The City of Columbia, along with the Arts Administration Program at Lindsey Wilson University, will be holding the inaugural Mark Twain Storytelling Festival in June in Columbia. Below is a tentative listing of some of the events for the festival.
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, there will be a proclamation at the Adair County Library/Adair County Genealogical Center at 10 a.m. proclaiming the week of June 15-21, 2026, as Mark Twain Storytelling Festival Week in Columbia.
On Monday, June 15, will be the unveiling of the mural being done by Tezon Mitchell of Greensburg. It is on the building at the corner of Reed Street and Jamestown Street and commemorates Mark Twain and his mother, Jane Clemens. The event will start at 11 a.m.
On Friday, June 19, there will be a reception at the Slider Auditorium at Lindsey Wilson University beginning at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Hoots will give remarks at 6 p.m., the Arts Administration Program will give a presentation immediately after, followed by remarks from Dr. Robert Brock of Lindsey Wilson University.
On Saturday, June 20, there will be speakers throughout the day at V .P. Henry Auditorium on the campus of Lindsey Wilson University.
The website for t-shirts for the event will open May 31 and the site for tickets is already open.
“We encourage everyone to participate in this event that is a collaboration between Lindsey Wilson University, the City of Columbia, with input and information from the Adair County Genealogical Society,” stated Mayor Hoots.
(Trey Stephens – City of Columbia)