Minden Christmas festival Dec. 4-6

Staff Reports

Festivities for the Town of Minden's Weihnachts Festival on Dec. 4-6 include a visit from Santa, entertainment, food and shopping.

Santa arrives to light up Minden Park at 6 p.m. Friday and is available for free photos taken in the marketplace. Bring your camera.

The Minden marketplace is open noon to 8 p.m. Friday. Entertainment in Minden park provided by the Douglas High Jazz Band at 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. and the singing Girl Scouts at 5:45 p.m. Friday.

Lorie's Pony Express offers $5 horse rides from 4:30-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Minden Park. Carson Valley Inn serves free hot cider and cookies. Children may write letters to Santa at a booth in from of the town office at 4-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Elks Spaghetti Feed is 4-6 p.m. Friday followed by Christmas Tree Bingo.

The Minden marketplace is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, with live music by All Hat No Cattle starting at 4:30 p.m. Craft projects for children presented by the Carson Valley Art Association 4-7:30 p.m. Saturday in the CVIC Hall. The Carson Valley Middle School Choir performs in CVIC Hall following the Parade of Lights. Santa is available for free photos Saturday night.

The Minden marketplace is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The German Christmas market features homemade jams and jellies, hand-knitted items, handmade jewelry, wooden ornaments, quilted items, photography, pottery, candy, honey, baked goods, lotions, Peruvian wares, and items woven from alpaca hair from Tahoe Breeze Alpacas.

German food available is bratwurst, Polish dogs, hot dogs, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, bread bowls, pretzels, strudel, beer, Christmas chocolaccino, and gluewein hot mulled wine.

Purchase a bag of groceries at the Lira's Market booth to benefit the Carson Valley Community Food Closet to be eligible to win gift certificates from Lira's.

Information, Town of Minden, 782-5976.