Carson Valley Arts Council (CVAC) presents the Carson Valley Quilt Guild at the Copeland Gallery in Minden from November 4, 2025 through December 22, 2025.  The exhibit can be viewed Monday through Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm. The Guild’s art work will be available for purchase.

The Carson Valley Quilt Guild is a large group of quilters who live and quilt in and around Nevada’s Carson Valley. The quilters whose work will be shown at the Copeland Gallery include: Anne Bothwell, Cecile
Brown, Penny S. Hanscom, Shirley Holmes, Doris Hoskin, Nancy Lampson, Judith Laurini, Laurie Lile, Terrie Peets, Nancy Ryan, Amy Sams, Lorna Shugren, and Susan Van Alyne.

CVAC will be hosting an artist’s reception on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Refreshments will be served and it is free to the public. Come and meet the quilters and preview their amazing work.

For more information about this and other Arts Council events, please visit the CVAC website.

Hockey season returns to the Tahoe Blue Event Center! Celebrate by cheering on our very own Tahoe Knight Monsters at one or all of the 36 home games planned for this season.

On December 3, 2025, the Knight Monsters will be facing the Rapid City Rush. The puck drops at 7:00 pm.

The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 season can be found online. Please note that dates, times, & opponents are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, including how to get tickets as well as dates and locations of away games, visit the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ official website and be sure to check their page on Facebook. For other events at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, visit their official website.

This special event hosted by Sierra Chef in Genoa includes a series of fun and festive activities that take place around Genoa’s Tree Lighting. On December 5, 2025, head to Genoa for a wonderful holiday evening.

Here’s a timetable of activities:

4:30 pm-6:30 pm

Pick up your Reindeer Rally card at Sierra Chef or email events@sierrachef.com to get your card ahead of time. Then, get your Reindeer Rally card stamped at the following businesses: Foothill Market (Dasher), The Dancing Deer (Dancer), The Genoa Gallery (Prancer), Cusco Alpaca Peru (Vixen), Sierra Chef (Comet), Home in Genoa (Cupid), Flutter & Buzz (Donner), and The Pink House (Blitzen). Give your completed Reindeer Rally card to Santa or one of his Elves at Genoa Square to be entered in the Grand Prize drawing!

6:30 pm-6:45 pm

Join the Tree Lighting at the only intersection in Genoa Square.

6:45 pm-8:00 pm

Cocoa, Cookies, S’mores, and Photos with Santa on the Sierra Chef Patio.

7:00 pm-8:00pm

Kevin Sullivan, Local Children’s Author, will be reading his book “Goodnight Tahoe” and other Christmassy Favorites on the Sierra Chef Patio. Kevin will have all of his wonderful children’s books for sale and signing.

If you have questions about this event, email events@sierrachef.com.

Hockey season returns to the Tahoe Blue Event Center! Celebrate by cheering on our very own Tahoe Knight Monsters at one or all of the 36 home games planned for this season.

On December 5, 2025, the Knight Monsters will be facing the Rapid City Rush. The puck drops at 7:00 pm.

The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 season can be found online. Please note that dates, times, & opponents are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, including how to get tickets as well as dates and locations of away games, visit the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ official website and be sure to check their page on Facebook. For other events at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, visit their official website.

Join this holiday gathering of the region’s most talented creators and producers, plus farm animals, food, demonstrations, exhibits, and more! Hosted by Carson Valley Meats, a local food producer based at the historic Storke Dairy, this 5th Annual Ag & Artisan Holiday Faire is just one of many ways they honor Carson Valley’s agricultural roots.

The event takes place Saturday, December 6 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the historic Storke Dairy, and will feature exhibits and demonstrations from Douglas County 4-H, The Grange, and FFA, showing their animals, roping demonstrations, animal exhibits, and antique farm implements.

Local makers and producers will be selling unique handmade items and goodies made right here in the Carson Valley! Get your holiday shopping complete with yummy local honey and kettle corn treats, western attire, decorative holiday décor, gluten-free desserts, and more creative crafts.

For more information, including a full schedule of the Faire as well as a list of attending vendors, visit the event’s page on Carson Valley Meat’s official website. You can also check out Carson Valley Meat on Facebook for updates.

