10th ANNUAL TwainFest
Write Out Loud presents the 10th Anniversary of their Annual TwainFest to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, August 17 in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego. TwainFest is produced by Write Out Loud and sponsored by Fiesta de Reyes in association with Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
TwainFest, now a tradition for many San Diego families, is an all day free festival celebrating Mark Twain and the literature and culture of 19th Century America. There is something for everyone at this festive old-fashioned gathering at the park. Presentations occur at a variety of park venues throughout the day.
Write Out Loud Artistic Director, Veronica Murphy, shared “Twainfest provides a beautiful day to connect with literature and with people of all ages. We really love that families can come and spend a day away from their electronic devices to have a tactile experience engaging with the literature, history and the culture of the 19th century.”
Returning Festival Favorites:
- The Authors Salon provides the opportunity to meet Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Helen Hunt Jackson, and other beloved writers of the period.
- Giant puppets of Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Edgar Allan Poe will wander the green.
- Local San Diego performers present 19th Century stories and poems by Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Eugene Field, Lewis Carroll and many more, at venues throughout the park.
- An arcade of unique literary games and activities designed especially for TwainFest will entertain players of all ages on the green.
- The Armory Band recreates the only band that played for both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, providing patriot music of the time played on vintage instruments.
- Civil War Field Encampment, complete with soldiers and nurses, provides classes for all ages in fife and drum and artillery.
- Descendants of Early San Diego provide stories of historical figures of our community
- A backdrop of 19th Century music enlivens the day’s activities.
- Free books are provided at the Book Emporium to all who participate in five or more activities.
New To TwainFest for 2019:
- Mad Hatters Tea Party – immerse yourself in an interactive event with The Mad Hatter, Alice, White Rabbit & Door Mouse as you explore the world of Lewis Carroll
- All New Literary Programming – our 19th century literature and poetry is completely revamped this year.
The cast includes Pamela Brittain, Abby Despain, Cynthia Gerber, Will Harris, Katrina Heil, Steven Lone, Brian Mackey, Eric Minella, Julia Schalz, Connie Terwilliger, Travis Wilson and Catalina Zelles.
Musicians include Mark Danisovzsky, Danny Barber, Leland Collins and special guest Irish Uilleann Pipe Player, Sean O’Casaide and others.
Category: Education, Entertainment, Events, Local News
