Reigniting Silver City: The Fireman's Ball Is Back

The ideal timeless event is coming to the Comstock once again. Dust off your boots and get ready to groove at Silver City’s Fireman's Ball, where rousing live music will fill Silver City Park (385 High St.) well into the evening. Music lovers won't want to miss this seven-band lineup packed with diverse sounds from talented local groups. The event will take place Saturday, July 18 from 1 p.m. to dark (around 10 p.m.). Best of all, admission is free, giving everyone a chance to join in the fun.

Hosted by the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department, the event has been a local tradition since 1970, drawing crowds from throughout Northern Nevada and beyond. The Ball was a regular fixture during the 1970s and 1980s before going on hiatus. It returned in 1999 and continued until its most recent celebration in 2013. 

"People come back from across the country to relive the Balls of the past, renew connections with friends, and talk about stories of fires they fought together and rescues they had," said Noel Chounet, the department's elected 2026 Volunteer Fire Chief.

Part of that history includes friendly rivalries. In past decades, volunteer departments around the Comstock competed in water fights, racing to knock down targets with fire hoses while in full turnout gear, all for trophies and bragging rights. Hopeful hearts of the community wish for its return one day as well. 

This year's music lineup includes Betty & James, Darren Senn, Wabuska Yachting Club, Next Question, Charity Kiss, Mylo and headliner Matt Axton. The department made a point of booking musicians with ties to the area.

"We really wanted to make sure that we highlighted local talent as much as possible," Chounet said. "What I'm really excited about is how many amazing local musicians are coming in for this. Many of them are volunteering their time because they believe in it, playing for free, or just for gas money.”

One band is directly connected to the department's history. Betty & James features James (Jim) Allander, a retired volunteer firefighter known for helping revive the department in the 1960s and 1970s. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have all volunteered with the department since. Rooted in a generational legacy of volunteer firefighters serving a profoundly tight-knit community, the essence of the ‘fire family’ brings a refreshing remembrance of sacrifice and loyalty.

For Chounet, the Ball is about more than entertainment.

“The event itself is a celebration of the fire service community," Chounet said. "Volunteering is a calling, and over time it becomes its own family. This Ball is about bringing that family back together to celebrate everything we've done, both within the department and with the larger community."

The event will also include food and drink vendors, family-friendly activities, raffle prizes and commemorative merchandise for sale. The proceeds from sales support the volunteer Silver City Fire Department. 

Money raised at the Ball aids in department training and equipment, as well as community programs such as planned wildfire preparedness efforts. A portion also will go toward restoring the department's original firehouse on Main Street, one of the oldest standing fire stations in Nevada.

Even though the Ball is a fundraiser, the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department remains humble, redefining how the agency evaluates its impact. The event’s true value goes far beyond the surface.

"The biggest purpose the Ball serves for us is bringing the community together," Chounet said. "If the community comes together and has a wonderful time, our Ball is a success."

Keeping the vendors and contributors local was a must when putting the event together. Merchandise available at the event was produced by Studio 33, a business in Yerington, and includes tie-dyed shirts the department made at a recent volunteer event, where members dyed more than 100 items by hand. Additionally, the event flyer was designed by two young and exceptionally talented Silver City local artists, Lily and Diana, who combined hand-drawn artwork with graphic design.

Over 50 volunteers are helping organize this year's event, Chounet said, and the department is using the Ball as a recruiting opportunity, with information available at event booths and on the department's website.

"I really want people to know that there are volunteer fire departments in our area that are thriving and giving back to the community, " Chounet said. “That there is still this passion for supporting each other during the hardest hours. We can all give back a little, with just some time and some love. That's the power of community, and how much it gives back, both to the person giving and the person receiving."

The Silver City Volunteer Fire Department spent almost a year planning the Ball, yet the event is less about the music or the money than what it represents. At its heart, the Fireman's Ball is about connecting the community and enriching the lives of everyone tied to the small town and the Comstock. 

Grab your chairs and blankets, come hungry and thirsty, leave the pups at home, bring a good attitude, and prepare to dance until the stars shine.

Parking will be available south of the park behind the Community Center, with overflow parking at the fire station at 645 High St. 

For more information, the public can text 775-720-0543 or email silvercitynv@gmail.com. Stay connected with the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department on their website, Facebook and Instagram.