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The 2025 Silver State Art Festival: Sept. 5-7
Celebrate creativity and community at the Seventh Annual Silver State Art Festival, happening Friday through Sunday, Sept. 5-7, at the Fuji Exhibit Hall in Carson City. This exciting indoor festival invites guests to experience “Art in the Valley,” showcasing the exceptional talents of more than 40 award-winning artists from Nevada, California and beyond.
Visitors will discover an extraordinary variety of art, including gourd art, fine paintings and prints, handcrafted jewelry, photography, turned wood, ceramics and textiles. Each artist will be on hand to share their work, making this a unique opportunity to meet the creators and learn more about their art.
Stop by Friday evening and enjoy a glass of wine and the music of Christian McNamara while shopping. On Saturday, Lady Griller Food Truck will be on site for a yummy lunch, and audiences can enjoy the delightful Peruvian music by Kantu Inka.
One of the festival highlights is the raffle featuring 50 fantastic prizes, generously donated by artists and local businesses. All raffle proceeds will directly support the visual arts in Northern Nevada, helping to ensure a vibrant and thriving arts community. Last year’s raffle raised $18,000, and this year’s event is expected to be even more impactful.
The Silver State Art Festival takes place at Fuji Exhibit Hall, at 601 Old Clear Creek Road, in Carson City (across from Costco). Festival hours are 5 to 8 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday. Admission and parking are completely free, making it the perfect family outing or chance to find meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts.
The festival is proudly sponsored by the Nevada Artists Association, Fast Frame and the Brewery Arts Center. Learn more at www.nevadagourdsociety.org/2025-art-festival. (Sponsored Content)
Food for thought
As summer fades into September, two annual food-truck gatherings prepare for one last foodie fest until next year. After expanding to two new venues this summer, Reno Street Food will hold its last event of the season at its original spot in Idlewild Park on Friday, Aug. 29. Choose from dozens of food vendors offering a tantalizing variety of cuisines—from burgers and barbecue to more exotic fare including Asian fusion, Brazilian, Indian and Mediterranean choices—as well as drink vendors selling craft beers, frozen margaritas, cocktails and non-alcoholic refreshments like lemonade, boba tea and protein drinks. Bring a blanket and foldable chair, and enjoy your meal while relaxing and listening to live music in the park. Food Truck Friday is open from 4 to 9 p.m. at Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Drive. Admission is free. Visit renofoodtruckevents.com and www.facebook.com/RenoStreetFood.
The midweek food truck happening Feed the Camel will close out the season with one more event on Wednesday, Sept. 3. About 20 food and drink vendors will sell savory options like chicken wings, Japanese barbecue and hibachi, rotisserie cuisine, tacos and more, as well as sweet treats and cold beverages, including shaved ice, gelato and “African-style” hibiscus tea. The Hump Day food truck fiesta takes place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. outside the McKinley Arts and Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive, in Reno. Entry is free. Visit www.facebook.com/feedthecamel or www.instagram.com/feedthecamel.
Under the big tent
Come one, come all and experience the Zoppé Italian Family Circus, an old-world Italian circus with roots dating back to 1842. Starring Nino the clown, the one-ring circus is propelled by a central story (as opposed to individual acts) that features acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowning and plenty of audience participation. Showtimes are 6 p.m. on Monday, Thursday and Friday; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, from Friday, Aug. 29, through Monday, Sept. 8. There are no shows on Tuesday and Wednesday. The circus takes place at the McIver Rodeo Arena, 10695 Brockway Road, located in the Truckee River Regional Park in Truckee. Tickets are $28 for general admission seating in the bleachers, and $48 for VIP seating at the ringside. Family-of-four packages (two adults, two children) are $78 for general-admission seating, and $162 for VIP seating. Admission is free for children age 3 and younger (sitting on parent’s lap). Visit zoppefamilycircus.com for more information.
A celebration of peace
The 37th annual Numaga Indian Days Powwow is a three-day celebration featuring Indigenous champion dancers from all over North America, and famous powwow singers and drummers, who will compete for titles and cash prizes. Named in honor of Chief Numaga, a Paiute leader and peacemaker who advocated on behalf of all Native people, the gathering also features hand game competitions and more than 50 vendors selling traditional food, handcrafted silverwork, beadwork, baskets and other Native American art. The powwow kicks off at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 29, with the grand entry, when all the dancers enter the amphitheater. Competition dancing starts at 8 p.m. The grand entry times are at 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, and noon on Sunday, Aug. 31, with competition dancing and spotlight events occurring shortly afterward. The powwow will be held in Hungry Valley at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Powwow Grounds, 501 Many Nations Road, in Sparks, 18 miles north of Reno. Admission is free. Bleacher space is limited, so it’s recommended that you bring your own chairs and shade canopies. Visit www.rsic.org/269/Numaga-Indian-Days-Powwow-Handgames or www.facebook.com/RSICPowwow.
