When we visited Genoa, they were having some kind of festival in the park. With bad rock music. Church was letting out at the same time and the locals don't smile at strangers. We tried to buy some candy, but the salesperson ignored us to chat with a local. We felt like we had fallen in to the Twilight Zone.

There is a "Candy Dance" festival in Genoa once a year, where the town rakes in bucks from tourists. I would presume that they actually smile at that time.

It is a cute town, just don't expect to feel welcome. Do expect to see a lot of mullets and other time-warp hairstyles.