One of my fondest early memories was attending the Lane County Fair in Eugene, OR. My family is from Eugene though my sister and I did not grow up there, we just spent our summers. And summers meant water skiing at Fern Ridge and the County Fair. I looked forward to everything about the fair; the agricultural competitions, home crafts, hawkers of the latest kitchen gadgets, fried sugary foods, stunt shows, lost bands, a rodeo and carnival rides.
It celebrated everything local. My grandfather, “Big Don”, Donald T Byars was a proud small business man, New-Used Cars and Trucks, GMC Dealer - Junction City, OR. He always had an exhibit of cars, trucks, and campers. He and his sales team would sit around and be so inappropriate. But Grandpa was in his element. And I cannot resist a good fair!
When I started Bikepacking Northern Nevada a theme I landed on was local festivals. This inspiration came from Jack Sutton’s Backroads show on on local Channel 2 News. I thought there would we no better way to link the people and the land than to engage in their local celebration of place. Ten years into BNN I have biked into two local festivals, Elko’s Basque Festival and Ely’s Fire and Ice Festival. It is time to plan more!
I thought about the ways I could go about this, organize potential festival around the calendar, pick Nevada towns of a certain size that are likely to have a local parade/fair/carnival, or do I pick an area that I am touring in, see what towns are close by, then see what they have to offer. It doesn’t really matter, I found myself looking at a combination of methods. Some festivals I have heard about over the years, some towns are near areas I want to visit, and Travel Nevada was my one-stop planner for Nevada small town goings on
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Close to home is the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Genoa Western Heritage Days. Fallon is about 60 miles from home and on two historic routes, the Pony Express and the California Emigrant Trail. There are 4 State Parks between home and Fallon. Fallon is surrounded by numerous mountain ranges, the Desert, Dead Camel, Lahontan, Blow Sand, Stillwater and Cocoon just to name a few. The Cantaloupe Festival says it best with three goals; showcasing local talent, celebrating our agriculture, past and present, and supporting Nevada business. All of this in a three day package, August 23-25, 2024. Genoa is Nevada’s oldest settlement tucked up against the steep eastern slope of the Carson Range, Sierra Nevada. Genoa is above the Carson Valley with the Pine Nut Mountains to the east. I think this is one of most beautiful locations in northern Nevada. Only 15 miles from my home, this is an easy day tour to enjoy cowboy poetry, Chautauqua performances, Mormon Station State Park and a parade. Beyond the day tour, a bigger tour around the Carson Valley could include this event April 26-28, 2024
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An area I want to spend more time has Jim Butler Days in Tonopah, Goldfield Days, and Beatty Days. One of my first winter tours was from Tonopah, via Goldfield and looping around Beatty and Rhyolite. Since then I have made several trips to the area and always looking forward to the next reason to visit. Jim Butler Days celebrates mining history in one of the richest mining towns in the world. This year it is May 19-24. Just south of Tonopah is Goldfield for a family fun filled weekend of unique events, August 2-4. Continuing into the land of Joshua Trees and Burros Beatty and the Bullfrog Mining District celebrates with Beatty Days October 25-27.
Death Valley has a Dark Sky Festival and it is coming-up quickly, March 1-3, Furnace Creek Visitors Center for a full calendar of events. This is a different sort of festival but celebrating Dark Skies seems very timely.
I haven’t visited the Pioche/Panaca/Caliente area and they have their local celebrations as well. Pioche has been celebrating more than just Labor Day for over hundred years. Panaca has its late July Pioneer Days. Caliente celebrates 4 days of events around Memorial Day. Lincoln County does a great job of putting together a full calendar for locals and visitors alike.
While I have several reasons to get back to Eureka now I can coordinate it with a fiddlers’ contest in their historic opera house. Eureka will be offering this high quality musical entertainment May 17-18.
There is no lack of small town celebrations to incorporate into backroads adventure. As a traveler you have an instant in with conversation. I have found locals are always liberal with suggestions of things to check out in the area. Local pride!
In preparing this I found myself saying, what about… By no means is this list close to comprehensive. But I definitely scratched the itch looking at some areas that I think about often.
Thank you for supporting my storytelling.
References for exploring Nevada’s small town festivals
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January in Review
It has been a slow month in trying to get rid of this cold with a lingering cough. I only got on my bike twice. Once for a social group ride before a BurritoPackingNV get together at ShoeTree Brewing in Carson City. The second being an overnight in Eureka Valley, Death Valley National Park. The overnight was fantastic, more to come in Bikepacking Northern Nevada, but it caused a major relapse in this cough I have been trying to get rid of. Maybe I should have eased into my riding, you think ?! I am my biggest worst enemy. But I am so inspired to get back to Death Valley! My other big event was to attend the Sundance Film Festival, an annual event I have been fortunate to take part in since before the pandemic.
I have joined the group of Community Stewards for Bikepacking Roots. The organization has formed this work group to develop and implement best practices for getting new riders out on trips through local grassroots organization. I look forward to seeing what this group can produce and appreciate Bikepacking Roots investment in local touring.
Coming up
This is such an exciting time of the year! Winter is still here but the end is in sight. Mid-April is always a calendar date for the beginning of riding season. But not to get to far ahead, in the beginning of March I will be visiting Taiwan to attend and work the Taipei Bike Show. Then I will be in Kauai for a beach holiday. The only bike trips I have on the calendar so far are my Rides with Friends through Friends of Black Rock High Rock. I will be leading rides for the Black Rock Rendezvous (May 24-27 ), Perseids Meteor Shower Campout (August 10-11) and our Crown Jewel Fly and High Rock Canyons (October 5-6 ). Beyond those I will lead a handful of day, weekend, and extended trips around the State. It has been a motivational challenge with this nagging cough, but this too shall pass.
This newsletter is rounding the corner of its first year. I appreciate you reading, commenting and sharing. Next month I will share my High Roads Project; beating the summer time heat.
Kauai!!
Taiwan? Have you been before? That sounds amazing. Do take note of any recumbent and unique cargo bike booths if you see them?