The Minden Gazebo lighting is Friday night.
Christmas decorations are beginning to light up Carson Valley as the holidays approach.
All three towns are getting into the Christmas spirit as they hang their own decorations in preparation of celebrations starting Thursday and culminating in the Parade of Lights next weekend.
As of Wednesday, more than 50 entries had signed up for the parade which will travel from Gilman Avenue to Minden Park starting 5 p.m. Saturday.
The parade lines up on Gilman near Heritage Park and rolls down Main Street to Esmeralda Avenue. Expect the highway through town to close starting around 4 p.m. between Waterloo Lane and Buckeye Road.
Anticipate side streets to close around the same time.
The Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center’s Holiday Gala will feature the 17th annual gingerbread house decorating contest and the return of the gallery of trees 10 a.m. Dec. 4.
Residents can find applications at www.historicnv.org.
Gingerbread houses will be accepted 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday. The museum is closed on Sunday. There is no fee to participate. The Gallery of Trees features trees decorated by nonprofits where visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite by donating money. The museum is encouraging residents to watch the parade from their front lawn of the former Douglas County High School at 1477 Main St. in Gardnerville. For more information, email dchs@historicnv.org or call 775-782-2555.
Main Street Gardnerville will be conducting its Light up the Holidays Christmas Light Contest where Gardnerville businesses will be judged during the Dec. 4 Parade of Lights. The winner receives a 2022 complimentary sponsorship status of the Main Street Gardnerville.
Gardnerville lights the fuze on the celebration Dec. 2 with its annual fireworks show at Heritage Park illuminating the night sky.
Hundreds of spectators are expected to turn out for the traditional celebration that was canceled last year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Santa is expected at 4:30 p.m., with three electric carriage offering rides around the park to keep early arrivals busy as they wait for the show to start at 5:30 p.m.
The All About Dance Kids, the Sierra Lutheran High School Choir and the Dance Workshop kids are all scheduled to attend.
A musical lightshow and a fireworks display follow the live entertainment. The town will be offering hot chocolate, hot apple cider and Dutch oven cobbler and the Gardnerville Water Company will be popping popcorn starting at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, contact the Town offices at 782-7134.
Minden’s gazebo lighting is celebrating it’s 31st year on Friday.
The first lighting in Minden Park was organized in 1990 and the event has grown with the years.
The celebration will feature the Douglas High School Jazz Band, firepits and s’mores cookies from the Carson Valley Inn.
Children may bring a canned food item in exchange for a goodie bag. Santa will be making his big entrance at 6 p.m. in time to throw the switch on the lights.
Nevada’s oldest town features a quieter celebration around the same time on Friday, with Christmas carols in the Town Church starting around 6 p.m. before residents walk down Nixon Street to light up Hope Falcke’s tree and visit with Santa.
Santa will be back at the Genoa Town Hall for three breakfast seatings, 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. Dec. 4.