Clash act
The Comstock Civil War Reenactors will re-create battle scenes in Virginia City and along the Virginia & Truckee Railroad as part of Heritage Days and Battle Trains this Labor Day weekend. Passengers will get a view of the action aboard the V&T train as re-enactors portraying Union and Confederate soldiers clash outside along the route. Battle trains run 11:20 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31. Advance reservations are recommended. Departures are from the original V&T 1870 passenger depot at 165 F St., in Virginia City. Tickets are $18-$40. Go to www.virginiatruckee.com to purchase tickets.
Get an up-close and personal insight into life during the 1860s at the Civil War Camp, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31; and 9 a.m. to noon, Monday, Sept. 1, at Miner’s Park, 106 Carson St., in Virginia City. A special church service will be held at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 31.
Finally, re-enactors will take part in a street battle on the north end of C Street before the Labor Day Parade. The action starts at noon, Monday, Sept 1. For more information, go to visitvirginiacitynv.com/events/heritage-civil-war-days-battle-trains.
Strength lies in union
Join the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council and affiliates for the fourth annual Reno LaborFest, a celebration of the middle class and Nevada’s working families. There will be live music, food trucks, a show ’n’ shine, a kids’ zone, hands-on demonstrations by representatives of registered apprenticeship programs, information on local unions and more. All funds raised will go to the Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program, a nonprofit providing apprenticeship, and member and community assistance. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Sept. 1, at Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Drive. There is limited parking at Idlewild Park, but RTC will provide free transit to and from Reno LaborFest on Route 16. Visit www.renolaborfest.com or www.facebook.com/NorthernNevadaCLC for more details.
Sip happens
Enjoy fine wine, mountain scenery and live music at the 36th Annual Alpen Wine Fest. Presented by The Village at Palisades Tahoe and Uncorked, the all-inclusive wine-tasting features sips from more than 40 wineries, a silent auction, and live music from Nick Eng Duo and Full Blast Trio featuring Cliff Porter. While the event is open to all ages, you must be age 21 or older and present a valid ID to participate in the wine-tasting. Tickets are $60.54 in advance and $71.21 at the door. All proceeds benefit Can Do MS, a nonprofit foundation that delivers health and wellness education programs to help families living with multiple sclerosis thrive. The event starts at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31, at The Village at Palisades Tahoe, 1750 Village East Road, in Olympic Valley. Visit www.palisadestahoe.com for more information.
In the throes of afterglow
Thousands of Burning Man attendees will pass through Reno during the mass exodus from the Black Rock Desert, but some of these playa-dust-encrusted returnees will need a little time to acclimate before heading back to their default world. Enter the Ashes to Art Music Festival and Post-Playa Party. The inaugural event celebrates music, art and community with featured performances by electronic dance music DJs/producers Vintage Culture and Damian Lazarus (pictured), with local and regional acts to be announced. Gates open at 2:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 1, at the J Resort Festival Grounds, at 299 Ralston St. Tickets are $39 for general admission and $59 for VIP entry (plus fees). Go to www.ashestoartfest.com.
Mad world
Singing appliances, killer robots and bleeping bloops. That’s just a snapshot of what you can expect when Oregon-based comedy troupe Puppeteers for Fears brings its latest production, Robopocalypse: The Musical! to Carson City next week. This “cyberpunk fever dream,” written by Josh Gross and directed by Hunter Prutch, features an all-puppet cast, multimedia elements, an analog synthesizer-driven score and a 1980s visual aesthetic. Puppeteers for Fears specializes in original horror and science fiction rock ’n’ roll musicals performed with puppets, and has written and performed a half-dozen original musicals covering everything from supernatural monsters to lonely Sasquatches. There will be an opening set by local psychedelic dream-pop band Blunderbusst. Robopocalypse: The Musical! starts at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, at 511 W. King St., in Carson City. This show is open to those 18 and older due to adult content. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Visit breweryarts.org.
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Want your event included in 11 Days a Week? Email 11days@renonr.com for consideration. Email advertising@renonr.com for advertising info!
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