Nevada County became known as the heart of Gold Country due to the large quantities exported during the Gold Rush. But on April 1, Nevada City will honor one of its own for bringing the gold back home. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Whittlesey says it it’s a special celebration.
Executive Director Cathy Whittlesey

Whittlesey says the entire City is rallying together to make this a spectacular event happening in a short amount of time.
Executive Director Cathy Whittlesey

Following the parade, the party will head to the Miners Foundry*
Executive Director Cathy Whittlesey

The celebration will continue with live music, food and drink, along with autograph and photo opportunities with Strong and his gold medal. There will also be a raffle to benefit Nevada County’s FREED Center for Independent Living and Adaptive Action Sports based in Summit County, Colo. with donated items, including snowboards and other athletic gear.

Strong, who grew up in Maui where he excelled at skateboarding, lost his left leg at 17 as a result of a car accident. Through the Challenged Athletes Foundation in La Jolla, Calif. and Adaptive Action Sports in Summit County, Colo., Strong was inspired by hundreds of challenged athletes. With the support of his family, he began training again and added snowboarding to his list of athletic endeavors – highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

The parade down Broad Street begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. Pre-event festivities will start at 5:30 p.m.