Events and happenings around Carson City on Nevada Day, Friday, Oct. 26

Eight days before the presidential election of 1864, Nevada became the 36th state in the union. Hello Carson City and welcome to Friday, Nevada Day, Oct. 26, 2018. Today is the observed state holiday, where businesses are open but state and local government offices and schools are closed. Meanwhile, the capital city itself is getting warmed up for a three-day weekend and famed parade that celebrates statehood.

Want to learn how Nevada became a state? Go here and here to read Carson Now's ongoing Nevada Lore series by Kelsey Penrose.

For the events lineup for the entire Nevada Day weekend, go here and go here for Saturday's parade lineup. Parade starts at 10.

Here's what's happening around Carson City today:

— The Nevada State Museum and the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City are offering free admission both Friday and Saturday in recognition of Nevada Day. Friday is the observed holiday for Nevada Day and Saturday is the annual Nevada Day Parade through the heart of Carson City.
At the Nevada State Museum, visitors have free access to all the museum’s exhibits. They will also have the opportunity to see the museum’s historic Coin Press No. 1 in operation as commemorative medallions will be minted. Those who wish can purchase a pure silver “blank” in the museum store for $60 and have it minted on the coin press as a keepsake. The museum opens at 8:30 a.m. both days and minting begins at 9 a.m.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum opens at 9 a.m. both Friday and Saturday with free admission to the Jacobsen Interpretive Center. Visitors can also take a ride on the historic McKeen Motor Car both days starting at 10 a.m. Fares for the 20-minute ride are $8 for ages 12 and older; $5 for museum members and ages 4-11 and free for children 3 and younger. The McKeen Motor Car was built in 1910 for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Of the 152 McKeen Motor Cars constructed, the V&T McKeen Car is the only one that is fully restored and operable.

— Stop by the Nevada Day Store in downtown Carson City. Nevada and Battle Born Logo Wear, Home Means Nevada, local pottery, jewelry, authors, and more. Located at 716 N. Carson St., open 9am – 5pm. Home Means Nevada will have their booth out front of the store on Friday October 26th from 12:00 to 5:00 and 9am-1pm on Parade Day. Also, at Telegraph Square area near Curry and Proctor.

— The Nevada Artists Association (NAA) presents the annual Nevada Day Show. Entries in all categories are judged with cash prizes awarded to winners. The NAA Gallery is located at 449 W. King Street in Carson City and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

— Take a Tour of Carson City's Historical East Side. Join Bernie Allen and Eileen Cohen on Friday Oct. 26 at 10:00am as they lead you on a two mile walking tour of the historical east side of Carson City. This free tour begins at the Capitol steps and continues to the location of the former children’s home, which was also the site of the 1897 Corbett Fitzsimmons heavyweight title fight. The tour also includes a visit to the site of the former V&T Railroad shops as well as many other historic locations. For more info call Bernie at 775-883-7264.

— Ribbon Cutting for Curry Street Improvement Project – Telegraph Square. 10:30 a.m. Carson City's downtown Curry streetscape project will wrap up ahead of the Nevada Day parade with a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, Oct. 26 followed by the third annual Passport to Downtown celebration. All are invited.

— Passport to Downtown Carson City. 11 a.m. Kick off the Nevada Day weekend, enjoy all the Downtown Carson City has to offer and celebrate the completed Curry Street Improvement Project with live music, street performers and family fun while you get your free Passport stamped at participating, downtown businesses. Redeem your Passport for raffle tickets. The more businesses you visit, the more raffle tickets you will earn. More than $5,000 in prizes will be given away. Live Radio Remote – KOZZ – McFadden Plaza. Go here for a full schedule of events.

— Touch of Class Craft Show at the Carson Valley Inn. Touch of Class is a very unique craft show with a great reputation which runs today through Oct. 27. The show is in its 18th year and the fifth year at the Carson Valley Inn. Boutique style show. All products are handmade by 31 crafters. FREE admission with hourly door prizes. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
First 100 customers that bring a non-perishable food item to help support the food closet will receive a small handmade gift. We also will be supporting the Boys and Girls club with a portion of our profits. Carson Valley Inn - Ballroom, 1627 U.S. Highway 395 North, Minden.