Hockey season returns to the Tahoe Blue Event Center! Celebrate by cheering on our very own Tahoe Knight Monsters at one or all of the 36 home games planned for this season.

On December 6, 2025, the Knight Monsters will be facing the Rapid City Rush as they also host their Annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Presented by Richard Harris Law Firm. The puck drops at 7:00 pm.

The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 season can be found online. Please note that dates, times, & opponents are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, including how to get tickets as well as dates and locations of away games, visit the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ official website and be sure to check their page on Facebook. For other events at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, visit their official website.

On Saturday, December 6 from 11:00am-2:00pm, head downtown for a district-wide shopping event to kick off the holiday season! Cruise through your favorite local shops as they pair with partnered businesses to bring you a true one-stop experience.

Holiday shoppers can register to participate in this year’s Sweater Stroll and receive a commemorative tote bag for all their shopping finds, a cookie box to stow treats provided by participating businesses, and more. Make it a total experience by visiting one of the amazing nearby eateries and fuel up in time for the Carson Valley Chamber’s annual Parade of Lights on Main Street starting at 5:00pm.

Support local businesses and give back to the community, all while spreading some holiday joy and reveling in the spirit of the season on Main Street!

Visit the event’s page on Main Street Gardnerville’s website for more information or to register to shop, and check out Main Street Gardnerville on Facebook for more events and updates!

The Eastern Sierra and Lone Pine region has long served as Hollywood’s rugged double for the American West—and far beyond. This history slideshow explores over a century of cinematic legacy, from early silent Westerns to blockbuster hits like Iron Man and cult classics like Tremors. With more than 400 productions filmed in the iconic Alabama Hills, the slideshow reveals how this dramatic landscape has stood in for India in Gunga Din (1939), frontier towns in countless cowboy epics, and even alien worlds. Archival photos, behind-the-scenes stories, and vintage posters bring to life the area’s transformation into a living backlot, while honoring the local people who helped shape its film heritage. Whether you’re a film buff or a lover of desert drama, this visual journey captures the magic of a place where the West was—and still is won.

This event will take place on December 7, 2025 from 1:00pm-2:15pm at Minden Mill Distilling. It’s free to attend, provided you have reserved a ticket. Tickets will become available starting November 18. Spots are very limited, so reserve your ticket early. You can find out more and get tickets to this and other events by going to Minden Mill’s official website and selecting “Book an Experience” or clicking here.

Get in the holiday spirit and make a beautiful holiday wreath while sipping on delicious wine! This class will take place in the Minden Mercantile building on December 7, 2025, from 1:00pm-3:00pm!

Tickets are $85 to participate and must be purchased in advance. Spots are limited, so reserve today! For more information and a link to sign up, check out the CV Flyte website, or check their page on Facebook for other news and updates.

Enjoy an evening of fine bourbon, beautiful jewelry, and stress-free gifting.

On Friday, December 12 from 5:00pm-7:00pm, Louisa Almasi Fine Jewelry at the Black House Collective in Gardnerville will host an event featuring curated collections of fine and vintage jewelry, plus personal wish lists on file — so whether you’re shopping for someone special or treating yourself, you’ll know exactly what to pick. To learn more, email hello@louisaalmasi.com or visit the event’s page on their website.

Don’t miss the holidays with the Carson Valley Community Theatre. Come to The Annex at 1572 Hwy 395 in Minden for A Night of Improv, “Yes, and” along with a performance of Holiday Music on Friday nights, followed on Saturdays and Sundays by “It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play” by Joe Landry.

A Night of Improv, “Yes and”
Performed on Friday evenings
December 12, 19, 26

“It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play”
Performed on Saturdays and Sundays
December 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2:00 pm
Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:00 pm

Tickets available online at carsonvalleycommunitytheatre.org, or click here.

You can also view the event’s page on Facebook for updates.

For one night only, Friday, December 12, The Holiday House Experience — a limited-edition progressive pop-up filled with festive cheer, delicious bites, and exclusive shopping across three locations — comes to Eddy Street in Gardnerville.

Start at The Holiday House—a historic Carson Valley home just minutes from Eddy Street—where you’ll enjoy a holiday mocktail, charcuterie, and intimate shopping. Continue at Eddy Street Vintage Market for sweet treats + private shopping. End at The Warehouse NV with a hot chocolate bar and winter wonderland stroll.

