It’s almost Nevada Day, one of our FAVORITE holidays to celebrate each year. Being born and raised in this wonderful state means my battle-born blood runs thick and Nevada Day events never come up short.
What is Nevada Day?
So what’s the big deal with Nevada Day anyways? Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864. Every year we celebrate it to remind the citizens how and when Nevada became a State.
Nevada Day is observed on the LAST FRIDAY in October (which may or may not fall on October 31).
Typically our state goes wild and we celebrate with Nevada Day events ALL WEEKEND LONG.
FUN FACT:
We are the only state to continually celebrate our historical entry into the Union.
DOUBLE FUN FACT:
Cofounder Leanna’s husband is a 5th-generation Carson (you know, Kit Carson the frontiersman). His name is also Kit Carson and they have a little 6th-generation Carson turning three this winter!
Nevada Day Events in Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City
Check out this list of Nevada Day events, activities, and offerings around town. Events are listed in order by date and time.
Horses4Heroes Nevada Day & Nevada Day Camp
Date: Oct. 31; Day Camp: 9am-3pm, Family Farm Friday: 10am-12pm
Location: Horses4Heroes Family Equestrian Center; 4975 North Miller Lane Las Vegas, NV 89149
Day Camp Cost: $150/Members, $200/Non-Members
Cost: $15/General Admission for Kids, $10/Military, $20 /Non-Locals
Farm Camp at The Ranch is 9 am to 3 pm, early drop off opens at 8 am and we are open for late pick up until 5 pm.
Activities are age appropriate and include: Horse 101 with mini horses, Barnyard Buddies, playtime in our playground, ranch games. We’ll start off with Ranch Chores.
We’ll provide lunch, too, and a morning snack.
Register online now. Your $25 non-refundable deposit will hold your spot and the balance is due the day of camp. (Farm School Session 2 students, we will waive the $25 fee.)
Springs Preserve
Date: Oct. 31 from 9am-4pm
Location: Springs Preserve; 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada 89107
Cost: FREE (for valid NV residents), no reservation required
What better place to celebrate Nevada Day than at the birthplace of Las Vegas? Join us for a free, family-fun day as we honor the Silver State. Enjoy hands-on activities including arts, crafts, gold-panning and garden explorations.
AREA15 Nevada Day Tricks & Treats
Date: Oct. 31 from 12-5pm
Location: AREA15
Cost: Free
Join us for more family-friendly fun at the Lil’ Boo Bash, taking place in The Portal with various holiday themed activities and entertainment and/or add-on with a stay and play package for tokens to Asylum Arcade, a ride on Looper and access to Harvest Hollow!
Join us for more family-friendly fun at the Lil’ Boo Bash, taking place in The Portal with various holiday themed activities and entertainment and/or add-on with a stay and play package for tokens to Asylum Arcade, a ride on Looper and access to Harvest Hollow in Zone 2!
Boulder Railroad Museum – Kids Ride Free
Date: Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 at 10am, 12pm, 2:30pm
Location: Boulder Railroad Museum
Cost: $12/Adult, Free/Ages 17 and Under
Come celebrate Nevada’s history and heritage with us. Trains depart 10:00am, 12:00pm, and 2:00pm.
NevadaWeen – Not Confirmed for 2025
Date: Oct. 31 from 9am-12pm
Location: The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Cost: $3/person, Free/Ages 12 and under
Celebrate Nevada Day and Halloween! Lots of great things planned by the volunteers of “Friends of The Fort”. Admission to this Nevada State Park is $3.00 per person. Children under 12 are free. Come join in the fun.
Activities include a scavenger hunt, cupcake walk, blacksmith demonstrations, and a Nevada history display. Kids can compete in the costume contest at 10:00 AM with prizes for different age groups, and don’t miss out on voting for your favorite soup at 11:00 AM.
Dinoween: Prehistoric Spooky Forest
Date: Oct. 31 from 10am-3pm
Location: Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA
Cost: Children in costume receive free admission
Enter the Prehistoric Spooky Forest for Dinoween—our annual Halloween bash at the Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum! Wander among “creepy” dino bones, join in eerie STEM experiments, conjure up spooky arts and crafts, and discover mysterious museum treasures at haunted activity tables. Costumes are encouraged (family friendly, no masks, please)—let your inner dino or creature run wild!
Reserve your spot for a frightfully fun day filled with prehistoric chills, thrills, and plenty of treats.
Included with museum admission or membership. Supplies are limited, first come-first serve.
Nevada Day Celebration
Date: Oct. 31 from 9am-12pm
Location: Ice Age Fossils State Park
Cost: $3/person Kids 12 and under are free
Join us for activities to celebrate Nevada Day on Friday, October 31st from 9 am-12 pm. We will have games, crafts, and more for people of all ages.
