Greetings from Hannibal, MO, Mark Twain's boyhood hometown, my theme for this year's AtoZ Challenge.
 |
| Photo: Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce |
Extras:
Pictured above are the finalists for the Tom and Becky contest, posing with my friend Lindell Shumake, a state representative here in Missouri. He lives with his family in Hannibal. Each summer five Tom and Becky couples are chosen. One day last summer, my daughter met one of the couples in Java Jive. She was thrilled when Becky handed her a tiny cloth bag filled with a mini chalkboard, a marble and a plastic apple.
Because of the amount of festivals, events and tourists in Hannibal, we have lots of extras. You can never have too many pairs of the famous literary sweethearts to greet our guests.
Exciting times! More festivals/events:
June - August - Hannibal Cavemen Baseball
June 19-21 Juneteenth Celebration
July 3-5 60th Annual National Tom Sawyer Days (Don't forget the fence painting contest.)
July 4- Hannibal Cannibal 10k/5k walk/run
November 30- After the Steampunk Festival and the Harvest Folklife Festival, we will be celebrating Twain's 180th birthday. There's going to be a mustache contest! And cake!
Christmas in Hannibal is a magical event with living windows in the downtown area and a Victorian Festival of Christmas.
I told you we have a ton of festivals. Now go groom your mustache and buy a present for Twain's big birthday. What's your favorite small town festival or big city event?
I wish my town did more festivals. I'd love to go to them all. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll go with!
DeleteOur city has a lilac festival in the spring. I don't know that I've been, but I've got four lilacs in my yard and I can't wait for them to bloom.
ReplyDeleteOh my word, I love lilacs. One of my favorite scents. Reminds me of childhood.
DeleteOur city has a lilac festival in the spring. I don't know that I've been, but I've got four lilacs in my yard and I can't wait for them to bloom.
ReplyDeleteYou've got some great celebrations coming up!
ReplyDeleteMy town has a May Fair, this coming Saturday. And in a couple of months, we have a Regatta on the river, with lots of gig races and stalls and food :-)
Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
I wish I could visit all these other festivals in other states!
DeleteWe don't have anyone nearly as famous to celebrate here. I do love the steampunk festival, and Ski to Sea is pretty exciting.
ReplyDeleteOoh, Ski to Sea sounds interesting!
DeleteI've heard about the fence painting contest and only because a couple of friends ended up whitwashing each other and then joking about it.
ReplyDeleteOur town has a street fair (they close the streets in the town center and set up) in the Spring and Fall. We have everything from local vendors making cool things to antique car show, music and square dancing. Lots of food and fun. I havent' been in a few years, though.
Sia McKye Over Coffee
I can see my boys doing that--getting out of hand and painting each other and everyone else!
DeleteSounds like it's always a party! =)
ReplyDeleteIt really is:)
DeleteOh my god, is there really a fence-painting contest? That is the most Tom Sawyer thing ever! The town tricks people into painting all the local fences for free!
ReplyDeleteTwain would be proud.
Also, that's a lot of bonnets.
Maybe next year I'll give them my address and they can help me paint the fence, the house, etc. I seriously have never been to this festival. We're always out of town!
DeleteHow many people usually dress up and compete?
ReplyDeleteI know they open it up to seventh or eighth graders (or both?) that live in Hannibal. So potentially hundreds:)
DeleteHope you don't get too tired with all those events! They really know how to celebrate Twain. My daughter loves fake moustaches. She'd be into that contest like a shot.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun tradition!
ReplyDeleteYvonne
I love how much you love your town :)
ReplyDeleteKatie @TheCyborgMom
I'm not big on festivals. I like fairs.
ReplyDeletei love festivals and fairs and mark twain! i'm trying to come up with a humorous story and enter it in his namesake contest!
ReplyDeletehis quotes are priceless. how fun to have so many celebrations!
way to make it to X day!
Wow, you're sure going to be busy! It must be a lot of fun. I love the idea of a fence-painting contest, and the Juneteenth celebration is wonderfully quirky.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun!
ReplyDeleteI bet it looks amazing all lit up at the holidays.
With great mustache comes great responsibility!
Heather
Festivals are fun :-)
ReplyDelete