Nevada 150 Events Held Throughout June

Many events are scheduled throughout the Silver State in the month of June. These Nevada 150 events help celebrate all things Nevada and bring awareness to the state’s 150th Anniversary of Statehood. The following are events held June 3 through June 15.

The Flash Back Fridays-Free Museum Days will take place in Virginia City on June 6 throughout the day. In honor of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial celebration the following museums will open their doors to the public free of charge: Comstock Gold Mill, Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, Mackay Mansion, Piper’s Opera House, Silver State National Peace Officers Museum, St. Mary’s Art Center, Territorial enterprise – Mark Twain Museum, The Way it Was Museum and the Washoe Club Haunted Museum. For more information, visit www.VisitVirginiaCityNV.com or call 775-847-7500.

The beautiful back lawn of the Governor’s Mansion is the site of the Carson City Symphony’s 30th annual Pops Party Concert on Sunday, June 8, at 3 p.m. The program features the Carson City Symphony, Carson City Symphony Chorus, STRAZZ Youth Strings, and guest singers Sherre Carne and Cindee LeVal. For additional information please visit www.CCSymphony.com or call 775-883-4154.

From June 7 to June 8 all day, the CVQG Quilt Show-Nevada, Then and Now-Celebrating 150 Years of Statehood will take place at Carson City High School. This event is open to quilt artists across the United States in order to win prize money in a variety of categories. This event encourages quilters to express their skills in not only as a home craft fashion but as an art. For more information, contact Pat Barker at patricia2877@sbcglobal.net or call 775-841-1843.

On June 7 and June 8 the Comstock Muck Fest will take place at in Virginia City throughout the day. This new event, sponsored by the Virginia City Tourism Commission, Historic Fourth Ward School & Museum and the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, will include a fun run that will showcase Virginia City’s historic sites and venues. Historic mining with a mucking contest, hard-rock drilling competition and other programming will also be included. For more information about the event, visit www.VisitVirginiaCityNV.com or call 1-800-718-7587.

Join the Historic Reno Preservation Society for the University Historic District Walking Tour at 6 p.m. on June 3. Visit Morrill Hall, MacKay School of Mines and the Keck Museum to learn the history of beautiful University of Nevada, Reno campus with tour guides Jack Hursh and Bob Shriver. For more information or to register please visit www.historicreno.org or call 775-747-4478.

On June 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Chefs Food Fest will take place at the Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin. This special event celebrates giving back to those less fortunate while enjoying some of the best cuisine on the Colorado River. Majority of the proceeds will be donated to the River Fund Inc., a non-profit agency providing direct emergency and crisis services for individuals and families in Laughlin. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.laughlinchamber.com or call 702-298-2214.

Join the Nevada Westerners Corral in celebrating Nevada’s 150th birthday on a daylong 40 Mile Desert Memorial Monument Bus Tour on June 5. The Nevada Westerners Corral recently completed a Nevada 150 Legacy Project to restore the 40 Mile Desert Memorial Monument that was first erected by the Nevada Westerners Corral in 1979. For more information or to reserve your spot on the bus please call 775-324-3527.

One of the oldest and most respected mining expos in the United States, the Elko Mining Expo will take place all day on June 5-6 in Elko. For the past 29 years, the Elko Convention & Visitors Authority has hosted this annual expo which draws close to 8,000 people, nationally and internationally, to its mining industry exhibits. For additional information, visit www.exploreelko.com or call 800-248-3559.

Don’t miss the Eagle Valley Muzzleloaders Demonstration June 6-8 at Fort Churchill State Park. The Eagle Valley Muzzleloaders will provide talks and demonstrations featuring tomahawk throwing, muzzleloaders, setting traps, the fur trade era, making lead balls, flint & steel fire starting, artillery, and shooting demonstrations. For more information please visit www.parks.nv.gov or call 775-684-2704.

