Balloon launch, beard and rock drilling contests, 'reverse parade' among Nevada Day 2020 events

Each October, Nevadans turn their attention to the state capitol, Carson City, home of the “official” Nevada Day Parade. Since 1938, the Nevada Day Parade in Carson City has been an annual coming together to celebrate Nevada’s heritage and the founding of this great state on October 31, 1864.

COVID-19 may have changed the look of Nevada Day for 2020 but that doesn’t mean the weekend won’t be filled with smaller, safe events spread out across Carson City the entire weekend. Go here for the latest. Here’s the events we know so far, so mark your calendars:

Historical East-Side Tour, Friday Oct. 30, 10:00 a.m.
Join Bernie Allen as he guides you on a 2 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 historical locations. For more info, call Bernie at (775) 315-7616

Annual Nevada Day Chili Feed at Carson Nugget, noon to 2:30 p.m.
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske and Senator James Settelmeyer will continue the tradition of hosting the Annual Nevada Day Chili Feed at the Carson Nugget on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Everyone is invited to this free event, held upstairs in the Carson Nugget banquet room.
A limited amount of free tickets are available. Tickets will be available at the Carson Nugget starting at 10am with seating times between noon and 2pm. Seating times will be assigned. Get to the Carson Nugget early to choose your ticket time. All mandated social distancing and safety guidelines will be in place at this event.

Each free ticket also comes with a gift bag that includes a water, hand sanitizer, cloth mask and $5 Free Play for the Carson Nugget. The gift bag items have been donated by The Carson Nugget, Visit Carson City, Pepsi, NNDA (northern Nevada Development Association) & the Adams Hub for Innovation.

Balloon Launch, Saturday, Oct. 31, 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Viewable from Downtown Carson City
Watch the majestic of hot air balloons launching at 8:00 a.m. on parade day (weather permitting). The balloons fly for about an hour.

Beard Contest, Red’s Old 395 Grill, Saturday, Oct. 31, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Beard Contest takes place at the Copper Pointe Plaza near Reds Old 395 starting at 10:00 A.M. There is no entry fee and anyone with a beard, and for the first time, a mustache, can enter. If you are interested in entering, or would like more details, stop by or call Nick (775-515-4038) at Cipriani’s Downtown Barbershop, located at 318 N Carson Suite 102. Categories include; Best overall, longest, fullest, reddest, best groomed, scruffiest, and most bearded community, plus for the first time, best mustache.

Nevada Day Gift and Craft Show at Carson Mall, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Carson Mall, 1313 South Carson Street, has been approved to start doing our events again and our first event will be Nevada Day.

Carson Mall is doing a craft show on Nevada Day and will be having it in the parking lot on the Carson Street side. Please join us on Oct. 31. The hours of the show will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. At this time no food trucks are permitted.

The cost is $40 per space and it will be a first come, first served basis. Come to help us pack our parking lot! Any questions please message me here or text 775-671-8150 or email me at Carsonmallvendors@gmail.com. If you are interested in being a vendor, please fill out the application found at the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HL-_bGwdJPv8R1imSzuBBYAzgg_spU56/view?u...

Rock Drilling, Carson Mall, Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The 46th Annual World Championship Single Jack Drilling Contest takes place on Saturday October 31st starting at 9:00 A.M. in the Carson Mall Parking Lot near Carson Homes Furnishings and Dutch Brothers. Contestants use 4 1/2 pound hammers and a 3/4″ bit of steel to drill as deep and fast as they can in a 4,320 pound piece of Sierra White Granite. They have 10 minutes to drill and their only help is from an assistant who runs water into the hole to clear out loose stone chips. The deepest hole wins.

Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum: Tours & Demonstrations, Stewart Indian School, Saturday, Oct. 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Three Great Basin Native artists will be demonstrating and sell their art for the public in the museum’s Wa-Pai-Shone Gallery. Linda Eben Jones, Paiute and Yavapai, and Stewart Class of 1965, will be demonstrating how she makes beaded bags.

Linda is an enrolled member of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony and member of the Great Basin Native Artists. Linda and her sister Janice Eben Stump, Paiute and Stewart class of 1972, will be demonstrating how to make beaded bags from 10-1. Beading kits will be available for people to take for a small cash donation. All cash donations go to pay our cultural teachers.

