Nevada celebrates Sesquicentennial with August event lineup

Many celebrations are scheduled throughout the Silver State in the month of August. These Nevada 150 events celebrate all things Nevada and help bring awareness to the 150th Anniversary of Statehood. The following events are held Aug. 15 through Aug. 31.

Enjoy a show under the stars during the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor State Park in Incline Village, Nev. July 11-Aug. 23. Pack a picnic dinner or dine at the Festival’s al fresco restaurant, Shakespeare’s Kitchen. The theater offers open beach and assigned seating, depending upon the section. Premium Adirondack Chair and Café Table seating is located in the first seven rows.

For additional information on performances or to purchase tickets, please visit www.laketahoeshakespeare.com or call 800-74-SHOWS.

Celebrate ranching, agriculture and mining at the Lyon County Fair and Rodeo at the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Yerington, Nev. Aug. 14-17. Festivities include: BMX bike racing, pig scramble, bull riding, dancing, live music, carnival games, Nevada Gun Fighters, an interactive circus, exhibit halls and the annual rodeo, truck and tractor pulls. The event will also feature the 3rd annual Silver State Youth Livestock Show and Expo to benefit 4-H and FFA youth from around our State. Sunday evening the Demo Derby will take place as a fundraiser for the Mason Valley Volunteer Fire department. For additional information, please call 775- 221-4087 or visit www.lyon-county.org.

Enjoy hometown sounds at the 29th Annual Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival at Bowers Mansion Regional Park in Washoe Valley, Nev. Aug. 15-17. Coordinated by the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association, the festival is the oldest and largest bluegrass/old-time music festival in Northern Nevada. The weekend features local and national musicians and bands, the Traditional American Music, activities for children of all ages and a variety of vendors. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.bowersbluegrassfestival.org or call 775-843-7053.

The Dallyn Vail Bayles Concert will take place at the Carson City Community Center at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. The show’s theme “An Intimate and Stirring Concert of Favorite Show Tunes and Inspirational Songs in Celebration of Nevada’s 150th Birthday” pays tribute to the sesquicentennial. Mr. Bayles is an accomplished Broadway performer whose credits include the Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. For additional information, please call 775-790-6408.

In honor of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial, the community of Fallon is hosting the Churchill County High School Community Reunion Aug. 16-17. The first ever all-class reunion will take place at various locations throughout the city. Activities include tours of the Oats Park Art Center and the Old High School. For additional information, please e-mail communityreunionfallon@gmail.com, visit www.visitfallonnevada.com or call 775-423-4556.

Enjoy summer sounds at the Free Concert in the Park with the Dusty 45’s at the Oats Park Arts Center in Fallon, Nev. at 6:00 p.m. on Aug. 16. A special singing of “Home Means Nevada” will occur before the Dusty 45’s performance. There will also be a raffle for the City of Fallon’s Live Local Grand Prize Car. For additional information, please visit www.visitfallonnevada.com or call 775-423-4556.

The Ben Damonte family is hosting the Tour of the Historic Damonte Ranch House in Reno, Nev. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 17. This historic 150-year old ranch house was built by pioneer Peleg Brown, who arrived in the Truckee Meadows in 1857. Reservations are required, and tour participants will be limited to 25 per hour, for a maximum of 100. Please choose the tour time when you make your reservation to damonteranchtour@aol.com. For additional information, please call 775-772-2086.

Nevada’s largest county fair, the Elko County Fair and Horse Races celebrates 93 years worth of family fun at the Elko County Fairgrounds in Elko, Nev. Aug. 22-Sept. 1. For the kids, there will be lots of critters, rides, games, fair food, a carnival, and plenty of chances to win ribbons and more! For adults, there will be live horse racing with para-mutual betting, an extensive western horse show, a beautiful display of the best work by local artists, artisans, and gardeners, live music and dancing under the stars. To purchase tickets please visit www.elkocountyfair.com or call 775-738-3616.

Visit the 27th Annual Reno-Tahoe Greek Festival at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Reno, Nev. Aug. 22-24. The weekend features authentic dancing, live music, food and drinks, Greek goods, a silent auction and many other exciting activities. Tickets purchased in advance are $12 and receive $10 worth of food as compensation. For additional information, event times or to purchase tickets, please visit www.renogreekfest.com or call 775-825-5365.

Take a trip to the Nevada State Museum for the Carson City Mint Coin Show and Fair in Carson City, Nev. Aug. 22-23. The educational fair features lectures, displays, kid’s activities at the museum and a coin show with 28 dealers across the street at the Carson Nugget. Tickets are $4 for adults and free for Nevada State Museum Members and children under the age of 17. For additional information, please visit www.nevadaculture.org or call 775-687-4810.

