Minden photographer John Cocores took this photo of the All About Dance and Douglas County School District entries from the top of a boom lift parked just off Eddy Street in Gardnerville on Saturday.
One of the wetter Carson Valley Days in history didn’t stop celebrators from putting on their leis for the “Aloha” themed event, Saturday.
The rain held off during the parade which brought 65 floats from Esmeralda Avenue to Lampe Park.
The Carson Valley Active 20/30 Club No. 85 puts on the annual event.
Lion’s Club President Ron Santi was named Citizen of the Year. Santi was patrolling the parade route selling buttons for the event.
The Carson Valley Swim Center’s float took overall winner with their lifeguards on the beach and shark on a surfboard.
After the parade, celebrators enjoyed the carnival at Lampe Park before the rain hit around 1 p.m. even then spirits weren’t dampened.
People took shelter under the gazebo, in the many vendor booths and others came prepared with umbrellas for the lines at the rides.
Later, Taylor Lynch of Taylor’s Scissors & Clippers hosted the beard contest for the second year in a row.
“It was bigger and there was more audience involvement,” said Lynch.
Lynch started hosting the event in 2022, bringing the event back after several years.
“I do this for the men,” she said. “There are so many beauty pageants and such for women and men need that love and boost too.”
There were 11 categories this year from the best groomed and scruffiest beard, the longest, reddest and most unique to the best mustache.
Lynch added a new category this year that had the crowd laughing and cheering, the Beard Strut.
“The guys got really into it and were hilarious and the crowd really got into too,” said Lynch.
She also added a special category for the 20/30 club boys, with the winner being the Club’s biggest sponsor of the Carson Valley Days event, Carson City Nissan.
“After all he’s done for us, he deserves it,” said a club member during the competition.
With about a half-inch rain recorded across the Valley, a little rain never hurt anyone, especially when celebrating Carson Valley Days.
“Thank you to the grand presenters, Carson Nissan, and all our local sponsors, we couldn’t have done it without you and to everyone coming out, braving the storm and having a good time with us despite it,” said Club Immediate Past President Robbie “Sunshine” Boulais. Boulais was the overall parade chairman this year.
