City of Sparks partners with Sparks Museum and Cultural Center encouraging people to experience downtown
The City of Sparks is teaming up with the Sparks Museum and Cultural Center to bring you “Last Friday,” the last Friday of the month from May to September.
Participants can visit downtown Victorian Square and experience the amenities like the Sparks Heritage Museum’s gallery, train, and Glendale Schoolhouse for free with docents available for tours. Local and regional art will be on display in the Cultural Center and outside on the sidewalks.
“This is an excellent time to come downtown and explore,” said Francine Burge, special event supervisor. “I hear that some residents have never been in the museum but have walked past it dozens of times during our large downtown events.”
The museum features Sparks history displays downstairs with local artifacts and the upstairs gallery is a showcase for changing art exhibits. A docent in the school house acts as the “school marm,” holding class in the nationally registered historic Glendale Schoolhouse and visitors can walk through the steam locomotive, a cupola caboose, and the Pullman executive car. Admission to the museum and tours are free.
Local artists will be showing work on the sidewalk by the train and school. Calls for artists were held from December to April to identify local talent by the City of Sparks Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. The artists receive a free booth set up for the event. Artists are welcome to apply for a free booth for August and September events. Details are on the webpage.
Between the touring and art shopping, Sparks will host entertainment in the Victorian Square Amphitheater that will range from music to poetry to a storytelling Chautauqua-style performance. The evening is capped with a free movie in the amphitheater at dusk, starting between 8:15 to 8:30.
Monthly schedule, subject to change:
Friday, May 25, 2018, part of the Nugget’s Food and Craft Festival
- 4 to 7 p.m. Museum, Train, and School open for free tours
- 4 to 7 p.m. Art Booths featuring local artists: Dale Slingland, Hug High School AP Art Class, Julie Faulkner, and Conor Foster
- 6 to 7 p.m. NoteAbles in the Victorian Square Amphitheater
- 7:30 to 10 p.m. Local bands at the Great Basin Stage
- 8 p.m./Dusk Free Showing of “Julie and Julia”
Friday, June 29, 2018
- 4 to 7 p.m. Museum, Train, and School open for free tours
- 4 to 7 p.m. Art Booths featuring local artists: Lulu Adams, Krissy Katsimbas
- 6 to 7 p.m. City of Sparks Community Band in the Victorian Square Amphitheater
- 7:30 to 10 p.m. Local bands at the Great Basin Stage
- 8 p.m./Dusk Free Showing of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
Friday, July 27, 2018 Part of Artown
- 4 to 7 p.m. Museum, Train, and School open for free tours
- 4 to 7 p.m. Art Booths featuring local artists: Check website for lists of artists
- 6 to 7 p.m. Special Evening with Julia Child in Victorian Square Amphitheater
- 7:30 to 10 p.m. Local bands at the Great Basin Stage
- 8 p.m./Dusk Free Showing of “Fried Green Tomatoes”
Friday, August 24, 2018
- 4 to 7 p.m. Museum, Train, and School open for free tours
- 4 to 7 p.m. Art Booths featuring local artists: Check website for lists of artists
- 7 to 8 p.m. Poetry Out Loud in the Victorian Square Amphitheater
- 7:30 to 10 p.m. Local bands at the Great Basin Stage
- 8 p.m./Dusk Free Showing of “10 Things I Hate About You”
Friday, September 28, 2018
- 4 to 7 p.m. Museum, Train, and School open for free tours
- 4 to 7 p.m. Art Booths featuring local artists: Check website for lists of artists
- 6 to 7:30 p.m. Maytan Community Band in the Victorian Square Amphitheater
- 7:30 to 10 p.m. Local bands at the Great Basin Stage
- 8 p.m./Dusk Free Showing of “Up”
For the most up to date information, including bands, artists and movie start times, check cityofsparks.us/lastfriday For more information about the City of Sparks events please visit cityofsparks.us or call 775-353-7856.
