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Mark Twain Days full festival schedule for this weekend in Carson City, Virginia City

Event Date: 
Repeats every day until Sun May 12 2024 .
May 10, 2024 (All day)
May 11, 2024 (All day)
May 12, 2024 (All day)

The wait is finally over. The second annual Mark Twain Days Festival returns to Carson City and Virginia City this weekend! Enjoy themed train rides, concerts, literature, book sales, kid's stories, and so much more all throughout the capital city and Virginia City.

Let's take a look at the full list of events for the weekend.

  • Carson City

FRIDAY MAY 10

MARK TWAIN MEDALLION MINTING
8:30 am to 4:30 pm - Nevada State Museum Ticketed Event / Kids under 17 Free

NAC’S TRAVELING EXHIBITION - GEOGRAPHICAL DIVIDES: FINDING COMMON GROUND

9 am to 4 pm - Carson City Senior Center

CARSON CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY - GUIDED TOURS

10 am to 4 pm - Foreman-Roberts House

STORYTIME: TOM SAWYER WITH PADDLEBOAT STEAM ACTIVITY

10:30 am to 12 pm - Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada

Free - Does Not Include Museum Admission

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WRITING by the Silver State Storytellers

12 to 2 pm - Comma Coffee - Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN’S INFLUENCE ON AFRICAN AMERICANS AND SOCIETY

12 to 1:30 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Ballroom Ticketed Event

DON KUHL: YOUR LIFE IS A STORY
12:30 to 1:30 pm - Carson City Senior Center

DR. AMY GHILIERI HISTORY OF BOOKS WORKSHOP (Hands On)

3 to 5 pm - Western Nevada College Print Room

CONNECTIONS - SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER MCAVOY LAYNE

5:15 to 7 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Ballroom

ELEMENTS OF WRITING WORKSHOP - SUZANNE MORGAN WILLIAMS

5:30 to 8:30 pm - Community Arts Building Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN PAINT AND SIP

6:30 to 9 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Classroom Ticketed Event

LITERATURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE WITH SCOTT NEUFFER

7:15 to 9 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Performance Hall

NEIL SIMON’S FOOLS BY PPI

7 to 9 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Maizie Theater Ticketed Event

THE PLEASURES OF MUSIC BY THE CARSON CITY SYMPHONY
7:30 pm - Shepherd of the Sierras

HARMONIES, WESTERN WIT AND HIGH- YODELING WITH RIDERS IN THE SKY
7:30 to 10:30 pm - Nashville Social Club Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN THEMED CRIME SCENE EXPERIENCE

All Day - Escape 36 - Ticketed Event

SATURDAY MAY 11

MARK TWAIN MEDALLION MINTING
8:30 am to 4:30 pm - Nevada State Museum

NEVADA STATE MUSEUM FREE ADMISSION
8:30 am to 4:30 pm - Nevada State Museum

NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM FREE ADMISSION
9 am to 4:30 pm - Nevada State Railroad Museum

ELEVATING FICTION WITH POETRY BY SILVER STATE STORYTELLERS
9 am to 11 am - Comma Coffee - Ticketed Event

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NORTHERN NEVADA FREE ADMISSION
9:30 am to 4 pm - Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada

JUMPING FROG CELEBRATION
9:30 am to 4:30 pm - Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada

OPENING DAY FOR HISTORIC NEVADA STATE PRISON TOURS
9/10/11 am, 12 pm - Nevada State Prison Ticketed Event

CARSON CITY: THEN AND NOW WITH JED BLOCK
10 am - Brewery Arts Center - Ballroom
Ticketed Event

RARE BOOK AND AUTHOR FAIR
10 am to 3 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Performance Hall

NEVADA INSPIRED SHORTS HOSTED BY JESSE JAMES ZIEGLER
10 am to 3 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Performance Hall

WAGON RIDES Featuring the Mule Stylings of Valkyrie, Svana, and Freydis
10 am to 3 pm - Brewery Arts Center
Ticketed Event

TWAIN DAYS ART FAIR
10 am to 3 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Parking Lot

FAMILY FUN SATURDAY - GRATITUDE CARDS
10 am to 3 pm - Nevada State Museum

STATE CAPITOL BUILDING TOURS FREE ADMISSION
10 am to 3 pm - Nevada State Capitol Building

CARSON CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY GUIDED TOURS
10 am to 4 pm - Foreman-Roberts House

TREASURE HUNT PRESENTED BY DBA
10 am to 4 pm - Downtown Carson

PRINT MAKING WORKSHOP (Hands On)
10 to 11:30 am - Community Arts Building Ticketed Event

