Shannon Litz/Nevada Appeal
Today promises to be a warm one for the 90th annual Candy Dance Arts & Crafts Fair, with temperatures forecast in the 90s. The fair draws an estimated 30,000 people to the historic town of Genoa.
Named for the homemade candy volunteers have made since 1919 to raise money for the town, the event is one of the largest craft fairs in Northern Nevada.
"We've been blessed by great weather," Genoa Town Board Member Dave Whitgob said. "Everyone is working hard. The vendors are ready to go. We've set the table and now we're waiting for a good crowd."
Customers pour into town from three directions early in the day, most with the means to get their haul out of town.
Carson City sisters Linda Allen and Kathy Ensminger brought their cousin Debbie Morris down to the Candy Dance for some shopping. It was Morris' first trip to Candy Dance.
"They said you have to fly in for this," she said. The sisters are experienced hands at Candy Dance shopping.
"We've brought our shopping carts; you can tell we know what we're doing," Allen said.
Morris was using her grandmother's shopping cart.
"It's like we brought Grandma along," she said.
Genoa Past Grand Master Mason Walt Kesteloot was directing visitors into the Mason's Hall for breakfast. The oldest continuous Masonic Lodge in Nevada, the lodge was founded Sept. 17, 1868. Money raised from the breakfast goes to the care and upkeep of the lodge, which is one of Genoa's oldest buildings.
The Masons are serving scrambled eggs, pancakes and sausage at 6-10 a.m. today.
The preferred route into town was by Genoa Lane from the north or Foothill Road to the south.
There are also shuttles at the Carson Valley Inn and Douglas High School that take visitors to town for $2. Parking is free at the locations.
The Candy Dance festival is the main fundraiser to support the town. Most of the money comes from the rentals of about 300 booths, which occupy Mormon Station State Historic Park.