Welcome to Reno! Whether you’re completely new to the area or a regular visitor who finally settled down in the Biggest Little City, you’re likely wondering what locals do for fun around these parts.
Depending on the season, many residents like to hit the slopes, walk the trails in the foothills and mountains surrounding our city, or head into the desert for some off-road adventures.
If it’s special events you’re talking about, we’ve got plenty of those, too. We have big festivals that draw people from across the West (and even from around the world), but we also have smaller community events that highlight some of the things that make our area a great place to live.
There are really too many to list, so we’ve settled on a handful of longstanding events that either give newcomers a taste of local flavor, or are such a big deal that you couldn’t avoid them if you tried. Here, in alphabetical order, are some annual happenings that you should add to your digital-calendar app.
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Artown
Every July, Reno becomes Artown. This citywide celebration of the arts offers residents and visitors a low-cost opportunity to sample the variety of homegrown talent in our area. More than 100 local arts organizations and businesses produce an abundance of free or ticketed events—including art exhibitions, children’s arts programs, cultural festivals, movie screenings and stage performances—at art galleries, libraries, museums, theaters, music/performing arts venues and parks throughout the month. Parents appreciate having a lot of free, fun things to do with their kids, and child-free adults get a great number of choices for meetups with friends. Each year’s Artown calendar is posted in the late spring/early summer, but you can always visit artown.org for details on Artown Encore Series performances and other events.
Food Truck WTF
Many locals stop by for an afterwork meal at this summertime food-truck event with the double-entendre name. Formerly known as Food Truck Fridays, the once-weekly food-truck gathering has expanded to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at three main locations: the original spot at Idlewild Park near downtown Reno (Fridays), Cyan Park in south Reno (Wednesdays) and North Valleys Regional Park in Stead (Thursdays). Each location features a rotating lineup of food, dessert and drink vendors along with live music by local bands. The season typically runs from June through August. Check renofoodtruckevents.com for details and updates.
The Great Reno Balloon Race
For one week in early September, locals and visitors gather before sunrise to watch hot-air balloons lift off from the fields at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park during the annual race and exhibition. The spectacle occurs during that transitional period between summer and fall—when the days are still sunny and warm, but there’s a noticeable autumnal chill in the morning air. The most enthusiastic attendees forgo a few winks so that they can arrive early enough to find parking and to see the Super Glow Show and Dawn Patrol, followed by the mass ascension of about 100 colorful hot air balloons as the sun rises above the horizon. But even if you don’t make it down to the park, you can still see a whimsical aerial display against the backdrop of the Reno skyline as the balloons bob up and down throughout the morning. Admission is free. Parking can be tight, so research your options in advance. The next event is Sept. 9-12, 2027. Go to renoballoon.com to learn more about the festival.
Hot August Nights
If you plan to live in Reno for more than a few years, prepare yourself for the month of August. Not only do you have to endure the occasional 100-degree heat wave and the threat of wildfires; you’ll be dealing with an influx of mechanical masterpieces of chrome and horsepower arriving in town in early August to participate in the largest classic-car event in the nation. For 40 years, Hot August Nights has taken car enthusiasts and music fans on a nostalgia-inducing ride through the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s with show ’n’ shines, nightly cruises, drag races and burnouts, competitions, a car auction and a parade, as well as concerts by tribute bands and living legends who still have some gas left in the tank. It’s one of those huge events that locals either love or love to hate. But when the car festival almost moved to Long Beach, Calif., in 2012, residents and city leaders rallied to keep Reno’s biggest special event—which attracts thousands of tourists to the area and helps fuel the local economy—parked in the Biggest Little City. HAN has hit some bumps in the road over the years (the 1998 riot in downtown Reno; the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of 2020), but for now, the classic-car celebration remains a big deal. Visit hotaugustnights.net for more information.
Nevada Day Parade
This event is an annual tradition that’s near and dear to many native-born and longtime residents. Nevadans gather in Carson City (Nevada’s capital city, about 30 miles south of Reno) to experience this statehood party that honors the history, people and cultural diversity of the Battle Born State. Nevada was admitted to the union on Oct. 31, 1864, but the state holiday is officially observed on the last Friday of October, with the parade taking place on Saturday. The all-day festivities include a hot-air balloon launch, live entertainment, competitions and other fun activities, but the main attraction is the procession of marching bands, floats, Burning Man art cars and other parade entries moving through downtown Carson City. Read more about the Nevada Day Parade at www.nevadaday.com.
OffBeat Music Festival
Those with adventurous musical tastes should check out this annual festival, which boasts an impressive lineup of local, regional and national acts spanning multiple musical genres. Past events have featured local favorites Elephant Rifle, Greg Gilmore and the Fever Dreams, Moondog Matinee and Spitting Image, and acts from across the United States including Death Valley Girls, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, Of Montreal, Roselit Bone and Tropa Magica. The festival takes place in early October at several venues along East Fourth Street in the downtown Reno Brewery District. Go to www.offbeatreno.com for more info.
Reno Rodeo
Reno has changed a lot since its early years as a frontier settlement and railroad town, but it hasn’t forgotten its Old West roots. Every June, the city celebrates cowboy culture and Western lifestyle at the Reno Rodeo. Dubbed the “wildest, richest rodeo in the West,” the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned sporting event includes a cattle drive, Xtreme Bulls pro bull riding, barrel racing, team roping and other competitions, as well as a carnival, kick-off concert, kids’ rodeo and Western marketplace. Tickets for the most popular events sell out well in advance. Early access tickets—for Northern Nevadans and Truckee/Tahoe residents only—usually go on sale sometime in November the year before. If you miss the window of opportunity to purchase them, you can still see a lot of the rodeo action on a giant screen located inside the indoor arena at the Nevada State Fairgrounds, and enjoy the various related events. Take a look at renorodeo.com for the latest updates.