Genoa Cowboy Festival and Sippin' Sunday This Weekend

In 1851, Genoa became the first settlement in the Nevada Territory and was full of cowboys and settlers. cowboys and ranchers have shared work, words and music here. The first "thirst parlor," the Genoa Bar, came along two years later to serve drinks to those traveling the California Trail as well as others finding themselves in the West.

In 2014, Genoa is home of the Cowboy Festival, a time when everyone comes to share words and music, celebrate heritage, cowboys and the West. It's also home to Sippin Sunday, an annual drinking tradition that begins the new season during the Cowboy Festival.

This year's Cowboy Festival begins on Friday, May 2 and runs through Sunday, May 4. Their very full schedule of events includes concerts, historical tours and western demonstrations. Mark Twain, Sarah Winnemucca, Snowshoe Thompson, Kit Carson, Women of the Wild West and Pony Express Riders take to the stage in reenactments, as well as others.

Events run all day Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by Sippin' Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ticket prices vary so check out their website. A bonus on Sunday: pay the $12 fee for Sippin' Sunday and get into all Sunday Cowboy Festival events for free.

*Don't forget, if you're traveling from South Lake Tahoe you need to take either Hwy 50 or Hwy 89 due to the Kingsbury Grade closure.