Three is the lucky number in Reno in the coming week.

There are three big shows at the Reno Events Center on three consecutive nights. Santana performs on Friday, Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson on Saturday, and Jeff Dunham next Sunday.

The first three artists have been around Reno before, but this is Dunham's debut in northern Nevada. That means, of course, that it is also the likely debut of Peanut, Jose Jalapeño on a Stick, Walter, Bubba J., Sweet Daddy D, Melvin the Superhero Guy and one of the boldest characters in the history of ventriloquism, Achmed the Dead Terrorist.

The renewed popularity of ventriloquism, created by Dunham and Terry Fator (who returns to the Grand Sierra on Nov. 29), has returned the entertainment staple to a spotlight it hasn't enjoyed since the heydays of Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell. The material, however, is substantially different and significantly more adult.

Dunham's Achmed, a skull with a beard and white turban who threatens to kill anyone who laughs at him and who is supposedly a victim of "premature detonation," is one of Dunham's most brilliant creations and a fan favorite. His YouTube appearance is one of the site's most popular views.

Peanut, with his tuft of green hair, is a bit more traditional but loves to mock the audience when jokes supposedly go over their heads.

• Carlos Santana has played the area often, and every Santana show is an experience. He mixes so many styles in so many ways that he never runs out of surprises. The words "world music" fail to do him justice. From 1961, when he crossed into the United States, settled in San Francisco and formed the Santana Blues Band, through his landmark performances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and at Woodstock, and to the present, Santana has managed to sell nearly 100 million albums and be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Seeing him is seeing musical history.

• "2 Worlds 2 Voices" is the title given to the McEntire-Clarkson teaming, which sold out in 15 markets earlier this year, prompting the current return to the road. It is unique in that it is performed without intermission, featuring the hits of both singers and some new duets. "Because of You," one of the latter, has just become part of the first album in the series "Now That's What I Call Country," released in August.

As for McEntire, her "50 Greatest Hits" on three CDs is set for release on Oct. 28, and she's just been nominated for the CMA musical event honor for her duet with Kenny Chesney, "Every Other Weekend."

Clarkson, no matter how many directions she takes and how many hits she has, will always be the very first winner on "American Idol," and no other winners have taken the fame to quite the height she has. She was seen in April singing at the Papal Youth Rally in Yonkers, followed by an "Ave Maria" sung for Pope Benedict XVI.

Around the Silver Circle

• Paul Anka managed to parlay an early career as a teen idol into an international stardom that has lasted. He is known to be one of the consummate live entertainers, performing with full orchestra. He performs at the Peppermill Tuscany Ballroom on Friday.

• A rare appearance by Hong Kong diva Joey Yung promises to draw a large crowd to the ballroom. She performed at the Beijing Olympics and her "Starlight" tour started in Malaysia and moved to Canada before arriving in the United States.

IF YOU GO

• Santana: 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Reno Events Center; $49.50, $69.50, $99.50; Ticketmaster.com

• Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson: 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Reno Events Center; $64.50; Ticketmaster.com

• Jeff Dunham: 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Reno Events Center; $36.75, $47.25, $57.75; Ticketmaster.com

The Reno Events Center is a 7,000-seat facility at Fourth and Lake streets in downtown Reno, two blocks east of the Eldorado and Silver Legacy. There are many close-by casino parking garages.

• Paul Anka: 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Peppermill; $59, $69, $79, $95

• Joey Yung: 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Peppermill; $68, $98, $128, $168; (800) 648-6992 or peppermillreno.com