Virginia City’s Got Balls
We have never shied away from talking about balls. That’s because every year we host the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, a festive celebration of our Irish and Basque roots and an all-out St. Patrick’s Day party like no other. For 2021, the 30th annual Oyster Fry is completely restructured to accommodate COVID-19 safety precautions and is set for Saturday, March 13 in historic Virginia City from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Rather than the usual all-out street party, this year ticket holders enjoy a sampling tour of the historic town, tasting tasty testes and specialty-themed drinks along the way.
Often referred to as the “testicle festival,” the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry celebrates St. Patrick’s Day along with brave souls who are willing to partake in the delicacy. With occupancy restrictions still in place in Nevada, this new format will allow for a select and brave few to attend this in-demand celebration.
In order to accommodate current state COVID-19 guidelines, the 2021 Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry takes participants on a tour of the town, with the beef fry samples at various locations including restaurants, saloons and merchants. For $45, ticket holders receive a tasting ticket for each of the 10 testicle samples, as well as and additional 15 locations serving up alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages and a variety of treats. To adhere to occupancy guidelines in place, a limited number of tickets are available.
The sampling begins at 10 a.m. At noon, the St. Patrick’s Day Cruise rolls down C Street where anyone is invited to join in the fun, decorate their vehicles and drive down the town’s main drag. Walking groups, congregating along the boardwalk and tossing of candy is prohibited.
Tickets to the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry are sold out. There will be no walk-ups or day-of sales.
All visitors and residents are required to adhere to current State of Nevada guidelines to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. This includes wearing masks, practicing physical distancing and washing hands. Virginia City and its businesses have put in place extra precautions and measures to adhere to all current guidelines, however, these activities are subject to change based on the current environment.