Join the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas on June 7 for Family Fun Day. This event will focus on the Civil Defense Program of the 1950’s and 1960’s. First responders and other organizations will be on hand to discuss what to do in emergency situations that we face in today’s world. Activities include a create your own fallout shelter craft station, Geiger counter activity, duck and cover game and a series of short instructional films created by the Civil Defense For more information or to register please visit www.NationalAtomicTestingMuseum.org or call 702-794-5151.

Join the Historic Reno Preservation Society for the Prohibition in Reno Walking Tour at 10 a.m. on June 7 in Reno. Walk the streets and alleys and visit significant buildings, recalling Reno’s saloons and reformers (the WCTU and Anti-Saloon League) and feature a guest appearance by a local dignitary of the area. For more information or to register please visit www.historicreno.org or call 775-747-4478.

Mountain bike riders from all over the west coast will descend on Reno for the Battle Born Enduro on June 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Showcasing some of the new trails that the event promoters have been building with the Poedunk's trail group and the US Forest Service, riders will get a taste of the outdoor adventure that awaits just outside Reno's door. They will endure a 22-25 mile ride with up to five timed stages used to determine winners. For additional information visit, www.battlebornenduro.org or call 775-233-5419.

Join the Historic Reno Preservation Society for the Wells Avenue Neighborhood Walking Tour at 6 p.m. on June 10. Take a stroll through a working-class neighborhood along the path of the Wells Avenue streetcar, across the V&T tracks, and past the homes of the “Thoma Street Gang.” For more information or to register please visit www.historicreno.org or call 775-747-4478.

The official commemorative volume of the Nevada Sesquicentennial will be launched at special Book Launch Party for “Nevada: 150 Years in the Silver State” on June 12 at 7 p.m. the Clark County Museum on East Flamingo in Las Vegas. The book’s editor, Geoff Schumacher, will moderate an entertaining presentation that will include several Las Vegas writers who contributed to the book, including Michael Green, Sally Denton, Dayvid Figler and Scott Dickensheets. The book, published by Stephens Press and distributed by the University of Nevada Press, will be available for sale and signing at the event. For more information about “Nevada: 150 Years in the Silver State” please visit www.nevada150.org or call 775-687-0608.

The Emigrant Trail Historical Lecture will take place on June 12 at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Douglas. This event will feature Stony Tennant who will speak on behalf of the 1860’s Emigrant Trail. For more information, call 775-782-2555 or email dchs@historicnevada.net.

The Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF,) the City of Fernley and the Burning Man Project are thrilled to invite the public to join in the Big Art for Small Towns Opening Reception Celebration. Three large-scale artworks will make their formal public debut on June 12 from 5-7 p.m. in Fernley. This lively reception features local musical talent, special speakers and family-friendly arts and crafts activities. For more information about please visit http://blackrockarts.org/events/big-art-for-small-towns-opening-reception or call 415-626-1248.

The Annual National Pony Express Association ReRide will take place across Nevada June 12-14. This is an annual ReRide of the historic Pony Express route covering nearly 2000 miles between Sacramento, CA and St. Joseph, MO and within the 10 days that it was originally executed over 150 years ago. Nevada had several stations and to this day has most of the original trail unpaved and preserved in place. Riders relay horses and the “mail” 24 hours a day during the dates mentioned, across the entire state of Nevada, as well as the eight states on the historic trail. For additional information please visit www.xphomestation.com or call 775-220-0605.

On June 12 to June 15 the Eureka Western Heritage Days will take place at the Eureka County Fairgrounds. Celebrating its second year, Eureka Western Heritage Days will offer entertainment, food and vendors to guests. A clinic will be held June 12, the Eureka Cow Dog Trails will take place June 14 and June 15 and The World Championship Blacksmiths will take place June 13 and June 14. For more information, visit www.co.eureka.nv.us/westernheritagedays or call 775-385-6184.

From June 13 to June 15 the Stewart Father’s Day Powwow will take place at the Stewart Facility in Carson City. This is an annual event held to preserve the history of the former Stewart Indian School and to educate the public about American Indians, American Indian culture and the Stewart Indian School. The 3 day event attracts numerous Indian art vendors, drummers, dancers, alumni and visitors from Nevada and surrounding states. For more information, visit www.stewartindianschool.com or call 775-687-8333.

