Nevada Northern Railway Polar Express Train Rides

Nevada Northern Railway  Express Train Rides

ELY, NEV. – The Nevada Northern Railway Museum transforms into Chris Van Allsburg’s classic children’s book, The Polar Express, this Christmas season.

Children of all ages are welcome on a special ride from Ely, Nev. to the North Pole. Hot chocolate and cookies are served while listening to the Polar Express story and music from the Polar Express soundtrack.

Santa’s helpers are on board, and Santa Claus awaits the train’s arrival at the North Pole, where he presents children with the special gift of a silver bell.

“You’ll want to make this a Christmas tradition,” said Mark Bassett, director of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. “Kids will get to hear a great story, join in on caroling and meet Santa. “

This fun holiday gathering has been voted as the “Best Special Event in Rural Nevada” by readers of Nevada Magazine two years in a row.

The Polar Express rides depart on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daily operations run Dec. 18 through Dec. 23. These are popular trains and do sell out, therefore reservations are strongly recommended. Go to nnry.com for a complete schedule, rates and to make a reservation, or call the Nevada Northern Railway Museum at 775-289-2085.

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Elko, Nevada

The 29th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering —the nation’s greatest celebration of the American West, its people, culture and traditions—will take place January 28 to February 2, 2013, in Elko, Nevada.

Ticket sales for the Gathering begin on September 4 to members of the Western Folklife Center, the nonprofit organization that produces the event, and October 4 to the general public. The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering features performances of poetry and music from the cowboy and ranching occupation, but also presents exhibitions, films, workshops, dances and discussions—all centered on land-based culture in the American West, its traditional arts and the challenges it faces in the 21st century.

The 29th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering will host butteri, cowboys from Italy, who have their own unique poetry, music, gear and traditional techniques, but still have much in common with their counterparts in the American West and cattle cultures across the globe.

The butteri are from the Maremma region of Italy, where they have been raising and herding the large lyre-horned Maremmana cattle for centuries. The Italian cultural exchange is part of the Western Folklife Center’s ongoing effort to build understanding among herding cultures worldwide, and is exclusively sponsored by the E. L. Wiegand Foundation.

The 29th Gathering will present more than 50 poets, musicians and musical groups from the U.S., Canada and Italy, performing on seven stages at four different venues.

The line-up includes cowboy poets Baxter Black, Wally McRae, Paul Zarzyski, Waddie Mitchell, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Joel Nelson, Elizabeth Ebert and many others. Music is as integral to the Gathering as poetry; the musical line-up includes Don Edwards, Tom Russell, The Quebe Sisters Band, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Brenn Hill, Wylie & The Wild West, Dave Stamey, Corb Lund & The Hurtin’ Albertans, Los Texmaniacs, Cowboy Celtic, The Saddle Cats and more. 
The event also features hands-on workshops in traditional western arts such as rawhide braiding and cinch-making as well as songwriting, Italian cooking and rhythm guitar. Three western dances, film screenings, and open-mic poetry and music sessions are also on tap.

Tickets to the 29th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering can be purchased at www.westernfolklife.org, or by stopping in to the Western Folklife Center’s ticket office, 501 Railroad Street, Elko. 

Labor Day Weekend:Relax Train Rides Nevada Northern Railway

Hold on to summer with Labor Day Weekend's Plein-Air Outdoor Arts Festival at Nevada Northern Railway.  Featuring Larry Bute, Cowboy Artist & Illustrator, along with many other talented artists and artisans, creating original artwork on site at the historic railyard.

 Start early by taking a ride on the Meet the Artists Steam Train, Friday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m.  Relax and enjoy this Labor Day Weekend amidst the fresh mountain air of Ely, just 240 miles from Las Vegas & Salt Lake City.

 

NEVADA NORTHERN RAILWAY

Plein-Air Outdoor Arts Festival Nevada Northern Railway

PLEIN-AIR OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL LABOR DAY WEEKEND AT NNRY

Sept. 1-2, with Meet the Artists Steam Train on Aug. 31

The 2nd Annual Plein-Air Outdoor Arts Festival returns to the Nevada Northern Railway on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-2, and promises to be even better than its debut last year. The event kicks off with a Meet the Artists Steam Train at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31.

General admission to the Arts Festival is just $4 and includes a self-guided tour of the Nevada Northern Railway and Enginehouse (admission is complimentary with train ride). The train ride on Friday is $24/adults and $15/children 4-12, with discounts for locals, members, military and AAA (one discount per person). (There is also a BBQ Train Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. - $52/adults and $25/children, including a souvenir glass). Group rates are also available.

This year’s Arts Festival has been expanded to include craftspeople, in addition to plein-air artists, who will still be the focus of the event. “Plein-air” is a French term used to describe painting outside or in open air. Artists will be creating original works of art on the historic Rail yard, as well as giving demonstrations. There is no charge for an artist to participate.

A variety of renowned artists are scheduled to appear at this year’s Plein-Air Outdoor Arts Festival including, but not limited to: Larry Bute, Colleen Reynolds, John Steinauer, Darl Clark, Larry Campbell and Esther Duncan. More information on these artists and a schedule of events will be forthcoming. The weekend will be a great time to experience fresh art being created amidst the fresh mountain air of Ely, Nevada. It’s a great opportunity to watch artists create original art that will also be available for sale and on display at the Nevada Northern Railway.