Kickoff: Christmas is here

The Christmas season officially "kicked off" on Wednesday with the second annual Christmas Season Kickoff in Heritage Park in Gardnerville.

The kick-off lead into a weekend of festivities throughout Carson Valley, as well as the annual Parade of Lights, from Lampe Park in Gardnerville to Minden Park. The annual lighting of the Minden Park gazebo is at 6 p.m. today.

Take a deep breath, and be merry!



This weekend: The Minden Weihnachts Strasse Fest (Christmas Street Festival) will take place in the C.O.D. Garage on Esmeralda Avenue, with a German Christmas Market including booths offering gifts, decorations, Christmas trees and German food for sale. The market will be open in conjunction with annual festivities taking place in Minden Park today through Sunday.

The Town of Minden office will offer a new Christmas display throughout the month. The schedule is as follows:

n Today - 2-8 p.m. German Christmas Market in the C.O.D. Garage; at 6 p.m. a visit from Santa and lighting of the gazebo and Christmas tree in Minden Park

n Saturday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. German Christmas Market

n Sunday - Noon to 6 p.m. German Christmas Market; at 2 p.m. also in the C.O.D. Garage will be Carson Valley Community Theatre's production of "Santa's Little Helper - There's No Time Like the Presents"

For more information about the gazebo lighting and Weihnachts Strasse Fest, call 782-2444.



Today: The Minden/Douglas Elks Lodge will host its annual holiday season kick-off spaghetti feed and Christmas Tree Bingo, today starting at 4:30 p.m. with a no-host bar at the CVIC Hall on Esmeralda Avenue. The spaghetti feed begins at 5 p.m. and will cost $6 per person and $4 for ages 10 and younger. Bingo is at 7 p.m. For information, call Dave 782-3416 or Gary 265-6136.



Saturday: The 25th annual Douglas High School Craft Fair will be 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday at Douglas High School, offering the work of over 100 crafters. Everything is homemade. There will be a $2 donation at the door with proceeds going to SkillsUSA. Lunch will be available for purchase at the event. Information 782-5136.

Saturday: The Sagehens will host the annual Children's Christmas Party noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Park building at the end of Carter Way in TRE. This free event is for children ages 2-10 who must be accompanied by an adult. Crafts and games, lunch provided and a visit from Santa Claus are included. Sign-up sheets are in the following locations: Maggie's Place, Reflections Salon, Topaz Joe's, Topaz Lodge General Store and Holbrook Mini Mart. For information, call Helen Lee 266-9105.



Saturday: The 11th annual Parade of Lights, sponsored by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Authority will begin approximately 5 p.m. Saturday at Lampe Park and proceed north on Highway 395 to Minden Park. Parade-goers can watch and enjoy holiday refreshments from Artistic Viewpoints Gallery & Studio, 1368 Highway 395, Gardnerville, during the gallery's open house. Others can attend the Carson Valley Art Association's Christmas craft-making event for children 4-8 p.m. in the CVIC Hall on Esmeralda Avenue, going on at the same time as the German Christmas Market in the C.O.D. Garage. For information on the Parade of Lights call 782-8144, for information on Artistic Viewpoints open house call 783-0633, for information on the Christmas craft-making event call 782-5606.



Saturday: Winter Wonderland, sponsored by Douglas County Parks & Recreation and the Sierra Nevada Active 20-30 Club, will be offered 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the gymnasium of Carson Valley Middle School. Go holiday shopping, while your children spend the day making arts and crafts, play games, watch movies and more. The cost is $10 per child, with a late fee applied if a child is picked up after 4. Children must bring a sack lunch and a water bottle. A permission form must be completed at the time of registration. For information, call 782-9828 or e-mail info@sierranv2030.org.



Sunday: A Celebration of Christmas will take place in Genoa, beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, with caroling, a Christmas tree lighting and a visit from Santa. Refreshments will be served in Genoa Town Hall. For more information, call the Town of Genoa at 782-8696.

Sunday: The Douglas County Historical Society presents the 10th annual Holiday Gala on Sunday at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 1477 Highway 395, in Gardnerville. The Community Holiday Gallery of Trees will be on display, as well as gingerbread houses from the gingerbread house contest presented by the Carson Valley Arts Council. The Christmas store will have holiday gifts and books for sale, as well as fundraising Famous See's Old Time Candies and 2007 Entertainment Books. The event begins at 10 a.m. with a "cookie walk." Choose a cookie can and pick out your cookies, then vote on your favorite Christmas tree for 25 cents. An afternoon Christmas High Tea begins at 1 p.m. Funds raised at the cookie walk go toward the the Douglas County Historical Society. Douglas/Alpine Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is supporting the historical society through the cookie walk. For more information, call Lois Thran at 265-6653 or the museum at 782-2555.



Sunday: The annual Breakfast with Santa Claus, will be 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at the Carson Valley United Methodist Church, 1375 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville. Sponsored by Boy Scouts of America Troop 495, all proceeds raised are tax deductible and go toward the troop's summer camp and equipment fund. Breakfast with Santa Claus is $4. There will be silent bidding on Christmas gift baskets and children can have their pictures taken with "Ol' Saint Nick." Breakfast is served 9 a.m. to noon with bidding on the gift baskets ending at noon. For more information contact Connie Wennhold 265-5855 or Lisa Coburn 267-4442.



Dec. 9-10: The annual Genoa Christmas Faire is scheduled in the Genoa Town Hall and the old fire house, Dec. 9-10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A traditional Christmas celebration is planned for the two days with a Christmas Café, musical groups and Santa photos. Limited Genoa candy will be on sale along with other merchandise. The fair will feature Christmas-related products and gifts offered by Northern California and Nevada vendors. Call 782-8696 for more information.



Dec. 16: Christmas in the Sierra returns to the historic "Raycraft" Town Hall in Genoa with two performances on Dec. 16 starting at 5 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. Christmas in the Sierra is a musical written by David John and performed in the western tradition by David John and the Comstock Cowboys. Tickets are $15 and available at the Town Office 782-8696, Tahoe Ridge Winery 783-1566 and Wild Rose Inn 782-5697 in Genoa. Seating is limited so buying tickets early is suggested. Hot food will be available in the Cowboy Cafeteria adjacent to Town Hall and a no-host bar will be provided by Tahoe Ridge Winery. This is a benefit for the Genoa Events Committee which sponsors the free outdoor summer concerts in Genoa.



Dec. 17: The fifth annual "Joyful Noise" community holiday concert will be 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the CVIC Hall, 1694 Esmeralda Avenue, Minden. This is an event for families, with music, holiday treats and hot cider. Cherie and John Shipley will perform with special guest Bob Moscal on sax and the Unity Church of Today chorus. Live music includes traditional carols, pop holiday tunes and children's songs. There is no charge, but donations are accepted. For more information, contact the Unity Church of Today at 782-4429 or unitycurchoftoday.org or the event producers at tahoeentertainment.com or (888) 667-8250.