WRITE OUT LOUD, an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading literature aloud for a live audience – announces the 12th Annual Twainfest, a FREE event which will take place on Saturday, August 21st from 11am – 6pm in the brand new location of Heritage County Park, 2455 Heritage Park Row in Old Town. This outdoors event does have limited capacity. Make your reservations at Twainfest.
Now a tradition for many San Diego families, this all-day festival celebrating Mark Twain and the literature and culture of 19th-century America. There is something for everyone at this festive old-fashioned gathering.
Write Out Loud Artistic Director, Veronica Murphy, shared “We are so grateful to be emerging from the restrictions of the past 16 months and to be able to engage with the community once again. TwainFest #12 brings families together to spend time away from electronic devices, to have a hands-on experience of the literature, history and culture of 19th century America, enhanced with delightful international folktales. Reading aloud is what we do – we look forward to doing it face to face.”
Returning Festival Favorites:
â— Local San Diego performers present 19th Century stories and poems by Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginia Hamilton, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Arthur Flowers and Barbara Kerley.
â— 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
â— Tom Sawyer’s Fence Painting – Tom Sawyer, Aunt Polly and Becky Thatcher seek out children at the park. Working together, they find things to trade with Tom for permission to help him whitewash the fence!
â— The Authors Salon provides the opportunity to meet beloved writers of the period, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinso and Charles Dickens.
â— Giant puppets of Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Edgar Allan Poe will wander the park. Debuting this year is a new giant Shakespeare puppet!
â— A modified arcade of unique literary games and activities designed especially for TwainFest will entertain players of all ages. Games & activities include: Calaveras Jumping Frog Launch, Frog Toss, Never-ending Story, Election of 1872, Huck Finn’s Rope Making, Fishing for Words, Wheel of Fiction, Red Queen’s Croquet.
â— Free books are provided at the Book Emporium to all who participate in 5 or more activities.
Cast and Musicians Include:
Andrea Agosto, Rhianna Basore, Pamela Brittain Laurence Brown, Jim Chovick, Kandace Crystal, Mark Danisovzsky, Sarah Errington, Dave Fenner, Lillith Freund, Monique Gaffney, Will Harris, Katrina Heil, Steven Lone, Brian Mackey, Paul Maley, Eric Minella, Paul Jaques, Chris Payne, Milena Phillips, Jon Sachs, Connie Terwilliger, Tim West, Travis Rhett Wilson and Eddie Yaroch.
Write Out Loud serves over 23,000 people annually with their core programs: In addition to Twainfest, Write Out Loud presents a six show season of Story Concerts, Voices of Ireland each March, PoeFest – a celebration of Edgar Allan Poe each October, StoryBox Theatre (Kamishibai) for elementary students, Poetry Out Loud for high school students, Ripples From Walden Pond – a one-man play about Henry David Thoreau, Stories for Seniors, Read Imagine Create for teens and, new since March, 2020, Listen to This – daily emails featuring short stories and poetry.
