The Douglas Tiger Marching Band participates in the 2022 Nevada Day Parade in Carson City.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
In the last 70 years of celebrating the Silver State, apparently there hasn’t been a Nevada Day Parade with a theme “Home Means Nevada,” named for the state song written by Bertha Raffetto in 1932.
On Monday, the Nevada Day, Inc. Board of Directors announced the theme for the 2023 Nevada Day Parade.
“We couldn’t believe it hadn’t been chosen as a theme before.” said Nevada Day, Inc. President Bobby Bean. “Our records go back to the 1950s, and in the past 70 years, ‘Home Means Nevada” has never been selected as a theme. So, this year, we want people to express how Nevada means home to them.”
According to the Census, Nevada is home to 3.144 million people, according to the 2021 U.S. census.
Thousands of Nevada children who grew up singing the song in school. It is used in business, in art, in music, apparel and in other Nevada pop culture.
“Nevadans know what’s great about this state and all the incredible reasons we choose to live here,” said Nevada Day Executive Director Brooke Santina. “Sometimes I wonder if residents in other states are as proud of their state as Nevadans are.”
This year’s parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 28 in Carson City. Douglas County has participated in the parade since the first one conducted in 1938, which featured a delegation of the Genoa’s oldest residents re-enacting the prominent part the Mormons played in settling Carson Valley.
In honor of the parade’s theme, organizers are asking Nevadans’ to write no more than 150 words on their experience living in the Silver State for possible inclusion in the parade program. Entries are due by Sept. 1.
