Columnist Barb Henderson: Nevada Day offers plenty of outdoor fun

Barb Henderson

Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 10:23 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Most of us know that next Friday's holiday is more than Halloween. Oct. 31 will also be Nevada Day.

Instead of becoming little goblins and haunting for treats, many Nevadans have a different trick to treat themselves.

On Oct. 31, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Nevada's admission to the union as the 36th state. The state celebrates Nevada Day on the last Friday in October with a parade the following day.

One magnificent destination for some folks planning to enjoy Nevada Day festivities will be Carson City.

Scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. will be the "Battle Born Golf Invitational." On Saturday morning between 7-8, hot-air balloons are scheduled to lift off, followed by the parade at 10 a.m. Other exciting activities include the 1864 Grand Ball, Nevada Day Music and Heritage Festival, Nevada Day Classic Run/Walk, the Rock Drilling Contest and the popular Beard Contest and more.

The 65th Nevada Day parade, themed "A Salute to Our Veterans," will take place Nov. 1 along the main street of the state capital.

A 1944 Medal of Honor recipient, Richard Sorenson, a U.S. Marine who served in World War II, has been named the Grand Marshall by the Nevada Day committee.

This year's parade has 200 entries and estimated to last approximately three hours.

For more information about Nevada Day, click on the Internet at: www.nevadaday.com or call (866) NVDAY4U.

Duck and goose hunting opens on Nov. 1 at the management area. Hunters will be drawing for four-person blinds that will be available for hunting on the opener.

For more information contact NDOW at 486-5127.

Participants will be in period costume. Events and demonstrations will include: black-powder rifles, leatherwork, beadwork, storytelling and more. "Old Bill Williams," the notorious mountain man, will also be wandering through the camps. Camps and trades will be set up in the main pasture.

Park entrance fees are $5 per vehicle. Program times: Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Tuesday 9 a.m.-noon. For more information call the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park office at 875-4141.