Tickets are $75 and include:

• Holiday mocktail
• Appetizers by Faded Apron
• Dessert + hot cocoa
• Exclusive shopping at all three stops
• Commemorative gift bag
Optional Upgrade: Add a commemorative tintype photo by Eye of Rie.

Reservable time slots are 3:00pm, 4:00pm, and 5:00pm. Tickets are VERY limited, so visit www.eddystreetvintagemarket.com to learn more and book your tickets today!
A portion of proceeds supports the Main Street Gardnerville Façade Program.

For more information, check out Eddy Street on Facebook or visit their official website.

Re/Max Realty Affiliates in Gardnerville, together with Mason Mac, will be hosting a Christmas Toy Drive event on Saturday, December 13 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Come to their office at 1320 US Hwy 395 N in Gardnerville and bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to the Boys and Girls Club in Minden, and join the festivities including photos with Santa, treats, and drinks.

For more information, you can check the event’s page on Facebook (click here).

On Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 9:00am, Wreaths Across America will be taking place at Garden Cemetery (1536 Douglas Ave) in Gardnerville and Eastside Memorial Park (1600 Buckeye Road) in Minden to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud. Wreath placement will take place immediately following the ceremony.

If you would like to sponsor a wreath or volunteer to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony, please visit the official website for details about the events at Garden Cemetery (click here) and Eastside Memorial Park (click here).

Thank you for supporting our Veterans!

The Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will present their annual production of Handel’s Messiah and holiday favorites in Gardnerville.

Joyous refrains and exultant arias, including the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus, will fill the concert hall this holiday season. This Baroque masterwork, expressing the themes of hope, redemption and grace, showcases the magnificent artistry and skill of Tahoe Symphony’s celebrated orchestra and chorus, complemented by exceptional soloists. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday tradition!

The Douglas County performance will take place Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 6:30pm at the Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville.

To purchase tickets, you can contact the Carson Valley Arts Council (CVAC) at 775-782-8207 or stop by their office at 1572 US Hwy 395 in Minden, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. Tickets will also be available at the door 30 minutes prior to the concert. For more info on this and other upcoming events, check out the CVAC website.

General admission for adults is $30; seniors (65+) is $25.00; and Youth under 23 years of age are admitted free, in non-reserved seating.

Preferred seating (closer to the orchestra than General admission) for adults is $40; seniors (65+) is $35; and Youth (under 23) is $15.00.

Premium seating (closest to the orchestra; best seats in the house!) for adults is $50; seniors (65+) is $45; and Youth (under 23) is $25.00.

For more information about this Concerto, or to purchase tickets online, visit the TOCCATA-Tahoe Symphony’s website.

Join Sierra Shadows Lavender Farm for an intimate shopping event before the Holidays get into full swing! Local vendors will be offering holiday-themed products available to purchase. The farm’s holiday-themed linens from France will also be available at this event!

The event will take place on Sunday, December 14 from 10:00am-3:00pm. You can find more information on the Sierra Shadows website or by clicking here.

For more information, visit the Sierra Shadows official website or check out their page on Facebook for updates and news on this and other events.

This history slideshow dives into the Sierra Nevada’s great “roads not taken”—and “ski slopes never skied”—exploring ambitious plans that stalled somewhere between blueprint and bulldozer. From high-altitude highways that would’ve made marmots nervous…to ski resorts of Disneyesque scale…these unbuilt projects reveal a quirky chapter of mountain dreaming. With vintage images, newspaper clippings, and a few eyebrow-raising proposals, local historians David & Gayle Woodruff invite you to imagine how these high highfalutin developments might have reshaped the Sierra—and why, in the end, Mother Nature got the last laugh.

This event will take place on December 14, 2025 from 1:00pm-2:15pm at Minden Mill Distilling. It’s free to attend, provided you have reserved a ticket. Tickets will become available starting November 25. Spots are very limited, so reserve your ticket early. You can find out more and get tickets to this and other events by going to Minden Mill’s official website and selecting “Book an Experience” or clicking here.

