The Carson Valley Days Carnival opens 4 p.m. today with Buddy Night at Lampe Park.
Carson Valley Days banners are up around town as preparations are underway for the celebration of Douglas County’s agricultural heritage.
That celebration will culminate in the Saturday morning closure of Higwhay 395 through Minden and Gardnerville for the annual Carson Valley Days Parade.
There’s plenty going on in the days running up to Saturday, including the opening of the carnival in Lampe Park on Thursday.
Thursday is Buddy Day where carnival ride tickets are two for $45.
Presale tickets, which are still on sale at Accolades Trophies, Nevada State Bank in Minden and Raley’s, are not valid for Buddy Day.
Those tickets become valid when the carnival reopens on Friday afternoon.
The theme for this year’s parade on Saturday is “Aloha, Carson Valley,” which prompted Douglas officials to don their Hawaiian shirts at last week’s county commissioners meeting.
Carson Valley Lions are selling buttons reflecting the theme for $2.
Parade day starts early with registration at Douglas High School’s parking lot 7 a.m. and then line-up along County Road.
According to Minden, County Road from Highway 88 to Sixth Street, Sixth Street from County Road to Highway 395 and Esmeralda Avenue from Sixth Street to Highway 395 will be closed 6 a.m. to noon. Fifth Street will be closed on Saturday morning for the 11th annual Town of Minden Carson Valley Days Breakfast.
The parade starts at Minden Park and runs up to Esmeralda Avenue on its way through downtown Minden to Highway 395 where it will turn south until it reaches Waterloo Lane in Gardnerville.
Highway 395 will be closed 8-11 a.m. Saturday from Buckeye Road to Waterloo Lane.
There is no parking in the right-of-way during the parade, but early birds shouldn’t have too much trouble staking out a spot in one of the many parking lots along the route.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada State Police will be both in the parade and patrolling the route.
Road closures will be operated by the Sheriff’s Office Citizens Patrol and Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking people to stay out of the road and not interfere with the parade. If you’re watching the parade a ways from your vehicle take your valuables with you, especially cash.
Parade and carnival goers should be prepared for a possibility of thunderstorms or showers this week, with high temperatures forecast to be in the low 70s by Saturday.
The Carson Valley Art Association will be hosting its annual art show in the CVIC Hall in Minden Friday through Saturday.