— Charters of Freedom engraved pavers available. The Foundation Forward organization that brought our nations Charters of Freedom (Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights) to Carson City will once again be selling engraved pavers during Nevada Day. The new pavers have slightly larger font, are darker and easier to read. All existing pavers are being replaced at no charge to the original donors. Organizers will set up by the single jack drilling competition in the Max Casino parking lot from 12 noon until 3PM. Sample pavers will be available to see. Proceeds from the sale of pavers go to fund the setting that was built at the District Court building on Musser Street.

— Annual RSVP Nevada Day Carnival at Carson City's Mills Park. 1 to 9 p.m. RSVP presents the 33rd Annual Nevada Day Carnival and Celebration in Carson City. There will be rides, carnival games, music, food booths, craft vendors and more. 1111 East William Street, Carson City.

— Take a walking tour along Carson City's Historical West Side. This free tour begins at 1:30pm in the front courtyard of the Nevada State Museum. Explore the historic Westside of Carson City where many notable residents have lived. These include Abraham Curry, Orion Clemens and his brother, Samuel, Duane Bliss, William Stewart, James Nye, Dat-So-La-Lee and many others including the Governor’s Mansion. This approximately 90 minute walking tour will highlight the homes, churches and schools of early Carson City. Most of this area is also an historic district with other beautiful historic homes all along the way. For more information, call Debbie Lane at 775-841-4456.

— Sixth Annual Blinky Man Bike Ride. 6 p.m. Blinky Man is a nighttime bike ride through the streets of Carson City. Participants dress up in costumes and decorate their bicycles with colorful lights, and they ride together to five different stops. This year’s event starts Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at The Tap Shack, 112 Rice Street. The ride will leave at 7 p.m., going first to McFadden Plaza, then past the Governor’s Mansion on Mountain Street, then east on Long Street to The Feisty Goat. From there, riders will take a scenic ride through Mills Park on the way to the Westside Pour House on Telegraph Square, and then finishing at Living the Good Life on North Carson Street. Anyone with a bicycle that is properly lighted for night riding is free to participate. For more info, go to Facebook.com/BlinkyManCC.

— Carson City’s Rocky Horror Picture Show returns to Brewery Arts Center. 6 p.m. The 4th annual Rocky Horror Picture Show event is coming back to Carson City with a bang at the Brewery Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. Hosted by the Proscenium Players, Inc and the Brewery Arts Center, the show is all ages, free and highly entertaining. Admission is free, and alcohol will be available for purchase for those over 21. The Brewery Arts Center is located at 449 W. King Street.

— Nevada Day Powwow at the MAC Center. Friday 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Powwow starts at 2:00 pm), Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm The Nevada Day Pow Wow will take place at The MAC, located at 1860 Russell Way in Carson City, and will feature music, hand games and bone hog tournaments, horseshoe tournaments, Carson Indian Bowling tournaments, and more. Featuring Alyssa Song as the Royalty Princess. The Gold Dust West and Carson Plaza Hotel are both offering promotional rate deals for those attending the Nevada Day Pow Wow tournaments. For general information, please call Martin Montgomery at 775-450-9655, or Rebecca Gomez at 775-450-3612. See the official Nevada Day Powwow Facebook page for updates.

