MARK WAITE / PVT Riders in the Pony Express Trail Ride will leave from Windrock Ranch on West Bell Vista, and make their way through the desert to deliver the mail to Boom Town, which will be set up at Saddle West for the Wild West Extravaganza next weekend. The riders pictured above were part of the annual event in 2007. Advertisement

Festival season is here. Starting next weekend, Sept. 18 through 20, the Wild West Extravaganza will kick off the flurry of fall festivals which beset this area every year.

Although schedules for all the events can be found in the advertisements on pages A14 and 15, there are two events needing elaboration.

The annual Pony Express Trail Ride

This will be the ninth consecutive year for the trail ride. It is not a reenactment, but period costumes are welcome -- all but the firearms -- and those are OK if they aren't loaded.

Pahrump is far south of the actual trail traveled when the Pony Express was used to move the mail from St. Joseph, Mo., to San Francisco, Calif., in 1860-61.

Those wanting to participate can start getting into the spirit of the event by camping out and having dinner at the starting point, Windrock Ranch, on Friday, Sept. 18.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. and the menu will be smoked chicken or ribs with all the fixin's. Camping is free for the riders. Tim DeVries, of Windrock, needs an R.S.V.P. from those attending the campout. Call 702-355-8753 to let him know and to make reservations for dinner.

Debra Strickland, Pony Express committee chairman, said tents are welcome and so are RVs, but said a lot of the riders have horse trailers with living quarters. Corrals for the horses will not be provided.

Saturday morning, plan to get up early as breakfast starts at 6 a.m., when DeVries will serve up the biscuits and gravy to the riders.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. The fee for the ride is $25 and includes a bandana, a commemorative hat pin, a stamped envelope for the mail, a map of the trail and the required forms -- one of which is a waiver of liability.

Due to the nature of unpredictability, riders are asked to let the registration desk know quirks in your horse's temperament. Stallions will be issued a yellow ribbon for their tail and horses that kick will be issued a red ribbon to warn those riding behind them.

There will be an orientation on the trail and the rules, and the trail boss and his staff will be introduced.

The trail will be the same as last year, but Strickland said for the 10th annual ride next year, the group is attempting to take the first route used when the event began in 2000. At the time, the riders left the LongStreet Casino in Amargosa Valley and rode through Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge. The trek was 36 miles long and had to be completed in relay fashion with riders being met by team members with fresh horses along the route.

To ride through Ash Meadows, one must have a permit. Strickland said a friend of hers was issued a ticket costing $175 for riding a horse in the refuge without a permit.

Around 8 a.m. the Grand Exit, with the flags, trail boss and mail in the lead, will signal the start of the ride.

Various way stations will be set up to stretch and get water. Riders will be able to tie up their horses to the hitching post at the Stage-stop, where lunch, provided free to the riders and donated by Lois Layne's Deli, will be available.

Water and sodas at the way stations will be for sale by either the Pahrump Valley High School ROTC or the youth groups of Faith Fellowship.

Anyone not wanting to ride the entire event may pick up the trail at the StageStop or the Pahrump Valley Museum, another way station on the route.

Around 3 p.m., the mail is due to arrive at the Boom Town in the rear of the Saddle West parking lot where the mail will continue on its journey.

More detailed information is found on the Web sites www.pxtr.org and a link is provided on www.wildwestextravaganza.com.

The Pony Express Trail Ride benefits the Pahrump Chamber of Commerce.

The Pahrump Valley Times wants to know about your event. Tell us if you're having a concert, live music, outdoor movies, parties, art shows etc., and we will help you make it known. For out-of-town venues, please give us two weeks notice.