For More Than 50 Years, This Small Town Has Hosted The Longest-Running Drinking, Music, And Mining Festival In Nevada
By Christy Articola|Published August 30, 2023
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
If you’re looking for a fun and exciting festival that’s fun for the whole family in Nevada, then you need to head on out to Tonopah in May! Every year, Jim Butler Days in Tonopah, Nevada is one of the best events there is, and it’s been happening now for over 50 years! This town is named after its founder, Jim Butler, who accidentally found silver in the area in 1900; his discovery led to the mining of over five million tons of silver ore in the area. As you might imagine, this week-long festival is FULL of activities that embrace this area’s mining and western history. You’ll love it. Read on to learn more about it, so you can start planning your visit next year!
Tonopah, Nevada, is a great little town! It only has about 2,600 residents, but it's friendly, historic, and welcoming!
It's pretty close to the middle of the state and is about halfway between Reno and Las Vegas. Due to its location, it really is the heart and soul of Nevada in many ways. Tonopah is what Nevada is all about!
Either of those hotels are great places to stay for Jim Butler Days, and there are several other options in town as well. There are so many different events during this week-long festival. You might enjoy getting breakfast at the Muckers Pancake Breakfast at the Elks Lodge, for starters.
You can also buy alcoholic beverages from the various vendors set up around town, and of course most of the local bars and restaurants run specials during Jim Butler Days.
There's lots of live music during Jim Butler Days. The majority of it happens on Friday of the second weekend - which happens to be Memorial Day Weekend. Over a dozen bands - including local and national acts - play at the Downtown Event Plaza.
Another very exciting event during this festival is the Jim Butler Stampede at the Tonopah Fairgrounds and Arena. You'll have to buy special tickets to attend this event. Check out these cool belt buckles that are given as prizes.
And, the Nevada State Mining Championships are part of Jim Butler Days, too. There are events for kids and for adults to compete. Contestants from all over the state compete for big money and prizes like silver hammers and shovels. Some of the monetary awards pay $10,000 or more!
You’ll love visiting Tonopah, Nevada, anytime, but there’s no better time than during Jim Butler Days. Start planning your visit for next year! You’re going to have a blast celebrating Tonopah, mining, music, drinking, and everything there is that makes The Silver State so special.
Looking for somewhere to stay for Jim Butler Days? Check out Booking.com for hotels and VRBO for vacation rentals. As you might imagine, accommodations fill up pretty fast for this event, so book as early as you can.
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