DBA PASSPORT ADVENTURE
11 am to 2 pm - Midtown Marketplace start

GHOST WALK: THE FABULISTS
11 am to 12:30 pm - Bob McFadden Plaza Ticketed Event

NEWSPAPER WORKSHOP
11 am to 2 pm - Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada

WRITING FOR THE SILVER SCREEN BY SILVER STATE STORYTELLERS
12 to 2 pm - Comma Coffee - Ticketed Event

FAMILY FRIENDLY LITERARY WORKSHOP
12 to 1:30 pm - Community Arts Building
Ticketed Event

OGRES-HOLM POTTERY MAKE YOUR OWN CALAVERAS FROG
12 to 6 pm - Ogres-Holm Pottery Studio

THE WIND: LIVE WITH FIL CORBETT AND MICHAEL BRANCH
12 to 2 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Ballroom Ticketed Event

FAMILY STORYTIME - THE TAIL OF TIKKI THE QUAIL
1 to 1:30 pm - Nevada State Museum

STURO ARTIST TALK AND DEMONSTRATION
1:30 to 2:30 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Exhibition Hall

FAMILY STORYTIME - THE TAIL OF TIKKI THE QUAIL
2 to 2:30 pm - Nevada State Museum

WE MUST-ACHE YOU TO JOIN US FOR A MUSTACHE PHOTO OP WITH MARK TWAIN
2:30 to 3 pm - Brewery Arts Center

RIVER AND BRIDGES: THE WAYS WE MOVE THROUGH AND TOWARD WITH GAILMARIE PAHMEIER AND COURTNEY CLIFTEN
2 to 4 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Ballroom
Ticketed Event

CARSON STREET RAGTIME BAND
4 to 6 pm - The White House

SPOKEN VIEWS COLLECTIVE
7 to 9 pm - Western Nevada College

BOW TIE BALL
6 to 9 pm - Nevada State Museum Ticketed Event

SNOWSHOE THOMPSON: SUPER HERO OF THE SIERRA NEVADA CHAUTAUQUA PERFORMANCE BY DAVID AND GAYLE WOODRUFF
6:30 to 7:30 pm - Foreman-Roberts House Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN PAINT AND SIP
6:30 to 9 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Classroom Ticketed Event

NEIL SIMON’S FOOLS BY PPI
7 to 9 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Maizie Theater - Ticketed Event

AN EVENING OF BLUES WITH COCO MONTOYA
7:30 to 10:30 pm - Nashville Social Club Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN THEMED CRIME SCENE EXPERIENCE
All Day - Escape 36

SUNDAY MAY 12
MARK TWAIN MEDALLION MINTING
8:30 am to 4:30 pm - Nevada State Museum Paid Admission

HISTORIC NEVADA STATE PRISON TOURS
9/10/11 am and 12 pm - Nevada State Prison Ticketed Event

CARSON CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY GUIDED TOURS
10 am to 4 pm - Foreman-Roberts House

FAMILY ART WORKSHOP CREATE POETRY AND CARDS
10 to 10:45 am - Community Arts Building Ticketed Event

GHOST WALK: THE FABULISTS
11 am to 12:30 pm - Bob McFadden Plaza Ticketed Event

FAMILY ART WORKSHOP CREATE POETRY AND CARDS
11 to 11:45 am - Community Arts Building
Ticketed Event

FAMILY ART WORKSHOP CREATE POETRY AND CARDS
12 to 12:45 pm - Community Arts Building Ticketed Event

NEIL SIMON’S FOOLS BY PPI
2 to 4 pm - Brewery Arts Center - Maizie Theater - Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN THEMED CRIME SCENE EXPERIENCE
Open at 12 to 9 pm - Escape 36 - Ticketed Event

  • Virginia City

FRIDAY MAY 10

MARK TWAIN PHOTO OP AND MERCHANDISE
All Day - Mark Twain Casino

PAM BREKAS SPRING ART EXHIBITION St. Mary’s Art Center

MARK TWAIN EXHIBITION St. Mary’s Art Center

LOUISE CURRAN THEATER: MARK TWAIN AND THE ARTS SLIDESHOW
St. Mary’s Art Center

TWAIN TRAIN TO VIRGINIA CITY 2:30 to 8:45 pm - V&T Railroad
Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN DAYS ART AFTER DARK 3:30 to 7:30 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event - $20.00/Members $15.00

ART LAB: CREATE MINIATURE PAINTINGS 3:45 to 7:30 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event

VIRGINIA CITY SHUTTLES 3:30 to 7:30 pm

LIVE MUSIC BY THE OTHERS BROTHERS
4 to 7 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center

TOURS OF TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE
4:30 to 7 pm - Territorial Enterprise
Ticketed Event

