RICHARD STEPHENS / Special to the PVT Participants battle it out in the bed races at the 2007 Beatty Days celebration. Advertisement

Summer is over and wet cold weather has not taken a firm hold here in Beatty, making it the perfect time to celebrate at the annual Beatty Days Celebration.

This year Beatty turns 104, and we have a special weekend of activities planned for Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.

Early last century Beatty was a bustling railroad center, serving 40-odd mining towns with everything they needed, including a cool place to escape the heat of the surrounding desert.

Rhyolite was in its early years and life was good.

The rails are gone and today the automobile is the favored form of transportation, and folks still come to Beatty to escape from the bright city lights or the heat of the desert.

In celebration of the automobile's part in history, Beatty Days will once again showcase the annual classic car show with cars and trucks from the early days up to the classic muscle cars of the 1960s and '70s.

Beatty Days will also offer the third annual Bike Show and Biker Games.

The games will include such classics as the wiener bite, slow race, honey I'm home, plus two classes of obstacle courses. Each one is a contest of skill with a bit of whimsy built in.

In keeping with the historical venue, wagon rides will be available throughout the day, there will be Old West shooouts, a quick-draw contest, and again this year there will be a historical re-enactment.

Plus, this year it's Halloween and to celebrate All Hallow's Eve there will be a costume party for kids of all ages, so get into your weirdest, funniest or scariest best and join the fun.

Once again, the celebration will open Friday night with the sounds of music in the park. More music will be provided throughout the event.

Food, craft and entertainment vendors will be on site to appease your sense of fun and curiosity, there will be a small engine display, a model railroad display, and this year Beatty will again crown a celebration princess and junior princess as part of the opening ceremonies.

This year will offer two poker runs, one touring through Death Valley. Also new this year is a 5K race that will take runners past two cemeteries.

You can find complete event information at www.beattynevada.org/BeattyDays2008.htm.