A week full of Christmas activities

The first weekend of December will be a huge Christmas celebration in Carson Valley and Santa will be making appearances all over the Valley.

The holiday spirit will get a boost, starting with the second annual Carson Valley Christmas Season Kickoff to take place today at the Heritage Park pavilion with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. This family-oriented event features the Carson Valley Middle School band performing a selection of holiday music, the Carson Valley Community Theater group will follow at 5:30 p.m. with a short performance of "Santa's Little Helper Part Two - There's No Time Like the Presents." The melodrama is a sequel to last year's "Santa's Little Helper."

The pavilion will be lit for the holiday season and Santa will be on hand to welcome children young and old to the 2006 Christmas season in the Valley. There will be roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and a holiday treat. Carriage rides around the park will also be available.

Heritage Park is located on Gilman Avenue on the way to Chichester Estates. Turn east at the stoplight at Sharkey's Casino off Highway 395. For information contact the Town of Gardnerville, 782-7134.

Minden celebrations

The Town of Minden will be alive with the Christmas spirit starting Friday, with the beginning of Minden's annual Weihnachts Strasse Fest (Christmas Street Festival) located in the C.O.D. Garage on Esmeralda Avenue, Friday through Sunday, where visitors can experience a traditional German Christmas Market in "olde town" Minden and booths will offer gifts, decorations and Christmas trees for sale. Food will also be available, including German specialties and Glühwein.

The Weihnachts Strasse Fest will take place on Friday from 2-8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The event is highlighted by Santa working his magic for the crowd at 6 p.m. Friday with the annual lighting of the Minden gazebo and Christmas tree in Minden Park. As all of Esmeralda twinkles with lights and decorations, the Town of Minden office will offer a new "Christmas surprise" display of holiday magic for the enjoyment of visitors which will be available for viewing throughout December.

The Carson Valley Community Theatre's production of "Santa's Little Helper - There's No Time Like the Presents" will be performed at 2 p.m. on Sunday inside the C.O.D. Garage.

At the same time as Saturday's Weihnachts Strasse Fest, the 11th annual Parade of Lights sponsored by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Authority will begin 5 p.m. Saturday at Lampe Park and proceed up Highway 395, ending at Minden Park. Parade watchers can visit an open house at Artistic Viewpoints where they can sip a hot cup of cocoa or coffee as well as holiday treats and a warm place to huddle between floats. On the Minden end of the parade route the Weihnachts Strasse Fest will continue before and after the parade in the C.O.D. Garage as well as parents can keep children warm and occupied from 4-8 p.m. in the CVIC Hall doing Christmas crafts sponsored by the Carson Valley Art Association.

Elks Lodge spaghetti feed and Christmas Tree Bingo

The Minden/Douglas Elks Lodge will host its annual holiday season kick-off spaghetti feed and Christmas Tree Bingo, Friday 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. Information, Dave 782-3416 or Gary 265-6136.

Douglas High School events

The 25th annual Douglas High School Craft Fair will be 9 a.m. to 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.

Also at Douglas High School is "A Tuna Christmas" 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Dec. 7-8 with a 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 9 presented by the Douglas High School theater department. Performance will take place in the Douglas High School Theatre,1670 Highway 88, Minden. Cost is $5 for students and seniors, $8 for adults. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Not recommended for children younger than 13. Information 782-5136.

Winter Wonderland

On 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. 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, e-mail info@sierranv2030.org or call 782-9828.

Christmas in Topaz

The Sagehens will host their 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, Nevada Trading Co., Topaz Lodge General Store and Holbrook Mini Mart. For information, call Helen Lee 266-9105.

Museum holiday gala

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 Douglas/Alpine Chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans and the Douglas County Historical Society. For more information, call Lois Thran at 265-6653 or the museum at 782-2555.

Christmas in Genoa

The busy weekend of Christmas activities comes to a close Sunday with a celebration of Christmas in Genoa beginning at 5 p.m. with caroling, a Christmas tree lighting and a visit from Santa. Refreshments will be served in the Town Hall. For information, call 782-8696.

At a glance:

n Carson Valley Christmas Season Kickoff - 5 p.m. today at Heritage Park in Gardnerville

n n Carson Valley Community Theatre's production of "Santa's Little Helper - There's No Time Like the Presents" - 5:30 p.m. today at Heritage Park

n Minden's annual Weihnachts Strasse Fest (Christmas Street Festival) - 2-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

n Minden Park gazebo and Christmas tree lighting, visit from Santa Claus - 6 p.m. Friday in Minden Park

n Minden/Douglas Elks Lodge holiday season kick-off spaghetti feed and Christmas Tree Bingo - starting at 4:30 p.m., spaghetti feed at 5 p.m. Friday at the CVIC Hall on Esmeralda Avenue in Minden

n Christmas play, "A Tuna Christmas" - 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Dec. 7-8, 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 9 at Douglas High School theater

n Parade of Lights - begins 5 p.m. Saturday at Lampe Park and proceeds up Highway 395, ending at Minden Park. Parade can be watched from inside Artistic Viewpoints in Gardnerville, or from the CVIC Hall where Christmas crafts will be going on from 4-8 p.m.

n Douglas High School Craft Fair - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Douglas High School

Winter Wonderland (activities for children while you shop) - 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Carson Valley Middle School gymnasium

n Sagehens Children's Christmas party - noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Park building

n Carson Valley Community Theatre's production of "Santa's Little Helper - There's No Time Like the Presents" - 2 p.m. Sunday in the C.O.D. Garage

n Douglas County Historical Society's Holiday Gala - Cookie Walk begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, day ends at 1 p.m. with a Christmas High Tea

n Christmas in Genoa - begins 5 p.m. Sunday

For more information about all these events call the following numbers:

n The Carson Valley Christmas Kick-off, Gardnerville - 782-7134

n Gazebo lighting and Weihnachts Strasse Fest, Minden - 782-2444

n Sagehen's Children's Christmas Party, TRE - Helen Lee 266-9105

n 25th annual Douglas High School Craft Fair - 782-5136

n Parade of Lights - 782-8144

n Christmas Crafts, Minden - 782-5606

n Christmas Tree Bingo, Minden - 782-3416 or 265-6136

n Genoa Christmas, Town of Genoa - 782-8696

n Winter Wonderland, Sierra Nevada Active 20-30 Club - 782-9828 or e-mail info@sierranv2030.org

n Holiday Gala, Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center - 782-2555