Wanna go for a ride?
The summer carnival season kicks off a bit early this year with the launch of the Reno Fest Carnival, an 11-day festival featuring amusement rides, a variety of food and beverage vendors offering all sorts of sweet and savory fare, and local artists selling handmade goods. The event kicks off on Thursday, April 17, and runs through Sunday, April 27, in the north parking lot of the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, 1350 N. Wells Ave. Gates open at 1 p.m. daily. Admission is free, but onsite parking is $10. Unlimited ride wristbands are $32 and can be purchased online. Check out renofest.org for more details.
Remarkable feet
The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Nevada, Reno, presents its Spring Dance Concert showcasing new choreography by faculty and guest artists, as well as a performance of a historic work created by one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century. Guest artist company Rosie Trump | Future Moves will present a new dance titled “Slow Motion Collision,” a multimedia exploration of acceleration and deceleration. Choreographed by Rosie Trump, an associate professor of dance at UNR, the work will be performed by guest dancers Kristin Austin, Leslie Balzer, Ozora Cheek, Melissa Ennis, Heather Rodriguez and Corrine Undercoffer. “Aviary” is 20-minute work choreographed by UNR faculty member Nate Hodges that explores an evening gathering where all the guests’ personalities and movement are inspired by birds. The concert will also feature an adaptation of Martha Graham’s experimental “Panorama,” the modern dance innovator’s 1935 political call to action and her attempt to awaken social consciousness. University of Nevada, Reno, dancers learned this historic work during a three-week intensive residency and performed it at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts when they opened for the Martha Graham Dance Company earlier this year. The Spring Dance Concert starts at 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday, April 17-18; and 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 19, at the Redfield Proscenium Theatre in the Church Fine Arts Building, 1335 N. Virginia St., at UNR. An artist talk-back will follow the Friday, April 18, performance. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for seniors age 65 and older, UNR faculty and staff, and non-UNR students; and $5 for UNR students. Call 775-784-6829, or go to www.unr.edu/theatre-dance/productions.
Fight to the finish
Prepare for Art Battle, where the only weapons are paints, brushes and the imagination. Twelve artists will go head to head at this live competitive painting event where they create the best work they can in 20 minutes. As they work, patrons move around the easels, closely watching the creative process. At the end of each of the three rounds, the audience votes for their favorite painting and bids in a silent auction to take the work home. The Art Battle starts at 7 p.m., Friday, April 18, at The Generator Community Makerspace, 2450 Oddie Blvd., Sparks. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Go to www.therenogenerator.com for more information.
Three cheers for volunteers!
Got a serious case of spring fever? Put that restless energy to good use by helping clean up the Pollinator Garden at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Spend the morning helping park staff mulch, weed and care for the garden. Volunteers should wear long-sleeve shirts; long pants are required. Gloves and tools will be provided. This recurring event takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 18; May 2, 16, 30; and June 6 at the Pollinator Garden, located in the Nevada Farms and Families area. You can park in the lot in front of the Wilbur D. May Center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. Sign up to volunteer at signup.com/go/RqiDwUQ.
This is Planet Earth
“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. … ” —Carl Sagan, The Pale Blue Dot
Our “pale blue dot” is just a chunk of rock floating in the vastness of space. But for now, it’s the only world we can live on. Celebrate our precious planet and learn ways to help keep it a hospitable home at Reno Earth Day. The annual sustainability event features hundreds of local artisans, vendors and nonprofits offering eco-friendly products, services and information. Enjoy interactive workshops and activities focused on environmental education, as well as performances by White Water Band, Huckleberry Road, The Blues Monsters and New Wave Crave. The family-friendly festival is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 19, at Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Drive. Admission is free. Visit greatamericancraftfairs.com/events.
Making connections
Nevada Humanities, in partnership with Latino Arte and Culture, presents an afternoon of music, poetry and conversation celebrating Latino poetry and poets. “Weaving the Tapestry of Latino Poetry” will explore themes of family, heritage, language and what it means to be Latino today. The program will feature rapping from Orlando Oh and poetry readings from Mario DelaRosa, Elisa Garcia, Genevy Machuca, Manuel Murrieta-Saldívar and Jafeth Sanchez. Readings and performances will be presented in English, Spanish and Spanglish, and a guided conversation will follow. “Weaving the Tapestry of Latino Poetry” is presented by Nevada Humanities as part of Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home, a major public humanities initiative taking place across the nation through 2025, directed by Library of America. Places We Call Home seeks to foster nationwide conversation through a new anthology edited by Rigoberto González, events around the country, an online media archive and a wealth of library resources meant to spur in-depth reflection and discussion on key figures and themes. The event take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 19, at the Sierra View Library, located in the Reno Town Mall, 4001 S. Virginia St. This event is free, but please RSVP in advance at www.nevadahumanities.org/events/weaving-the-tapestry-of-latino-poetry.
That night in Leo
People born under the zodiac sign Leo are said to be confident, dramatic and gregarious personalities who love to be the center of attention. Astrology aside, the constellation Leo is one of the most recognizable star groups in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the spring when appears in the early evening hours. “Leo the Lion” will be the focus of an evening talk and star gazing event presented by the Astronomical Society of Nevada. Mike Hopper will cover the history, the mythology and the deep sky objects within the boundaries of Leo. At the end of the program, ASN members and attendees will observe these objects with telescopes if the weather permits. Bring a chair, blanket, warm clothes and binoculars if you have them and meet at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 19, outside the Galena Creek Visitor Center, 18250 Mt. Rose Highway. Admission is free. Visit www.astronomynv.org/calendar.cfm or www.washoecounty.gov/parks/calendar.php.
The hits keep coming
House Party presents Half Baked Halloween, a mash-up event blending Easter, 4/20, Halloween and whatever reason for the season. You can dress up as Frank the rabbit from Donny Darko, Towelie from South Park or an original creation that fits the mash-up theme while you enjoy the high vibes, libations and music spun by Bridges; Mo’Steph; Nat, Not Nate; Jimmy Dirt; Hot Papis; Groove Cartel; and Jojo. The outdoor party takes place from 2 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, on the patio of Dead Ringer Analog Bar, 432 E. Fourth St. Tickets are $20. For tickets, find Half Baked Halloween on Eventbrite.
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!
Read 11 Days a Week at RenoNR.com!