Minden hosts big barbecue for Fourth of July

Minden has a star-spangled Fourth of July celebration planned for Tuesday.

Children of all ages will pedal around Minden Park during the Town of Minden’s Independence Day Celebration beginning at 10 a.m.

Mostly for children, anyone is welcome to participate, just bring some wheels to pedal, a scooter, skateboard or rollerblades, strollers or wagons, decorated with the red, white and blue or choose from a variety of patriotic adornments at the decorating table before the parade.

After the parade, the Town of Minden officials will fire up the grills serving hamburgers and hot dogs, which were donated by the Carson Valley Inn and frozen treats provided by Model Diary.

In a past issue of The Record-Courier, Minden Town Manager JD Frisby said Minden is all about the small town and community feel and on a day like the Fourth of July, community is what the holiday is about.

“Minden is proud to preserve that small town feel and we do our best to make sure that’s how we keep it,” said Frisby.

Frisby said the town strives to make the event bigger and better each year.

This year, most of the activities continue including a bounce house, cornholes, a bubble zone and craft station.

Later, the Minden Farmers Market will pop up along Esmeralda Avenue 4- 8 p.m.

With temperatures reaching a high of 92 degrees Tuesday, the splash pad will be open for cooling down and the Kiwanis Aktion Club of Carson Valley will sell cold refreshments.

Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on and picnic in the park for the day enjoying the festivities while a live DJ provides tunes.

Things start earlier in Gardnerville for the Freedom 5K Fun Run at Heritage Park with registration at 7 a.m. and the race at 8 a.m. Participants are encouraged to dress in patriotic attire. A prize will be presented to the best dressed, trophies are awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place race finishers and each runner receives a medal.

After the run, Blanhir Bakery will offer breakfast and the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra will perform patriotic songs starting at 11:30 a.m.

Over in Douglas County’s oldest town, Genoa’s Americana Festival begins at 10:30 a.m. with another parade down Main Street and music performances by Quake City Jug Band, the Front Porch Band, Jakota Wass and the Carson Symphony begin-ning at 11:15 a.m.

With most of the festivities in Douglas County wrappping up by 5 p.m. there’s time to catch fireworks at Lake Tahoe, Carson City’s Mills Park, Virginia City or Reno-Sparks.