Candy makers at work as candy dance nears

"My retirement comes from my community, and this is a way to give back to my community," explained Thibodeaux, a retired firefighter who for two weeks each year becomes a master candymaker.

Thibodeaux, a Glendora, Calif., resident, is one of several volunteers helping to prepare some 4,200 pounds of candy for Genoa's annual sugar fest.

The candy, including milk chocolate, bon-bons, divinity, fudge, butter-rum cups and a variety of other waistline-expanding shapes, will be sold during the Candy Dance Sept. 26 and 27. An estimated 30,000 people journey to this tiny town for the two-day event, which also includes an arts and crafts fair and an antique show.

Thibodeaux, who was working on a batch of fudge Monday, is a five-year candymaking veteran. Rookie candymaker and Foothill resident Peggy Daniel, who was mixing the chocolate chips, marshmallows and nuts that go into the fudge, said she was recruited by Bev Smith, who oversees the yearly effort.

"It's really fun," said Daniel. Asked if working around the sweet-smelling confections brings out her sweet tooth, Daniel said, "It really doesn't. Mainly, you're just thirsty."

"It's really good, though," she added, acknowledging she'd taken a few samples from the so-called "reject" pile.

The candy-making efforts will continue through the next 10 days. By noon on Sept. 26, the candy will likely be sold out, and the town's main fund-raiser will be finished for another year.

The Candy Dance started in 1919 as a fund-raiser to pay for lights. It has been held almost every year since then and pays for most of Genoa's expenses.

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