Stop by for this drop-in program any time between 9 am-12 pm.
Nevada Day Events in Reno, Sparks, Carson City
Check out this list of Nevada Day events, activities, and offerings around town. Events are listed in order by date and time.
Nevada State Museum Free Admission
Date: Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 from 8:30am-4:30pm
Location: Nevada State Museum; 600 N. Carson St
Cost: FREE
The Nevada State Museum, Carson City, is offering free admission on Friday, October 31 (Nevada Day observed) and on Saturday, November 1 (Parade Day) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Coin Press No. 1 will also be minting the new 1871 Liberty Seated commemorative medallion on both days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Finally, the Museum Store has a robust selection of Battle Born gear in stock that’s perfect for celebrating Nevada Day.
Nevada State Railroad Museum Free Admission
Date: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 from 10am-3pm
Location: Nevada State Railroad Museum; 2180 South Carson Street
Cost: FREE
We will have free admission Friday October 31st and Saturday November 1st. We will also be running the V&T No. 25 October 31st and November 1st-2nd from 10 am-3 pm. Tickets for the train are $12 for adults 12 & up, $6 for children 4-11, and free for children 3 and under.
Historical East Side Walking Tour – Not Confirmed for 2025
Date: Oct. 25 at 10am
Location: Capitol Steps in Carson City
Cost: FREE
The Carson City Historical Society invites locals and visitors to join Bernie Allen and Donna McLaren as they guide you on a free, two-mile Nevada Day walking tour of the historical east side of Carson City.
This free tour begins at the Capitol steps and continues to the location of the former children’s home, which was also the site of the 1897 Corbett Fitzsimmons heavyweight title fight. The tour also includes a visit to the site of the former V&T Railroad shops as well as many other historic locations.
38th Annual Nevada Day Parade – Elko
Date: Oct. 31 at 11am
Location: Downtown Elko
Cost: FREE
Our theme this year will be “Wild, Wild West!”
Our parade will tentatively take the official Elko parade route starting at the Crystal Theater and ending at 11th St. where entries will make their way back into the corridor.
The last day to enter will be Wednesday, October 29th at 5 p.m.
This and every year’s parade will be in Loving Memory of two of our original parade founders, Rose Conner and Don Tanner.
Nevada Day Pow Wow – POSTPONED UNTIL 2026
Dates: Oct. 25 at 7pm, Oct. 26 at 2pm and 7pm, Oct. 27 at 12pm
Location: MAC Facility
Cost: FREE
Good Evening Friends and Relatives. We have received a lot of questions, and requests for information.. We regret to inform everyone that this year’s Nevada Day Pow Wow will be POSTPONED UNTIL 2026.
Without going into details, we’ve experienced some funding and staffing limitations.
We would, however, like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to those sponsors who continued to support the pow wow and to all of you who support the pow wow!! We do have some great plans in place and we will be back next year with some great additions to the entire weekend of activities. So please, bear with us, and thank you for your understanding
34th Annual Nevada Pancake Breakfast at the Governors Mansion
Date: Nov. 1 frome 7-9:30am
Location: Governor’s Mansion; 606 N. Mountain St.
Cost: $7/Adults, $4/Ages 10 and Under
A classic Nevada Day tradition, the pancake breakfast at the Governor’s Mansion is hosted by the Carson City Republican Women’s Club from 7:00 – 9:30 a.m. on parade day. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, ham, orange juice and coffee. Keep an eye out—the Governor may be available for photos as well as surprise celebrities and famous political guests!
Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for kids 10 and younger. Proceeds go towards a scholarship that will be gifted to a deserving senior from Carson or Dayton High School.
36th Annual Nevada Day Classic Walk / Run
Date: Nov. 1 at 8am
Location: Carson Street in Carson City
Cost: Starts at $20
Thirty-six years running!! We are excited and thankful, as always, to put on one of our signature races and be part of the Nevada Day weekend!
This is a classic road course through the streets of west Carson City. Costumes are HIGHLY encouraged!
An annual event since 1989, the Nevada Day Classic is an 8K run and a 2-mile run/walk that kicks off Nevada Day and sends runners/walkers through the beautiful, historic West Side of Carson City. All runners of all distances will receive a custom medal and shirt!
The Nevada Day Classic is organized by the Tahoe Mountain Milers in partnership with Guide Dog for the Blind, Kaia Fit, Tangerine Design & Web, and Lynn Mentzer Timing. All net proceeds will go to Guide Dogs For The Blind.
