2023 WEEKEND EVENT SCHEDULE

Mark Twain Days - Festival Schedule 

CLICK HERE to download a printable copy of the schedule and map

CLICK HERE to download the festival map only

FRIDAY

11:00 - 3:00 - Coin Press No. 1 Demonstrations | Nevada State Museum

3:00 – 8:00 pm “Twain Train” - SOLD OUT! - 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  FREE Classic Cinema Club Mark Twain Film Screening, Brewery Arts Center

7:00 pm – Paint and Sip creating paintings with one of Mark Twain’s famous sayings - Brewery Arts Center

Other Activities:

• Nevada State Museum special minting and tours
• 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

10:00 – 4:00 pm Vendor Faire  – Arlington Square - Corner of Carson St. & Robinson St. across from the Nugget Casino

10:00 - 3:00 pm - The Celebrated Jumping Frog of the Carson City Children's Museum | Activities throughout the day

10:00 – 11:30 am Literary Workshop – Community Center

10:00 – 4:00   Downtown Business Association's: Downtown Treasure Hunt

10:30 – 12:00p “Walk in Sam’s Shoes” - Twain Path Interactive Walking Tour with Mary Bennett’s Costumed Performers including Clemens home, church and his other favorite downtown area hang-outs - McFadden Plaza Start

11:00 – 2:00   Downtown Passport Adventure  - Passports can be picked up at Carson Jewelry & Loan or Purple Avocado day of. 

11:00 - 3:00 - Coin Press No. 1 Demonstrations | Nevada State Museum

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 in Mcfadden Plaza to grab your free Mark Twain mustache. Participate in an epic group photo op, we hope to go viral, used for next year's 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 FREE Classic Cinema Club screening of Bonanza episodes starring Mark Twainwith period banjo music and beverages, Brewery Arts 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
• Downtown restaurants, merchants featuring Twain items and menus
• Art Rocks – artist-decorated Rocking Chairs displayed throughout the downtown - auction now live!
• 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

10:00 – 4:00 pm Vendor Faire – Arlington Square - Corner of Carson St. & Robinson St. across from the Nugget Casino

10:30 – 12:00p  “Walk in Sam’s Shoes” - Twain Path Interactive Walking Tour with Mary Bennett’s Costumed Performers including Clemens (Twain) home, church and his other favorite downtown area hang-outs - Mcfadden Plaza Start

11:00 - 3:00 - Coin Press No. 1 Demonstrations | Nevada State Museum

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