Special Events
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Special Events

Reno is well known for eclectic events and outside the box events, and no matter the time of year, there is always something going on! From Burning Man to the Reno River Festival to endless pub crawls to Celebrity Golf Tournament there is never a shortage of events participate.  

  • Artown
    • Artown has been a past recipient of 5 consecutive National Endowment for the Arts grant awards, while bringing the arts to life in Reno each July with a packed calendar of events. Artown captures the imagination and brings with it a celebration of distinguished artists from around the world, across the country and those that live in our community all for the sake of cultural diversity and artistic innovation.
  • Hot August Nights
    • The Biggest Little City shifts into high gear for Hot August Nights as thousands of visitors pay tribute to the exquisitely powerful automobiles and electrifying music of the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s. Considered one of the world’s premier classic car events, more than 5,000 vehicles from this golden era of design are showcased with activities all over Reno and Sparks during Hot August Nights.
  • Great Reno Balloon Races
    • The Great Reno Balloon Race is the largest free hot-air ballooning event in the world. During four days in early September, you can look up into the Reno skies and see a rainbow of hot air balloons soaring about. From its humble beginnings in 1982 with just 20 balloons, The Great Reno Balloon Race has taken flight with up to 100 balloons each year.
  • Burning Man
    • Once a year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert (180 miles from Reno) to create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. One of the world’s largest art festivals Burning Man has become a community within itself.
  • Farmers Markets
    • There's a farmer's market going on in the Truckee Meadows almost every day of the week during summer and early nearly each day in the fall as well. With a rich food-to-table history, a local farmers market is a great way to support local businesses and fill your stomach as well!
  • Rib Cook Off
    • Each September, the Annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off in Sparks, Nevada, brings in BBQ competitors from across the nation, giving you’ll get the chance to try out every kind of rib and BBQ style you can imagine
  • Barracuda Championship
    • The area’s only PGA TOUR event which takes place at a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, Montreux Golf and Country Club located in the Galena Forest in South Reno. 132 PGA tour members compete annually for the $3.5 million dollar purse whiles the spectators roam about one of the most beautiful courses on the West Coast.
  • Air Races
    • Held every September just north of Reno, the National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. For one week, the high desert north of Reno becomes home to hundreds of aircraft, their pilots and crews.
  • BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival
    • Another one of Reno’s iconic events, the BBQ Brews and Blues Festival is always a roaring good time. Satisfying all of your senses by lining streets of downtown Reno with food booths and merchandise vendors, and two stages, featuring non-stop rock and blues music.
  • Italian Festival
    • Bringing the sights, sounds and flavors of Italy to downtown Reno introducing the Great Italian Festival. Held each year during Columbus Day weekend, the festival is a celebration of Italian culture and traditions and includes live entertainment, a sauce cooking contest and of course, pasta – lots of pasta. Don’t miss the Eldorado Great Italian Festival, October 6 & 7 in Downtown Reno. 
  • Shakespeare Festival
    • The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor remains a fun, casual evening on the beach, but under the stewardship of the Board of Directors and Festival management, it has also become one of the outstanding outdoor cultural events in the United States.
  • Pub Crawls
    • With more than 70 bars, restaurants and night clubs within walking distance, downtown Reno has established itself as the as the undisputed bar crawl capital! With bar crawls happening year-round and locals who continuously embrace the culture, enjoy a night out in Reno with a creative twist.
  • Reno Wine Walk
    • Every third Saturday of the month from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm the Riverwalk Merchants Association hosts the original Wine Walk along the Truckee River and neighboring streets in downtown Reno.  This event is hugely popular among locals and is a great opportunity to explore the Riverwalk community!
  • Reno Rodeo
    • The "Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West," the Reno Rodeo is a 10-day event taking place each June. The Reno Rodeo is a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) sanctioned sporting event. Reno Rodeo is a non-profit organization made up over 500 volunteers. Over 140,000 fans will be in attendance for the 4th richest PRCA tour rodeo.
  • Street Vibrations
    • Street Vibrations Motorcycle Festival is a celebration of music, metal and motorcycles. Street Vibrations offers poker runs, live entertainment, ride-in shows, stunt and bike shows and more to more than 50,000 biking enthusiasts. Major event venues are planned in downtown Reno, historic Virginia City, Battle Born Harley-Davidson in Carson City and Chester's Reno Harley-Davidson Dealership.
  • American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament
    • Each July, crowds from around the nation gather for one of the premiere sporting events in the Reno Tahoe Area, The American Century Championship. Edgewood plays host to celebrities such as Charles Barkley, Steph Curry, Justin Timberlake, Tony Romo, Mark Mulder and of course various PGA Golfers as they compete in this annually hosted, lake side Golf Tournament.