Quest for good times -- and immortality

Carson City, Nev.

Oct. 26-31: Nevada celebrates its statehood Oct. 27, but in the capital, the party lasts most of a week. Among the events: Sunup on Oct. 28 brings a hot-air balloon liftoff on Main Street. Then, after a parade, the state Supreme Court justices decide a beard contest on the steps of the Old Capitol Building. There’s also the 32nd annual World Championship Single Jack Drilling Contest. “In the mining days, they drilled a hole to stick the dynamite in to do the blow,” says Reg Creasey, president of Nevada Day Inc. Contestants have 10 minutes to hack away at solid granite with hammers and bits of steel. Deepest hole wins.

Various locations in Carson City. Admission ranges from free to $100 for golf tournament. (775) 882-2600, www.nevadaday.com.

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Montana

October-January: Some of the state’s famous mansions pull out all the stops for Halloween and holiday fun. Oct. 27-28, “Murder at Moss Mansion” brings the macabre to the rambling, four-level house in Billings, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. The manse gets a holiday makeover Nov. 13-Jan. 6, with 18 decorated trees. Conrad Mansion in Kalispell declares the shopping season open Oct. 27-29 with a Victorian holiday bazaar, then hosts tours from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Moss Mansion, downtown Billings; (406) 256-5100, www.mossmansion.com. Conrad Mansion, 300 block of Woodland Avenue, Kalispell; (406) 755-2166, www.conradmansion.com.

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Portland, Ore.

Nov. 5-March 4: One of the largest caches of Egyptian antiquities ever presented in North America arrives next month at the Portland Art Museum. About 115 objects will be on display in “The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt,” and the museum will have a life-size re-creation of the burial chamber of Pharaoh Thutmose III.

Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave. $20, $9 ages 5-18; 4 and younger free. (503) 226-2811, www.portlandartmuseum.org.

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-- Amy Hubbard

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