PVT FILE PHOTO Even youngsters have been tossed into the bucket in Beatty Days gone by. PVT FILE PHOTO Bed races are always a popular segment of the annual Beatty Days festivities. Advertisement

Take a deep breath and keep on celebrating. Festival season isn't over yet. The next event on the calendar will be Oct. 26-28 in Beatty.

The annual Beatty Days event is less commercialized and more participant-friendly than the Pahrump Fall Festival and a real crowd-pleaser.

There will be a car show and a bike show and an antique engine and equipment display.

Pahrump-based County Line, Highway 95 of Beatty and the Diamondback Band will provide live music throughout the weekend.

A parade of people and floats and a parade of dolled-up pets in costumes are both on the schedule.

Interesting games like bed races where the participants have to change riders and nightwear plus remake the bed while moving through an obstacle course; pickle liquor hoot 'n holler, where contestants take a shot of pickle juice and try to make a sound -- any sound at all -- are part of the fun.

There will be a yarn-spinning liars contest, a quick draw contest, a hot dog-eating contest and a cherry tie contest where contestants try to tie a cherry stem in a knot with their tongue.

The fun continues with food and craft vendors, bingo and the special edition of chicken bingo where a chance in the raffle could bring the winner $250.

Motorcycle enthusiasts can try the wiener bite, where the passenger on a moving bike tries to eat a dangling hot dog.

The slow race tests riding skills by seeing who can move the slowest without putting a steadying foot on the ground.

The newest addition is called "hi honey, I'm home," where the warning cry catches the contestant in the wrong bed. The timer starts when players scramble out of the bed, jump through a window, start the "getaway" motorcycle and race for the finish line.

Most events are timed and winners are competing for trophies or cash prizes. Bragging rights are a bonus.

A special event will be the free screening of "Devils Canyon," a movie filmed in Beatty in 2005. The film recently won an award at the New York Independent Film Festival for best new director.

For the cooks in the crowd, there are two events. The Dutch oven cook-off is serious business.

The preparation of an entrée must be done using charcoal for heat. Wood coals and bottled gas heat sources will not be permitted.

The chili cook-off is a regional event and sanctioned by the International Chili Society. Chili and salsa cooks have a chance at $1,400 in total cash prizes and the next stop for the first place winner is the ICS World Finals and an opportunity to take home the $25,000 grand prize.

The participants will come up against the best competitors in the circuit. Entry forms will be accepted up to the festival opening Oct. 26.

Motel rooms and spaces at the local RV parks are filling fast, so immediate reservations for those planning on staying through the weekend are a must.

A complete schedule of event dates, times and application forms; and a list of accommodations can be found on their new Web site, www.beattynevada.org, For more information call the Beatty Chamber of Commerce at 775-553-2424.