B.L.MCLAUGHLIN / Special to the PVT Tourists are ready to board the next bus for an Old Goldfield tour. The tours are part of the Goldfield Days celebration Aug. 15, 16 and 17. B.L.MCLAUGHLIN / Special to the PVT Bidding at the Goldfield Land Auction, an annual event, is likely to be hot and heavy again this year. A list of properties to be sold may be obtained from the Esmeralda County Clerk's Office. Advertisement

Think of a time when mining towns were booming in old Nevada.

Picture the streets packed with miners and their mules, with cowboys and their horses, with grizzled "desert rats" -- Death Valley Scotty was one -- coming into civilization flush with the riches of their latest find.

Visualize the towns that were built up around silver and gold: duded up bankers and their families living in surprisingly luxurious homes, rich merchants getting richer all the time, dance halls, theaters and performers of all kinds to entertain, and shops offering everything from dry goods to "Moxie" soda.

Then consider the opportunity offered by Goldfield Days, the biggest celebration of the year in a town that includes a National Historic District to go back to that time.

This year's celebration will offer a cowboy poet, narrated bus tours of the town's historic area, a belly dancer, a lady clown, purveyors of all manner of goods, including good food, of course, and, if you know the right place to go (the old Cook Bank), maybe even one of those old-time sodas.

Feel like becoming part of the old West? Bring a costume -- the residents of Goldfield welcome all old-time bankers, cowpunchers, floozies, lawmen and gunslingers who want to join them in celebrating their town's rich history.

The history will include, as usual, the auction of real land and real mining claims from the courthouse steps -- 10 properties are scheduled for auction this year.

The trip back in time begins Friday, Aug. 15, with Monte Carlo Night from 7 to 10 p.m. at Goldfield's Community Center, right next to the old courthouse on Main Street.

The day-long Saturday festivities will start with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., hosted by Goldfield's Masonic Lodge (either at the Old Firehouse or at the lodge itself) followed at 9 a.m. by an old-time parade down Highway 95, followed by the land auction when the parade is over.

The Masons will offer Child ID, as they do every year. This service registers a childs' fingerprints with authorities for identification purposes.

At 1 p. m., the Liar's Contest will begin outside the Northern Saloon, and the shows will start at the Community Center. At 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., the lady clown will entertain one and all.

At 2 p.m., the beauteous belly dancer will present her pulchritudinous performance, and at 4 p.m. the cowboy poet will bring tears and laughter with tales old and new.

The Old Time Fiddlers Association -- a real association of accomplished musicians -- will provide foot-stompin' music for the 6 p.m. silent auction at the Community Center, and again Sunday morning, starting at 10 a.m.

Owner of the Northern Saloon, Ruth Anderson, is providing both the place and the music for Saturday night's Street Dance, featuring the Diamondback Band.

The Goldfield Days schedule is still tentative, to a degree. The Chamber of Commerce may be contacted at 775-485-3560 for updates. Information on properties being auctioned may be obtained by contacting the Esmeralda County Clerk's Office at 775-485-6309.