Volunteers are needed to help make 4,000 pounds of Genoa's famous homemade candy for the 87th Annual Genoa Candy Dance Arts and Crafts Faire on Sept. 29 and 30.
No candy making experience is needed to help make fudge with and without nuts, divinity, dragon eyes, peanut butter cups, rocky road, Genoa gems, almond bark, almond joyfuls and haystacks in three colors.
Genoa resident Betty Bourne makes the hundreds of pounds of peanut brittle sold at the Candy Dance faire herself.
Candy making continues Monday through Friday until Candy Dance. There are evening candy making sessions Mondays and Wednesdays.
"We started early this year and we're well ahead," said Genoa Lakes resident Lynne Bowersock on Sept. 5.
There are seven freezers full of bagged sweets in the Town of Genoa's kitchen.
"In two weeks we'll make the things that we don't freeze like the Genoa twists pretzels, caramel turtles and marshmallow pops," Bowersock said. "The men will come in to help make fudge - about 100 pounds a day. They cook fudge in big copper pots. When this is accomplished and all the freezers are full - boom, the process goes fast after that and the candy's packed in one-pound boxes ready for sale."
Bowersock said Carson Valley students and residents have come to help make candy. Darlene Warner drives from her home in Reno to join the effort for the annual Genoa fundraiser.
"For years I've enjoyed it and I wanted to come and help," said Warner.
The regular candy-making schedule began in August and continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until Candy Dance, Sept. 29-30. Evening sessions are 6 - 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
The Genoa kitchen is in Genoa Town Office, 2289 Main St., 782-8696. Information, Marian Vassar, 782-4584 or Barb Wilson at 782-6859.
