The population of the town of Genoa is less than one thousand people, but one weekend a year, thousands of people come to downtown Genoa for the historic Candy Dance.
The Candy Dance began in 1919 and has been held every year since. Saturday night's Candy Dance is the highlight of the weekend for many, but others like Ashley St. George, say it's about all the other activities and booths. She bought a metal art piece, and her friend bought a wood one.
"It's just such a great event," St George, who came from Loomis for the Candy Dance, says. "There's so much to look at and to buy and there's so much unique stuff here you wouldn't find other places."
While candy is the main food attraction, there are dozens of food stands including barbecue. Still, St. George had to get some candy for her and her family.
"We had some peanut brittle and a giant cookie," St. George says. "But we are actually saving the candy for last."
This event brings people from all over, and there's no other event in Genoa that is this popular, so small businesses have to take advantage.
"Any big day like this you have to participate," Brent Knittle, Co-owner of Cottonwood Cottage, says. "But overall, this is a close, tight-knit community."
Knittle bought the business three years ago, so he's participated in two Candy Dances before today's. Still, he says planning for it is no easy task.
"It's unbelievable, it's almost impossible," Knittle says. "To prepare for because it's two big, huge days for us. And then we go back to the sleepy town of Genoa for the rest of the year."
Knittle may need to start preparing as soon as this one ends, because the next Candy Dance will be the 100th year anniversary.
St. George says her mother and grandmother have been coming for a long time, and this is only her second time coming, but she's fallen in love with it.
"There's nothing like this," she says. "I'll definitely be back."
