Families enjoy flying a variety of kites. Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park photo
Family fun, lively bands and historical characters return to Dangberg Historic Park beginning in May. Favorite presenters, bands and Chautauquans will be joined by new ones as well.
A returning favorite event is the Kite Flying Weekend on 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11-12. Cameron and Reina Kauffman of Coolkiter.com will bring their assortment of big and beautiful kites, kites for high wind, and kites for no wind.
"We are always happy to let the public try our kites and we just really enjoy sharing our passion," said Cameron Kauffman. Everyone is also welcome to bring their own kites.
The nonprofit Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch will give free, small kites to children to decorate, while supplies last, and everyone is invited to bring their own kites. Children can also enjoy big bubble-making, as well.
Joining the event again this year is PBS Reno Kids Club on May 11 only, with additional activities planned for children. This event is free for everyone.
"Our event season is eagerly awaited by many, and I am excited that we have so many fun and informative events for the public to attend," said Kim Harris, the park's events manager.
The 2024 Summer Festival will feature four concerts. The Sierra Sweethearts will kick off these concerts by performing a blend of bluegrass music spiced with humor. Also returning is Old West Trio. New this season will be Jakota Wass playing his own brand of country western music, and Moxy Ruckus will bring a Big Hair Eighties Review.
Celebrating the 150th year of Chautauqua, new and favorite Chautauquans can be found throughout the Summer Festival performing national characters during this season's theme "Follow Us on an Adventure!" Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest, as performed by Bowen Lee; and Titanic survivor Violet Jessop, as performed by Kim Harris; are featured along with several others on select Wednesday evenings. Ticketed entry will apply.
On select Friday mornings, local heroes will make an appearance free to the public. These will include businessman and Comstock millionaire Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, as portrayed by David Woodruff; Nevada teacher and feminist Hannah Clapp as portrayed by Cora Johnson; early woman miner in Alaska and Nevada Lillian Malcom, as portrayed by Guinevere Hobdy; and Comstock miner turned train robber Jack Davis, as portrayed by Ross Mortensen.
Both new and favorite speakers and authors return this season, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm. Mark McLaughlin will speak on Truckee's renaissance man Charles F. McGlashan, Dr. Michael Fischer will speak on America's most famous stagecoach ride, and David and Gayle Woodruff will speak on "Going for the Gold: the 1960 Winter Olympics".
New to the park this season will be historian Bob Stewart who will share "Backstories of Mark Twain's Friends", Tami Force who will speak on Nevada Ghost Towns, and Donna Inversin who will speak on the "Historic V&T Trail".
Local authors will share their popular work. Our first author, Gregory Crouch, will present his book The Bonanza King: John Mackay and the Battle over the Greatest Riches in the American West; Robert Max will share his Tahoe based murder mysteries No Forced Entry and When It's Personal; and Karen Dustman will speak on her third book in the series Forgotten Tales of Carson Valley and Nearby Settlements. Saturday speaker and author events are free for all.
Bring your own seating and no pets allowed - service animals only. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy as no food or beverages will be sold at these events. All events are held outdoors. For more information on these events, or on visiting Dangberg Historic Park, please visit Dangberg.org.
The Dangberg Summer Festival is sponsored by the generous support of Douglas County, Carson Valley Health, Horse Tales, TruNorth Wealth Management, Warren Reed Insurance, Cora J., Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Central Sierra Construction, Douglas Disposal & Recycling Service, Edward Jones Investments-Tim Cleveland, Hone Company, Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827 E Clampus Vitus, and Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation.
