On the move
See some of the country’s best dancers perform with a scenic alpine lake as the backdrop at the 14th annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. Bring a picnic blanket or a low-back chair to watch artists from Boston Ballet, Lester Horton Dance Theater, New York City Ballet and other companies glide across an outdoor stage during Tahoe City Community Night, starting at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 23. Tickets are $35. The festival wraps up with its Closing Night Gala, which opens with a pre-show reception including food, wine and a silent auction, followed by performances by various artists including AkaMya Culture Group, presenting native dances of celebration and community. The gala starts at 5 p.m., Friday, July 24. Tickets are $85. Both events take place at the William B. Layton Park, 130 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Visit www.laketahoedancecollective.org for more info.
Feeling lucky?
Head to Lake Tahoe for a weekend of live music, mountain views, games of chance and skill, and more at the fourth annual Gambler’s Run Festival. The three-day event kicks off on Thursday, July 23, with the String Cheese Incident, and continues on Friday, July 24, with Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Robert Jon and the Wreck. It concludes on Sunday, July 25, with The California Honeydrops and Chalk Dinosaur. Festival grounds open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, and 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, followed by live entertainment at 6 p.m. After-party shows feature Octave Cat on July 23, Diggin Dirt on July 24 and Sicard Hollow on July 25. The music starts at 10 p.m. in the Crown Room at Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28, Crystal Bay. Tickets are $55-$230. All shows are general admission and open to those age 21 and older. Visit www.crystalbaycasino.com/gamblers-run-music-festival.
Catch ’em while you can
Sing along to a beloved musical; lift your spirits with gospel music; and dance the night away to Afro-Colombian rhythms at several Artown events.
The Cordillera International Film Festival will wrap up its Movies in the Park series with a screening of Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Actor Kelly Ward, who played Putzie in the 1978 film, will make an appearance at the free event, which starts at 8 p.m., Friday, July 24.
Experience an inspirational program of Black gospel and spiritual music when Artown welcomes the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir to the area. The free concert begins at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 26.
Finally, move your feet and shake your hips to the music of Monsieur Periné, who will conclude Artown’s Cultural Connections series. The ensemble blends jazz, swing and pop with Latin American rhythms such as salsa, cumbia and bolero. The free show starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29.
All three events take place at the Helaine Greenberg Stage, located in the Nevada Farms and Families Area at Rancho San Rafael Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. Check artown.org for more details.
Pollen project
Dress as your favorite pollinator; hop on a bike; and pedal down to Holland Project for its annual summer arts and music festival. This year’s festival’s theme is XP (Cross Pollination), an eco-minded extravaganza celebrating Nevada’s pollinators and local artists. The two-day event features an outdoor local band showcase, immersive art exhibitions, a group bike ride, skill-sharing booths and hands-on activities, as well as videos and films by local artists, an outdoor movie screening and more. The first day of the festival begins at 4 p.m., Saturday, July 25 with a group bike ride from Stewart Park, 400 Stewart St., which will make a stop at Hampton House Garden, 638 Elko Ave., for some hands-on activities and bike decorating. The riders will then arrive at Holland Project, where participants can view Wind Chimes and Whirligigs and the SPF: pannedOPTICON exhibitions in the HP and Serva Pool galleries, and check out live performances by local bands. The buzz continues the next day at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, July 26, with a screening of The Hum, a five-part experimental film by local filmmakers, as well as a showing of a movie to be determined. The free festival is open to all ages and takes place at HP, 140 Vesta St. Visit hollandreno.org/events/xp or www.instagram.com/hollandreno.
In good spirits
Experience some of the sights and sounds of a Japanese Obon festival when the Reno Buddhist Center hosts its annual event that honors the spirits of ancestors. The celebration includes taiko drumming, traditional bon odori dancing, martial arts demonstrations and Japanese food. The festival starts at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 25, at the Reno Buddhist Center, 820 Plumas St. Admission is a suggested donation of $20 for adults and $10 for children. Go to renobuddhistcenter.org or artown.org/event-details.asp?ID=7597.
¡Bailemos!
Midtown Reno transforms into a lively street party filled with Latin music, dancing and classic cars during Hot Havana Nights. Hosted by Safe Embrace, the evening features professional dancers, social dancing, food, drinks, and immersive experiences evoking the spirit and energy of a classic Havana evening. The event gets under way at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 25, at Brasserie Saint James, 901 S. Center St. A portion of the street will be closed so that guests can explore vintage cars and walk freely between activities and entertainment. Tickets are $50 for general admission and $250 for VIP admission. Proceeds will benefit Safe Embrace’s efforts to provide shelter, housing, advocacy and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking. Go to www.safeembrace.org/hot-havana-nights for more information.
¡Bailemos otra vez!
Reno Public Market’s Peruvian restaurant Cuzco marks its anniversary and Peruvian Independence Day with Viva El Peru!, a celebration of the art, dance, music and cuisine of the South American country. The fiesta, presented as part of Artown, begins at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 26, with salsa music group Andy y Su Orquesta Callao performing at 7 p.m. on the main stage at Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane. Admission is free. Visit www.renopublicmarket.com/events/viva-el-peru-for-artown.
Dancing doll
Sierra Nevada Ballet presents its production of the comic ballet Coppélia. Adapted from a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, this tale of sneakery, imaginary magic and drifting love tests a young couple’s relationship through the romantic device of a beautiful, lifeless doll. The company will present a free performance at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., and a ticketed performance ($34 and up) at 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, at the Warren Edward Trepp Stage at Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28, Incline Village. Check sierranevadaballet.org for ticket links and other info.
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Wnt 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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