“Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. The day connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands through thousands of park events that promote discovery and exploration in the great outdoors.” – National Park Trust
The community is invited to Mills Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, for the 8th annual Kids to Parks Day event here in Carson City. The celebration will include music, food, outdoor activities from local organizations, educational booths, and the Junior Park Ranger Olympics. The whole community is invited to join in on this fun day of outdoor play.
Schedule of Events:
10 a.m. – Mayor Lori Bagwell will read the Kids to Parks Day 2026 official proclamation and start the day
10:30 a.m. – Jr Park Ranger Olympics Official Start
1:30 p.m. – Jr Park Ranger Olympics End
2 p.m. – Kids to Parks Day event ends, kids encouraged to visit other parks and keep celebrating the day
The Junior Ranger Olympics will be a fun obstacle course consisting of 5 stages that’ll test Carson City Junior Park Rangers on the skills they need to become a future Park Ranger. Skills that will be tested include Packing a backpack, trail maintenance, physical agility, map and brochure sorting, first aid, and navigation. The course will kick off at 10:30am and end at 1:30pm. It’s open to kids in grade levels 1st – 3rd and 4th – 6th. Prizes will be given to all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in the two age groups.
Scoups Ice Cream & Soup Bar will be offering ice cream during the event.
Other booths and activities will include: Carson City Library, Health and Human Services, The Greenhouse Project, Computer Corps, Muscle Powered, W.O.L.F., Great Basin Institute, Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch, River Wranglers, Washoe Lake State Park, Carson Ridge Disc Golf, Aging & Disability Services.
You can find more information about Kids to Parks Day at https://www.carsoncity.gov/government/departments-g-z/parks-recreation-open-space/special-events/kids-to-parks-day.
Special thanks to all the businesses that are supporting this event through donations: Wild Island Coconut Bowl, BlueZone Sports, Nv State Parks, Defy Sparks, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Yogurt Beach.
If you have any general questions, please contact Carson City Park Rangers at parkrangers@carsoncity.gov or (775) 283-7035.
Parking will be available in and around Mills Park at 1111 E. William St. Carson City.
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