Preparations underway for holiday gala

Now the fun begins. The Douglas County Historical Society's November photo contest is over at 4 p.m. Monday. E-mail photos or bring in printed photos to the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville by then. We'll announce the winner in the Dec. 4 column.

Also Monday is the day to start bringing in your trees and decorations for the 13th annual Gallery of Trees. You will have all week to decorate your trees and get them ready for the big Holiday Gala on Saturday, Dec. 5. When the doors close on Friday, Dec. 4, all trees need to be completed and ready for the gala on Saturday.

Monday is also when gingerbread houses will start appearing. All entries into the fifth annual gingerbread house contest need to be in place and ready to go when the doors open on Dec. 5.

The main event on Dec. 5 is when Christmas comes to the Gardnerville museum. So, please don't miss a moment of the fun. Come see the trees and the gingerbread houses and vote for your favorites. Come buy a cookie can and pick out your favorites. 

By all means, bring the kids for a photo with Santa, who will be in the sled on the front porch of the museum from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. just waiting for your kids. Photos will be taken and printed inside in Santa's photo workshop. Each photo will be mounted in a Christmas card suitable for giving to loved ones. All this happens while you tour the trees and gingerbread houses.

Each photo is $5. You may order several copies if you have relatives you want to send copies to. Just give us your order and then stop by the workshop on your way out. Your photos will be ready for you to pick up. If you don't have young kids, bring Grandma. No one is too old to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want for Christmas.

After you have enjoyed your day at the museum, stick around. Saturday night is the annual Parade of Lights from 5-8 p.m. The parade runs from Lampe Park to Minden Park along Highway 395 and Esmeralda Street and is the highlight of the towns Christmas celebrations. This year's theme is "Light the Way Home." Come join us for a great hometown Christmas.

For questions, contact the Douglas County Historical Society at www.historicnevada.org or at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville at 782-2555. Remember, DCHS and its two museums in Gardnerville and Genoa don't receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or 790-1565.