Four days of fun, entertainment, carnival rides, culture, music and more comes to Carson City this week. The Nevada State Fair kicks off on Thursday and runs through Sunday. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. It takes place at Mills Park. The cost is free to the public. Free parking is available at Carson High School.
Festivities get going Thursday with a grand opening ceremony at 1 p.m.
The ceremony will take place on the main stage and is expected to feature the Nevada National Guard Joint Forces Color Guard; the National Anthem performed by Paige Adkins; Gov. Brian Sandoval; Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison; State Sen. Ben Kieckhefer from District 16; State Sen. James Settlemeyer from District 17; State Assemblymen Jim Wheeler (District 39) and P.K. O’Neill (District 40); Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell; Carson City Board of Supervisor members: Karen Abowd, Brad Bonkowski and Jim Shirk.
The fair will feature a midway of rides by Brass Ring Amusements. Brass Ring will be bringing its “Midway of Fun to Mills Park for the events. Rides are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Advanced ride coupons can be bought here: http://tix.extremetix.com/webtix/4159/event/65300.
The Nevada State Fair is proud to showcase exhibits from each participating county from the state.
On Saturday, fairgoers can celebrate the fair aboard the V&T Railway’s vintage steam train on the “Wild West Wine Run.” Riders can have a glass of wine along with snacks as they take in river canyon views. Special guests will be the Naughty Tea Mistresses of Nevada.
The train ride is from 5 to 6 p.m. Arrive at the Carson City Deport at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 plus fees. To purchase tickets, go to http://vttrain.activitytickets.com/activity/323.
The Nevada State Fair we also mark the return of the Rendezvous. The Rendezvous brings history to life with Civil War re-enactments, western themed gunfights and horseback cavalry shows. Groups participating are Nevada Civil War Volunteers; Eagle Valley Muzzle Loaders - Mountain Men; Nevada Gun Fighters; Washoe/Paiute Tribe; and Nevada Pony Express.
This year’s fair will not include an agriculture and livestock aspect. However, the Nevada State Fair committee with the 4H and University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension leaders to expand and include agriculture and livestock functions to the Nevada State Fair in 2017.
The Nevada State Fair was originally founded in 1874 and had been Nevada’s longest running event. The Board of Directors for the Nevada State Fair met on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, and decided to close, ending a 136-year run (1874-2010). In August 2013, a completely new Nevada state non-profit company was formed to continue the legacy. With collaborative efforts from both state and private sectors, the Nevada State Fair is welcomed back and is pleased to be held in Carson City.