105th Annual Genoa Candy Dance Arts & Crafts Faire - Save the Date!

Celebrate 105 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 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Save the date for this amazing weekend, which will take place September 28th and 29th. 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 both days. The Saturday night Dinner and Dance takes place from 5:00pm-10:00pm (advance tickets are required, and will be available for purchase in August).

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!