I finally celebrated Nevada Day after living here my whole life—here’s what I found
For Nevada Day 2025, Carson City put on the country’s largest celebration of statehood with a month of events culminating in a massive parade.
When I drove into downtown Carson City the day before the Nevada Day Parade, I couldn’t help but notice the chairs; a mile of them in multiple colors, set up on the sidewalks on both sides of Carson Street.
I wondered if seating was a coordinated effort, but soon learned the public staked their claim to a spot along the parade route, sometimes as early as three days in advance.
Drawing an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 attendees from all over the state and beyond, I am not surprised by the attendees’ proactive approach. Not only is it one of the city’s biggest celebrations of the year, but as Reno’s KOLO 8 News Now reports, it’s also one of the biggest moneymaking days for local businesses.
Despite being born in Las Vegas and living in the Silver State all but three years of my life, I must admit I’ve never “celebrated” Nevada Day. It isn’t as much of a to-do, 435 miles away in Sin City. Kids get the day off from school for the state holiday, but I always thought it was to rest up for trick-or-treating since Nevada Day and Halloween share a date: Oct. 31.
It’s a different world up north, where all of October is dedicated to the state’s heritage, culminating in what is said to be the largest celebration of statehood in the nation.
From rushed statehood to long celebration
Nevada isn’t only known for quickie weddings (Las Vegas) and divorces (Reno). As I learned in history class, it’s also known for quickie statehood. The Battle Born State was rushed into the 36th state, mid-Civil War, 1864, a ploy to help secure President Abraham Lincoln’s re-election and subsequently end slavery.
Though Nevada Day became a state holiday in 1949, our statehood was first celebrated in 1938 with a historical pageant, Civil War-era costume ball, and a “Pony Express” race. If you stroll along the 2.5-mile Kit Carson Trail in the city’s historic district, you’ll pass the Welcome to Carson City mural, which includes a tribute to this inaugural event.
Modern Nevada Day events in Carson City also pay tribute to the state’s origin story. Events take place throughout town, including old and new traditions.
According to this year’s itinerary, you could hop on an old locomotive for a harvest train ride at the Nevada Railroad Museum or travel back to Nevada’s mining days at an exhibit of the charcoal works of R. Merle Trehal by The Carson City Historical Society. Adventurous families searched in an annual treasure hunt across several Nevada counties for a hidden medallion and a chance to win $1,000. Music lovers enjoyed a concert by the Carson City Symphony.
The name “Mark Twain” popped up at more than one event since the wisecracking author (real name Samuel Clemens) first used his pen while writing for Nevada’s Territorial Enterprise newspaper in nearby Virginia City. Also popping up: Plenty of Halloween and haunted events.
I arrived just before sundown, so I used that time to explore the Victorian-era houses, churches, and historic buildings in a quaint neighborhood near the Governor’s Mansion, along the Kit Carson Trail, encountering elaborate Halloween decorations and enthusiastic trick-or-treaters and families as I listened to an audio tour of Carson City’s past.
Parade Day events
Some people kick off parade day at one of two pancake breakfasts or an 8K run and a 2-mile run/walk in the Historic Westside. Others fill the seats along Carson Street long before sunrise, sipping on coffee and champagne, to prepare for the Nevada Day Balloon Launch.
As the sun rises on parade day, this year on Nov. 1, dozens of colorful balloons inflate along Carson Street before lifting into the air and floating above the city for about an hour.
I had the unbelievable opportunity to fly high above Carson City in a balloon sponsored by Visit Carson City. As an introvert and professional observer, it was the perfect way to take in the spectacle below. I felt enormous pride for my Battle Born heritage, floating north down Carson Street, past the spire of Nevada’s Capitol Building, over trees tinted by vibrant fall colors, parks, historic businesses, a construction zone, and homes, eventually landing in a residential neighborhood.
I worried the neighbors would be annoyed by the presence of a handful of strangers and an uninflated hot air balloon blocking their driveways, but instead, they seemed delighted. A father and his two children even came out of their home and enthusiastically helped pack up the balloon.
Nevada Day Parade
The parade itself is a four-hour affair filled with marching bands, floats, horses, historical displays, Burning Man art cars, and much more. The theme this year was the Wild West, and attendees were encouraged to dress the part. There were many attendees in Western wear and Halloween costumes, sitting in chairs, strolling the streetside while browsing merchandise booths, sampling food, or making purchases from local vendors. It was a festive and family-friendly atmosphere throughout the day, filled with laughter, camaraderie, and flowing booze.
The parade kicked off with the unfurling of a large American Flag on Carson Street, followed by hours of floats, car horns, marching band music, cheers, sirens, and even gunshots. Appearances included Archie, the mascot for the Reno Aces baseball team, and Miss Rodeo Nevada, Cyd Curle, riding horseback.
This year’s parade Grand Marshal was legendary rodeo announcer and Nevada native Bob Tallman, known worldwide as “the voice of professional rodeo.”
In addition to floats, vehicles, and performers, the parade included a special appearance by the Capitol Christmas Tree, which now stands on the west lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. It’s the first time the national Christmas tree comes from Nevada. Appearing in the parade horizontally in the bed of a specially-decaled Kenworth T680 truck, the 53-foot red fir, affectionately nicknamed “Silver Belle,” was cut down near Mt. Rose at Lake Tahoe.
Though many attendees pack up their chairs and head home after the parade, others continue to celebrate at festivities including a rock drilling contest to honor the Comstock mining tradition, a chili feed, and a contest for the best, longest, fullest, reddest, whitest, blackest, salt-and-pepper-iest, neatest, and scruffiest beards. The Capital City Community Band played seasonal music and patriotic songs at the Capitol Amphitheater in the Legislative Mall.
Live music, food, and drinks flowed into the evening at Telegraph Square, across from the Capitol. The Nevada Railroad Museum and the Nevada State Museum offered free admission all day. Over at the Carson City Hot Springs, families lined up into the evening to take a dip in the pool and listen to live music.
As if that wasn’t enough activity for Carson City residents, some of them even return full-force the next day for a post-Nevada Day trash mob to help clean up Carson Street.
Considering how exhausted I was, I presume they then rest up until next year’s grand affair.
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