On December 14 at 5:30pm, The Porch Movement invites you to join them in the beautiful Minden Park for an evening of Caroling and Hot Cocoa. Together, bring joy to the neighbors and celebrate the holidays in a meaningful way. Rumor has it, there may even be a visit from Santa!

During the event, there will also be a cookie exchange! Bring your favorite cookies to share and one copy of the recipe for people to snap a picture of.

For more information, visit The Porch Movement’s website or check out the event’s page on Facebook.

Hockey season returns to the Tahoe Blue Event Center! Celebrate by cheering on our very own Tahoe Knight Monsters at one or all of the 36 home games planned for this season.

On December 17, 2025, the Knight Monsters will be facing the Wichita Thunder. The puck drops at 7:00 pm. Stick around after the game to paint for the ice for Ice & Ink, presented by Thermal Technology!

The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 season can be found online. Please note that dates, times, & opponents are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, including how to get tickets as well as dates and locations of away games, visit the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ official website and be sure to check their page on Facebook. For other events at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, visit their official website.

The High Sierra Fly Casters is holding a series of Fly Tying Workshops. The workshops are open to all interested in fly tying. Accompanied youth participation is most welcome!

The purpose of the workshops are to share collected fly tying knowledge. The target participants are those who want to move beyond absolute beginner or intermediate levels. Beginners are welcome to come and learn what fly tying is all about.

Workshop dates are as follows: October 16th, November 20th, and December 18th.

Contact Daniel Osborne, HSFC’s tying coordinator, at tying@hsfc.us for more information or questions.

These events will take place from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at River Fork Ranch Preserve, 381 Genoa Lane in Minden. For more information about other events like these, visit the Nature Conservancy in Nevada’s page on Facebook, and check out the series’ page. You can find out more about River Fork Ranch on The Nature Conservancy’s website.

Hockey season returns to the Tahoe Blue Event Center! Celebrate by cheering on our very own Tahoe Knight Monsters at one or all of the 36 home games planned for this season.

On December 19, 2025, the Knight Monsters will be facing the Wichita Thunder. The puck drops at 7:00 pm.

The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 season can be found online. Please note that dates, times, & opponents are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, including how to get tickets as well as dates and locations of away games, visit the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ official website and be sure to check their page on Facebook. For other events at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, visit their official website.

Hockey season returns to the Tahoe Blue Event Center! Celebrate by cheering on our very own Tahoe Knight Monsters at one or all of the 36 home games planned for this season.

On December 20, 2025, the Knight Monsters will be facing the Wichita Thunder. The puck drops at 7:00 pm.

The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 season can be found online. Please note that dates, times, & opponents are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, including how to get tickets as well as dates and locations of away games, visit the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ official website and be sure to check their page on Facebook. For other events at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, visit their official website.

This holiday season, join local authors and historians David & Gayle Woodruff for their unique and entertaining holiday/history program, You’ll Never Escape the Fruitcake—a jolly romp through the tangled tinsel of Christmas traditions! From the noble origins of Christmas trees to the mysterious persistence of fruitcake (which scientists now believe may be immortal), they’ll unwrap the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly nostalgic in a 55-minute living history presentation. It’s history with a side of ho-ho-hilarity—bring your cheer, your curiosity, and your own favorite memories of the holiday season.

This event will take place on December 21, 2025 from 1:00pm-2:15pm at Minden Mill Distilling. It’s free to attend, provided you have reserved a ticket. Tickets will become available starting December 2. Spots are very limited, so reserve your ticket early. You can find out more and get tickets to this and other events by going to Minden Mill’s official website and selecting “Book an Experience” or clicking here.

Join Eastern Sierra historians David & Gayle Woodruff as they take you on a sentimental journey along one of California’s favorite scenic byways – Highway 88…Carson Pass. Using extensive research and seldom seen photographs, hear the tales of the people and events that have helped shape this beloved “Alpine Highway” into the “avenue to paradise” we enjoy today.

This event will take place on December 28, 2025 from 1:00pm-2:15pm at Minden Mill Distilling. It’s free to attend, provided you have reserved a ticket. Tickets will become available starting December 9. Spots are very limited, so reserve your ticket early. You can find out more and get tickets to this and other events by going to Minden Mill’s official website and selecting “Book an Experience” or clicking here.

