Welcoming Christmas for the season

While Friday marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, today marks the opening of Christmas lighting week.

Gardnerville will be hitting the switch on its pavilion tonight in celebration of the season's beginning. Minden and Genoa will follow in short order this weekend. Minden lights the gazebo on Friday and Saturday will be the Parade of Lights from Lampe Park to Minden. On Sunday, Genoans will light the Christmas tree in the middle of town.

These events are just the tip of the iceberg for events happening in the first weekend of December, which include craft fairs and Christmas Tree Bingo.

Many years it seems like after the first weekend of the month events drop off like a rock off a cliff.

Too often groups compete for the same spot in time, especially over the holiday season.

However, additional holiday celebrations will carry us through the three weeks until Christmas, including a couple of concerts.

With temperatures hitting rock bottom over the next couple of weeks, we will have to generate our own inner warmth for Christmas.

Thankfully, there will be places to gather and enjoy the season right up until the big day.