Grab your pumpkin spice and your calendar, because the big day is almost here: Pumpkins Palooza is this Thursday! That means there’s no regular meeting this week. Instead, we’re asking you to bring yourself, your family, and your friends to the party.
And it really is a party for everyone. For just $10 at the door, you get in, and we feed you! Our friends at the Nevada City Police Department are firing up the grill for hot dogs, and we’re supplying the chips and candy. Little ones can get their faces painted by our face painter, then head to the kids’ table to paint a pumpkin of their own to take home. Come hungry, come creative, come in costume if you like. This one is family friendly from start to finish.
Now, about the pumpkins. We’ll have about 80 painted pumpkins on display, created by talented local artists, Rotarians, and friends, plus a handful of gift baskets in the silent auction. The best of the best will head to the live auction, so bring your bidding energy. We’ll also have a table for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and we’re holding a focused fundraising push to keep free books flowing to kids in our community.
But the big draw of the night? The restaurant raffle. We’re giving away $1,900 in local restaurant gift certificates in FOUR separate drawings. The grand prize is a whopping 10 certificates, followed by three more drawings of three certificates each. That’s a lot of date nights, family dinners, and “I don’t feel like cooking” evenings covered. We have only a handful of raffle tickets left, so if you haven’t gotten yours yet, show up early. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Rotarians, we’ll see you there with your sleeves rolled up. Everyone else, come see what happens when a whole community goes a little pumpkin crazy for a good cause.
Tickets are selling fast! For our Taste of the Town Restaurant Raffles will be drawn at Pumpkins Palooza Family Celebration. Grand prize is 10 local $100 restaurant certificates ~ a $1,000 value! Plus, drawings for smaller packages offer more chances to win!
Thank you to our 19 participating restaurants:Lola's, Cirino's at Main Street, Sushi in the Raw, Sushi Q, Taste of Thai, Sopa Thai, Three Forks Bakery and Brewing, Toffanelli's, Golden Gate Saloon, Deer Creek Bar & Grill, Jernigan's, The River, Friar Tucks, Katmandu Hippie, Port of Subs Catering, Tuscany Gardens, Heartwood, Miner Moe’s Pizza, and Pepe's Cafe. Plus a special drawing for a $50 Northridge certificate.
With 4 restaurants, Andrea is our Rotarian who collected the most $100 certificates and wins a free raffle ticket!
Tickets are on sale by Nevada City Rotary Club members and a small number will be available at the event.
We need any tickets that have not been sold available to be sold at the door. Any tickets not turned in before the event will be considered sold to you. Please return raffle contact stubs and payments to Tom R or Robin. If you have tickets you don’t sell, they must be turned in by 5pm before the event opens October 15.
2nd ANNUAL PUMPKINS PALOOZA FAMILY CELEBRATION and PAINTED PUMPKINS SCAVENGER HUNT
What does a ghost serve for dessert on Halloween? Find the answer on a painted pumpkin in the Painted Pumpkins Scavenger Hunt October 1 - 15. Take a friend along to scout the town for your favorite pumpkins ~ and then come prepared to bid on it at ourPumpkins Palooza Family Celebration October 15! Twenty -three businesses are participating … a few to look for:
… I-scream and Boo-berry pie
PUMPKINS PALOOZA FAMILY CELEBRATION
When: October 15, 5:30-8:00pm Where: Miners Foundry Cultural Center Admission: $10 per adult at the door; students and children are free. Includes free grilled hot dogs and treats! Attire: Costumes are highly encouraged but not required.
Club members, setup begins at 12:00noon. Pumpkins Palooza Family Celebrationis an all hands on deck event! The evening will feature a family-friendly atmosphere, the auction of the painted pumpkins, and plenty of Halloween fun. And of course we will be drawing for our Taste of the Town Restaurant Raffles.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) 7000 Dandini Blvd., Reno, Nevada (Map)
Ready to learn something new, bring fresh ideas back to your club, and discover more of what Rotary has to offer?
District 5190 Governor Kurt Raffetto and District Governor Elect Richard Forster invite you to Rotary Clubs in Action that is designed to be an exciting, fast-paced day of learning, sharing, connecting, and putting ideas into ACTION. Whether you joined Rotary last month or have been a Rotarian for decades, there is something here for YOU!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
New members. Club Committee Chairs. Club leaders. Longtime Rotarians. Future leaders. Anyone who wants to learn more about the world of Rotary.
No charge to Club Members.
Note: Your club will be assessed $25.00 for each person attending.
Seats are waiting. Ideas are waiting. Inspiration is waiting.
Board Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month. Our next Board meeting is October 12 at 5:30pm via Zoom with President Andrea leading us.
Not a Board member but want to join us? Contact Robin or reply to this Rotario for instructions. All club members are encouraged to attend a meeting. Location/schedule is subject to change, please ask.