The Octane Fest will take place June 13 to June 15 at the Churchill County Fairgrounds in Fallon. This motorsports festival will feature dirt track racing, drag racing and a monster truck jamboree. For more information, visit www.octanefest.com or call 775-423-4556.

On June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. and June 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the NV State Fiddlers Contest will take place at the Wells City Park in Elko. The 17th annual contest has been described as a “foot stomping” and “hand clapping” good time, attracting fiddlers and guests from all over. The winner of the contest will go on to represent Nevada at national competitions. For more information, visit www.nvfiddlecontest.org or call
775-752-3450.

Wendover Will’s Birthday Bash will take place on June 13 from 3-4 p.m. at the Victory Highway Monument parking lot, just off N. Gene L. Jones Way in West Wendover. Part of the City of West Wendover’s Nevada 150 year celebration this event will celebrate Wendover Will’s welcoming wave for 62 great years! For additional information please visit www.westwendovercity.com or call 775-664-3081.

The Legends of the West Bike and Car Fest is scheduled for June 13-14 in downtown Carson City. The Carson City Sheriff’s Office 11th Annual Extreme Motor Officer Training Challenge will again begin on Friday, with highly skilled motor officers from throughout the country competing for glory. For additional information please visit www.EventsNevada.com/legends.html or call 775.887.1294.

The Father’s Day Train 2014 event will take place on June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Ely Railway Depot in Ely. In honor of Father’s Day, dads will ride for free. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is dedicated to the restoration, preservation, interpretation, and operation of the Nevada Northern Railway historic facilities, yards, and rail collection. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.nnry.com or call 775-289-2085.

On June 14 at 10 a.m. join the Francisco Garces Chapter of the Nevada State Daughters of the American Revolution for a special Flag Day Ceremony at the Lorenzi Park rose garden in Las Vegas. Lorenzi Park was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. For additional information, call 702-236-6159.

All day, June 14, the Genoa Sesquicentennial Celebration will take place in Genoa. This event is a combination celebration of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial and the 65th birthday of the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department. During the day the event will feature activities such as historical presentations, demonstrations and workshops by the Pony Express, Mark Twain, Snowshoe Thompson, the Basque Community and the Washoe Tribe of Carson Valley, the Mormon Battalion, the Civil War reenactments at the Mormon Station State Parks and the Genoa Courthouse Museum. For more information, contact Martin Manning at martingenoa317@yahoo.com or call 775-781-1236.

Join the Historic Reno Preservation Society for the Historic Nevada State Hospital Tour at 10 a.m. on June 14 in Sparks. Visit the site of Nevada’s first state hospital (originally the Nevada Insane Asylum) at Galletti Way and Glendale Avenue in Sparks, one of the state’s oldest institutions. The tour will include a look at the remaining Frederic DeLongchamps’ buildings, a walk through the approximately 110–year-old “Stone House,” and a visit to the hospital cemeteries. For more information or to register please visit www.historicreno.org or call 775-747-4478.

For Discover Nevada State Parks Day on June 14th all state 23 parks across Nevada will waive day-use admittance fees and offer free fishing. The first 150 cars at each park will receive a free deck of commemorative Nevada Heritage Playing Cards. For more information please visit www.parks.nv.gov or call 775-684-2704.

ABOUT NEVADA 150
Nevada’s Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of Nevada’s admission to the Union, will provide opportunities for celebration and reflection as we come together statewide to commemorate our shared history and build a foundation of cultural appreciation for generations to come. Nevada’s one of a kind and diverse history will be celebrated throughout the state for an entire year in order to promote pride in the shared heritage of all Nevadans. Nevada’s Sesquicentennial celebration commenced on Nevada Day 2013 and will conclude with an expanded Nevada Day celebration October, 2014. For more information, please visit www.nevada150.org.