Genoa Western Heritage Days a hoot and a half

There was a little giddy-up but not a hitch in the first Horse Parade as part of the Genoa Western Heritage Days.

Genoa was packed for the annual event and both sides of Main Street were lined with onlookers for the horse parade, to the point where one Young Chautauquan asked why everyone was lined up there after a performance at the Genoa Town Church.

The 500 maps printed for the event were gone by 1:30 p.m. Saturday, a half hour before the start of the first Horse Parade, according to organizer Gayle Vassar.

“Truly, the Horse Parade was the star of the show, delighting a crowd from the very young to the very old,” Vassar said. “I don’t know who was smiling and waving at the horses more — my 92-year-old mom or my 3-year-old grandniece.”

The Progressive Dinner sold out more than a month in advance, with 200 people enjoying a nosh and libation at five Genoa eateries, Vassar said.

Chautauqua performers MacAvoy Lane, Kim Harris and Steve Hale performed as Mark Twain, Eilley Bowers and Snowshoe Thompson.

The concerts, featuring four new headliners this year. were well attended.

“Kristyn Harris and Ryan Fritz shared the stage at Town Hall on Friday night and closed a great performance with an impromptu duet,” Vassar said. “On Saturday, cowboy poets Floyd and Valerie Beard kept the audience chuckling with clever asides and descriptions of life in the West, while The Cowboy Way Trio’s lively performance was the perfect way to end the concert series.”

Produced by the Friends of Genoa, sponsors included Dorothy Gardner, Betsy Cooksey, Steve and Lucette Simon, and Jim and Nancy Turner.

Organizers thanked the 60 people who purchased Heritage Sponsorships and business sponsors Carson Valley Health, Daniel’s Fine Dining, the Genoa Gallery, Gillmor Coons Real Estate, Heritage Bank, Ranch One and Visit Carson Valley. In addition, David Walley’s Resort provided rooms for the evening entertainers.

The 2024 Genoa Western Heritage Days is April 26-28.