Loretta Burden, Toi-Ticutta (Fallon Paiute) will demonstrate basket making and cradle board making from 1-5 pm. She will have small cradle board making kits available for visitors who would like to make a small cash donation. Loretta is a member of the Great Basin Native Artists and the Great Basin Native Basket Weaver’s Association.

Stewart memorabilia will be available for sale at special Nevada Day prices at the Stewart Welcome Center from 10-5 as a fundraiser for the museum. Merchandise includes Stewart t-shirts, hoodies, caps, water bottles, lanyards, tote bags, and coffee cups. The museum can accept cash and checks but no credit cards for purchases.

The Carson City Host Lions Club is sponsoring a fun Chalk Art Contest as part of the Nevada Day festivities on October 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The contest is open to all Carson City residents, households, and businesses. Contestants will create chalk art masterpieces on their own driveways or sidewalks based on the Nevada Day theme of “My Favorite Moment in Nevada.” The Lions Club will provide all contestants with chalk supplies.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three chalk artists/households judged by members of the Lions Club. The Carson City community is invited to join a driving tour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Nevada Day, October 31st, to view the outdoor chalk art gallery. The chalk art tourists will also be eligible to win prizes by submitting photos of the entries to the Lions Club social media sites. The photos may be published on the Club’s website.

To enter the contest, go to the Carson City Host Lions Club website at https://carsoncitylions.com/chalk/ and download the entry form. Return the entry form no later than October 15, 2020 along with a $10.00 entry fee to the Carson City Host Lions Club, P.O. Box 825, Carson City, Nevada 89702. Cash or checks will be accepted. The proceeds from the entry fees will be used to benefit the Lions’ Scholarship Program. The Club annually provides one or two scholarships to Carson High School graduating seniors. For more information about the Chalk Art Contest or about the Carson City Host Lions, visit www.CarsonCityLions.com or go to our Facebook page @CarsonCityLions. You can also email us at Carsoncitylions@gmail.com.

Prison Tours, Nevada State Prison, Saturday, Oct. 31, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Guided experience at the Nevada State Prison Historic Site on Nevada Day, Saturday, 31 October 2020. Each experience will last 90 minutes, and be prepared to walk about a half mile, and climb about 60 steps. We have 12 start times available, the first starts at 10 a.m., then every half-hour until the last one at 3:30 p.m.

For more details, and to obtain tickets, please visit: http://nevadastateprison.org/nevada-day-at-nsp/

Due to the Governor’s directives, we must limit the number of people on the site, so once you arrive in our free parking area, please wait in your vehicle until 10 (ten) minutes before the time on your ticket. Then proceed to the gate for check-in. Please keep all members of your party together at all times. Masks are required at all times. There will be time after your event to check out our pop-up gift shop where we will have NSP merchandise and memberships available for purchase. May we suggest that you wear comfortable clothing and closed toed walking shoes, bring water and of course, your camera.

Reverse Parade, Western Nevada College Parking Lot, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Drive through the Reverse Parade and see your favorite parade entrants in the comfort of your own vehicle. Ambient music brought to you by the Brewery Arts Center. Reverse Parade will be 2 hours.

Made in Nevada Film Festival Drive-In Movies, Western Nevada College Parking Lot, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Film Festival is a drive-in movie and it is two nights. On Oct. 30th The Shootist will be screened at 6:15 and The Misfits at 8pm. On Oct. 31 The Muppets will be screened at 6:15 at Sister Act at 8pm. The film festival is sponsored by Carson City Toyota and if you pick up your tickets there, they are free and you are also entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card. If you reserve your space online, it is $5.

Railbike Tours, V&T Eastgate Depot, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Halloween haunted fun for riders of all ages! Come in your costume and join us for a spooky ride. Family rides will be held at 6 p.m. with trick-or-treating along the V&T Bridge Short Rides route. For those 17 and older, join us for our spooky adult’s ride at 8 p.m. Zombies, ghosts, vampires, and monsters will be hiding along the Carson River Canyon route with lanterns lighting your way.
Spooky Ride for ages 17+: 8 p.m. Reserve Tickets by going here or calling 877-724-5007.