Come to Heritage Park Gardens on New Year’s Eve for the 12th Annual Candlelight Labyrinth Walk, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. The way will be illuminated for a glowing stroll along the path. There’ll be fire pits to stay warm, as well as hot cocoa and cider for the whole family. You can bring your own chairs, cups, and marshmallows, too, if desired!

Start a new tradition with your family and focus on creating hopeful tomorrows! Labyrinths are used throughout the world as a way to quiet the mind, recover a balance in life, meditate, gain insight, reduce stress, create, and celebrate. “Walk out the Old Year and Welcome the New Year” during this family-friendly event.

For more information, visit Main Street Gardnerville’s website.

CVAC’s 2025-2026 Concert Series will feature Kristyn Harris on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 7:00pm at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

Kristyn Harris has been named the International Western Music Association Entertainer of the Year 6 times, and is the youngest person to have received this honor. She is especially recognized for her powerful voice, swing rhythm guitar chops, songwriting, yodeling, and energetic stage presence.

Advance tickets are $25 and kids under 18 are free with a paid adult ticket. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.cvartscouncil.com, by phone at 775-782-8207, or at the Copeland Cultural Arts Center, 1572 US Hwy 395, Minden.

Round up your best Galentines and join CV Flyte for a cozy afternoon of candle making with Sierra Soapbox Candle Co. You’ll learn how to blend custom scents before pouring your very own 7.2oz candle to take home! In this two-hour workshop, you’ll be guided every step of the way as you craft a soy candle in an amber glass jar, topped off with a personalized label. All supplies and a glass of wine are included and NO experience is necessary — just your creative spirit.

This class will take place on February 15, 2026 from 1:00pm-3:00pm in Downtown Minden (precise location TBD).

Tickets are $60 per participant, and are required to be purchased in advance. Spots are extremely limited, so reserve today! For more information and a link to sign up, check out the CV Flyte website, or check their page on Facebook for other news and updates.

CVAC’s 2025-2026 Concert Series will feature Mustangs of the West on Friday, March 6, 2026 at 7:00pm at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

Mustangs of the West is a band with west coast roots steeped in both classic California country and folk rock: equal parts Emmylou Harris and Stevie Nicks, mixed with three and four-part vocal harmonies of The Eagles and early Beach Boys.

Advance tickets are $27 and kids under 18 are free with a paid adult ticket. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.cvartscouncil.com, by phone at 775-782-8207, or at the Copeland Cultural Arts Center, 1572 US Hwy 395, Minden.

CVAC’s 2025-2026 Concert Series will feature Mustangs of the West on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:00pm at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

The show features country/folk singer Chris Webster and legendary bluegrass/folk guitarist Nina Gerber. Chris Webster’s magic derives from those ineffable qualities of vocal grain, emotional nuance, timing and phrasing possessed by the truly great and moving singers of any style.” Nina Gerber effortlessly moves between country, pop, and rhythm and blues. “The evening’s real star… Gerber usually says little and lets her guitar do the talking. Gerber is a not-so-underground legend. Her wide-ranging folk-country-jazz/blues stylings.”

Advance tickets are $25 and kids under 18 are free with a paid adult ticket. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.cvartscouncil.com, by phone at 775-782-8207, or at the Copeland Cultural Arts Center, 1572 US Hwy 395, Minden.

Come to Nevada’s Oldest Pioneer Settlement for live music, great food, Western art, demonstrations and activities, all with a Western flair!

Genoa Western Heritage Days is a celebration of culture and community. Kick off the weekend on Friday, with a concert featuring Dave Stamey, and Cowboy Poets Valerie and Floyd Beard opening. Saturday evening will feature a concert with Trinity Seely following an opening with Cowboy Poets Valerie and Floyd Beard. Concerts begin at 7:30pm and individual tickets will go on sale January 2, 2026. Purchase your tickets online at EventBrite.com, by mail, or at the Town of Genoa, 775-782-8696 or Genoa Town Office, 2289 Main St., Genoa.

