11 Days a Week: Sept. 3-13, 2026

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The Eighth Annual Silver State Art Festival

The Nevada Gourd Society proudly presents the Eighth Annual Silver State Art Festival, featuring more than 40 award-winning artists from Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13. Explore gourd art, paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworking and other one-of-a-kind creations.

Meet the artists; hear the stories behind their work; and shop early for the holidays. Enjoy wine and live music Friday evening, live music Saturday, and a food truck on Saturday. Admission and parking are free.

Hands-on classes will be offered throughout the weekend, including gemstone wire wrapping, gourd carving, and thunder gourds. All skill levels are welcome. View classes and register at NevadaGourdSociety.org/2026-class-gallery.

A large raffle and silent auction will benefit visual artists and school art programs in Northern Nevada. Thanks to our artists, businesses and community, the festival has raised more than $77,000 for Northern Nevada nonprofit organizations. We hope you will help support us this year. Thank you to our sponsors: Visit Carson City, Nevada Artists Association and Kim Hunter Steed-American West Photography.

The Eighth Annual Silver State Art Festival takes place from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13, at Fuji Exhibit Hall, Park and Pavilion, 601 Old Clear Creek Road, Carson City—across from Costco. Learn more at www.nevadagourdsociety.org/2026-art-festival. (Sponsored Content)

Dancing in September

South Lake Tahoe bids adieu to summer with the Midway Arts and Music Festival at Heavenly Village. The annual celebration offers three days of food and drink specials, live music on multiple stages, art vendors, midway carnival games, family-friendly activities and a fireworks display. The festival takes place Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4-6, at The Village at Heavenly Village, 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe. The fireworks show over Lake Tahoe happens on Labor Day, Sept. 7. Go to theshopsatheavenly.com or visitlaketahoe.com/event/heavenly-village-midway-art-music-festival/all. 

Raise a glass

Indulge in fine wine, mountain scenery and live music at the Alpen Wine Fest, presented by The Village at Palisades Tahoe and Uncorked. The all-inclusive wine-tasting features sips from more than 30 wineries, a silent auction, and live music from Darin Talbot and Nick Eng Band. You must be 21 or older and present a valid ID to participate in the wine tasting. Tickets are $60.54 in advance. 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, Sept. 6, at The Village at Palisades Tahoe, 1750 Village East Road, in Olympic Valley. Visit www.palisadestahoe.com for more information.

Full steam ahead

History buffs and train enthusiasts will want to head to Carson City and Virginia City for two events taking place over Labor Day weekend. The Nevada State Railroad Museum’s inaugural Motor Car Rally brings together a unique collection of historic and replica motor cars from across the West to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the museum’s Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend No. 401 Edwards Car. The three-day celebration will feature historic motor car rides, behind-the-scenes tours, food trucks, live music and other activities. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday through Monday, Sept. 5-7, at the museum, located at 2180 S. Carson St. Admission is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 4- 17, and free for children ages 3 and younger. Visit www.carsonrailroadmuseum.org for more info.

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 at 11:20 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6. Advance reservations are recommended. Departures are from the original V&T 1870 Passenger Depot at 166 F St., in Virginia City. Tickets are $20-$42. Go to www.virginiatruckee.com to purchase tickets. Re-enactors will also take part in a street battle on the north end of C Street before the Labor Day Parade, which kicks off at noon, Monday, Sept. 7. For more information, go to visitvirginiacitynv.com/event/heritage-civil-war-days-and-battle-trains. 

Ode to a composer

Explore the musical world of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky at Reno Phil’s annual Free Family Concert. Classical Kids LIVE!, in collaboration with the orchestra, will present Tchaikovsky Discovers America. Adapted from an audio story in Susan Hammond’s Classical Kids! series, the staged performance focuses on the composer’s impressions of and experiences in America shortly after his arrival in New York for the grand opening of Carnegie Hall in 1891. While Tchaikovsky is on a train ride to Niagara Falls, a surprise encounter with a young American girl named Jennie reveals much about the composer—his life in Russia, his love of music, and his fear of conducting. Tchaikovsky’s music is magically woven into the drama as two actors re-create historical incidents from his life and dance story passages from his ballets The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. The free, all-ages event begins at 3 p.m. with special activities for children, followed by the concert at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. Visit renophil.com/tchaikovsky-discovers-america for more details.