The ghost town of Gold Point, approximately an hour north of Beatty, will not be a ghost town this weekend when the eighth annual Memorial Daze celebration starts today.

People come from all over Southern Nevada to attend three days of non-stop festivities held as a restoration fundraiser for the town first settled in the early 1880s.

In reality, Gold Point is still a ghost town. The permanent population is only nine.

There will be food available starting with dinner tonight. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning will be the last meal before the flag ceremony and chili cook-off.

A Dutch oven stew contest starts at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon and there will be a barbecue dinner Saturday night with steaks and all the fixin's.

The chili cook-off is Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest is not sanctioned so no ingredients are outlawed.

Live music from Stuck in Reverse, Gold Rush, D'Nile and the Art Jones Band will start Saturday morning with no end in sight.

Annually, there is a huge raffle for two Henry firearms. This year will be a .44-caliber Magnum and a .22-caliber Golden Boy.

There will be staged skits from a gunfighter group and games for the kids.

Although there are accommodations in several already restored buildings on the property, it is advisable to check for availability.

Self-contained RVs and tent camping are welcome. Feel free to bring your own food and cook at your campsite.

Campers should be sure to bring their own water. There are no utilities in Gold Point.

Water tanks provide the water for the saloon and kitchen facilities.

The saloon on the property will be open for beer, mixed drinks, soda and water. You can bring your own bottle and purchase chasers as well.

Another thing to remember -- there is no ATM in Gold Point. Take cash if you plan to have drinks, food, enter the cooking contests or purchase a chance on one of the raffles.

This is a big event. Attendance is usually upwards of 500 people, not all at once, but coming and going. The event is open to groups, and some use this opportunity as an event for their own membership.

The Gold Point Ghost Town is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the old west. The proceeds from the event will aid in continuing restoration.

Call 775-482-4653, or e-mail sheriffstone@goldpointghosttown.com to check on accommodations and current pricing for meals, camping, raffles and entry fees for the Dutch oven and chili contests.

There is information about past events and a photo gallery on the Web site, www.goldpointghosttown.com.