Senate OKs three-day Nevada Day weekend

Monday, Feb. 15, 1999 | 3:23 a.m.

SB31, now going to the Assembly for final legislative action, stems from narrow voter approval last November of an advisory question on changing Nevada Day from the actual date of statehood.

Advocates argued the event now can fall on any day of the week, and it's tough for some entrants - such as school marching bands from distant cities like Elko, Ely or Las Vegas - to get to Carson City for a midweek parade.

Merchants who count on the event as a revenue-booster also suffer when it's held on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, proponents said.

Sens. Bob Coffin and Valerie Wiener, both Las Vegas Democrats, opposed the change, with Coffin saying lawmakers should preserve the tradition of observing statehood on the exact day. Nevada was admitted to the Union on Oct. 31, 1864, as the 36th state.

Advocates of SB31 included Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, whose uncle, Pete Amodei, introduced the initial Nevada Day legislation in 1939 while serving in the state Assembly.

Mark Amodei proposed the 1997 measure that authorized the advisory vote in November, and Coffin joked that he's going to have some explaining to do if he ever meets up with his late uncle in the hereafter.

While a few other states observe their own historic events with official holidays, only Hawaii and Nevada do so with formal celebrations.

If the weather is good, tens of thousands of people line Carson City's main street on Nevada Day for a three-hour procession of marching bands, horse and drill teams, fire trucks and floats from around the state.

While traditionalists have opposed the change to allow a three-day weekend, state Archivist Guy Rocha has said history shows the observance of Nevada Day has never been fixed.

No celebrations were held in 1942-1944, during World War II.

In 1948, when Oct. 31 fell on a Sunday, Nevada Day festivities were held on Monday, Nov. 1. When the date again fell on a Sunday in 1954, 1971, 1982 and 1993, the parade and events were held on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Only once, in 1965, did the Nevada Day Committee buck religious sentiments and hold the parade on a Sunday, Rocha said. Public outcry ensured that never happened again.