An entry in Saturday night's annual Parade of Lights through Gardnerville and Minden.
Photo Special to The R-C by Lisa Coffron
Organizers of the Parade of Lights created a special award for the multiple fire agencies who turned out on Saturday night in support of Grand Marshal and East Fork Fire Chief Tod Carlini.
Carlini is retiring in February just a few months shy of a quarter of a century leading the fire district.
The award was to “every fire agency within 100 miles for supporting the grand marshal.”
According to the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, which orchestrates the parade, VIP Rubber was named best business entry.
Other winners were Carson Valley All About Youth for the youth entry, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California for government entry, Controlled Burn for Friends and Family, and Hot Air Express and Carson Valley Balloon Fest for nonprofit.
Celebrations welcoming the Christmas season were conducted in all three towns on Saturday.
The Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center hosted its annual Gala featuring a cookie sale that was very nearly wiped out by noon.
Museum spokesman Dennis Little said it was a very busy day at the former Douglas County High School, with people coming in to visit the Gallery of Trees and to check out the entries in the Gingerbread Contest.
Winners won’t be announced for a bit, but Kathy Jarboe’s replica of a church dubbed “Sing Hallelujah!” complete with congregation inside was a crowd favorite.
In Genoa, 325 people enjoyed Breakfast with Santa with a line of little people waiting to talk to the big guy. Town Manager Jody Brunz said the event sold out.
The line to ride a trolly through Nevada’s oldest settlement was easily as long as the wait to see Santa. Brunz said the trolly rides were offered free as part of the breakfast.
Not everyone had to hoof it for Main Street Gardnerville’s Candy Cane Main Cookie and Cocoa Crawl, which featured electric Tahoe Carriage Rides through town.
Shoppers mingled with chairs parked downtown in anticipation of the Parade of Lights.
Editor's Note: Sarah Drinkwine and Kurt Hildebrand contributed to this report.
