Towns celebrate Fourth with food and music

While Gardnerville will get a running start on the Fourth of July, Genoa will be in for the long haul on Independence Day and Minden will be chilling and grilling.

Carson Valley residents will celebrate the Fourth with food, music and maybe get in a run in Gardnerville to start the day.

The 9th annual Freedom 5K Fun Run starts 8 a.m. at Heritage Park in Gardnerville.

In previous years, participants would sign-in, line up behind the balloon arch starting gate and go. This year will feature the Douglas County Sheriff’s Posse presenting the colors and Douglas High School students singing the National Anthem.

Sponsored by Main Street Gardnerville, online registration is at runsignup.com and search for Gardnerville 5K. The event is hosted by Main Street Gardnerville. Proceeds will go to help pay for Wreaths Across America at Garden Cemetery.

Genoa starts their activities around 10 a.m. with a parade down Nixon Street leading off the event.

The Genoa Americana Festival starts at 11 with the Front Porch Band at 11, Those Windburn Brothers at 12:15 p.m., the Sierra Sweethearts at 1:30 p.m. and the Quake City Jug at 2:45 p.m.

Over in Minden, the barbecues will fire up around 10 a.m. at the park in preparation for the big feed, while a bicycle parade circumnavigates Minden Park. The celebration wraps up at 2 p.m.

The Genoa Volunteer Fire Department will be barbecuing half chickens starting 11 a.m. Dinners are $14 with proceeds going to support the department and will be served until they run out. The volunteers will also be selling beverages.

In Gardnerville, the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra will perform starting around 11:30 a.m. in the Heritage Park Gazebo.

The culmination of Carson Valley’s Fourth celebration will be the Carson City Symphony at 4:30 p.m. in Mormon Station State Historic Park.

With a three-day weekend, not everyone is waiting until the Fourth to don their red, white and blue.

At 11 a.m. Friday, there will be a drive-through Independence Day Parade at the Chateau at Gardnerville. Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles for residents. For information, call 775-782-3100.

While the V&T engine Genoa never rolled into Nevada’s oldest town, it has arrived at the Nevada State Railroad Museum for the Great Western Steam Up July 1-4 in Carson City.

The event includes live music, a crafts fair, kids’ activities, train rides and historical displays that celebrate the Virginia & Truckee Railroad – nicknamed the Queen of the Short Lines.

For more information, visit www.greatwesternsteamup.com