Staff Reports
About 200 invited guests were treated to a preview of what to expect at the first Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival at a kickoff party at the Genoa Town Hall on Wednesday.
Genoa Town Board members Jenn King and Karen Holmes said they hope the event helps revitalize the town.
"We hope this event will bring some new blood to our area that will help put a new face on Genoa," King said.
Holmes said Genoans are looking for another big event like Candy Dance that will help support Nevada's oldest settlement.
The kickoff featured entertainment by All Hat No Cattle, cowboy poet Tony Argento, McAvoy Lane as Mark Twain and the Old West Trio, all of whom will be performing at the Genoa festival April 29-May 2.
The Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music festival is presented by Carson Valley Arts Council and the Town of Genoa.
Also among the cowboy poets and musicians scheduled to appear at the festival are Waddie Mitchell, Don Edwards, Paul Zarzyski, Lacy J. Dalton, Dave Stamey, Sourdough Slim, Larry Maurice, Richard Elloyan, David John and the Comstock Cowboys.
Master of ceremonies is KOLO-TV's John Tyson.
The event will include workshops on storytelling, ranch tours, blacksmithing, leather tooling and saddle making.
Western, cowboy, and Indian artists are invited to apply for the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival. The juried art show includes a preview reception and two days of gallery showings of the artists' work for sale.
Jurying fee is $20. After being accepted, the gallery fee is $125. Artists' applications and information about vendor and volunteer opportunities at the Genoa town office, 2289 Main St., Genoa, 782-8696.
Schedule information for the festival and event ticket purchases available at www.genoacowboyfestival.com
