Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry is Saturday

Nevada Appeal Staff Report

Virginia City’s 23rd annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry and St. Patrick’s Day parade return from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Also known as the Testicle Festival, the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry features more than 20 cooks competing in one of Northern Nevada’s most popular tasting contests. Mountain oysters are the byproduct of bull castration. More than 3,000 people come to sample this delicacy, take part in the Leprechaun Bar Crawl and watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“Rocky Mountain Oysters are kind of a unique experience,” said Allyson Reedland of RKPR, which promotes the event. “They’re not for everyone. But if you’re going to eat them, you want to eat them in Virginia City.”

The parade begins at noon at the Fourth Ward School and marches along C Street. Featured are the Minden Irish Dancers and Giant Leprechauns of Fresno.

The event also offers a beer garden, live Irish music, a costume contest and street magicians.

For more information, call 775-847-7500.