26th annual RSVP Mother's Day fair opens Thursday

A "Salute to Moms" is the theme of the 26th annual RSVP Spring Fun Fair at Mills Park in Carson City Thursday through Sunday.

On Sunday, Mother's Day, all moms can ride all the carnival rides, all day for free with a ticketed child as the Retired Senior Volunteer Program's annual salute and thank you to all the moms of Northern Nevada.

RSVP's Director of Development Mike Hughes said the three fairs the organization puts on - Mother's Day, Fourth of July and Nevada Day celebrations - bring in between 10-15 percent of RSVP's budget.

"That's quite a significant amount, and at a time when our federal and state dollars are dwindling, we appreciate the support of the community," Hughes said. "We also rely a lot on the counties, but they're hurting too."

The proceeds from the fair go toward RSVP's Home Companion, Respite Care and Lifeline Programs which assist our areas low-income and homebound seniors to remain independent.

Hughes said volunteers in the programs provide a number of services for the community such as through the companion program.

"Eighty-five percent of our seniors in that program are women on Social Security who rely on volunteers to take them to places like doctor appointments or Walmart," he said.

"In the respite program, seniors who are taking care of loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer's have to be on duty 24/7, so the volunteer goes into the home for four hours a couple of days a week," he said.

The volunteers make it possible to keep many people out of institutions where it costs taxpayers $75,000 a year per senior, Hughes said.

"It only costs us $400-$500 a year because of our recruited volunteers," he said.

RSVP has 1,300 volunteers statewide, including about 400 in Carson City.

The four-day RSVP Fair features the Inland Empire Shows carnival, with special all-day ride passes Friday through Sunday for $25, but with a $5 Super Carnival Discount Coupon, it's only $20 for the all-day ride pass. The coupon can be clipped from today's ad in the Nevada Appeal on page A2 or printed from www.

carnivalmidwayfun.com.

Every day is family fun day at the fair, said Janice Ayres, RSVP director. Mom or dad can ride all day for only $10 with a ticketed child, plus they get five free food and or game tokens which have a redemption value of $1 each.

"We know times are a little tough, and we want to ease your budget a bit and thank you for making this annual Fun Fair a part of your family's spring fun experience," Ayres said. "Also this year, everyone receives five 'Carnival Buck' coupons when they purchase a sheet of 10 ride tickets or an all day ride pass, worth $5 in food, drink and game discounts."

Thirty rides, games and attractions will be back from last year. Food vendors will include Italian pasta and subs, plus cheese steaks, Indian tacos, funnel cakes, Mexican fare and much more.

A variety of vendors will be showing handcrafted jewelry, sterling silver jewelry and cabochons, figurines, purses and clothing plus 3D crystals, moving waterfall pictures and much more.

The fair opens from 4-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the runs from noon to 11 p.m.

"It's all happening at Mills Park in Carson City, so put winter away and spring into spring with this great affordable family event," Ayres said.