & Art Festival will be held at the Sand Harbor State Park Outdoor Ampitheatre on August 28 & 29, 2011. Featuring Keller & The Keels, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Hot Buttered Rum, and many more. These two days of music and art on Lake Tahoe's beautiful east shore are certain to delight. Full bar & beer garden onsite!

Take advantage of these last few weeks of August by visiting Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and beautiful Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park's amazing Sand Harbor.  Get tickets here!

Henderson's Shakespeare in the Park

"Romeo & Juliet," courtesy of Las Vegas Shakespeare Company

The City of Henderson will celebrate a huge milestone this October, commemorating the 25th anniversary of its most treasured event, Shakespeare in the Park, by featuring the play that started it all – "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," performed by the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company. This will be the third presentation of the popular romantic comedy in the history of Shakespeare in the Park.

Searching for unique ideas to cultivate and nurture the performing, as well as the cultural arts locally, the Green Valley Arts Council partnered with the City of Henderson in the late '80s to create the Elizabethan-inspired outdoor performance series. Over the course of 25 years, Shakespeare in the Park has evolved tremendously. What once began as a vision to strengthen arts programming in the community has transformed into one of the most successful, longest-running annual events offered in Henderson.

"Romeo & Juliet," Masquerade

To date, the theatrical festival has been enjoyed by over 265,000 devoted fans. It also has featured over 15 of the Bard’s legendary works, from "Romeo & Juliet" to "Macbeth" and "The Taming of the Shrew," and has appeared at a variety of venues including the Henderson Pavilion, Henderson Events Plaza, Wildhorse Golf Club and Foxridge Park.

The fall tradition will feature a modern twist. Introduced in 2010, this year’s Shakespeare in the Park will, once again, include a traveling tour, a fairly recent departure from the series’ original format, which included one weekend of multiple shows. Residents will have four opportunities to see the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company perform "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" in a park close to their neighborhood.

Shakespeare in the Park kicks off Saturday, October 1 at Sonata Park, 1550 Seven Hills Drive, with the remaining shows scheduled for Saturday, October 8 at Discovery Park, 2011 Paseo Verde Parkway; Saturday, October 15 at Lake Las Vegas, 15 Costa di Lago; and concluding at River Mountain Park, 1941 Appaloosa Drive, on Saturday, October 22. All performances will be at 7 p.m. with a green show occurring one hour prior to each presentation. Admission is complimentary.

For more information, visit HendersonLive.com or call the Cultural Arts & Tourism Department at 702-267-2171.

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA'S PIRATES OF THE COLORADO RIVER REGATTA

Shiver Me Timbers!!!!! Thousands of pirates are expected to invade the Colorado River for this 5th annual wet and wild event.

Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to put together pirate-themed floats and join this jolly extravaganza. The regatta welcomes fun-loving, outdoor enthusiasts to ride on adorned inner tubes; decked-out kayaks and canoes; and decorative, non-motorized parade-type floats for a colorful race down the Colorado River.

This year, the festivities will last for three days beginning with the "Wake the Plank" wake boarding and wake skate competition on Thursday, 8/11. More fun, frolic and partying starts the Friday night before the float with the Ye Gotta Regatta pre-party at Community Park. And, to wrap up this fun-filled weekend, everyone can join in the post-float celebration at the Ya Hafta Afta post-party in Rotary Park.

There will also be a Cannonball Regatta Pre-Party, sponsored by a local Kiwanis group, at Davis Camp on Friday evening from 5 to 9 pm.  Fun activities will include a Beer Pong Tournament, Outdoor Nightclub and Foam Party, and the Pirate Obstacle Course.

The Regatta Registration includes an event wristband for entry into the parks, shuttle bus rides and food, commemorative t-shirt, and a 2011 Regatta Discount Card good for discounts at local businesses all year long!  Floaters without event wristbands will have to provide their own transportation to/from launch site to Rotary Park.

