The 2026 Music, Murals, and Margaritas (M3) festival found renewed energy in a new home at Fernley’s Out of Town Park. The Fernley ACES brought a fifth year of art, music, culture, and community to the city while making improvements based on feedback from prior festivals.
Fernley’s Center Street had hosted the festival for the past three years, but the asphalt and commercial buildings offered little comfort and protection from the elements. The Out of Town Park was the answer to that problem with cool, soft grass, built-in picnic tables, and trees providing shade and shelter. Nevada’s unpredictable spring weather made its presence known with cooler temps and moderate wind, but didn’t deter the community from enjoying all the festival had to offer.
Friday’s kickoff party featured food trucks and three bands, including Undivulged, the band formed by Boys & Girls Club kids. They rocked the stage and had the audience dancing along. The Out of Towners, a temporary band formed by several Reno musicians, brought an eclectic mix to the stage. Fernley’s own Diminished Return closed out the night with their second appearance in Fernley, following their debut at InFERNo in March. The evening highlighted the family-friendly atmosphere of the park, with kids creating chalk art and dancing in the stream of bubbles drifting in front of the gazebo where bands played.
On Saturday, the park filled with vendors, activities, entertainment, and more live music. This year’s kids’ zone included a bounce house provided by Boys & Girls Club and free art activities provided by the Fernley ACES. Attendees were able to contribute to a community painting project provided by the City of Fernley, with large plywood boards sectioned off for small paintings by anyone who wanted to create something fun to add. Several high school students participated by painting mural panels live during the festival.
The annual margarita contest featured seven entries. All Points Grill won the Golden Blender by a landslide with its refreshing huckleberry margarita entry, which may soon be added to the restaurant’s regular menu.
Twelve new murals were added to Fernley’s citywide mural art gallery this year, featuring a mix of new and seasoned artists.
The transformation of the Out of Town Park gazebo provided the backdrop to the festival. Artists Kristle Geil and Edwin Martinez Esco, both military veterans, painted a colorful tribute to public servants, drawing attention to a section of plaques dedicated to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, a feature made possible by the City of Fernley.
Artist Jen Charboneau brought a vintage train to life in sepia tones on the bathroom building at the train depot. Joe C. Rock created a large piece at Fernley High School featuring images of high school athletes.
Hayley Meadows painted three horses symbolizing unity, patriotism, and strength, standing draped in an American flag against a backdrop of black and white Nevada mountains on the back wall of Fernley Physical Therapy. This project was funded by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
The Fernley ACES is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings this annual free festival to Fernley. They couldn’t do it without the support of many sponsors, volunteers, donations, and grants, but want to thank a few in particular: Burke Roofing for their unwavering support of the community, IBEW 401 for their sponsorship, the City of Fernley for their support, Travel Nevada and the Nevada Arts Council for the grants that helped make this possible. The park was kept clean by volunteers from Desert Pigs, a group that shows up to do the dirty work to make this community a better place. Boys and Girls Club always comes through for our kids, and this was no exception.
The M3 festival is a true example of what a community can do when we work together.
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