Fourth of July weekend rings in a parade, a Green Goddess Farmers Market, auto racing and fireworks on Sunday night to light up the clear, sparkling Nevada sky. This is how Churchill County celebrates America’s 243rd birthday.
The nation rings out patriotism from shining sea to shining sea depending on each town’s history and customs.
The Fallon Merchants Association’s parade on Saturday coincides with the afternoon’s Green Goddess Farmers Market from 4-9 p.m. In previous years, the city of Fallon has preferred not to schedule major events on Sundays. The parade begins 10 a.m. and follows the city’s traditional route. The staging area is at the Churchill County Middle School, and the parade moves north on Taylor Street to A Street. The route heads east for one block, moves south in front of the American Legion Hall to Williams Avenue and then east two more blocks to Maine Street. From there, the route goes south to the middle school.
LVN file Auto racing at Rattlesnake Raceway will take place Saturday and Sunday nights.
The market is the first Saturday of the month through September, and the Oats Park Arts Center and Lariat Courtyard are combining artwork with produce grown by local farmers.
This year’s Independence Day opens the Fourth of July weekend with “Baseball, Apple Pie & 4th of July,” all familiar themes in Churchill County. The grand marshals will include several players who competed in Babe Ruth baseball after the World War II. Apple pie may be an available dish at the market, and there’s no question about the importance of the holiday.
Even with last year’s coronavirus pandemic, both the city of Fallon and Churchill County found a way to sponsor the 2020 parade with the proper distancing. It’s been easier this year.
The merchants have received numerous entries from individuals, businesses, groups and organizations. The awards will be handed out at 4 p.m. for Best Use of Theme, Best Youth, Best Civic/Non-Profit Group, Best Business Entry, Best Mounted Individual, Best Mounted Group, Best Farm Equipment, Best Ag, Best Automobile, Best Military, Most Patriotic, Fallon Merchants Association Choice and People’s Choice.
Paid sponsors include Highland Village, Fallon Tribal Development Corp., Farmers Insurance - the Lundstrom Agency, Great Basin Urgent Care LLC, Jeff's Digitex Printing, Financial Horizons Credit Union, At Your Service, Edward Jones, Tedford Tire, Soda Lake Geothermal, Patua Geothermal & Solar and Cyrq Energy/Soda Lake Geothermal.
This list was current as of Monday.
AUTO RACING, FIREWORKS Auto racing will take place at Rattlesnake Raceway, a quarter-mile high-banked, dirt oval track, Saturday and Sunday. Racing begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. on the Fourth of July. Sunday night will feature the fireworks display that begins at dark. The categories include Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Bootleggers, Sprints, A and B Mods and Dwarfs, only on Saturday. Admission: Adults 11 & older, $10; Military with ID, $8; Seniors 55 ad older and children 6-10, $5; Children 5 and under, free and tailgating car and driver only, $25.
LVN file