Winning entries bring the heat at Parade of Lights

Balloon Nevada fires off a burner on Saturday as part of the HopeFest entry just prior to the start of the 2022 Parade of Lights.

Balloon Nevada fires off a burner on Saturday as part of the HopeFest entry just prior to the start of the 2022 Parade of Lights.

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With a high temperature on Saturday right at freezing and a steady rain falling, three winners of the Parade of Lights literally brought some heat.

Beach & Sons won the best business float, Hot Air for Hope won for best nonprofit and Controlled Burn took the friends and family category.

A third of an inch of freezing rain fell in Minden on Saturday, much of it during the parade.

Flames warmed the crowd both in the parade and along the route.

The other winners All About Youth Day for youth float and Carson Valley Swim Center for their Perfectly Peppermint Public Pool Party in the government category.

The Parade of Lights topped off three days of Carson Valley celebrations welcoming Christmas.

While wet weather may have held down the crowd in Heritage Park on Thursday, Minden Park was packed for the annual gazebo lighting despite temperatures in the teens in a break in the storm train.

Genoans and visitors packed the Town Church for Friday’s caroling prior to the lighting of Hope Falcke’s tree at Main and Nixon streets.

According to a statement issued at 9:45 a.m., Western Nevadans should expect several rounds of moisture through Monday with the first round tapering off this afternoon.

“Activity looks to diminish until Monday morning when another area of moisture looks to move into the area,” forecasters said.

Whatever moisture arrives, temperatures are expected to remain below freezing tonight leaving roads icy for the Monday morning commute.