Reno's Artown is celebrated during the month of July, but that doesn't mean its events are limited to just those 31 days. Some artists who participated in the past wanted to return in July, but their schedules wouldn't permit it. No matter. Allowances are made, so a few special attractions are sprinkled throughout the remainder of the year.

That's what brings the Chieftains to the Grand Sierra on Friday. They've played sold-out Artown venues before. Few groups appeal so much to lovers of Irish music, and no group delivers it with such doses of whimsy and joy.

Formed loosely in 1962 and becoming pretty solid around 1975, the Chieftains have become the most popular purveyors of mainstream Irish music in the world. They've won six Grammy Awards, have been named Ireland's musical ambassadors, and continue to stick to the pure sounds of the island's music in their mostly instrumental sound.

When they first began to garner stateside attention, the Chieftains were so popular they were heard on Top 40 radio. In more recent years, they collaborated with Van Morrison on the "Irish Heartbeat" album and with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd in a Berlin performance of "The Wall."

The Chieftains' visit coincides with Reno's annual Celtic Celebration, which used to be a part of Artown but has moved to October. Pipe bands, other Celtic musicians, highland games, traditional dancers, vendors and more are on hand for the 19th edition of this party Saturday and Sunday at Bartley Ranch Regional Park. There's a little whimsy here, too. Two of the musical groups are the Blarney Band and the Contraband.

Roll out the barrel

Leave the Emerald Isle and travel to the continent for the area's first Oktoberfest, at the Village at Squaw Valley on Saturday. This is a perfect time to check out the Tahoe region in the fall, when the displays of the aspen trees compete with those who compete in this event's Oktoberfest "games" like stein holding, keg racing and barrel rolling.

Also on tap, besides the beer, are performances by Joe Smiell and his two-piece Bavarian band, and the Almenrausch Schuhplattler and Alpentanzer Schuhplattler Austrian dance troupes. A traditional barrel of Festbier will be tapped to kick off the festival and several pilsners and lagers will be featured, along with the non-alcoholic Clausthaler and Sprecher root beer floats.

Around the Silver Circle

• There was a dramatic winner this year at the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off. The leader of the Desperado BBQ and Rib Co. team, Lee Rice, wound up in the hospital with an undisclosed illness and his son-in-law Chris Glaser flew in from the home base of Hinckley, Ohio, at the last minute to take over. They wound up taking the $7,500 first prize, the trophy and the much-valued bragging rights.

Second place went to Bone Daddy's of Michigan, third to Kinder's Custom Meats of Concord, fourth to Bourbon Q of Kentucky and fifth to Porky N Beans of Florida. Bone Daddy's won the People's Choice Award and Carson BBQ of Carson City won for best sauce.

Preliminary attendance figures point to the biggest turnout ever.

• Using entire shows from the Grateful Dead's 30 years of tours, the Dark Star Orchestra has become known for its song-by-song re-creations appealing to authentic and wannabe Deadheads. DSO has been joined by five original members of the Dead in various performances. At the end of each performance they announce the date and venue of the original.