The Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival features an unprecedented line up of nationally known Cowboy poets and musicians including Waddie Mitchell, Don Edwards, Paul Zarzyski, Lacy J. Dalton and the Dalton Gang, David John and the Comstock Cowboys, Dave Stamey, Larry Maurice, Richard Elloyan, Sourdough Slim, Old West Trio, Cross Town Cowboys, Dennis Golden, Tom Weatherby, Ron Scofield and more, but there’s more to do than listen.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the historic Genoa Raycraft Dance Hall will echo to the sounds of boots scuffling on the wooden floor as the Festival hosts Cowboy Dances. On April 30, The Old West Trio brings their combination of contemporary and traditional Cowboy music to the stage and on May 1, it’ll be the Cross Town Cowboys providing the melodies. Both dances start at 7, and tickets are only $10.

If your two step is a little rusty, Donna and Tom Betterton will be giving Western Swing Dance lessons at 5:30 each night at the Raycraft Hall. A Festival day pass is required to take advantage of those dance lessons. Those day passes will not only get you into the dance lessons, but also over 80 Western related workshops and demonstrations presented by talented artists.

Including storytelling, melodramas, a discussion about what a Cowboy poet is, what it is like to be Cross Town Cowboys Poet in the West, writing cowboy poetry and a discussion led by Lacy J. Dalton and the “Let ‘em Run” Foundation on wild horses in Nevada. Demonstrations will include Dutch oven cooking, leather tooling, saddlery, silversmithing, Cowboy gear and blacksmithing.

All of this in the authentic setting of Genoa, the oldest settlement in Nevada. Lodging specials at a variety of Carson Valley properties are available for festival goers. For more information, visit us at www.genoacowboyfestival.com or call (775) 782.8207 or (775) 782.8696.