Annual parade to brighten winter sky Saturday

The winter sky will be ablaze through Gardnerville and Minden on Saturday for the 15th annual Parade of Lights.

With 40 entries, the parade will close Highway 395 between Waterloo Lane and Buckeye Road starting at 4:30 p.m.

"This is a great family event, a great community event," said Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Chernock. "It's one of those things that's not necessarily going to bring lots of visitors, but it does provide an event the community can enjoy."

The grand marshals of the parade are the retiring Minden Town Board who will be riding the town's float along with the newly elected members. The theme for the parade is Lighting the Winter Sky.

The parade starts at Lampe Park and Waterloo Lane is closed early where it intersects with Centerville so the floats can line up.

Sgt. Jim Halsey of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said that to accommodate the parade, Highway 395 will be closed by Douglas County deputies and volunteers.

The parade travels from Lampe Park down Waterloo and then onto Highway 395 to Minden, where it turns down Esmeralda Avenue and winds up at Minden Park.

Halsey recommended that motorists finding themselves south of the blockade will be diverted east onto Waterloo and then onto to Toler, Orchard and Buckeye roads and then back onto Highway 395.

Motorists on the north side of the blockade take the reverse route.

Halsey said all side streets and large parking lot entrances along Highway 395 will also be closed, as well the streets around Minden Park.

All streets should be reopened by 7 p.m.

"I'm wish everyone a safe and happy Parade of Lights celebration," said Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini. "Those who plan to travel the Highway 395 corridor on Saturday evening between 4:30 and 7 p.m. should plan ahead for an alternate route."