Nevada Day The Metcalf Way Breakfast
Date: Nov. 1 at 6am – 9:30am
Location: Red’s Old 395 Grill
Cost: $10.00 per person Breakfast Buffet, Kids 8 and younger $8.00
Start Nevada Day the Metcalf Way! Enjoy a Buffet of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, potatoes, coffee, orange juice and hot cocoa. Don’t forget Red’s famous Bloody Mary or Mimosa to start Nevada Day off right.
Balloon Launch in Carson City
Date: Nov. 1 at 8am launch (weather permitting!)
Location: Carson Street near Carson Mall
Cost: FREE
The sky above Carson City fills with color as 20+ hot air balloons launch kicking off this year’s Nevada Day Celebration! Watch the majesty of the hot air balloons launching right on Carson Street near the Carson Mall beginning at 8 a.m. on parade day (weather permitting). The balloons fly for about an hour and are usually down before the parade starts. The launch operates under the assistance of the Great Reno Balloon Race. Sponsors can ride in a balloon and hang their banner from the balloon’s basket.
10th Annual Nevada Day Fall Fest
Date: Nov. 1 from 9am-4pm
Location: Arlington Square outside Carson Nugget Casino
Cost: FREE
Stop by the 10th Annual Northern Nevada Fall Fest. Shop local crafters & businesses! Food Trucks, Food Booths, Kettle Corn, Ice Cream, Alcohol, Crafters, Artisans, Raffles, Shopping, Candy & more!
Annual Nevada Day Parade – Carson City
Date: Nov. 1 at 10am
Location: Starts on William Street and N. Carson Street in Carson City
Cost: FREE
Since 1938, the Annual Nevada Day Parade in Carson City continues! Don’t miss the balloons that fill the sky that morning beginning at 8:00 am.
World Championship Single Jack Drilling Contest
Date: Nov. 1 at 10:30am
Location: Carson Mall Parking lot on Carson St.
Cost: FREE
Check out men and women as they use a hammer and chisel to drill into granite competing for the title World Champion! Held at the Carson Mall, starts 10:30ish and goes till it’s done.
40th Annual Nevada Day Chili Feed
Date: Nov. 1 at 12 – 2pm
Location: Carson Nugget Banquet Center; 507 North Carson St.
Cost: FREE
The 44th Annual Nevada Day Chili Feed takes place Nov. 1 from 12–2 p.m. in the Carson Nugget’s Sierra Room. Guests can enjoy free chili as part of this long-running Nevada Day tradition. Tickets are free and limited, available starting at 10 a.m. at the Carson Nugget Winners Club. Must be 21 or older to attend.
Post Nevada Day Trash Mob
Date: Nov. 2 at 7am
Location: Parking lot at 3rd Street and Curry Street
Cost: FREE
Post-Nevada Day Trash Mob meets at 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, in the parking lot at 3rd and Curry streets. Volunteers gathered to help clean up downtown after the parade yesterday. Gloves and bags are provided. Everyone is welcome.
Nevada Day Sales and Offerings
Looking for some fun Nevada gear to represent at one of the events or activities above (or all year long!)? Here’s some sales and offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are some other fun facts about Nevada?
A: Here are some fun facts about our state:
- State Flower: Sagebrush
- 36th State Motto: All for Our Country
- State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
- Nickname: The Silver State
- State Reptile: The Desert Tortoise
- Song: Home Means Nevada
- Tree:Single leaf pinon and bristlecone pine
Q: If Nevada Day is on October 31, when do we trick-or-treat for Halloween?
A: Across the state, Nevada Day is always October 31st. But it is OBSERVED on the last Friday of October now (fun fact, it didn’t always use to be observed on a different day – we used to have Halloween off which was fun!).
In Southern Nevada, Halloween and trick or treating ALWAYS occur on October 31st no matter what day the observed Nevada Day falls on.
In Northern Nevada, it is the same as Southern Nevada EXCEPT for in Carson City where the annual Nevada Day Parade is held. If the Nevada Day Parade and Halloween happen to be held on the same day (Oct 31) then trick-or-treating is moved to Oct. 30 for safety reasons. The parade is HUGE and an all day event (heck Nevada Day is HUGE up there and celebrated all weekend long!).
We do have Halloween events and trunk or treats all month long hosted by individual businesses and organizations.
- 125+ Family-Friendly Halloween Events in Las Vegas
- 65+ Family-Friendly Halloween Events In Northern Nevada
Q: Is there school on Nevada Day?
No. The public school districts also recognize Nevada Day as a holiday. There will be no classes held. However, classes will be held on Monday, Oct. 31 unless Nevada Day OBSERVED and Nevada Day/Halloween fall on the same date.
Celebrate Nevada Day!
How will you and your family be celebrating the birth of our state? Let us know what Nevada Day events you are headed to this year in the comments below or tag us on social media @NorthernNevadaMoms and @SouthernNevadaMoms.
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