LEARN ABOUT MARK TWAIN’S FORMATIVE TIME IN VIRGINIA CITY FROM HISTORIAN JOE CURTIS
5 to 7 pm - Fourth Ward School and Museum Ticketed Event - Members Free

PRINTING PRESS DEMONSTRATION Fourth Ward School and Museum

“BUCK FANSHAW’S FUNERAL” BY MARK TWAIN
READING BY MARTIN A. DAVID
5:30 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center

SATURDAY MAY 11

MARK TWAIN PHOTO OP AND MERCHANDISE
All Day - Mark Twain Casino

V&T MOTHER’S DAY TRAIN
10 am to 4:15 pm - V&T Railroad Ticketed Event

CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND ON THE COMSTOCK
10 am to 4 pm - Gallery of the West

PAM BREKAS SPRING ART EXHIBITION St. Mary’s Art Center

MARK TWAIN EXHIBITION St. Mary’s Art Center

LOUISE CURRAN THEATER: MARK TWAIN AND THE ARTS SLIDESHOW
St. Mary’s Art Center

VICTORIAN TEA AND BRUNCH
12 to 2 pm - Fourth Ward School and Museum Ticketed Event

VICTORIAN HAT FASHION AND HISTORY PRESENTATIONS
12 to 2 pm - Fourth Ward School and Museum Ticketed Event

ART LAB: CREATE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
3:45 to 7:30 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event

VIRGINIA CITY SHUTTLES
3:30 to 7:30 pm - Virginia City

TOURS OF TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE
10 am to 4 pm - Territorial Enterprise Ticketed Event

ART & HISTORY EXPERIENCE
11 to 4 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center Ticketed Event - Members Free

SUNDAY MAY 12

MARK TWAIN PHOTO OP AND MERCHANDISE
All Day - Mark Twain Casino

V&T MOTHER’S DAY TRAIN
10 am to 4:15 pm - V&T Railroad Ticketed Event

CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND ON THE COMSTOCK
10 am to 4 pm - Gallery of the West

MARK TWAIN EXHIBITION - Learn more about other iconic Virginia City writers and newspapers
10 am to 5 pm - Fourth Ward School and Museum Ticketed Event

PAM BREKAS SPRING ART EXHIBITION St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event

MARK TWAIN EXHIBITION St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event

LOUISE CURRAN THEATER: MARK TWAIN AND THE ARTS SLIDESHOW
St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event

ART & HISTORY EXPERIENCE
11 to 4 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center Ticketed Event - Members Free

VIRGINIA CITY SHUTTLES
3:30 to 7:30 pm - Virginia City

ART LAB: CREATE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
3:45 to 7:30 pm - St. Mary’s Art Center
Ticketed Event

TOURS OF TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE
10 am to 4 pm - Territorial Enterprise Ticketed Event

Looking for even more information? Visit https://visitcarsoncity.com/mark-twain-days/ or follow the festival on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/marktwaindays/

Top Stories

... or see all stories

An approximately 14 foot by 60 foot mobile home is disabled in the center turn lane at the corner of Fairview Drive and Steamboat Drive in Carson City and has disrupted the flow of traffic. Motorists can expect delays through Monday morning.

According to Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong, the mobile home lost 4 of its 6 wheels while it was being pulled Sunday evening by a truck.

Carson City health officials will discuss the youth vaping epidemic, along with short-term and long-term effects of vaping at a monthly parent night meeting, happening Monday night, May 20.

Youth Theatre Carson City is thrilled to announce auditions for Nickelodeon’s The Spongebob Musical, Youth Edition, a 60-minute adaptation of the hit Broadway show based on the iconic Nickelodeon series! The show will run four performances, July 26-28, 2024 in the Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson City Community Center.

Visit Carson City and pro cyclist Peter Stetina hosted the Peter Stetina Paydirt Challenge gravel race in Carson City this weekend. More than 600 bikers from around the world participated in either the 69-mile long course or the 56-mile medium course races.

Carson City Transportation Manager Chris Martinovich will be the featured speaker at the next Rotary Club of Carson City meeting. The public is welcome to attend.

Nevada State Prison Preservation Society is offering May through October tours of the historic Nevada State Prison in Carson City.

Western Nevada College is celebrating its 53rd commencement class with traditional commencement ceremonies on Monday, May 20, in Carson City and Thursday, May 23, in Fallon.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of May 20-26, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

On May 18, 2024, at around 12:50 a.m., Carson City Sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Christopher Gorham. A drug-detection canine was used to conduct a sniff of the vehicle. Deputies searched the vehicle and located drug paraphernalia along with an explosive device.

The following is written by Sam Olson, I.D.E.A. Committee Chair & Robert Bartshe, president of Sierra Nevada Realtors.

