The 26th annual Carson City Rendezvous is scheduled for the weekend of June 12 to 14, 2009. Its original name was the Kit Carson Rendezvous, in honor of the great American western hero for whom the city was originally named. Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada, and is a much more traditional Western town than its more glittering and glamorous sister cities in the state, Reno and Las Vegas.

The city’s pride in its Western past is demonstrated every year at the picturesque Rendezvous weekend celebration in the Mills Park area. The streets and parks are filled with people strolling, singing and dancing in 18th Century costumes, as the cowboys, cowgirls, Pony Express, stagecoaches and Conestoga wagons race and rumble down its streets.

There’s also a very authentic Mountain Man encampment. Visitors can observe grizzled miners and prospectors showing their skills in panning for gold, digging for silver, cooking over open fire, with pots boiling with all kinds of stews and spicy chili concoctions.

There will also be a Native American village, with brightly-costumed representatives from tribes in Nevada, Arizona and California. They will demonstrate music, group ceremonial dancing, hunting skills, and offer unique handicrafts for sale.

In a reconstructed Western street scene, Old West gunfighters will thrill audiences of kids and grown-up kids with staged duels in the O.K. Corral theme. The good guys always win, of course. The outcome of combat is a bit more hazy in skirmises between costumed re-enactors representing Civil War soldiers, both Yankee and Rebels.

There are scores of other happenings at the Carson City Rendezvous, including petting zoo, arts and crafts fair, and a continuous free Western music performed on the Star Stage throughout the weekend festivities.

Local restaurants will feature special menus, and a food court will serve Western-style specialties throughout the fair grounds. For more information, call 775-687-7410 or 1-800-NEVADA1.