Carson Valley Days theme looks back to past

Preparations for this year's Carson Valley Days celebration, which will be June 11-14 this year are already under way.

This year's theme for the parade will be Carson Valley Days of the Past.

"We hope people will come up with ideas for floats from past parades," said Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club member Jeremy Davidson.

Pre-sale carnival tickets become available the first of May for $17 at Raley's and Nevada State Bank.

The annual event is celebrating its 99th year since it was founded by H.F. Dangberg Jr. in 1910 to attract people to Carson Valley. The parade closes Highway 395 between Buckeye Road and Waterloo Lane, and is June 13 this year.

The carnival opens on Wednesday with free rides for special needs children. Anyone interested in participating should call Brian Deaton at 220-8046.

The second day is devoted to 2-1 night. Davidson said pre-sale tickets aren't eligible for the deal. Tickets at the carnival will be $22 for unlimited rides.

Saturday will kick off with the launch of nine hot air balloons. The 20-30 Club is raffling off a chance to ride on the balloon for $5 a ticket or five tickets for $20.

Anyone seeking tickets should contact secretary Tommy Lovell at (775) 313-6913.

After the balloon launch, the annual walk-run-jog will precede the parade.

This year the activity and music stages will be separated to provide more of a family atmosphere, club members said.

The club's biggest sponsor so far this year is Big George Ventures. The club is looking for sponsors and vendors.

Forms for sponsors, vendors and parade entrants are available at the club's Web site, www.carsonvalley2030.org.

The Web site is also a good place to go to find out how to volunteer to help or to join the club, whose members are in their 20s and 30s.

One of the club's other events, the annual Easter egg hunt at Lampe Park was held on Sunday. Club members boil and dye 8,000 eggs for the hunt.