The starting inflatable at the July 4, 2024, annual Freedom 5K in Gardnerville
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Main Street Gardnerville’s July 4 Freedom 5K “Run for the Wreath” starts and ends at Heritage Park, 1447 Courthouse Alley in Gardnerville. The race begins at 8 a.m. on Independence Day, rain or shine.
This is the second in Main Street’s 2025 “We Run This Town” fun run-walk series. Taking part in all three events (Carson Valley Days, Freedom 5K, and Paint it Pink for breast cancer awareness in October) earns participants a commemorative “I Run This Town” t-shirt.
The Freedom 5K Run for the Wreath is family friendly event open to all ages. Participants are encouraged to dress with patriotic flair, and trophies are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. Following the run, the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra performs a concert of patriotic songs at Heritage Park starting at 11:30 a.m. (cvpops.org/concerts/).
Pre-registration is $25 for those age 11 and older and $20 for military service members and veterans; participants age 10 and under are free. There’s also a 5K virtual option for $20. Register online at https://runsignup.com/freedom5krunforthewreath through July 3 at 11:30 a.m.
Day-of-event registration opens at 6:55 a.m. on July 4. Fees increase to $35 for runners 11 and up and $30 for military service members and veterans.
Of the fee, $5 from each registration helps purchase wreaths that will be placed at veterans’ headstones during the annual “Wreaths Across America” event in December. Each year, MSG partners with Wreaths Across America to honor the 225 veterans laid to rest at Garden Cemetery, 1536 Douglas Avenue in Gardnerville. Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit whose mission is to remember our fallen US veterans, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom (wreathsacrossamerica.org/).
Additional wreath purchases for the Garden Cemetery ceremony can be made at wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/159666/Overview.
Creatively contribute to the US Capitol Christmas Tree
Summer has just begun, but preparations are already underway for the US Capitol Christmas Tree. The 2025 tree will be harvested from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada, and this year’s theme is “Starry Skies to Neon Lights-Spirit of the Silver State.”
The Douglas County Public Library is helping provide ornaments for the US Capitol Christmas Tree and other accompanying holiday trees. Starting July 1, members of the public are invited to pick up a free wooden cut-out of Nevada and paint kit. Ornaments can also be decorated with natural, recyclable, or repurposed materials but cannot include any commercial logos, political affiliations, sharp materials, or anything divisive or offensive. Decorated ornaments must be submitted by August 30 and will not be returned.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website, uscapitolchristmastree.com/, lists ideas for interpreting this year’s theme. These include: iconic landscapes and special places in Nevada; how Nevadans enjoy their public lands; the wild plants, animals, and geology of Nevada; Smokey the Bear; Woodsy Owl; and more.
The Minden Library is located at 1625 Library Lane. Connect with DCPL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, library.douglascountynv.gov or call 775-782-9841.
Volunteer docent training offered
The Nature Conservancy is hosting a one-day training for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer docent at the River Fork Ranch’s Whit Hall Interpretive Center, 381 Genoa Lane in Minden.
Volunteer duties include greeting visitors 3-4 Saturdays per year; organizing one community education event related to TNC’s mission, interests, and educational goals; and partaking in a volunteer background check.
The training takes place Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/volunteer/volunteer-docents-river-fork-ranch/ for more information and a link to the volunteer interest form.
Questions can be directed to Lori Leonard at 702-533-3255 or lori.leonard@tnc.org.
Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.