Experience Nevada’s native culture at the Pyramid Lake Art Show at the Pyramid Lake Museum & Visitors Center located at 709 State Street in Nixon, Nev. from 10:00 a.m. to 4p.m. on Aug. 23. This special art show highlights the unique arts and culture of the Great Basin People. Native American artists will be selling and displaying their artwork and crafts. For more information, please call 775-574-1088 or email museum@plpt.nsn.us.

The Minden Inn will host Always lost: A Meditation on War Exhibit in Minden, Nev. (Douglas) Aug.25-Sept. 12. Called “Nevada’s gift to our nation” by Vietnam veteran/Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell, Always Lost has become a sacred space to contemplate the personal and collective costs of war. The exhibit is sponsored by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services and generous Nevada veterans participating in the Veterans License Plate Program. For more information or to see a video about this exhibit, please visit www.wnc.edu/always_lost/ or call 775-289-1663.

The annual Burning Man festival will take place in the Black Rock Desert in Pershing County Aug. 25-Sept. 1. The Burning Man festival organizers (Black Rock City LLC) create the infrastructure of Black Rock City which for one week becomes one of Nevada’s largest “cities.” Festival attendees dedicate themselves to the spirit of community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. For additional information, please visit www.burningman.com or call 415-TO-FLAME (863-5263).

The 26th Annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off is back at Victorian Square in Sparks, Nev. Aug. 27-Sept. 1. Come out and enjoy the country’s best rib competition and the best ribs in the West. The end-of-summer event features a variety of culinary, music, crafts and family activities. Parking and admission is free. For additional information and event times, please visit www.nuggetribcookoff.com or call 800-648-1177.

The Tri-County Fair & Stampede will take place at the Events Complex in Winnemucca, Nev. Aug. 28- 31. It is one of Nevada’s longest running county fairs and rodeos in the state. Country artist Chris Young will headline the line-up of live entertainment. The fair also includes a range of activities from pig wrestling to truck and tractor pulls. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Chris Young concert, please visit http://winnemucca.com

Join your fellow Nevada Burners for the 2014 Nevada Burners Photo Shoot-150 Years group photo at 4 p.m. SHARP at The Man (6:00 side) in Black Rock City at the Burning Man Festival on Aug. 28. This year’s photo will notably be a “Signature Nevada 150 Event” in celebration of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial. The group photo will be available for free download following the Burning Man event. The photo will be also be included in the Nevada Sesquicentennial Celebration Report presented to the Governor and filed in the Nevada State Library and Archives. For additional information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nevada-150/405291256209188#!/events/285549321628052/?source=1 or http://tinyurl.com/nevadaburnersphotos.

The annual Numaga Indian Days Pow Wow will take place at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Hungry Valley Community in Hungry Valley, Nev. Aug. 29-31. This family event features some of the best Native American dancers, singers and drummers in the country. Besides the memorable Pow Wow entertainment, over 25 vendors will be selling native foods and handmade silverwork, beadwork, baskets and other Native American arts. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/NumagaDays or call 775-250-7013.

Get a taste of Nevada’s agricultural history at the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival at the Churchill County Fairgrounds in Fallon, NV Aug. 29-31. The family festival features great food, arts & crafts vendors, games, exhibits, karaoke, concerts, petting zoo, farmers market, mud volleyball tournament, Fallon Lions Club Jr. Rodeo, hypnotist, and plenty of famous Fallon cantaloupes. For more information please, visit www.falloncantaloupefestival.com or call 775-423-9721.

Continue the sesquicentennial celebration during the Civil War Re-enactment at Tonopah Historic Mining Park in Tonopah, Nev. Aug. 30-31. The park will host daily mock battles, realistic encampments, period costumes and a meet and greet with the Civil War soldiers and town folk. Admission is $10 for adult; $5 for youth 6-15; and free for Mining Park members and children 5 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the Mining Park gift shop. For more information and event times, please visit www.TonopahHistoricMiningPark.com or call 775-482-9274.

Celebrate the holiday at the Belmont Labor Day Celebration in historic Belmont, Nev. all-day on Aug. 30. Activities include tours of the historic Belmont Courthouse, Horseshoe Tournament, Live Music, Treasure Hunt, Raffle, barbecue and various other events. For additional information, please visit www.belmontcourthouse.org or call 775-482-3968.

In celebration of 150 years of statehood, The 36th Star: Nevada’s journey from Territory to Statehood will be featured at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Nev. Aug. 2- Nov. 2. On exhibit are historic Timothy O’ Sullivan photographs, historical Nevada objects, and statehood documents on loan from important regional museums. The exhibition includes items on loan from the Nevada State Museum, the Nevada State Library and Archives, the Nevada Historical Society, the Library of Congress, Washington D.C., and the National Archives, Washington, D.C. For additional information, go here or call 775-329-3333.