Our state anthem boldly declares that ‘Home means Nevada.’ For many Nevadans, home also means economic prosperity and stability. For generations, home ownership has been a symbol of financial security and upward mobility. Home equity is the largest single financial asset for most American families, representing between 50% and 70% of net wealth. Buying a house is one of those marquee life moments that you never forget.

On Sunday, May 26, 2024, Capitol City Gun Club in Carson City, NV will host a Memorial Day Fun Shoot from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Target fees will be discounted with a limit of 400 targets per person. The Club is a shotgun only facility, offering Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand, and Sporting Clays. The Club is located at 3590 Arrowhead Drive. For more information call (775) 882-9904. Everyone is invited to come!

Over the last 10 years, Catmandu has helped more than 2700 cats and kittens have a better life through rescue, adoption, education, assistance programs and a cage-free sanctuary. To mark the occasion and raise money to continue their lifesaving efforts, Catmandu is having a celebration/fundraising event from 6-9 pm on Saturday, June 29th at the Carson Events Center.

Thank you Jack's Valley Elementary School for inviting the Carson City Park Rangers to participate in Camp Read A Lot!

Students learned amazing facts about our feline and canine neighbors, mountain lions and coyotes!

An 1884 Carson City Morgan silver dollar donated by Northern Nevada Coin is being raffled by the Friends of the Nevada State Museum. The raffle will highlight the Tin Cup Roundup fundraiser planned for Saturday, September 21 (5 to 8 pm). Proceeds from the raffle and the event will support the restoration of a 1967 Chevrolet pickup truck for the State Museum.

Deputies are investigating a pipe bomb that was discovered during a traffic stop early Saturday morning.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That is my biggest problem. I do NOT make a good first impression.

On Friday, the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada announced its expansion into Minden.

“We are so incredibly honored to announce the brand-new Wray Family Clubhouse opening in August of 2024 in Minden,” a spokesperson wrote.

A 32-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday afternoon for felony domestic battery.

Steven Michael was arrested after deputies responded to a report of a domestic assault.

Since creating its Jump Start College more than decade ago, there have never been as many graduates as the Western Nevada College’s Class of 2024 produced.

WNC will honor a record 168 graduates at graduation ceremonies on May 20 in Carson City and May 23 in Fallon.
The program includes nine participating high schools, three academies and homeschool students.

Carson City is now accepting Letters of Intent for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects taking place July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.

The City is specifically seeking projects correlating with the City’s FY 2023-2028 Consolidated Plan, approved on August 3, 2023.

Ricardo Serrano Perez was sentenced to 20 years in the Nevada Department of Corrections with minimum parole eligibility of 8 years. Perez was sentenced pursuant to a guilty plea agreement whereby the parties stipulated to the maximum sentence.

Carson High Speech and Debate will be hosting the inaugural Carson High Show and Shine car show Saturday May 25th in the north parking lot of CHS from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone with a classic or cool car can enter their vehicle in the event for $25.

Awards will be given for the top 10 entrees. See the attached flyer or you can register day of. Anyone can come check out the cars free of charge.

There will be raffle prizes, face painting for the kids, and food trucks on site.

Donna Inversin, President of The Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail, will speak on the nonprofit's effort to find those remaining sections of old rail bed routes and stitch them together to build a multi-use path of between 60 and 80 miles that will be an echo of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad for the benefit and enjoyment of the citizens and visitors of Northern Nevada.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division is seeking information from the public to identify a suspect in a vehicle burglary investigation.

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space is introducing the capital city's first Trails Challenge in hopes of turning it into an annual outdoor adventure.

Carson Water Subconservancy District will host its two-day “Get on the Bus!” tour of the Carson River Watershed June 11-12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expert guides will cover topics ranging from water rights, river-restoration projects, and water quality and quantity to floodplain management, regenerative agriculture, and more.

Stuff a cop car with food on May 18

A “Stuff the Cop Car With Food” event will be held at Smith’s Food Food and Drug parking lot in Dayton on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10am until 3pm.

A 63-year-old housekeeper was arrested Thursday for 14 counts of credit card fraud and other offenses after allegedly stealing a credit card belonging to an 86-year-old patient who family members said was being treated for a stroke at a local care facility, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office detective.

Marie Finkes is the director of FitzHenry’s Funeral Home in Carson City, and said that over the past year, there have been 12 bodies under her care that have been subject to extended stays. This is due to the fact that Carson City Public Administrator Scott Hoen has ignored their repeated requests for an electronic signature releasing the body for cremation.

Have you ever wanted to learn the old art of Blacksmithing? Early smiths made wagon parts, handmade tools, shaped ornamental pieces, horseshoes, hinges and just about anything to having to do with working metal into a desired shape or purpose.