Culture, Natural Athletics, and Inspiration
in the Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Surrounding Areas.
~ Culture ~
History
Victorian era history is seen throughout the historic character of both Nevada City and Grass Valley, plus there's the annual Victorian and Cornish Christmas festivals.
Remember the Gold Rush? Nevada County is rich in mining history including the Miner's Foundry Cultural Center, Empire Mine State Park, the Northstar Mining Museum, the Deer Creek Miner's Trail, the Firehouse Museum and more. You can even pan for gold in our local rivers and creeks. Just don't try to open one of the old mines - the locals get pretty testy about that :)
Indigenous People's culture: Nevada County is home to several indigenous tribes, including the Nisenan, Washoe, and Tsi Akim Maidu. Check out the California Heritage Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP) and the Nisenan Heritage Day festival each fall.
Arts
The Center for the Arts, the Nevada City School of the Arts, the Nevada County Arts Council, The Nevada City Film Festival, the Trails & Vistas Art Hikes, the Curious Forge 20,000 sq ft craft/makers studios, Galleries, Paint & Sips, Art Walks, and the annual Open Studio Tours are just a sample of what you'll enjoy.
Music
Music In The Mountains, California Worldfest, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Celtic Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, Bluegrass Festival, Country Music Festival, California Roots Festival, Sugarpine Music Festival, Gerry Bash, Pioneer Park Picnic Pops Concerts, InConcert Sierra, Choral groups, Chamber singers, Song circles, Open mics,
and KVMR Community Radio, all will get your mojo going.
Theater
Did you know that starting in 1866, celebrities such as Mark Twain, Jack London, Lotta Crabtree, Emma Nevada, Motley Crue, and the Second City Comedy Troupe all performed at our beloved Nevada Theatre?
The Nevada Theatre is the oldest existing theater building in California. During the COVID-19 closure, the theater was painted with a truly spellbinding original mural spanning the entire auditorium. The artists were awarded the Dr. Leland and Sally Lewis Award for Visual Arts.
Sierra Stages, National Theater Live, LeGacy Productions, Community Asian Theater of the Sierra, Synthetic Unlimited, the Nevada Theater Film Series, and Onyx Downtown all utilize this amazing venue. There have been live productions such as Anthony & Cleopatra, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Death of a Salesman, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sweeney Todd, Glengarry Glen Ross, M. Butterfly, South Pacific, James and the Giant Peach, Scrooge, Little Shop of Horrors, The Producers, Music Man, Snow Falling on Cedars, A Christmas Story, and much, much more, plus various music concerts and special events throughout the years.
More
Plus, there are Comedy Shows, Farmers Markets, Ecstatic Dance, Fusion Dance, Contact Improv, Sierra Storytelling Festival, Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Writing Groups, Nevada County Draft Horse Classic, Classic Car Show, Grass Valley Air Show, Toy Run, Independence Day Parade, Mardi Gras, and the Nevada County Fair. Not to mention nearby travel spots: San Francisco, the California Coast, Big Sur, the Redwoods, Yosemite, Reno/Casinos & their Hot-Air Ballooning festival, and the Virginia City old mining town . . . I could go on and on!
~ Natural Athletics ~
Nevada County gives easy access to world-class Alpine skiing and snowboarding at nearby slopes like Palisades (aka Squaw Valley), Alpine Meadows, Northstar, Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Mt. Rose, Heavenly, Boreal, and more.
Nordic Skiing can be found at many of the Alpine resorts, plus 74 acres at Granlibakken (plus an awesome sledding park), 100 acres at the Alpine Ski Club, 124 acres at North Tahoe Regional Park, 2,800 acres at Tahoe-Donner Resort (where some trails are dog-friendly),
and 6,000 acres at Royal Gorge.
Into hiking, backpacking, climbing, biking and camping? There are miles and miles of trails near and far plus there is a wonderful trailhead to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at Boreal near Truckee, and equestrian trails as well.
Very close by you'll find tennis, pickleball, and golf; a sportsman's club, parks, ball fields, and various gyms.
Love the water? There are creeks, lakes, and rivers for boating/kayaking, fishing, swimming and sunbathing on huge boulders,
and, you may even find a waterfall or two.
~ Inspiration ~
Nevada county is rich with inspiration for inner growth.
Sierra Community College, Libraries, Martial Arts Schools, Sivananda Yoga Farm, Ananda Village, Mountain Stream Meditation Center, Sierra Hot Springs, Inner Path, California College of Ayurveda and the Life Force Academy, and various Yoga Studios are just a few of our local venues, plus there are many, many informal gatherings, workshops and retreats!
