This weekend in Elko County, NV

A free, friendly 5K run and walk takes place on the Canyon Rim Trail at the Twin Falls Visitor Center, welcoming people of all ages and abilities. Expect a clearly marked route through beautiful scenery, encouragement from volunteers, and a supportive community vibe whether you prefer to run, jog, walk, or cheer. Dogs on short leads are welcome. First-time participants can register online once in advance and bring a personal barcode for timing. Volunteers are appreciated and help make the event possible.

Free fitness classes at the Angel Park Outdoor Fitness Court feature energizing workouts led by Elise and welcome participants of every experience level. Expect sessions focused on boosting energy and improving overall fitness in a friendly outdoor setting that makes it easy to meet people in the community. Wear comfortable exercise clothing, bring water, and come with a can-do attitude. Registration is optional and appreciated to help with a head count. For more information, call the Recreation office at 7757777260.

Second Saturday is a free, monthly children's program. This edition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Silver the Bald Eagle at the museum. The program opens with a short tribute film highlighting Silver's life and connection to the Elko area. After the screening, participants can make an eagle picture, and guests are welcome to explore the museum. For questions, call 775-738-3418.

Elko Cosmic Con gathers pop culture fans in Elko, Nevada for a celebration of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, and cosplay. Highlights include standout costumes with plenty of photo opportunities, a marketplace of vendors and artists offering unique collectibles, and a lineup of panels, activities, and fan experiences. The setting is family friendly and welcoming, giving fans of every age and every fandom a place to connect. Costumes are encouraged but not required, and attendees can support local and regional creators while exploring Elko’s growing pop culture scene.

Sample Saturday at Rudy’s focuses on tasting and inspiration. Attendees can try samples, then take home ideas for their own kitchens. The necessary tools and ingredients are available so you can recreate a new showstopper at home each weekend.

An interactive beginner class at Crystals EnLight invites kids to explore the basics of energy and magick. Participants learn what energy is, what it means, how it works, how to notice it, and simple ways to apply it. The session includes an introduction to a few crystals and a focused practice on using them to support yourself and others. Everyone discovers what a crystal grid is, builds one, and practices how to activate and deactivate it. Each attendee takes home a personal grid and crystals, and also chooses a dragon to accompany their magickal journey. Designed to be hands on, this first class in the series welcomes ages 8 to 81 and serves as an introductory experience in energy work. The cost is $25 per participant, with space limited to 15 people.

Enjoy an elegant Ladies High Tea with a “Southern Charm” theme, featuring a lovely afternoon of tea, connection, and community-focused fundraising. Doors open at 12:30 PM, with the event running from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, including an assortment of teas, Italian sodas, and hors d'oeuvres. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress according to the theme.

This first annual fundraiser supports LifeQuest Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to equine-assisted therapy, an experiential approach to mental health that involves guided interaction with horses. Expect live music, an auction and raffle, and cocktails available for purchase at the Cowboy Bar. Guests can vote for their favorite BBQ, and attendee judging will determine the winners. Individual dinner tickets are $60 and include a barbecue meal featuring chicken, ribs, tri tip, and pork, with sides of baked beans, mac and cheese, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and dessert. Beverages include water, iced tea, or lemonade. Cooks can enter the cook-off for a $150 fee as an individual or a team. Meat is provided, while competitors bring their own grill, smoker, or Traeger along with any needed propane, extension cords, marinades, spices, rubs, utensils, and other cooking gear. Each participant prepares enough meat to serve roughly 10 to 15 people. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. Donations of items for the auction and raffle are welcome. For donation details, contact LifeQuest Elko at 775-299-3738.

Come join the 1st Annual LifeQuest Barbecue Showdown, Smoke and Sizzle for a fun in-person BBQ cook-off with smoky flavors, friendly competition, and great company. Guests can enjoy a full BBQ dinner with chicken, ribs, tri tip, and pork, plus sides like baked beans, mac and cheese, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob, along with dessert and non-alcoholic beverages. There will also be live music, an auction and raffle, and a single BBQ vote in the contest. Cocktails will be available for purchase at the Cowboy Bar. Cook-off contestants can sign up individually or as a team, bring their own marinade, spices, rubs, utensils, and cooking equipment (power is available).

The inaugural gathering of the Humane Letters Society of the Magic Valley introduces Bored to Death, a series that lays out the Framework of Recovered Vision, an approach to the liberal arts that treats great works as formative encounters rather than mere facts to consume. Before turning to the first major text, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the group will reflect on how everyday habits encourage quick escapes from boredom and will explore a progression that moves from boredom into leisure, then longing, contemplation, and ultimately transcendence. This foundation is intended to guide how participants read, discuss, and receive great texts together. People of all ages are welcome, especially those interested in great books, Christian wisdom, imagination, beauty, and rich conversation.

Mark National S’mores Day while watching the Perseids meteor shower alongside Nevada Outdoor School and the California Trail Interpretive Center. Spend a sweet, starry evening making s’mores and looking for shooting stars in a family friendly environment. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a water bottle, and a light jacket for when the night turns cooler.

Held at the Centennial Observatory at the Herrett Center for Arts & Science, this monthly free star party features opportunities to view double and multiple stars, explore deep sky objects as the night goes on, and take advantage of a moonless sky for darker conditions. Plans depend on the weather, and the Centennial Observatory Star Line at 732-MOON(6666) provides the most up-to-date information.

This Magic: The Gathering prerelease takes place at Black Dragon Games with a return to the Shire theme. The $75 entry welcomes players from beginner to advanced. Participants will open boosters, assemble a deck on the spot, and compete using new cards from an adventure themed release.

Before plastic, 19th century settlers met everyday needs with what the land provided, crafting containers and bags from sturdy fabrics like canvas and denim, tough leather, animal hides, and woven plant fibers. Build on that tradition at the Trail Center by sewing a back to school pencil bag that swaps single use plastic for a durable, handmade alternative. The finished pouch will be classroom ready, distinctive, and a small step toward less waste and more sustainable habits. All materials and tools are supplied.

Black Dragon Games hosts a Magic: The Gathering prerelease themed around The Hobbit and the Shire, featuring brand new cards. Players open packs, build a deck from their pulls, and compete using those builds. Suitable for players from beginner to advanced. Entry is $60.