Taylor Lynch of Taylor’s Scissors and Clippers waves from her Carson Valley Days float in 2024 populated by the bearded and the not so bearded on their way to Tay Tay’s Beard Contest.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Dinosaurs are expected to stomp down Highway 395 during the 115th Carson Valley Days Festival “Jurassic Valley” parade scheduled for Flag Day.
The parade begins 9 a.m. traveling from downtown Minden to Gardnerville.
The Carson Valley Days Festival is a four-day event celebrating the community with carnival rides for all ages at Lampe Park along with, live music, entertainment, activities, competitions, and vendors throughout the weekend.
Hosted by the Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club No. 85, the Carson Valley Days Festival raises funds for local charities that support children and families, such as Austin’s House, Boys & Girls Club of Douglas County, Project Santa Claus, the annual Easter Egg Hunt, school sports, scholarship programs, back-to-school shopping and more.
The “Jurassic Valley” theme was a fun idea the club decided on, which they try to do every year, but it also holds a special hidden meaning when looking closely at this year’s Carson Valley Days Pin.
"The old jailhouse has been our home for decades, and it's a big part of our story as a club," said Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club No. 85 Vic President Max Whear. "The pin includes a subtle tribute to that history, it's our way of honoring the time we've spent there and our hope that we'll continue to call it home for many more Carson Valley Days to come."
During the festival many of the beloved events and activities will return including the horseshoe and cornhole tournaments, tug o’ wars, arm wrestling, a kids obstacle course, sack races, and water balloon toss, along with new activities.
“The goal was to bring more energy and variety to the event,” said 20-30 Club Public Relations Director David Hochgurtel. “We’ve got the same family-friendly games and expanded our parade and vendor presence.”
Hochgurtel said the upgrades came from listening to what people like from past years and building on it.
One of the most popular competitions returning for its fourth year, encourages men to strut their beards during “Tay Tay’s Beard Competition.”
Lynch began hosting the competition shortly after she opened shop in 2020.
“When I opened the shop, I wanted to become involved in the community, so I started with the parade,” she said. “When it became known I could work the crowd, I was asked to host on stage, and then I asked if I could bring back the beard competition.”
Since then, the competition has been an anticipated event now with 12 categories highlighting men’s facial hair.
“I love doing this because I think it’s important that not only us females feel good about ourselves, but that men do too,” said Lynch. “These guys put a lot of work into their facial hair, so I think it’s cool and fun to have something for the guys to do.”
The categories include most unique beard, the reddest beard, the best partial, the whitest beard, the best salt and pepper, the best mustache, the whitest beard, the best groomed beard, the longest beard, the thickest beard, the most scruffy beard, and the best beard strut.
Competitors can register at Taylor’s Scissors and Clippers or at the Beard Booth next to the stage at Lampe Park on June 14 until the start of the contest at 2 p.m. Beard registration is $10 per person.
Lynch will also perform her DJ skills for the first time during the festival noon to 2 p.m. June 14. Other musical talent include, Lost Reverends, Carson Chandler, Erica Malone’s Eminence, False Rhythms, Moxy Ruckus, and karaoke with DJ Sheri Lynn.
Hochgurtel said the Carson Valley Days has been celebrated for 115 years and the club has hosted since 1946.
“That’s over a century of locals coming together to celebrate Carson Valley,” he said.
“What’s been most rewarding for me, is hearing from people, especially those who are new to the area, say things like, ‘I had know idea how big this was,’ or ‘this is bigger than any county fair I’ve been to,’ and from longtime locals, ‘this is the best it’s looked in years.’ That’s huge for us,” said Hochgurtel. “We pour our hearts into this, not just for the weekend, but for what it means to the Valley as a whole.”
Carson Valley Days Schedule of Events
Carnival presale tickets are available at Nevada State Bank, Raley’s, AJ.’s Stoves, and Accolades Trophies.
115th Annual Carson Valley Days Event Schedule
THURSDAY
4-10 p.m. Carnival Buy one ticket get one half-off
4-10 p.m. Vendors
FRIDAY
4–11 p.m. Carnival
4–11 p.m. Vendors
6-8 p.m. Lost Reverends perform
9–11 p.m. Carson Chandler performs
JUNE 14
9 a.m. to noon Carson Valley Days Parade - “Jurassic Valley
Noon to 11 p.m. Carnival
Noon to 11 p.m. Vendors
Noon to 2 p.m. DJ Tay Tay performs
Kids Activities
1 p.m. Bean Sac Races
2 p.m. Water Balloon Toss
Noon to 2 p.m. Horseshoe Tournament
Registration / Shoe Fly at 2:30pm
2-3:30 p.m. Tay Tays Beard Competition
3-4 p.m. Arm Wrestling
4-5 p.m. Erica Malone’s Eminence performs
5-6 p.m. Tug o’ War
6-8 p.m. False Rhythms perform
9-11 p.m. Moxy Ruckus performs
JUNE 15
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Carnival
10 a.m. Cornhole Tournament: Registration 10am - 11am / Bags Fly at 11am
12:30pm Glutton Bowl (Food Eating Contest)