Mineral County’s biggest event and Nevada’s longest running Armed Forces Day celebration will be held in Hawthorne May 14-19 and will be chocked full of longstanding events and family favorites. While this year’s AFD celebration is still very much in the planning stages, here is what we know so far:

AFD T-Shirts and Raffle Tickets on Sale

Raffle tickets are a suggested donation of at least $1 a ticket or 6 for $5. Or get a sheet of 25 tickets for $20. The drawing will be held on May 18 (you do not need to be present to win but you must be able to pick up your prize as they cannot be shipped). Prizes include: two handmade quilts made with past AFD T-shirts; six gift baskets filled with various items; a tan-colored shade gazebo; a Keurig Duo; a Red Ryder Carbine Daisy 650 BB gun; and gift cards to local businesses such as The UPS Store, Southern Tire Mart, Bodies At Work, and pAwesome dog grooming. Tickets are sold through P&P Hair Designs, Glamour on Main, and the AFD website.

2024 AFD T-shirts and tank tops are also on sale now. T-shirts range from $20-$25 depending on size and tank tops are $15-$20. To see the shirts and/or buy one, visit https://armedforcesdaynv.com/. All profits from T-shirts and raffle tickets are put towards future AFD events.

Family-Friendly Events

For kids, the bike parade and the school coloring contest will be back this year, as well as a new rock painting table added as a small fundraiser to support Hawthorne’s mascot, Cecil.

“The idea is for the rocks to be formed into a ‘Cecil the Rock Serpent’ and be placed in a public area (yet to be decided). We want it to be something to be enjoyed by all [and] hopefully people will add rocks over time,” says AFD Marketing Committee Head Dana Tommila. Along with the kids’ bike parade, school coloring contest, and Cecil rock painting, the inflatables and carnival games are also coming back.

Parade Fees Are Lower This Year…and the Military Jet Flyover Will Be Back

To hopefully receive more parade entries, the AFD Committee has lowered the fees for parties wanting to join the parade. Details and a Call for Parade Entrants will be coming out in the next few weeks; visit the AFD website for updates. The military jet flyover opening the parade has also been confirmed for this year.

Volunteers Needed

Want to see something specific included in Armed Forces Day? Then help make it happen by joining the Committee. Ever since its start, the Armed Forces Day event has always been put on by a small group of volunteers. The more people who step forward– even in the smallest ways– the better Armed Forces Day weekend can be. AFD meetings are held every two weeks on Tuesdays at the library. The next meeting is March 26 at 5:30 p.m..

Vendor Applications Now Open

Whether you sell food, crafts, or services, the AFD Committee is providing space for vendors to share their products during Armed Forces Day weekend with a variety of vendor packages designed to suit one’s needs and availability. Vendor applications are due by April 30, and you can reserve your space for as little as $30 per day. A flat fee of $15 is for registered nonprofits for the whole event.

At least 20 vendors have submitted applications so far. Those that pay for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday can set up as early as that Tuesday of the event and start selling at no extra cost. Vendor packets and more detailed fee information can be found online at armedforcesdaynv.com.

“Hawthorne has been celebrating Armed Forces Day for more than 72 years,” says Tommila. “Every year, the third weekend of May means the citizens of America’s Patriotic Home come out in full force bringing with them family, friends, and many others from near and far to honor all those who are serving and have served in the United States Armed Forces. We celebrate them with activities, fireworks, and a remarkable parade in their honor.”

For more information about this year’s Armed Forces Day and how to get involved, visit https://armedforcesdaynv.com/.