The festival includes contests from Mark Twain novels along with a parade, fireworks and a 10 km (6.2 mi) run.

[4] Mark Twain was raised in Hannibal, Missouri, which provided the setting for his novels about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

[6] In 2022 Hannibal hosted the 67th annual National Tom Sawyer Days: the festival ran from June 18 through the Fourth of July 2022.

[8] Events at the fair include, frog jumping, fence painting, and a "Tom and Becky" look alike contest.

[1] In 1993 Competitors participated in a "Mud Volleyball Tournament" while the Mississippi River was 12 feet over flood level.