Tag: millspark

I'm kind of curious to head over to Mills Park right now to see what a crowd of 6,000 people looks like there, but at the same time I don't think I need that kind of headache. And imagine the traffic! Yikes.

One extra perk of seeing the fireworks at Mills Park is that you get to hang out at the carnival for a bit before the show starts. Not that the carnival is horribly exciting, but it's good for one walk around while you're trying to kill time. And if the ticket prices seem higher than usual, it's because the gas to drive their 18 semi trucks is so expensive.

We ended up at Mills Park last night for the fireworks. And one of the things we immediately noticed is that Mills Park isn't such a good place to watch them from. They're fired off from behind Carson High, and that's just so far away from the grassy areas of the Mills Park that the fireworks end up kind of low on the horizon, half-hidden behind trees and buildings (you can see the Pony Express pavilion in the picture above). Better to watch it from a spot closer to the high school, or even from the top of the small hill that's to the north of there. I think we learn this lesson every time we go to Mills Park to watch the fireworks, but then a few years go by before we go back to Carson for the Fourth, and we forget all over again.

It was a good show, though, nearly half an hour long. Quite an improvement over last year's mess, where 25 minutes worth of fireworks were shot off in half that time and everyone went home pissed. So I think they were being very careful not to repeat last year's mistakes. It meant the shots had to be more spaced out, and go up one at a time, but it made for a long show.

One thing that pissed us off, though was that after the show was over, and we made it back to the car and drove away, they shot off about ten more shells, one at a time. What were those? Ones they forgot? Ones they found in the seat cushions after they were done? Ones that got stuck in the tube? Ones they were saving just to get some attention after the show? You know, why don't you just fire them all off during the show and not keep any for the after party.

Dave Morgan has video of the show, and I have several pictures.

Also happening this weekend is the Carson City Rendezvous (or Kit Carson Rendezvous, as it used to be called). The main festivities are happening down at Mills Park, with arts, crafts, and a mountain man encampment. This is the 25th year for the Rendezvous. Here's a list of what will be at Mills Park this weekend:

Mountain Man Encampment - life in the early 1800's, including contests of skill, music of the era, and trade goods
Civil War Encampment - re-enactment of the earliest period of Nevada statehood, both Union and Southern camps
Pony Express - re-rides of the most famous cross-country mail route from the 1860's
Gunfighter Town & Stage - live action shows by teams of gunfighters representing the end of the 19th century
Main Stage - a full weekend of country and western music, dance, and comedy. Great Saturday line-up and FREE concerts. Main Stage Schedule in WORD or Adobe PDF. Note: Schedule is subject to change.
Don't take chances! Attend Cowboy Church on Sunday at 10 AM at the Main Stage. Preacher Paul Hirdler presiding.
Mountain Man Stage - traditional banjo, fiddle, and accordion music, so tap your feet and dance along Click HERE for details.
Native American Village - traditional dances and drumming, beadwork demonstration and instruction, arts and crafts Click HERE for details.
Pueblo de Nevada - traditional Hispanic dance and music
Camel Rides - travel the way John Huston did when filming “The Misfits” in nearby Virginia City
Stagecoach Rides - an Abbott-Downing replica pulled by a 4-up team of horses
Children’s Area - Back-In-Time Kids perform for you, old time games and fun
Dutch Oven Cook-off - mouth watering food, cooked pioneer style
Kid's Stick Horse Rodeo Games - FREE to kids age 2 to 13 Click HERE for details.
Horseshoe Tournament - Rendezvous' First of this event. Click HERE for details.
Arts & Crafts - astonishing variety
Food Court - feast on a variety of foods, including Indian Tacos, barbeque, kettle korn, and more...

Nevada Appeal has a story in the Rendezvous too.