Comstock Town Offers Free Summer Events for All Ages

SILVER CITY, Nev. — A number of different groups sponsor an annual summer series of public events in historic Silver City. This summer, events include a free family-friendly concert by Kantu Inka, visits from award-winning visiting artists and writers, kids science and engineering activities, plus a floral design class, a coding workshop, lectures and more for adults and teens.

All of the children’s STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) events are co-sponsored by Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties.

For more information, contact Quest Lakes at Healthy Communities at (775) 287-7598.

Where: Events take place at the Silver City School House (community center) or the town park and outdoor stage (the Silver Pavilion), all located at 385 High Street, Silver City, Nevada 89428. Silver City is on the Comstock, three miles from Virginia City; seven miles from Dayton; and 12 miles from Carson City.

This year's summer public programming kicked off on Tuesday June 18 with a visit from the scientists of Nevada Bugs & Butterflies. Scientists including Kevin Burls, PhD, offered an Insect Petting Zoo at the Silver City School House. Parents, grandparents and children all enjoyed learning more about butterflies, scorpions, tarantulas and more.

A Day for Preschoolers: United Way offers its annual School Readiness and Educational Fun Fair for preschoolers and their parents on Tuesday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Silver City School House. The event is perfect for children ages 1 year to 6 years and their parents and grandparents. The event, which includes children's books, healthy snacks, plus arts and crafts and hands-on science and literacy activities led by United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, is free.

Hands-on Science Fun: On Tuesday July 2nd and also Tuesday July 9th, join popular teacher Jim Barcellos of the University Nevada Cooperative Extension for his interactive science experiments for 8-13 year olds with their parents.

Robotics Camp: One of the most popular summer events, the Engineering/Robotics Mini-Camp for kids ages 8-14 and their parents, takes place on Tuesday, August 6th from 10am – noon at the Silver City School House. The annual event is led by the Society of Women Engineers and First Nevada.

Floral Design and Computer Coding: Summer events include something for teens and adults too, with a Floral Design Class for adults and teens, Tuesday, August 20 from 10am-noon at the School House with floral designer Lynnette Edmondson of Community Roots & Shoots. There will also be a free Computer Coding Workshop for teens with programmer Zephyr Perkins (time and day to be determined).

Book Signing: Also for adults, Virginia City’s Shaun Griffin offers a book signing and reading from his latest book of essays, Because the Light Will Not Forgive Me, on Sunday July 28, at 2pm.at the Silver City School House. The book is described as “a poetic meditation on living meaningfully in this world.”

Outdoor Concert: Kantu Inka will bring a family-friendly concert to the Silver Pavilion outdoor stage in the Silver City Park on Saturday, August 3. Bring a chair and a picnic and enjoy music of Peru and the Andes performed with traditional instruments like zampoñas, quenas, charangos, bombos, chacchas, and cajón. The concert is sponsored by the Silver City Historic Preservation Society and local donations. Audience members are invited to arrive around 6pm. The concert begins at 6:30pm and ends at 7:30pm.

Jam Sessions: In addition, there’s a casual acoustic jam in Silver City on the fourth Saturday of each month from 3-5pm in the park or School House (depending on weather). Bring your instrument and join in. The jam is sponsored by Silver City Arts group.

Visiting Artists: Throughout the summer, visiting artists with the local Resident Artist Program will offer free artist talks, workshops, and pop-up shows. Summer Residents include Stewart Easton of the United Kingdom, whose unique artwork has been shown at the Tate Modern, the Ashmolean, the Victoria and Albert Museum, etc. and Claire Scully of London whose latest book of illustrations , Desolation Wilderness, is like “jazz for the eyes.” Award-winning painter Morgan Craig of Philadelphia arrives in July, after a busy spring with three solo shows in three states. David Cote, a talented playwright and librettist from Manhattan, arrives in August. In the last two years alone, his librettos have been in operas performed in New York (Carnegie Hall), Chicago, Boston, Montréal (Canada), Cincinnati, Nashville, and Shreveport.