Saturday’s free daytime activities will be held from 10:00am-4:00pm and will feature live Western music, cowboy poetry, Chautauqua actors portraying historic characters, children’s activities, Ag in the Classroom with the Douglas County Farm Bureau, a Civil War Camp, and demonstrations by the Truckee Meadows Pioneers. For art lovers, there will be a Western fine art show, as well as vendors and makers. Food and drinks will be available throughout town for purchase!

A highlight of the Saturday festival is the Invitational Horse Parade, which will proceed through the historic downtown at 2:00pm.

A Progressive Dinner will be hosted on Saturday from 4:30pm-6:30pm, highlighting four Genoa eateries: Sierra Chef, Daniel’s, Flutter and Buzz, and Genoa’s newest offering, Foothill Market. Participants receive passports and colored wristbands that let them rotate between each of the four restaurants in timed groups.

Activities on Sunday will include Cowboy Church in the Town Hall with Pastor Patrick Jolly and Trinity Seely.

To find out more, follow Genoa Western Heritage Days on Facebook, and visit the Town of Genoa website.

Want to know more about this great event? Read all about it on our blog!

CVAC’s 2025-2026 Concert Series will feature Harry and the Hitmen on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:00pm at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

Harry and the Hitmen serve up classic Motown and Soul with jovial professionalism. But don’t let the “suits” fool you, the band comes from an improvised rock tradition, and has years of experimentation behind their tight arrangements.

Advance tickets are $27 and kids under 18 are free with a paid adult ticket. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.cvartscouncil.com, by phone at 775-782-8207, or at the Copeland Cultural Arts Center, 1572 US Hwy 395, Minden.

Don’t miss this exciting weekend of hot air balloons, competitions, live music, local vendors, and food trucks!

The third annual Carson Valley Hot Air for Hope Balloon Festival will be held at Lampe Park in Gardnerville, Nevada from May 15-17, 2026, and will serve as a benefit for the Center for Hope & Healing’s community programs.

Organized by the Carson Valley Balloon Festival, this event is free to the public and will include public balloon launches from Lampe Park at 6:00am each morning (weather dependent).

In addition to the balloon events, the festivities will include live music, food trucks, live art performances, and local vendors. Festival activities will occur rain or shine!

The community is welcome to come enjoy the balloons up-close, take pictures, and learn more about ballooning. For more information about this event, including a full schedule as it becomes available, visit the official website and be sure to check its page on Facebook for updates.

Please note that balloon launches will take place if the weather permits, so it’s advisable to stay up to date on local weather reports prior to your visit and follow the event at Carson Valley Hot Air for Hope Balloon Festival on their Facebook and Instagram.

Celebrate 107 years of this incredible event, complete with countless arts and crafts vendors, food, and of course, its famous candy!

The Genoa “Candy Dance” originated in 1919 as an effort to raise money to purchase street lights for the small, but enterprising community of Genoa, Nevada’s first settlement. Lillian Virgin Finnegan, daughter of then-prominent Judge Daniel Webster Virgin, suggested the idea of a dance and making candy to pass around during the dance as an incentive for a good “turn-out.” The Genoa community did raise the needed funds for streetlights, but realized the monthly electric bill had to be paid. The candy makers were then called upon each year to help promote the “Candy Dance” and pay a year’s worth of electricity for the streetlights throughout the town. Couples would come from Reno, Carson City, and surrounding areas to join in the evening’s fun. The Arts & Crafts Faire was added in the 1970s, and later became a two-day event. The first Faire was held on the front lawn of a private residence on Genoa Lane with twelve vendors. A few years later, the popular Faire was moved to the Mormon Station Historic State Monument grounds. With added expansion through the years, now Faire exhibitors are also found along a major portion of the downtown area. With all the people visiting the Faire these days, the streets in and out of Genoa are temporarily closed during the day from 7:00am-7:00pm.

Save the date for this amazing weekend, which will take place September 26 and 27, 2026. The event, which boasts over 400 arts and crafts, activity, and food vendors, plus a Saturday night Dinner Dance, draws thousands of people to Genoa.

Booths are open from 9:00am -5:00pm Saturday and 9:00am-4:00pm on Sunday. There is also a Saturday night Dinner and Dance (advance tickets are required, and will be available for purchase ahead of the event).

You can visit the Town of Genoa website for more information, or call the Town Office at 775-782-8696 with questions. Check the event’s page on Facebook for updates!