Dayton Valley Days Delivers Family Fun

The 25th annual Dayton Valley Days, September 21-22, promises two days jam-packed with family fun, events, food, and a parade.

The event begins Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast, and allows attendees to visit various craft booths, vendors, and informational displays on the historic Pike Street. Visitors have a chance to explore a one-room schoolhouse and the historic firehouse/jail. 

The event features a show n' shine, which allows vehicles not only to be showcased in a classic show n' shine setting, but also to be driven in the parade. Participants have a range of cars including customs, classics, tuners, muscle cars, rods, antiques, sports cars, and trucks.

The parade promises floats, antique tractors, rescue and fire equipment, classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, marching groups, mounted horses, horse-drawn wagons, and many other parade participants.

After the parade, attendees can enjoy the salsa cook-off and chili competition. Profits from the chili tasting raises funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley and the Lyon County Shop-with-a-Sheriff program.

Children can enjoy bounce houses, an obstacle course, and a pet parade, which features dogs, cats, reptiles, birds and a few unconventional pets. Be sure to sign up your favorite pet and its human for the parade.

The event is loaded with local history, thanks to history groups such as the Battle Born Civil War Reenactors and the Historical Society of Dayton Valley. The Misfits, a local theater group, is performing at the community center Saturday, and offers a humorous look at the Dayton of yester-year through cowboy poetry, singing, jokes, and lots of input from the audience.

Railroad Days, which is now scheduled during Dayton Valley Days, is going to be on the corner of Old Town Dayton at U.S. 50 and Main Street, where the Historical Society of Dayton Valley will be showcasing the Carson and Colorado railroad depot that served Dayton for decades, a railroad car, and many other facets of their preservation work in the town.

Visit daytonvalleydays.org for a complete schedule of events.