Time to pencil everything in for Christmas

The Christmas season officially "kicks off" on Wednesday with the second annual Christmas Season Kickoff presented by the Town of Gardnerville. The event is truly a small-town old-fashioned Christmas, complete with roasted chestnuts and performances by a middle school band and local theater group.

The kick-off leads into a weekend of festivities in Minden, as well as the annual Parade of Lights, from Lampe Park in Gardnerville to Minden Park.

Let the holidays begin.

Nov. 29: The second annual Christmas Season Kickoff will be presented by the Town of Gardnerville. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. at Heritage Park Pavilion. The event includes: the lighting of the pavilion; holiday music by the Carson Valley Middle School band; Carson Valley Community Theater's melodrama "Santa's Little Helper Part Two or "There's No Time Like the Presents"; roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, apple cider and other treats; as well as carriage rides. For information, call 782-7134.

Dec. 1-3: 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 on Dec. 1. The Town of Minden office will offer a new Christmas display throughout the month. The schedule is as follows:

Dec. 1 - 2-8 p.m. German Christmas Market in the C.O.D. Garage with a visit from Santa and lighting of gazebo and Christmas trees in Minden Park.

Dec. 2 - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. German Christmas Market

Dec. 3 - Noon to 6 p.m. German Christmas Market

Dec. 1: The Minden/Douglas Elks Lodge will host its annual holiday season kick-off spaghetti feed and Christmas Tree Bingo, Dec.1 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.

Dec. 2: The 25th annual Douglas High School Craft Fair will be 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Dec. 2 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.

Dec. 2: The Sagehens will host the annual Children's Christmas Party noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 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.

Dec. 2: The 11th annual Parade of Lights, sponsored by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Authority will begin approximately 5 p.m. Dec. 2 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.

Dec. 2: 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, call 782-9828 or e-mail info@sierranv2030.org.

Dec. 3: A Celebration of Christmas will take place in Genoa, beginning at 5 p.m. Dec. 3, 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.

Dec. 3: The Douglas County Historical Society presents the 10th annual Holiday Gala on Dec. 3 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.

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.