National Tom Sawyer Days...

Tom Sawyer Days originated in 1956 with the first Tom Sawyer fence painting contest, sponsored by the Hannibal Jaycees, and the first "Tom and Becky" contest, sponsored by the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce. The original event took place in May and was an out-growth of a tour of 1200 St. Louis Missouri children sponsored by KETC-TV, the St. Louis based educational television station. The fence painting and Tom and Becky contest were planned to ad local color to the event.

Walt Disney, who like Mark Twain was a Missouri native, boosted the event by extending an invitation to the new Tom and Becky to be his guests at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, for the opening of the new theme area "Tom Sawyer’s Island." The original events which took place in May were followed annually by an excursion to Disneyland in June. In 1999 the current Tom and Becky were invited to the opening of the new "Tom Sawyer’s Island" at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

In 1959 the event was moved to July 4th when Independence Day was proclaimed "Tom Sawyer Days" through a joint proclamation of Hannibal Mayor Clyde Toalson, Missouri Governor James T. Blair, and Illinois Governor William Stratton. Moving the event combined all of the Tom Sawyer Days activities with the Hannibal Jaycees annual fireworks display, creating one great holiday. The event was eventually expanded to include both states and became a two day event.

In 1961 "National Tom Sawyer Days" was born through a joint congressional resolution sponsored by Missouri Senators Stuart Symington and Edward Long and Missouri Congressman Clarence Cannon. The chartering resolution stated " the celebration is dedicated to the recognition of that most lovable, yet unpredictable phenomenon of our American society, the small boy and his fascination for the big river as immortalized by Mark Twain." Here, amid the echoes of the Tom Sawyers and Huck Finns of Clemen’s day as the events of the past are re-enacted, the visitors discover that the charm preserved by the author still lives in every boy or everyone who ever was a boy.

In 1964 the fence painting contest was expanded when each of the ten states bordering the Mississippi were invited to send a contestant, setting a tradition carried on today. In 1965 the Hannibal Jaycees assumed the responsibility for paying the expenses for the contestants from the ten states and have each year since. Contestants from other states are welcome , but due to the tremendous costs, must pay their own expenses. Today contestants come from all over the United States.

The fence painting contest is the core event of National Tom Sawyer Days and includes several days of events. All local contestants compete in the first event to advance to the national contest. A second event is held for contestants from all over Missouri who also advance to compete in the national contest. The final event is held on the last day of the event and the winner receives the Governors cup, to be presented to his states governor and displayed in the state capitol for one year. The trophy is returned each year for the next contest.

The National Fence Painting Contest is a three part event with contestants receiving points for authenticity of costume, speed, and painting quality. Contestants are encouraged to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to attempt to capture a realistic look for their costume. These areas are judged by local dignitaries , distinguished guests and the previous years champion.

In addition to the boys competition there is also a girls competition held as part of the Hannibal Business and Professional Women’s Tomboy Sawyer Contest. Also as part of the fun there is an over 30 contest held for those who still feel young at heart. The over 30 contest is a light hearted event usually marked unusual antics by some of the "big boys" participating. In 1998 several of these "big boys", also Hannibal Jaycee members, donned ladies attire and participated, much to the delight of the spectators.

Since 1956 the contest has continued to grow and many new events have been added. For a few years the Huck Finn Raft Race was held during which contestants raced their home made rafts from the historic port of Scipio, Missouri, up river from Hannibal, to the Hannibal boat marina. Other events have come and gone but many have stood the test of time . The Hannibal Chamber of Commerce still crowns a Tom and Becky each year, selected from a group of 8th graders from Hannibal, MO. A local chapter of the Centennial Circle of Kings Daughters runs an annual frog jumping contest. In 1969 a craft festival was begun, hosted by the Hannibal Kiwanis, who also sponsor the annual tricycle race . In 1980 the YMCA Men's Club began the annual Mississippi Mud Volleyball Tournament , which provides hours of muddy fun for contestants and spectators. Also a street carnival hosted by the Hannibal Jaycees was rescheduled to the same time as National Tom Sawyer Days and Incorporated as part of the event.

In 1975 The Hannibal Jaycees opened the first Tanyard Gardens, named for the tan yard located in the Mark Twain historical area where Huck Finn’s dissolute father slept. The Tanyard Gardens is a refreshment center and general headquarters far National Tom Sawyer Days. Daily at Tanyard Gardens a wide variety of vendors provide food and drink for visitors to the event. Every evening the Jaycees provide entertainment in the beer garden areas for adult visitors.

Each year the Hannibal Jaycees Organize the annual Fourth of July Parade which draws over one hundreds entries and travels the length of Broadway. The parade includes all of the National Fence Painting Contest and Tom and Becky contestants as well as local dignitaries. In addition the parade is full of floats, bands, and the usual parade fare. In 1998 the Hannibal Jaycees began giving a trophy for the best float decorated in the theme of the parade.

Annually on the fourth of July the Hannibal Jaycees put on a spectacular fireworks display. The display is one of the largest in a 100 mile radius and wows visitors who come from all over the world for National Tom Sawyer Days. The Fireworks show requires many hours of annual training and hard work by the Jaycees to design, set up, and shoot.

Annually the National Tom Sawyer Days draws over 100,000 visitors to the event which helps generate millions of dollars of revenue for the city of Hannibal as well as generating the revenue the Hannibal Jaycees and other service organizations use for their charitable work through out the year.

The National Tom Sawyer Days event is a four to five day event full of fun for visitors of all ages. Visitors are invited to experience the charm the City of Hannibal provides by seeing the historic areas of Hannibal and experiencing the events of National Tom Sawyer Days