Celebrate cowboy culture at Genoa Western Heritage Days in April.
written by Nora Heston Tarte
photos by Katy Jo Photo
Nevada’s oldest town is the perfect place to celebrate the state’s heritage. For the fifth year, the Genoa Western Heritage Days event is back for three days of Silver State fun in April. The family-friendly event welcomes locals and visitors alike to enjoy Nevada’s most prominent personalities, embrace cowboy culture, explore ranching heritage, and discover agricultural empires, all set against the majestic eastern Sierra Nevada backdrop.
“Anyone who is particularly interested in Western culture or our Nevada roots will find plenty of fun, educational, and inspiring activities throughout the weekend,” says Dan Aynesworth, one of the event organizers.
The event features performers in traditional attire
Western Festivities April 26 – 28, visitors can enjoy such Western-style fun as cowboy poetry, Chautauqua (cultural enrichment, including lectures, dance, music, and drama), nightly concerts, a Western trade show, children’s crafts, and local food and drink.
Chautauqua performers conduct live demonstrations at Mormon Station
A two-hour progressive dinner takes place on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., allowing guests to travel to four well-known Genoa restaurants for a variety of food and drink experiences. Tickets are $40 each. You’re also welcome to savor more traditional meal experiences at many other local restaurants.
Local food and drink are important features of the festival
Music is a mainstay of Genoa Western Heritage Days and sets the tone for this cultural event. This year’s musical entertainers will include Dave Stamey and Carin Mari, performing Friday night, and Trinity Seely and Sam Platts & the Plainsmen on Saturday. The three-day event begins with a Town Hall concert on Friday night, and the festival continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by the progressive dinner and a second concert.
Horse Parade In its second year, the Horse Parade begins on Saturday at 2 p.m. Watch a collection of horses, wagons, miniature ponies, and burros as they make their way down Main Street, creating a melody of hooves — a throwback to the soundtrack of Genoa when it was first founded in 1851.
A highlight of Saturday during the festival is the Horse Parade
The parade honors Genoa’s rich horse history, as the town used to be a stop on the Pony Express. Last year, more than 30 animals and vehicles participated in the parade.
