Genoa saddling up for Western Heritage Days

Nevada’s oldest town honors its place in the history of the Silver State and the West on April 29 – May 1 with the Genoa Western Heritage Days Celebration.

The three-day festival is conducted by the Friends of Genoa and sponsored by 1862 David Walley’s Hot Springs & Resort, The Pink House, Heritage Bank, Carson Tahoe Health System, Gillmor Coons Real Estate, Starbucks, Dorothy Gardner & Family, Art and Joanne Hall and many individual Heritage Sponsors.

The April 29 concert kicks off the event at 7:30 p.m. with a Town Hall performance by Trinity Seely and Dave Stamey. Tickets are $45. This concert will also honor Genoa friend, neighbor and cowboy poet Ken Gardner.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30, attendees can amble throughout Genoa and enjoy Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, Chautauqua actors portraying historic characters, children’s activities, Dutch oven cooking, Ag in the Classroom with the Douglas County Farm Bureau, Native American demonstrations and much more. Events and performances are free and family friendly.

Saturday daytime performances include:

• Music by Sierra Sweethearts, Jon & Betsy Elliott, Jakota Wass Band, Krista Jenkins, Ten Dollar Pony, Gary Allegretto and Chris Bayer.

• Cowboy poetry by Tony Argento and Chris Isaacs

• Chautauqua actors: Mark Twain performed by McAvoy Lane, Charley Parkhurst portrayed by Kim Harris and Snowshoe Thompson performed by Steve Hale. These afternoon presentations are in the Town Hall.

• Civil War Camp for Living History. Heritage living style, crafts and a realistic “skirmish.”

Food and drinks are available throughout town for purchase. Many local restaurants have specials and will be the outdoor performance venues.

Something new this year is the Progressive Dinner. If you’d like to sample the fares of five eating establishments, the dinner will be from 4–6:30 p.m.

Visitors will receive a passport and a colored wristband and will rotate in groups in a timed fashion between Sierra Chef, The Pink House, the Country Store, Genoa Station Bar & Grille and the Hungry Hearts Food Truck. Tickets are $40 per person.

The main event 7:30 p.m. April 30 is a concert featuring Mary Kaye Holt, Gary Allegretto and Chris Isaacs. Tickets are $45.

Cowboy Church is 9 a.m. May 1 with the congregation of the Genoa Community Church in the Town Hall, featuring Jon and Betsy Elliott and Mary Kaye Holt with Pastor Patrick Jolly.

At 10:30 a.m., Gary Allegretto conducts a harmonica workshop in the Town Hall. There’s a $20 fee for the workshop, which includes a harmonica.

Tickets for the concerts, the progressive dinner and a heritage sponsorship can be obtained on EventBrite.com, by going to www.genoanevada.org and downloading a mail-in ticket form or by calling – 775-782-8696 – or going to the Genoa Town Office at 2289 Main St., Genoa.

For more information, visit Genoa Western Heritage Days on Facebook