Location: Colorado River
Venue: Town-wide event
Start Date: 8/11/11
End Date: 8/13/11
Times: Various activities throughout the day
Registration Cost: $20
Laughlin, NV Special Events

Event Website

Greg London-Impressions That Rock

Imagine being surrounded by the Hollywood and music legends we all know and love. What would it be like if your favorite celebrity icons took over your life for a night? That's what happens in the amazing and surreal world of Greg London. Surrounded by a dazzling band and sensational singers and dancers, this Las Vegas headliner will dazzle you with his uncanny vocal impressions as he is joined on stage by a cast no Hollywood or Broadway budget could afford, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Steven Tyler, Ozzy Osbourne, Robbie Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Cash, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Louis Armstrong, David Cassidy, Tom Jones, Macy Gray, Elvis Presley...even Kermit the Frog! 
Cast: Pete Spraque, Steve Grantham, Barbara Leoni, Danny Leoni, Sarah Jessica Rhodes, Christine Richards and Tarrah Leon. Director David Taylor, Orchestrations: Eric Colvin, Choreography: Gary Thomas. 



Greg London was born in Northern California to an English mother and an American father. They moved to England when Greg was a young boy where he went to school, but they continued to travel back and forth from England to California. As a child he played trumpet in his grandfather's band and also played first chair trumpet in the California Youth Symphony. He taught himself to play several musical instruments and performs the trumpet, guitar, piano, harmonica, and percussion instruments in his shows. He performed in community theatre and musical comedy in England and America starting as a child in Windsor until his early 20s in San Francisco, where he starred opposite the stage legend Chita Rivera.

At the age of 24, during a James Bond 007 replacement, Greg had such a strong desire to be the next James Bond he begged his agent to arrange an audition, but to no avail, so he flew to London on his own to meet with the producer of the film. He appears in the 2007 movie release The Dukes. In 1984 he formed a band, playing many hundreds of dates in clubs all over California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. He began developing his singing voice and was discovered in Pebble Beach, California by a General Electric executive, which led to engagements to perform for many and varied corporate events. By the early 1990s Greg had become one of America's top corporate entertainers. Talented at impressions and comedy, as well as having an incredible voice, Greg developed The Greg Show a musical impressions-based comedic show. In 2001 Greg was presented with the Spotlight Award, 'Entertainer of the Year' for his performances in the corporate world. Having performed in a headline showroom in Las Vegas he developed the ability to create a theatrical production incorporating all of his talents. And now starring in IMPRESSIONS THAT ROCK in Las Vegas at the Hilton, Greg is fulfilling his childhood dream to headline his own show in Las Vegas.

"Impressions That Rock" will resume its normal schedule of Wednesday to Sunday 8:30 p.m. performances in the Shimmer Cabaret after a brief dark period between July 20-August 10. Book today by calling the Las Vegas Hilton Box Office (24 hours a day) at 800-222-5361 for tickets, or click here to book online.

Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show

A quick look at some of the accolades on the website for Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show speaks to the show’s quality and authenticity. “Sandy Hackett is my first choice to play me,” says Joey Bishop. “Honestly, I wish I had been that good!” The San Francisco Examiner says of the faux foursome: “The interpretations by the four actors capture the stage essences of the Pack members in a way that is eerily supernatural.” And audiences laud the show’s power to give their memories new life. “My in-laws really appreciated the show,” says showgoer John Christopherson. “They say it brought back memories of how much fun these entertainers really were.”

Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show is a tribute to the original Kings of Cool, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. “The performers played their roles perfectly,” Christopherson says. “I got the biggest kick out of Dean Martin (Tony Basile)—his antics on stage and his ever-present cocktail were a hoot!”

The show includes a recreation of “The Summit at the Sands,” the first time the group performed together—sans Peter Lawford, who is not represented in Hackett’s show—and show-tune standards such as “That’s A’more” and “That Old Black Magic.” Basile effortlessly recreates Martin’s romantic “Volare,” and David DeCosta carries Sinatra’s swagger and stage presence during “Get Me to the Church on Time.” Doug Starks doesn’t miss a step in his role as Davis, and touches the somber side of the Pack with a rendition of “What Kind of Fool Am I.”

Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show plays Tuesdays through Saturdays at the Riviera in Las Vegas. Shows start at 7 p.m. and tickets are $57.95 for general admission, $77.95 for preferred seating, and $97.95 for VIP seating.

Crazy Horse Paris

What better way to spend a night on The Las Vegas Strip than experiencing what the Parisians call “a celebration of the artistry of the nude” at Crazy Horse Paris? As you take your seat inside the world’s second-largest hotel, The MGM Grand, you’ll start to get the notion that this isn't your run-of-the-mill Las Vegas Show. Instead, you’ll be mesmerized as the show illustrates the sexual combination of sensuous choreography, stunning visual effects, song and dance to portray the dynamic wonder and beauty that is the female body. You will take pride in knowing that you observed the elite of beauty and seduction.

