Nevada's oldest town gets its Americana on

While Gardnerville is enjoying a cool-down after its 5K and Minden is firing up the grills, Genoans will greet the Fourth of July with a parade.

While officially for children and pets, the parade pretty much includes anyone who’s dressed for the occasion marching down Nixon then turning onto Main Street and then through Mormon Station State Historic Park.

And while there are a lot of dogs and rarely any cats in the pet parade, occasionally an agriculturally minded participant brings a sheep.

The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and briefly result in the closure of Main Street while it heads into the state park, winding down the path and past the stage set up for the rest of the Americana Festival, sponsored by Friends of Genoa.

By 11:15 a.m., as the last echoes of the kazoos fade into history, the Quake City Jug Band will take the stage followed at 12:30 p.m. by the Front Porch Band.

Carson Valley’s own Jakota Wass will perform with his band at 1:45 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to bring festival chairs or blankets to sit on, though they are asked not to place them before 8 a.m.

Many people bring a picnic lunch, but if you prefer a hot meal, the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department will be serving up chicken dinners at $14 each. The volunteers will also be selling a variety of beverages, with and without alcohol.

The town’s restaurants and bars will be open during the day. Glass cups and bottles are not allowed at the park.

It has been 10 years since the Carson City Symphony took over the annual Fourth of July performance from the Reno Philharmonic, which performed its last concert in 2013.

The state park has seen a patriotic concert every year except 2020 since 1984.

The Carson Symphony is scheduled to kick off its performance at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday and should wrap up by 5:15 p.m.