The Main Street Art Park opened in August 2014 across from the old depot, with a Desert Tortoise covered in mosaic tiles that Fernley schoolchildren made during the school year before. This winter brings its next big change. Starting Monday, Nov. 23, the park becomes Prancer's Path, a village of live Christmas trees that local businesses, organizations, churches, families and individuals pay for, decorate and enter in a competition.
The bigger change is the calendar. Fernley's holiday season has usually come down to one Saturday night: the Chamber parade, then the tree lighting. This year Main Street has a lit display that stays up for 42 days, from Nov. 23 through Jan. 3, with the lights on around the clock. The parade and tree lighting on Dec. 5 now land in the middle of something the town decorated for itself.
What the Park Was Built to Do
The art park came out of the Black Rock Arts Foundation's "Big Art for Small Towns" program. The Reno Gazette Journal's coverage of the 2014 unveiling reported that a $73,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts paid for much of it, that BRAF matched it with a grant of its own, and that the site sits on Nevada Department of Transportation property. Then-Mayor LeRoy Goodman said the park cost the city nothing directly beyond some staff time.
From the start, the work was meant to come from the community. The RGJ reported that the artist selection was anonymous, and the design picked for the permanent piece came from Pan Pantoja, who lived in Fernley at the time. He said he wanted "to make something the people would not hate" and something children could be part of. Fernley students made so many mosaic tiles for the Desert Tortoise, homeschooled kids included, that the leftovers went onto a separate bench so every child's work could be shown.
At the unveiling, Crimson Rose of the Black Rock Arts Foundation spoke to the town directly:
"Thank you, Fernley, for taking the leap of faith."
She said it broke her heart when art went from a show's gallery back to the studio, and the park was a way to put art in front of more of the public. Two of the opening pieces were described as visiting work. Zachary Coffin's Rockspinner 6, a 9-ton rock built to turn on an axis, was planned to stay about two years. The Bottle-cap Gazebo was made from 75,000 bottle caps, smashed one at a time by the "Bottle-cap Gang," Max Poynton, Andrew Grinberg and 30 volunteers. The Desert Tortoise was the only permanent piece.
Prancer's Path follows the same plan. The trees are temporary, local people supply them, and they go up where anyone walking or driving down Main Street can see them.
The Calendar, Start to Finish
Two groups organize the display. Main Street Fernley describes its mission as supporting an inclusive, resilient downtown corridor. Fernley ACES, short for Art Culture Event Squad, is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that puts on arts events. The Fernley Reporter's announcement sets out the schedule:
- Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Official decorating days at the Main Street Art Park.
- Monday, Nov. 23. The display opens to the public. You can walk through during the day or come back after dark for the lights.
- Saturday, Dec. 5. The People's Choice winner is announced at the City of Fernley's tree-lighting celebration, which follows the Fernley Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.
- Saturday, Jan. 2, and Sunday, Jan. 3, noon to 3 p.m. Undecorating and removal. The display runs through Jan. 3.
The lights stay on day and night, so the timing is up to you. A morning dog walk works, and so does the drive home after dark.
What a $300 Tree Buys, and the Rules That Come With It
A sponsorship costs $300. It includes a live Christmas tree about 5 to 7 feet tall, a custom stand, a sponsor or decorator sign, and electricity for the whole run. Sponsors can decorate to represent a business or organization, to honor someone, or to remember a loved one. When the display closes, they can take the tree home or donate it to Main Street Fernley.
The decorating rules are short and strict. A tree that breaks them won't make it to the judging:
- Decorations must be family-friendly and nonbreakable.
- Only LED outdoor lights are allowed.
- Each tree gets one electrical plug.
- Bring your own labeled, 15-foot, outdoor-rated extension cord.
The nonbreakable rule matters more than it sounds. These trees stay outdoors on Main Street day and night for six weeks, so glass ornaments that look great on decorating day may not make it to January.
Organizers asked businesses, organizations and individuals to sign up early. You can reserve a tree by calling 775-240-4785 or emailing [email protected]. Updates go out on Main Street Fernley's Facebook and Instagram pages.
Judging Ties the Display to Parade Night
The competition gives awards and ribbons, and the People's Choice Award is decided by online voting. That means the tree with the most fans wins, and its fans have about two weeks between opening day and Dec. 5 to vote. The Best Overall Tree wins a free sponsorship for the 2027 Prancer's Path, so organizers are already planning on a second year.
The People's Choice result is announced on Dec. 5, after the Chamber parade at the City's tree lighting. Last December, the Fernley Reporter's parade preview listed a 5 p.m. parade from Locust Street to City Hall on Silverlace Boulevard, with the tree lit in front of City Hall around 6:30 p.m. According to the paper's wrap-up of last year's event, Dee's Potato Box served from its food truck, the Wigwam donated cocoa, and the Chamber's Karen Wagner provided cookies.
For the Fernley Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit membership group that sponsors events to help local businesses, the parade is its big night of the year. Prancer's Path gives that same night a result to announce from a display the whole town can see.
The Depot Across the Street
The building facing the park has had work done too. The Fernley and Lassen Railway Depot was built in 1914, moved within the city later on, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to a project page from Romtec, which designed and supplied the building, the depot was restored for public uses including meetings, events and community activities. As part of a citywide beautification effort, the City added a restroom and concession building next to it.
The new building was designed to match the depot, with a similar roof style and siding. Inside are multi-user restrooms, a concession area for food and drink at events, and storage and mechanical space. Wood Rodgers was the landscape architect and project representative, and a contractor chosen by the City handled installation.
So the two sides of Main Street are on the same track. The depot was rebuilt as a place for events, and the park across the street now has a six-week event of its own.
One More Thing to Bring Downtown
The Senior Citizen Advisory Committee is running a Blanket Drive at City Hall from Wednesday, Nov. 18, through Friday, Dec. 18, according to the City of Fernley calendar. Dropping off a blanket fits easily into the same trip as a walk through the trees or a stop on parade night.
At Faught Group, we think about the Fernley houses we list and the downtown around them together, and a Main Street that stays lit for six weeks is part of what makes this town feel like home. If your business or family is putting up a tree this year, or you'd like to talk about anything else going on in Fernley, Schedule a Meeting with us. We'll be out there voting.