ONGOING

— Dressing the Cold donation drive. Drop off locations, item donations sought for Carson City homeless. Organizers of a campaign to collect items for Carson City's homeless are hoping locals will give what they can over the next two weeks as a way to help those individuals and families living on the street. From toothpaste and toiletries to scarves, sleeping bags and socks — a number of collection sites have been made available where locals can drop off what they can. The drive involves Friends in Service Helping, local churches, the Salvation Army and Life Changes, Inc. The collection event runs now through Sunday, Oct. 28. Participating Businesses and Drop Off Locations:
RUSTICALLY DIVINE: Tues-Sat 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM, 410 N Carson St, Carson City; (Drop your name in the jar at the time your drop off your donation for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate. Drawing will be held Oct. 27).
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE: Everyday 3 p.m. to closing, 1480 N Carson St, Carson City
(Drop your name in the jar at the time of your donation for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate. Drawing will be Friday-weekly).
REMAX REALTY AFFILIATES: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat: 9am-5pm, 716 N. Carson Street Ste E, Carson City.
Items needed are: Blankets, sleeping bags, toiletry items, feminine hygiene, towels, socks, gloves, scarves, coats, sweaters, toothbrushes and toothpaste, paper bags, tarps, children’s diapers sizes 2 and 3, razors, deodorant, etc.
Donated items will be bagged for each homeless individual and distributed by participating organizations to those who want and accepting them.

— Give a Dog a Bone Pet Food Drive. All Day. Michael Hohl Motor Company is proud to launch their 5th Annual "Give A Dog A Bone" pet food drive to fill a pickup for the nonprofit organization Pets of the Homeless. They provide pet food and basic emergency veterinary care to the homeless pets in local communities across the United States including Carson City. Last year’s drive collected almost 1,200 pounds of pet food and supplies valued at more than $3,000.
During the month of October bring your donations of dog and cat food to our GM showroom at 3700 S. Carson St. Carson City and help fill the truck. The donations will be delivered to FISH in North Carson City where over 230 local people are asking for pet food each month.

— Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space is currently seeking individuals and pairs interested in leading interpretive programs in one of our many parks and open spaces. Interested individuals and pairs are encouraged to apply. If interested, go here.

— Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Native TANF Program launch Winter Coat Drive. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Native TANF Program is hosting a winter coat drive Oct. 1 through Nov. 2, 2018. Please donate new or gently used, clean coats, hats, gloves and snow pants. Items will be distributed to families in need on Nov. 8, 2018 at 2310 South Carson St. Suite 1 Carson City or the Douglas County Washoe Tribe of NV & CA Native TANF Program office, 1248 Waterloo Ln, Gardnerville.

— Nature’s art is in full bloom at the Bristlecone Gallery for the “Nature’s Symphony of Art” children’s showcase sponsored by Arts for Children of Nevada with help from the Jackpot Grant with the Nevada Arts Council. Exhibit runs until until Nov. 9.

— The Capital City Arts Initiative presents its exhibition, Americana with Cadmium Orange, by artist Gig Depio at the CCAI Courthouse Gallery. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Depio is an artist and an advocate for public art in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was awarded the 2016 Fellowship Grant in Painting by the Nevada Arts Council (NAC). He has worked on various exhibitions and projects with the Nevada Museum of Art, Nevada Arts Council’s OXS Gallery, and UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum, among others. Depio graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He lives in Las Vegas with his family. Carson City Courthouse Gallery, 885 E Musser St., Carson City.

— The Capital City Arts Initiative, also known as CCAI, presents its exhibition, "Jenny Raven: The Creative Growth Years 1979 - 1984" with artwork by artist Jenny Raven in the city’s Community Center Sierra Room, 851 E William Street, Carson City. The exhibition is available to the public through October 18, 2018. The Sierra Room is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Nevada Artists Association opens Carson City Autumn art show. The Nevada Artists Association opened its annual "Autumn" exhibit will run through Oct. 19, 2018. More than 100 local and regional artists make up the non-profit NAA which operates the gallery located at Carson City's Brewery Arts Center. In addition to the Autumn Show, two association members will be featured, with art work displayed on the coveted back wall of the gallery, artist Cindy Whitaker and photographer Fred Howland will be exhibiting their finest. The Gallery is located at 449 West King Street. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go to www.NevadaArtists.org for more information.

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This calendar is updated throughout the day as information becomes available.