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Nevada Day's theme this year is Carnivál; discover the history of Carnivál on the Comstock in time for the big day!
When people think of the Catholic holiday celebration of "Carnivál", the first thing that comes to mind usually isn’t the state of Nevada or the tiny mining town of Virginia City. However, Carnivál celebrations can be traced back over a hundred years in the Silver State!
On the 4th of July holiday weekend of 1903, the first Carnivál on the Comstock was held in a style that leaned on traditional Catholic carnival revelries, while also showcasing more circus-style entertainment that would later grow to peak popularity in 1930s America.
While traditionally America does not celebrate as many Catholic religious holidays as Latin America, Carnivál, like its cousin Mardi Gras, is something that has captured the hearts of Catholics and non-Catholics alike for hundreds of years.
Carnivál traditionally occurs just before the season of Lent, with main events typically taking place during February or early March; however, Virginia City decided to host their own Carnivál Extravaganza in sync with their Independence Day celebration at the turn of the century.
As word of the carnival proposal spread, excitement spread like wildfire through those in the community.
“It aroused the public from a state of lethargy everyone seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and an enthusiasm that can hardly be equalled anywhere was the outcome of the decision to celebrate,” said the 1903 carnival pamphlet.
A court was convened for the festivities under “King Comstock’s Court,” which included a King and Queen, a Lord High, a Jester and Jesterine, a Page to His Majesty, a Page to Any Good Thing, Knights from Hobo Land, Cup Bearer, Crown Bearer, and more.
On July 2, the carnival officially began with the ringing of bells, the blowing of whistles, the firing of salters and the booming of cannons throughout the town.
Soon after, a bicycle race for Comstock boys was held, followed by free vaudeville entertainment on the Midway, including a high dive from a 90-foot tower and a hot air balloon ascension.
When dusk fell, the town was entranced by “the greatest electrical display ever witnessed” in Nevada, followed by the Coronation Parade and a grand Coronation Ball.
Throughout the weekend, entertainment included a baseball game and shooting tournament, more vaudeville and parades, Bronco Busting contests, drilling contests, and many, many more high dives all around town.
According to the pamphlet, Carson City was the first place in the state to hold a carnival a few years before in 1901, and “held a celebration that will long be remembered.”
While 1903’s Carnivál on the Comstock may not have been a traditional Catholic carnival, nor a traditional circus-style carnival, the collection of city-wide entertainment certainly wowed the masses, and became history as one of the most exciting carnival celebrations in the Silver State.