This year's Wild West Tour celebrates a burst into the past.
Mary Bennett, one of the producers of the Kit Carson Trail Wild West Tour, said she hopes visitors will enjoy participating in the Bliss Mansion masquerade party and walking amid street performers dressed in period costumes.
Today's event is from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., starting in the Nevada State Museum courtyard.
"Our theme this year is the carnival, so what it's about is celebration and street performing," she said Friday. "There's a juggler at the Curry House, and at the Bliss Mansion they'll get to participate in the Bliss masquerade parties."
Bennett will start out the tour by appearing as old-time actress Lillie Langtry, who will then be whisked away in a stagecoach.
"This has to do with all things over the top," she said.
And in carnival history, there can be nothing more "on top of the world" than the Ferris Wheel. Tour participants will visit the Ferris Mansion and hear from George Ferris - or at least as close to him as an impersonator can get - who invented the celebrated circular amusement park icon.
Candy Duncan, executive director of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she expects the 10th annual walking tour will attract about 500 people and will gross about $4,000.
"Visitors are going to get to go inside some beautiful, historic homes and see some great actors," she said. "And it's going to be a beautiful day. It's a perfect way to experience what Carson City was like 100 years ago."
Brüka Theatre players will perform as belly dancers, stilt walkers and other street performers.
- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
10th Annual Kit Carson Trail Wild West Tour
• Walking tour covers about 11Ú2 miles of the trail. It is sponsored by the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau and Carson City Redevelopment.
• Tours begin at 10 a.m. today and leave every half an hour until 2:30 p.m.
