ELKO, Nev.— Mark your calendars! It’s time again to celebrate Western heritage and history.
The Bureau of Land Management, Elko District is hosting the 10th annual California Trail Days at the California Trail Interpretive Center Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
A variety of displays for all ages is available at this free event, including black powder rifle demonstrations, period music, gold panning, Native American crafts and formal presentations on the history and culture of the area.
The theme of this year’s Trail Days is “The top 40 of the 1840s.” Featured artists will be Los Californios playing the Spanish and Mexican Music of California prior to the gold rush and Phil and Vivian Williams playing fiddle tunes of the overland trail era. Vivian has won many fiddle contests in the U.S. and Canada. Her accolades include the 1999 National Senior Championship, seven-time Washington State Senior Champion and three time Washington State fiddle champion. Each group will perform twice each day. Highlighting this year’s celebration will be an old time dance Saturday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring the music of Southwind.
Surrounding the Trail Center will be Living History Encampments where visitors will enjoy walking through a replica trail camp. Volunteer interpreters will be in period costumes and answer questions about what is being displayed and about the equipment and history of the California Trail.
The California Trail Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is eight miles west of Elko at Hunter Exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call (775) 738-1849, or visit www.elkotraildays.com or http://blm.gov/cv5c for more information.
