70th Annual Nevada Day Celebration Highlights 144 Years of Statehood
with Parade, Carnival, Mad Hatter Ball and the Bizarre
(Carson City, Nev.) ? Once again, the Silver State will do it up right by taking four days, Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2008, to celebrate its admission to the Union on Oct. 31, 1864. This year’s theme, “Hollywood in Nevada ? Movies and Television,” celebrates Nevada’s long history with the Silver Screen.
Long-time Nevada resident Kathryn Grant Crosby, the widow of Bing Crosby, will serve as Grand Marshal and lead the parade of floats, marching bands and other entertainment down U.S. Highway 50 in Carson City. Crosby starred in numerous films including “Rear Window” and “Cyrano de Bergerac”. She also made guest appearances on “The Bing Crosby Show”.
Nevada Day, the state’s exaggerated definition of fun ? where it takes four days to mark one day when the 36th state was admitted to the Union.
Offbeat historical homage and family activities include:
Thursday, Oct. 30
— RSVP Carnival, in its 23rd consecutive year, provide carnival rides for adults and small children at Mills Park in Carson City. The RSVP Carnival will open at 4 p.m. Thursday and noon, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Admission is free, with a fee for rides.
Friday, Oct. 31
— V&T Railway Silver Coin Minting at the Nevada State Museum. The 6th silver coin in the V&T Railway Series will be minted at 10 a.m. Sales benefit the ongoing reconstruction of the V&T Railway on its original 17-mile route from Carson City to Virginia City. To order a limited-edition coin, call 775-687-7410 or e-mail VTProject@aol.com.
— The Nevada Day Pow-Wow, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, has been held on Nevada Day for more than 20 years. This year’s event will highlight Native American dancing and offer food, arts and crafts and other cultural events and entertainment in the Colony Gym on South Curry Street. Admission is free. Call 775-841-3182.
— The Mad Hatter Ball is a dance for all ages from 8:30-10 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada. Adults are $9 and kids under 16 are free with an adult; otherwise kids are $4 each. Call 775-883-9351.
Saturday, Nov. 1— 19th Annual Carson Nugget Nevada Day Classic Run/Walk will feature hundreds of runners and walkers in Carson City’s historical district. The event includes an 8K run at 8:15 a.m., a two-mile walk at 8:25 a.m. and a two-mile fun run at 8:25 a.m. Registration is $25. All races start from the corner of Telegraph St. and Curry St. Proceeds benefit The Special Olympics. Call 775-883-3361.
— An Air Show includes all types of aircraft, including an 8 a.m. hot-air balloon launch, followed by a flyover with F-18 Hornets and an F-16 Falcon from Fallon Naval Air Station, a C-130 Hercules from the Nevada Air Guard. A UH-60 Blackhawk and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Nevada Army National Guard will signal the start of the Nevada Day Parade festivities which feature marching bands, floats, equestrian groups and historical displays. The parade starts at 10 a.m. from William St. and U.S. Highway 50 and ends near Stewart St. and Carson St. Call 775-882-2600.
— A Nevada Day Battle of the Bands will highlight high school marching bands at the Carson City High School field at 3 p.m. Awards will be given for best overall parade and field with the winners receiving the Governor’s Grand Champion Trophy.
— The Annual Nevada Day Beard Contest on the steps of the State Capitol immediately follows the parade. Admission and contest entry are free, with winners awarded in the following categories: longest; fullest; reddest; whitest; blackest; best salt and pepper; best groomed; scruffiest; and most bearded community ? which has been bestowed on Virginia City the past four years.
— The 33rd Annual World Championship Single Jack Drilling Contest is set for 11:05 a.m. at the Carson Nugget west parking lot. Contestants have 10 minutes to drill holes in Sierra White Granite using pound hammers and bits of graduated steel. The contest celebrates the heritage of the Comstock mining days when blast holes for dynamite were punched into ore bodies by hand. Entry fee is $50. Admission is free.
— Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki will host the 26th Annual Chili Feed at the Carson Nugget’s upstairs Banquet Center, from noon-2 p.m. This free event is an opportunity to meet state and local leaders. To further the tradition of hospitality, the Governor’s Mansion, 606 N. Mountain St., will be open for tours from 2-4 p.m.
— The 8th Annual Silver State Rumble highlighting live amateur boxing and hosted by Bruno’s Boxing Club, will take place at 3 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. Williams St. There are 15 bouts scheduled and admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and kids under six are free. Call 775-888-6806.
— The Pinewood Derby Race is set for Saturday from 1-5 p.m. in the Carson City, 1313 S. Carson St. Registration is free and begins at 11 a.m. Kits are $4 and can be purchased at any American Family Insurance site. All ages are welcome.
— The inaugural Battle Born Softball Tournament, Nov. 1-2, is open to “D” and “E” men’s softball teams. Teams receive t-shirts and the chance to win the championship Silver State trophy. Games will be held at Incline Park in Incline Village, Nev. Call 775-450-8911.
Sunday, Nov. 2— The Nevada State Railroad Museum, 2180 S. Carson St., is steaming up an 1888 locomotive for public rides from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors 65 and older; $3 for children six to 11; and free for children under 6.
For more information on all Nevada Day events, log onto www.nevadaday.com or call the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-NEVADA-1.
