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The First Annual Mark Twain Days April 21-23
Carson City, NV – March 23, 2023 – In the spirit of one of Nevada’s most prolific, witty, wise (and wise-cracking) writers, Mark Twain. Carson City brings a new event to the Sierra Nevada in 2023. Mark Twain days will be a three day free festival in downtown Carson city that will celebrate the life, events and stylings of this Historic era in the cities history.
Mark Twain’s time in Nevada was fast, furious, and left a lasting impact. The region and Twain were changed forever and the dust he kicked up has never quite settled. To carry on with what Mark Twain loved most about Nevada—the characters, the excitement, and the spirit of the west—we invite you to the Mark Twain Days Festival in Downtown Carson City. Discover yourself like Samuel Clemens did when he left Missouri to find his true identity in Nevada with art, music, treasure hunts, costume contests, the Twain “Cocktail” Train, and so much more.
Most events for this festival will be free to attend, but on Friday March 24th two special tickets events with limited availability will go on sale. The “Twain Train” VIP Cocktail Rail Excursion on Friday night and the Bowtie Ball – A period costume Ball at the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday night will require a VIP ticket to the event.
A few of the event highlights will include:
Classic Cinema club Mark Twain film screening at the brewery Art center
Downtown Business Association’s: Downtown Scavenger Hunt
“Living History” Chautauqua Performances –Headliner: McAvoy Layne as Mark Twain with Kim Harris and DebiLynn Smith
A Tisket a Tasket “ – Picnic and gift basket auction – State Legislature Grounds and “Games on the Green” Children’s/family outdoor games for the Twain era (Game of Graces, board games, fence painting, sack races, croquet, hoop and stick, cup and ball, era-based games) – State Legislature Grounds
WEEKEND EVENT SCHEDULE
Mark Twain Days – Festival Schedule (as of Mar 21, 2023)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21
3:00 – 8:00 pm “Twain Train” VIP Cocktail Rail Excursion – Specialty Sips and Twain Tales from costumed performers on the historic Railway from Carson City to Virginia City
6:30 – 7:30 pm “Yours Dreamily, Mark Twain” – Readings of prize-winning short stories – McFadden Plaza
7:00 – 10:00 pm Classic Cinema Club Mark Twain Film Screening, Brewery Art Center
7:00 pm – Paint and Sip creating paintings with one of Mark Twain’s famous sayings – Brewery Arts Center
Other Activities:
- Costumed Ambassadors – around town and McFadden Plaza
- Twain-era street musicians – at selected downtown location(s) around the downtown
- Downtown restaurants, merchants featuring Twain items and menus
- Brewery Arts Center – Artisan Gallery Exhibit of Mark Twain paraphernalia and Poster Exhibit
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
10:00 – 11:30 am Literary Workshop – Community Center
10:00 – 4:00 Downtown Business Association’s: Downtown Scavenger Hunt
10:30 – 12:00p “Walk in Sam’s Shoes” – Twain Path Interactive Walking Tour with Mary Bennet’s Costumed Performers including Clemens home, church and his other favorite downtown area hang-outs
11:00 – 2:00 Downtown Passport adventure
12:00 – 2:00 pm “Living History” Chautauqua Performances –Headliner: McAvoy Layne as Mark Twain with Kim Harris and DebiLynn Smith – Nashville Social Club
2:20 – “Historic” Mustache Photo Op join us right before the runway contest to grab your free Mark Twain mustache and participate in an epic group photo op, we hope to go viral, that we will use for next years festival. Photo can be downloaded post festival.
2:30 – 3:00 pm “Cast of Characters” Costumed Runway Show / Mark Twain & Olivia Look-alikes – McFadden Plaza
3:00 – 4:30 pm Literary Workshop – Community Center
3:00 – 8:00 pm Steampunk & Steam Trains: Underground Ball Event – Nevada State Railroad Museum
5:30-8:00 pm Bowtie Ball – A period costume Ball at the Governor’s Mansion
7:00 – 10:00 pm Classic Cinema Club screening of Bonanza episodes starring Mark Twain with period banjo music and beverages, Brewery Art Center
7:00 pm – Paint and Sip creating paintings with one of Mark Twain’s famous sayings – Brewery Arts Center
Activities taking place throughout the day:
- Nevada State Museum – family activities / Historic Mint Tour featuring Mark Twain Medallion
- Literary readings – Comma Coffee and various locations
- Costumed Ambassadors – around town
- DBA Downtown Treasure Hunt
- Twain-era vendors marketplace and musical performances in Arlington Square
- Downtown restaurants, merchants featuring Twain items and menus
- Art Rocks – artist-decorated Rocking Chairs displayed throughout the downtown
- Music and performances – McFadden Plaza
- Tom and Becky from Hannibal, Missouri perform the Engagement Scene – various locations
- Frog Jumping Contests– Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
- Brewery Arts Center – Artisan Gallery Exhibit of Mark Twain paraphernalia and Poster Exhibit
SUNDAY, APRIL 23
10:30 – 12:00p “Walk in Sam’s Shoes” – Twain Path Interactive Walking Tour with Mary Bennet’s Costumed Performers including Clemens (Twain) home, church and his other favorite downtown area hang-outs
12:30 – 3:00 pm “A Tisket a Tasket “ – Picnic and gift basket auction – State Legislature Grounds and “Games on the Green” Children’s/family outdoor games for the Twain era (Game of Graces, board games, fence painting, sack races, croquet, hoop and stick, cup and ball, era-based games) – State Legislature Grounds
4:00 pm – “Becoming Mark Twain: Sam Clemens in Nevada” – A Carson City Symphony performance featuring McAvoy Layne and Violinist Andrew Sords, Carson City Community Center
Activities taking place throughout the day:
- Downtown restaurants, merchants featuring Twain items and menus
- Costumed Ambassadors – around town
- Twain-era vendors and music – Arlington Square (corner of N Carson St and Robinson St)
- Nevada State Museum / Historic Mint Tour featuring Twain Medallion
- Music and performances – McFadden Plaza
- Brewery Arts Center – Artisan Gallery Exhibit of Mark Twain paraphernalia and Poster Exhibit
- Tom and Becky from Hannibal, Missouri perform the Engagement Scene – various locations
