Nevada Day Parade: Something for everyone

The annual Nevada Day celebration in downtown Carson City means a lot of things to a lot of people.

"It's just a big reunion," said Erin Lehman. "You walk around and see people you haven't seen all year." Thousands converged Saturday for the parade down Carson Street that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours and featured everything from Civil War Reenactors to local churches to gymnasts and fire displays flying through the air.

Matt James, 13, moved to Gardnerville three years ago with his family, and he has attended the parade every year.

"It's fun how they throw candy at you and everything," he said. "I like seeing the cars and stuff."

He watched the parade with fellow Carson Valley Middle schooler Tristin Reid, 14, who said he's been coming to the parade since he was "2-ish."

He was looking forward this year to watching his step-sister perform with Tumbleweed Gymnastics during the parade.

Andrew Pitlock, a Carson City native, takes part in the festivities every year. He says it's about more than just the parade.

"It's a tradition," he said. "We come to watch the parade and the rock drilling, everything. It's Nevada Day. It's the whole environment. It's a big party."

For Ashley Mercer, 22, attending this year's parade after about a 10-year hiatus was nostalgic.

"It's nice because there's a lot of the same things I remember as a kid, like the guys shooting the guns," she said. "I love it."

With just three days left before the election, the parade expectedly took on politics as well.

Gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval marched by as a group of teens yelled out, "Go Rory Reid," in support of his opponent.

A man walked by U.S. Senate contender Sharron Angle's parade entry and gave the thumbs down. A plane flew overhead denouncing her rival, Harry Reid, D-Nev, with a banner that read, "Anyone but Reid."

Mayor Bob Crowell made his round to several of the day's events, which included the parade, rock drilling contest, beard contest and chili feed, among others.

His favorite entry in the parade, he said, was the Carson High School marching band.

"I just thought it was the cat's meow," he said.

A Tonopah native, he's spent the bulk of his life in Carson City and has attended more Nevada Day celebrations than he can count.

"It's a reminder of the good things about Nevada," he said. "It's a time to relax and have fun and celebrate who we are as Nevadans."

But for all the things Nevada Day means to all of the people who attend the annual celebration, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki summed it all up during his traditional chili feed.

"Home means Nevada," he told the crowd.