It’s true that cabaret shows in Las Vegas are not as highly profiled as they once were. With numerous adult-themed Las Vegas shows and the never-ending night life, guests of Vegas are constantly bombarded with endless show selections. So how does Crazy Horse Paris stand head and shoulders above their competitors? By revolutionizing the art of Cabaret. Since its inauguration in 1951, Crazy Horse Paris, the French import of Crazy Horse Cabaret, has indulged viewers with various light-and-color combinations with illuminating effects as it maneuvers onto each dancer on stage.

Inspired by the endless theme of femininity, Crazy Horse Paris features a collection of 12 classically trained and naturally toned international dancers. Watch as each dancer is exotically shed in rich colors and textured lighting designs in this French classic. These stunning visual effects enhance each dancer’s immaculate bodies as they move effortlessly and sensually on the stage. The cast of high-caliber dancers alone would be enticing enough to draw you in, but the addition of such stimulating visual effects will make you glad you came.

Another dynamic of Crazy Horse Paris is artistry taking a front seat in this modernly stylized throwback to French sexuality. Casting its dancers to be as similarly enticing as possible in body height, weight and even breast size ensures the show's ability to use their bodies as a canvas. With the use of captivating visual effects and music, the art form comes with the magically inspired way the dancers bodies are showcased, even sometimes as visual illusions.

So sit back, relax and enjoy this Parisian classic as Crazy Horse Paris illustrates the beauty and art of the female form. MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse is an erotic, yet sophisticated show that men and women will enjoy alike. No trip to Las Vegas would be complete without seeing one of its world-famous Las Vegas Shows. To start planning your wild night out on the town, check out the shows section on BestofVegas.com!—Provided by BestofVegas.com

Elvis Week at the Carson Valley Inn

Elvis Presley would have turned 75 years old on January 8, 2011 and the Carson Valley Inn is marking this milestone with a special Elvis Week celebration, January 3-8. Highlights include Elvis impersonators in the casino and Cabaret Lounge, teddy bear and Elvis memorabilia giveaways on January 3, cake and champagne on January 8 and some of Elvis' favorite food combinations served as specials in Katie's all week.

The teddy bear giveaway will kick off the celebration on January 3 when every INN Club member earning 125 points or more that day will receive a free singing teddy bear while they last — plus you keep the points! Accompanying some teddy bears will be a surprise gift which could be cash, free play or a variety of Elvis memorabilia items including posters, shirts, movies, key chains and more.

The Elvis impersonators, Brian Andrews and Rob Ely, will be strolling through the casino from time-to-time during the day and entertaining in the Cabaret Lounge in the evening on Wednesday through Saturday, January 5-8. Rob Ely has placed in the Top 3 in many Elvis Tribute Artist Contests in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Arizona and California. He has done dozens of appearances and shows — from corporate events to casino showrooms — and has appeared on Fox40 TV News and CBS’s Good Day Sacramento, chosen as their Elvis for Elvis’ 75th Birthday edition of the shows.

Rob will appear Wednesday to Friday of Elvis Week. According to D.J. Fontana (Elvis' drummer from 1954 to 1968), "Brian Andrews is the closest thing to Elvis that I've ever seen or heard." It's no surprise that Brian can re-create Elvis so well . . . he happens to have one of the best memorabilia collections around. Brian will appear Friday and Saturday of Elvis Week.

Special large Elvis Birthday Cakes will be cut and served along with champagne in the casino on Saturday, January 8 from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m.

Elvis was also known for his eclectic taste in food and a few of his favorites will be served in Katie's at special prices on January 3 – 8 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Included in the pickings are Biscuits Smothered in White Sausage Gravy for $1.99, Fried Peanut Butter and Nana Sandwich on country-style white bread served with bacon strips for $2.99, Cornmeal-battered Fried Catfish with cole slaw and tomatoes for $4.99 and Banana Pudding with vanilla nilly wafer cookies for $1.99.

The Carson Valley Inn is located on US Highway 395 in Minden, near the start of State Highway 88, twenty minutes from Lake Tahoe's south shore and 45 minutes south of Reno. The property includes a recently-remodeled casino, 152-room hotel, 74-room motor lodge, 59-site RV Park and a convenience store with Shell gas and diesel fuel. Three dining facilities include Katie's, Job's Perk and CV Steak, a Nevada-style steakhouse featuring steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta and more.