Nevada Day parade Nov. 1, but weekend full of events

Staff Report

In less than three weeks, Carson City will be once again bursting at the seams for the 70th Annual Nevada Day parade slated for Saturday, Nov. 1.

Gone are the days of dual trick-or-treating for Carson City's children. In years past, Halloween was observed on Oct. 30 in the capital city with the Nevada Day parade always being held on Oct. 31, no matter the day of the week.

But since a law change in 2000, Nevada Day is celebrated on the last Friday in October with the parade the following Saturday.

This year's observance of Nevada Day happens to fall on the actual anniversary of the state's admittance into the union, Oct. 31. The parade will be Nov. 1.

The 2008 theme: Hollywood in Nevada " Movies and Television. The Silver State has played host and backdrop to a number of big and little screen endeavors for 111 years. The first production filmed here was in 1897 when the heavyweight prizefight between "Gentleman Jim" Corbett and British challenger Bob Fitzsimmons was captured for posterity in a ring where the Carson City Sheriff's Department now stands.

Kathryn Crosby, widow of crooner and actor Bing Crosby and an actress and singer in her own right, is this year's Grand Marshal and will lead the parade of dozens of floats and marching bands from across the state in front of thousands of onlookers.

Crosby, 74, lives in Genoa with her husband of eight years, Dr. Bill Sullivan. Neither she nor her husband have ever attended the parade, though they've lived in the region since 1986, she said.

The events Nov. 1 begin with a balloon ascension from Carson Street at 7 a.m. and end at midnight when the RSVP Carnival at Mills Park closes.

But the entire weekend, beginning on Friday, is filled with activities.

The minting of V&T Railway Coin, featuring the sixth 1 oz. silver coin in the locomotive series, takes place at the Nevada State Museum " Carson City Mint, 600 N Carson St. on Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.

You can spend the evening either taking the kids trick-or-treating or by attending the fireworks and dinner at Silver Oak Golf Course with a traditional Basque dinner beginning at 6 p.m. with the fireworks show at 8:30 p.m.

Friday Oct. 31 the Children's Museum also hosts the Mad Hatter Ball from 8:30-10 p.m. at 813 N. Carson St.

Friday also marks the start of a three-day Pow Wow that runs through Sunday at the Carson Colony Gymnasium on Curry Street. The Brewery Arts Center gets in the mix with a concert starting at 7:30 p.m.

The Nevada Day festivities continue Sunday, Nov. 2, with the Nevada State Railroad Museum Steam Up and the second and final day of a men's softball tournament in Incline Village.

The RSVP Carnival at Mills Park runs from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2.

The Nevada Day official program will be included in print copies of the Nevada Appeal on Oct. 24. Copies will also be handed out during the parade.

For more information visit nevadaday.com.