Gardnerville resident Janie Cloutier was out at 8 a.m. on Saturday setting up chairs in front of Anker Car Wash on Highway 395.
"I love the small town spirit of Carson Valley Days," Cloutier said.
Her daughter, 4-year-old Molly Cloutier, was anxiously awaiting the parade.
"I want to get some suckers," she said.
Four-year-old Wyatt Williams was waiting for something else.
"I want to see the horses," he said.
An hour later, Wyatt and Molly got all the candy and horses they could have hoped for. The 98th Carson Valley Days Parade kicked off with Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini throwing hacky sacks from a Hummer, followed by the Douglas County Sheriff's Mounted Posse.
The Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club organizes the parade each year and this year chose "Keep Nevada Open" as its theme.
Assemblyman James Settelmeyer, R-Gardnerville, had a sign on his float reading, "Don't Fence Me In!"
"A lot of citizens feel disenfranchised," said Settelmeyer. "Open space in Douglas County means dealing with the federal government."
More than 80 floats paraded between Minden and Lampe parks. The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada teamed up with Nevada State Bank in a tribute to the Nevada outdoors. A stuffed big horn sheep and antelope stood on the back of the float beneath paper mache trees.
Grand Marshal of the parade was head custodian of Douglas High School Bob Pepperdene.
"It's a wonderful experience," he said. "I love it."
Pepperdene, 60, said he has seen a lot of students pass through the halls of the high school over the past quarter century.
"I have to thank the kids for making it possible," he said.
The Sierra Stompers, a four-wheeling club, ended the parade in a roar of exhaust and screeching tires. More than a dozen lifted Jeeps, trucks and Suzukis drove in circles around each other displaying open space-themed signs. One jeep drove up on the tire of another, tilting at a sharp angle and exposing the car's suspension system.
"We want to make sure our lands are open for future generations," said Mason Needham of Reno, who was driving a '94 Jeep Wrangler with a tent strapped on top to demonstrate his love of camping.
After the parade had passed and the dust cleared, 5-year-old Evan Montes scraped what candy was left off the streets. Like Molly, he preferred suckers.
"Candy is the best part," he said. "I also found a golf ball."
Things heated up in the afternoon at Lampe Park. The smell of barbecued tri-tip wafted in the 90-degree air. Kids screamed in a swirl of carnival rides.
"We didn't go to the parade this year," said Gardnerville resident Brad Oiyt, "Just the park."
Oiyt's two sons, Michael, 13, and Jonathan, 10, had no doubt what the best part of the carnival was.
"Definitely the rides," said Jonathan.
Brad Oiyt said Carson Valley Days is a great event for the family
"It brings the whole community together," he said.
