It's that time of year for travelers to hit the road! There're plenty of reasons to plan a trip through Pony Express Territory, with each community boasting full  schedules of special events. The 16th Annual Oodles of Noodles , on June 3rd  in Old Town Dayton, celebrates the area's Italian and Chinese heritage. The 

festival o ffers plenty of pasta, street vendors, and entertainment. Over 9,000 guests attend this event! More information at 775-246-7909 or visit  daytonareachamberofcommerce.com . On June 9-11 in Fallon,  Octane Fest Motorsports Week will feature monster trucks, truck and tractor pull, motocross jumps, ironman challenge, IMCA Dirt TrackRacing, Lucas Oil Series drag racing at Top Gun Raceway, Eagles "Wheels for Meals"  Poker Run, RatFest Rumble Car Show in downtown Fallon, music, Miss Octane Fest, food, and drinks. More information at 775-423-4556 or  visitfallonnevada.com/octanefest/ . Near Austin, is the Miles End Lodge Father's Day Sporting Clay Fun Shoot in Kingston on June 18 with a barbecue, raffle, drinks, and shooting awards. For more information, call the Austin Chamber of

Snake Valley Festival

Commerce at 775-964-2200 or visit austinnevada.com . The Eureka Car Show is on May 26th-27th, with more information at visiteurekanevada.com . Cocktails & Cannons Bathtub Races will once again take place at Cave Lake State Park near Ely, and features a variety of concessions and a b ooming  replica vintage cannon. For more information, call the White Pine County Tourism & Recreation Board at 775-289-372o or visit elynevada.net . The  Snake Valley Festival takes place on  June 16-17, with  breakfast, music, ice cream,  parade, games, water fight, auctions, yard sale, booths, trail run, and much more. Visit protectsnakevalley.org/festival  or call  the  White Pine County Tourism & Recreation Board at 775-289-372o, 800-496-9350. On June 10, July 8, and August 19, the Nevada Northern Railway will feature "The Pony Express Limited." This is a special train ride offered by the Nevada Northern Railway, a National Historic Landmark, and the Ely Ghost Riders. The excursion will

 highlight the history of the Pony Express in Nevada. More 

information at 866-40STEAM (866-407-8326) or

www.nnry.com .

 

For a complete listing of special events in Pony Express Territory, visit PonyExpressNevada.com.

Year after year, the Eureka Car Show has continued to draw car enthusiasts down Highway 50 to the town of Eureka. This year marks its 10-year anniversary, and promises to be even bigger than ever. Registration begins Friday, May 26th, and the cars will continue to cruise in to celebrate the beginning of  Memorial Weekend. The car show begins on Saturday at 10:00 am, and is followed by a street dance. On Sunday, there's an awards brunch, and drag races afterwards.  It's a great way to spend Memorial Weekend and begin summer 2017! For more information about the Eureka Car Show, and other Eureka special events, visit their official website at  visiteurekanevada.com.

Show What Ya Brung!

Great Basin National Park was recently designated an International Dark Sky Park! The International Dark Sky Association recognized that Great Basin National Park provides distinguished and significant opportunities to experience dark nights. Great Basin National Park was also featured in CBS' "Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood" and "On The Trail," a year-long, cross-country look at America's National Parks. To read the full story, click here.

Great Basin's high elevation and arid climate offer excellent opportunities to see the stars, with nearly 360-degree views of the horizon. The Milky Way seems to rise from the park's highest point, Wheeler Peak. Weekly astronomy programs by the park's "dark rangers" pair educational talks with telescope observation. The park also offers a Perseid meteor shower watching party in mid-August, as well as a three-day astronomy festival September 18 through 20 with special astronomy-themed events including daytime activities for children and adults.

On a clear, moonless night in Great Basin National Park, thousands of stars, five of our solar system's eight planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye. The area boasts some of the darkest night skies left in the United States. Low humidity and minimal light pollution, combined with high elevation, create a unique window to the universe.

For more information about stargazing these dark skies, visit the Great Basin National Park website.

Nevada Northern Railway Star Train

Watch the Pony Express Passport video to learn how to "Survive Highway 50!"   Travelers can have their Highway 50 passport validated in communities and outposts in Carson City, Dayton, Fernley, Fallon, Middlegate, Cold Springs, Austin, Eureka, Ely, Baker, and Great Basin National Park. Request your "Highway 50 Survival Guide" by visiting  ponyexpressnevada.com .