SPARKS ­— Celebrate life in the West at the Sparks Heritage Museum's second annual Western Heritage Festival today.  This free outdoor event will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on the grounds surrounding the museum, located on the on the corner of Pyramid Way and Victorian Avenue.

Old-time traditions and skills will be highlighted throughout the day in this fun for the whole family event. Cowboy poet Larry Maurice will lead the show as master of ceremonies. Virginia City native Rich Elloyan’s Western music depicts both his love for Nevada and songs of the land with his unique perspective on the history of the developing West. Lenny Walker, a Amtrak train conductor, will take visitors back to Sparks’ founding by singing songs of railroad lore.

Youngsters will be able to get into the spirit with dummy roping and leather stamping. Demonstrators will teach handmade saddle making, lariat basket art, quilting, spinning, weaving and more.  Jewelers and other artists and crafters will display their wares while the wild burros and horse bring the county to town.

Visitors also will be taken back in time with Azteca Aztlan dancing in colorful costumes, the Little Warriors drumming the Paiute beat and the Reno Promenaders square dancing to John Hall’s call.

As an added bonus, the museum is currently featuring "Ellis Island: The Lost Mural" by Andrew Sabori.  This 19-panel, 84-foot mural is a re-creation of "The Role of the Immigrant in the Industrial Development in America," which was originally painted by Edward Laning in 1938.  Laning was commissioned by the Works Project Administration program established under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to put people to work and promote the arts during the Great Depression. In the mid 1950s, most of the mural was destroyed by a storm and was never seen by the general public.

Andrew Sabori of Pahrump has recreated this mural which shows the founding and building of America by the pioneers from different countries of the world. Regular admission fees apply to see the artwork. Children 12 and younger get into the museum free while adult admission costs $5.

The Sparks Heritage Museum is dedicated to education and preserving the history of Sparks and the Truckee Meadows. Although known as a railroad town Sparks and Spanish Springs have a rich ranching history.

Activities at the festival are designed to engage both young and old and etch into their hearts age old traditions and skills.  Join the Sparks Museum in bringing Nevada's Ranching culture into the heart of Sparks. 

The free Western Heritage Festival on Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m. on the corner of Pyramid Way and Victorian Avenue has been sponsored by Nevada Humanities and the Nevada Art Council.  

Sparks Heritage Museum is located at 814 Victorian Avenue, Sparks. For more information, call 355-1144.