Retired and Senior Volunteer Program fair kicks off

The weather may suggest otherwise, but today's opening of the annual Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Spring Fun Fair is a signal that springtime fun is at hand.

Official opening is at 4 p.m. today. Admission is free, with all-day ride passes available for $17 per person. The all-day pass entitles wearers to enjoy as many rides as many times as they want for that day. On Sunday, a special treat for mothers is free rides all day.

"This is the first time we've been able to make this offer to the mothers," said Janice Ayres, executive director of RSVP.

"Moms can come to the fair and ride all the rides all day for free. But the rides cannot be transferred to the kids. This time they'll have to sit and watch or pay to ride with them."

According to Ayres, parking will be allowed on Highway 50 East adjacent to Mills Park. The request was made on RSVP's behalf by the Carson City Board of Supervisors.

Ayres has 32 vendors booked to work at the Spring Fun Fair, the most ever. Vendors will bring a bounty of food, refreshment, arts and crafts - many of them specialized items, such as pots and pans, jewelry, Indian tacos, traditional hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and corn dogs.

"We're real happy about this - the most vendors with every kind of food you could possibly want at reasonable prices. All kinds of beer booths, wine and other refreshments. We even have a rock climbing wall this year."

Tickets for rides range from 75 cents to $1.25. Hours of the fair are 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

"We welcome the public to come out and have a good time while being able to help us out," said Ayres.

Most of the funds used to operate the many programs offered by RSVP are raised through the Spring Fun Fair and the July carnival celebration.

Supplying the rides for the fair's midway is Reed Williams. This is Williams' 15th year at the fair.

"He's very popular and a good guy. We're real glad to have him with us. He does a good job, and he'll be back to do our Fourth of July fair, too," said Ayres.