It's an event so ingrained in Genoa's history that the town named a street after it.
The 107th Genoa Candy Dance comes to town this weekend.
"They can expect a fun-filled day with their families,” says Ryan Stanton, the Interim Town Manager of Genoa.
In 1919, the Town of Genoa needed to raise money for streetlights. A woman named Lillian Virgin Finnegan suggested a dance with candy for couples to pass out. It was a huge success and continued as a way to pay the electric bill for those same lights.
Even now it continues to cover over two-thirds of the town’s budget and attract folks from across northern Nevada.
“We estimate anywhere from 30 to 40,000 people visiting this Candy Dance,” Stanton says.
If you've gone 'candy dancing' before, it'll be very similar to previous years. If it's your first time, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First off, parking. You have three options.
“We have Genoa Cemetery available for parking,” says Stanton. “To the south of town, we have the Foothill parking lot we call it, and our main parking lot is off of Genoa Lane in a pasture.”
Parking will run you $10 in cash at all three lots, and a shuttle to the event will be available. The cemetery lot typically fills up in about 30 minutes, so the town recommends the Genoa Lane lot instead. Traffic from Minden and Gardnerville should take Muller Lane to Foothill Road to the Foothill parking lot.
The 107th Genoa Candy Dance will look similar to previous years.
The Nevada Department of Transportation says traffic controls will be similar to what patrons have seen in previous years.
One through lane will be open on U.S. 395 South at State Route 206 (Genoa Lane), and only right turns will be allowed to and from Genoa. Traffic heading north to Reno-Sparks and Carson City will have to either use Jacks Valley Road or turn onto 395 South and make a U-turn.
Nice weather is expected this weekend, but the pavement will heat up quickly. Plus, Mormon Station Park — Genoa’s main park — doesn't allow dogs at large events. So, Fido will have to sit this one out.
“It does get pretty warm out here,” Stanton says. “A lot of the walking is out on the asphalt. So, we do ask you to keep your animals at home."
Large crowds overwhelm the small town's wi-fi and therefore card readers, so the town asks you to bring cash in advance. ATMs will be available, but lines will be long.
More information about the Genoa Candy Dance can be found onthe town’s website, and the official map is to the right.
