Mark Twain Days
Writer and humorist Mark Twain may be from Missouri, but it’s the Silver State where his legend was forged. Celebrating his enduring legacy on American literature, the annual Mark Twain Days take place in two locales he was quite familiar with: Carson City and Virginia City.
Honoring a local legend, Mark Twain Days is three days of festivities featuring everything from jumping frogs and unruly scribes to Victorian-era parties and specialty train excursions.
As a young journalist, Samuel Clemens would come to make his mark on Nevada and the world by turning out wild stories from the early days of the Comstock. His humor-tinged writing during the Civil War familiarized readers with much of northern Nevada. Now, Carson City and Virginia City are teaming up to throw three days of festivities dedicated to this local legend.
Dozens of special events take place during Mark Twain Days in a variety of locations. Some are free to attend while others require paid admission. Highlights include:
- Bow Tie Ball, set in 1860s high society. Get gussied up in top hats and feather boas as you enjoy libations and live music, dancing, and performances. A scavenger hunt takes place through the entirety of the Nevada State Museum, too.
- Twain Train, a 24-mile roundtrip excursion from Carson City to Virginia City and back. Sip a handcrafted elixir from your souvenir glass and dine on curated snacks while taking in musicians, storytellers, and breathtaking views.
- Carson City Ghost Walk Featuring: The Fabulists, a 90-minute stroll led by Madame Curry and her Spirit Wranglers. On this 1.5-mile walk, you’ll hear all the most fascinating stories about Nevada’s capital city—and you may even meet some of the “unruly scribes” behind some of the wild hoaxes that came out of the West.
Use the complete schedule of events to plan your Mark Twain Days outings. Medallion mintings, museum tours, jumping frog celebrations, art workshops, Victorian tea and brunch, a rare book and author fair, and tons more await!
