In 2025, the Nevada Day state holiday aligns with the actual anniversary of Nevada's admission to the Union, but that's not always the case. This column by former Nevada State archivist Guy Rocha first appeared in the Reno Gazette Journal on Oct. 14, 2001.

Why all the fuss about Nevada's birthday on Oct. 31? The battle lines were drawn between "traditionalists" and the "grinches" who would steal Nevada Day by calling for the last Friday of October to be the state's official holiday. The parade and other festivities would follow on Saturday, thus making for a three-day weekend for some Nevadans as well as state and local government employees.

With the passage of AB 396 by the 1997 Legislature, Nevada voters, on Nov. 3, 1998 advised the 1999 Legislature they wanted to celebrate Nevada Day

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