Winners Announced: Virginia City's Rocky Mountain oyster festival and parade draws thousands
The 28th annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry and St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Virginia City rocked, rolled and bounced Saturday among the thousands of partygoers who arrived in the famed Comstock town to celebrate a cuisine tradition of the Old West and swill some good ole' fashion Irish cheer.
Known in these parts as the “testicle festival,” Virginia City is headquarters for the largest St. Patrick’s Day party in the region, which featured the oyster fry, Ball Breaker Saloon Crawl, a parade, costume contests and wild and nutty St. Patrick’s Day atmosphere found only in Virginia City.
Here are the Winners:
Best Overall Taste Professional: 1st Pho-Q, 2nd Chuy’s Spicy Balls
Best Overall Taste Amateur: 1st Virginia City’s Testicle Chili, 2nd Nut Up Or Shut Up
Most Creative Dish: 1st Pho-Q, 2nd Chuy’s Spicy Balls, 3rd Virginia City’s Testicle Chili
Best Plated Presentation: 1st Lucky Charms, 2nd Cajones Caliente, 3rd Virginia City Testicle Chili
People’s Choice: 1st Nut Up Or Shut Up, 2nd Cajones Caliente, 3rd Virginia City Testicle Chili
Best Team Name: Pho-Q
Miss this year's event? Not to worry. Organizers are already preparing for the 2020 celebration. Go here for upcoming events in Virginia City, including this week's upcoming 41st annual International Collegiate Mining Competition. With an estimated 200 participants, this year’s event is hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno’s Mining Team, Mackay Muckers.
The collegiate mining competition began in 1978 in honor and remembrance of the fallen miners from the Sunshine Mine fire in 1972. The competition consists of traditional mining methods. There are seven events that make up the competition: Single Jack Hand Steel, Jackleg Drilling, Hand Mucking, Gold Panning, Track Stand, Swede Saw and Survey.