A Model T parked in front of the Genoa Town Hall during Western Heritage Days on April 30.
Nevada’s oldest town celebrates its Western heritage with three days packed with music, history, art, food and fun on April 28-30.
Genoa Western Heritage Days kicks off at 7:30 p.m. April 28 with a concert featuring award-winning Western music artists: Kristyn Harris, the 2022 International Western Music Association Entertainer of the Year, and Ryan Fritz, whose original composition “Give A Boy A Rope” won the 2018 Song of the Year award from the Pro Cowboy Country Artist Association. Tickets are $45.
A free festival will be in town from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29. Attendees may amble throughout Genoa and enjoy live Western music, cowboy poetry, Chautauqua actors portraying historic characters, the Virginia City Living Legends and the Horse Thief Canyon Desperados doing reenactments, children’s activities, Ag in the Classroom with the Douglas County Farm Bureau, Native American demonstrations, a Civil War Camp, and demon-strations by the Truckee Meadows Pioneers.
New to this year’s Genoa Western Heritage Days celebration is the Inaugural Invitational Horse Parade, which will proceed through the historic downtown at 2 p.m. April 29.
Saturday daytime performances include:
• Music by Sierra Sweethearts, Jon & Betsy Elliott, Jakota Wass Band, Krista Jenkins, Ten Dollar Pony, Those Windburn Brothers, Lost Reverends of the High Sierra and Carson Chandler.
• Cowboy poetry by Tony Argento.
• Chautauqua actors: Mark Twain performed by McAvoy Lane, Eilley Bowers portrayed by Kim Harris and Snowshoe Thompson performed by Steve Hale. These afternoon presentations are in the Town Hall.
For art lovers, there will be Western artists, vendors and makers with items for sale in the Trimmer Lot across from the Town Hall, an Artist Gallery in the Masons’ Hall, and art and collectibles at the Genoa Gallery and Home store in the Country Inn building and lawn area.
Food and drinks are available throughout town for purchase.
The Progressive Dinner 4-6:30 p.m. April 29 offers a chance to try a nosh and a libation at five Genoa eateries – Sierra Chef, The Pink House, Daniel’s, Genoa Station Bar & Grill, and the Hungry Hearts Food Truck outside of the historic Genoa Bar & Saloon. Participants receive passports and colored wristbands that let them rotate between each of the five restaurants in timed groups. Tickets are $40.
The Town Hall performance 7:30 p.m. April 29 features cowboy poet Floyd Beard, three-time winner of the Male Poet of the Year from the International Western Music Association, and The Cowboy Way, with Doug Figgs. who was named IWMA Male Performer of the Year and The Cowboy Way received the IWMA Group of the Year in 2021. Tickets are $45.
Cowboy Church in the Town Hall 9 a.m. April 30 features Doug Figgs of The Cowboy Way with Pastor Patrick Jolly.
Tickets for the Concerts, the Progressive Dinner and a Heritage Sponsorship are available online at Event-Brite.com (bit.ly/GWHDtix), by mail (download the order form at bit.ly/GWHD2023), or at the Town of Genoa, 775-782-8696 or Genoa Town Office, 2289 Main St., Genoa.
For more information, visit bit.ly/GWHD2023 or follow Genoa Western Heritage Days on Facebook.
Genoa Western Heritage Days is brought to you by Friends of Genoa and sponsored by Daniel’s Restaurant, Ranch One, Heritage Bank, Carson Tahoe Health System, Carson Valley Medical Center, Visit Carson Valley, Gillmor Coons Real Estate, Dorothy Gardner, Betsy Cooksey and many individual Heritage Sponsors. 1862 David Walley’s Hot Springs & Resort is providing rooms for Town Hall concert performers.
