Debbie Reynolds will be the big headlining name on New Year's Eve in Don's Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside. The legendary superstar will do two shows. Tickets for her 7 p.m. performance are $40 and $45 for the 10:30 p.m. show. Her gig at the Riverside runs from Dec. 28 through Jan. 1 of the New Year.

There will be a New Year's Eve Dance featuring the Mike Hudson Orchestra from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Starview Room. Tickets are $60 per couple and $35 for singles.

The first Laughlin area event kicking off the New Year will be "Winter Break," Jan. 7-13. This will be the third year for this event that will feature a wide range of activities, entertainment and programs at various locations for those 50 years and up. Some of the activities include: a classic car show, dancing, a Red Hat Parade, slot tournaments, guest speakers, cooking classes, a Wellness Clinic, wine tasting, karaoke, a fashion show, a chili cook-off and much more. A four-day pass is $39 and a week pass is $50. For more information, visit www.winterbreak.us or call Arko and Associates at 480-926-5547.

The Laughlin Desert Challenge, 11th Annual SCORE International Off Road Racing event will follow, Jan. 13-16, at the Laughlin Events Arena and Desert Course that covers an 11-mile loop. There will also be special events like the "Laughlin Leap," where cars drive off a ramp for distance, a "Pit Crew Competition" and a "Contingency Row / Tech Inspection."

The Avi has "Unpinkable" Panther New Year's Eve drawings planned for Advantage Club members, call 866-463-6284. The prizes are multiple cash prizes of $205 each and pink diamond jewelry worth over $4,000.

On Friday, Dec. 31, a name will be drawn every hour on the hour from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each winner will pick a magnet from the "Think Pink" drawing board and instantly win $205 or pink diamond jewelry. All drawings produce a winner because names are drawn every three minutes until a winner is present.

It's A Wrap on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-19 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Advantage Club members, who can have two gifts per day wrapped. Certain size restrictions will apply and donations will be accepted at the wrapping station for the FMIT Domestic Violence Program.

The rangers at Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave just north of Laughlin offer a variety of free interpretive programs and guided hikes during the spring and fall months. Reservations are required for the hikes, call 928-754-3272.

An upcoming program is the "Oatman Family Story" on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. MST. You can learn the history of the pioneer Oatman family who traveled west from Ohio and Illinois to the Colorado River where they had a tragic run-in with local tribes. Meet at the River Adventure RV Park in Bullhead City.

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The "Cloud's Jamboree" rock, gem, jewelry and mineral show for hobbyists, collectors and the general public, will take place at various hotels from Jan. 13-23. For vendor information, contact 1-866-558-7719.

For information or tickets on events, unless otherwise specified, call the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce at 702-298-2214 or 1-800-227-5245.

Harrah's will continue this year on Dec. 25, with a variety of special holiday menus.

At the Range Steakhouse, diners may choose from the tom turkey chop or the traditional carved turkey served with all the holiday trimmings. The regular Range Steakhouse menu will also be available. The dining hours for Christmas Day are 3:30 p.m. until closing, call 702-298-4600.

The Cabo Café will offer a traditional Christmas meal for $14.99 plus tax per person. The 24-hour restaurant will continue to offer its regular menu and serve the holiday menu only from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Christmas Day.

The Riverside's restaurants will be serving a special Yule Tide Feast. The Riverview Restaurant will offer a scrumptious holiday platter including Baked Ham, Raisin Sauce, Turkey with Giblet Gravy and many other items from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for $12.95.

The Riverside Buffet will offer a Champagne Brunch from 7 to 11 a.m. A Christmas Dinner Buffet will follow from noon to 10 p.m. for $9.99.

The Prime Rib Room will feature the choice of Prime Rib, Chicken Cordon Blue or Baked Ham from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., call 702-298-2535 or 928-763-7070.

The Flamingo Laughlin is already offering special room packages for the 2005 River Run. Packages will include deluxe accommodations and tickets to see the legendary rock band Styx in the Flamingo Laughlin Outdoor Amphitheater on April 22 or 23. The cost is on a per-person basis and goes from $438.18 for one person up to $614.88 for four people, call 1-800-FLAMINGO.

Bob Moore's is a local writer and executive editor of the Laughlin-based "Route 66 Magazine," who has written a couple of books dedicated to Route 66. These include "The Complete Guidebook / Atlas to Route 66" (co-authored with Rich Cunningham) and his recent "Route 66 - The Spirit of the Mother Road" (Northland Publishing).

Moore's most unusual book is probably a 128-page soft cover one with a unique theme. "Trailer Trash - The World of Trailers and Mobile Homes in the Southwest" published by Route 66 Magazine is Moore's book about the early days of trailer adventure. He photographed abandoned and derelict trailers of vintage bearing from around the Southwest creating a kind of archeology of aluminum. The book is full of intriguing photos of classic road homes and actual advertisements from the 1940s to 1960s. The book costs $19.95, call 702-299-0856.

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