Sponsored By
The Jackpot of Gems Diamond Jubilee!
The Reno Gem and Mineral Society, Inc., presents our 60th year celebration: Please join us at The Jackpot of Gems Diamond Jubilee!
On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, the doors of the Silver State Pavilion at the Grand Sierra Resort will open for the Jackpot of Gems Show, featuring more than 35 vendors with rocks, crystals and jewelry from Nevada originals to unique world finds—and more for the eclectic and avid collectors.
During the show, a silent auction takes place every 30 minutes. There’s also a raffle with numerous crafted pieces plus $500 cash; demonstrations of jewelry making; lectures; a fluorescent display; 50 cases of lapidary art; a special Kids Corner with gold panning; a treasure hunt; a photo both; dinosaur games; and so much more. Food and refreshments can be purchased in the Pavilion.
Visit and stay at the Grand Sierra Resort, and enjoy their many amenities. If making hotel reservations, mention the Jackpot of Gems Show to receive a code for discounted room rates.
The Jackpot of Gems Show takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Silver State Pavilion at the Grand Sierra Resort, at 2500 E. Second St. Admission is $10; kids 12 and under are admitted for free. Learn more at renogms.org/jackpot-of-gems-show. (Sponsored Content)
Kick up a little dust
Hot air balloons, a parade, camel races, food festivals—there’s plenty to see and do in the Reno-Tahoe region on the first weekend of September. If you’re into adrenaline-pumping sports, you’ll want to head to Carson Valley for the fifth annual Douglas County Rodeo. The event opens with boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing matchups during the DCR Fight Night on Thursday, Sept. 4, at TJ’s Corral, located at Carson Valley Inn and Casino, 1627 U.S. Highway 395 North, Minden. Tickets are $23.75-$43.75. The action moves to Gardnerville for three days of rodeo events such as Xtreme bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding, as well as a freestyle motocross show, a tattoo convention, food trucks, concerts and fireworks. Gates open at 4 p.m.. Friday, Sept. 5; and 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6. Rodeo tickets are $65 for adults and $30 for kids ages 7-15. Kids age 6 and younger get in for free. The tickets include admission to concerts featuring country artists Rodney Atkins on Friday night and Aaron Watson on Saturday night. The weekend event concludes with a Cowboy Church service, jackpot team roping, barrel racing, vendor booths and Kids Day activities as part of Community Day, starting at 9 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. Admission is free. The rodeo takes place at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 920 Dump Road, Gardnerville. Go to douglascountynvrodeo.com for more details.
Altitude adjustment
Set the phone alarm and the timer on the coffee pot for WTF o’clock in the morning. You’ll want to get out of the house early enough to find the perfect spot to view the magical, aerial ballet of the Great Reno Balloon Race. Bleary-eyed, somnambulistic spectators will gather at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park and the surrounding hills in Northwest Reno to watch about 100 hot air balloons float above the Truckee Meadows as the sun rises. The 44th annual event starts at 5 a.m. with the Super Glow Show, featuring more than 35 glowing balloons lighting up the pre-dawn sky. Dawn Patrol, in which a handful of skilled pilots fly their balloons in the dark, follows at 5:30 a.m. The show continues with the mass ascension of hot air balloons at 7 a.m. Gates open at 3:30 a.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-7, at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. Festival admission is free. Limited parking is available at the lots on the corner of North Sierra Street and McCarran Boulevard, as well as at Coleman Street, for a $25 cash donation. Visitors can park for free at the Green and Blue 1 lots on the northwest side of Mackay Stadium at the University of Nevada, Reno, but should be aware that they will have to remove their vehicles by 11 a.m. (and perhaps earlier on Saturday due to the Nevada vs. Sacramento State football game). RTC will also offer free bus rides to the park from 4 to 10 a.m. on its RAPID Virginia Line. Visit renoballoon.com for more information.
Greek out
Experience the food, music and history of an ancient yet vibrant culture at the Reno Greek Festival. Eat a variety of authentic homemade souvlaki, pastitsio, baklava and other Greek food for sale; listen to traditional and modern music by the Helios Greek Band; and watch the Minoan Dancers from Novato, Calif., perform a set of traditional dances. Visitors can also join guided tours of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church. The event takes place from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5; and from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, at 4795 Lakeside Drive. Admission is $5 at the door. Go to renogreekfest.com for more details.
Pride effect
Due to ongoing bridge construction at Wingfield Park, the Northern Nevada Pride Festival moves to a new location in Midtown Reno this year. The 11th annual LGBTQIA+ pride event celebrating “love, diversity and inclusion” kicks off at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, with the CommUNITY parade heading down California Avenue, between Arlington Avenue and Virginia Street. The festivities continue at 11 a.m. with more than 100 vendor booths, participating bars, food trucks and live entertainment in and around Midtown, as well as drag performances by Dawn, Suzie Toot and Kerri Colby at 5 p.m. on the Anthem Main Stage and music by Chicago DJ/producer J. Worra at 6:30 p.m. on the Cheney Dance Stage. It’s free to watch the parade, but entry is $5 to get into the festival. You can also purchase a premium pass online for $10. Visit northernnevadapride.org or www.facebook.com/NorthernNevadaPride for more information.
Camels back
Expect to be amused and bemused as you witness grown adults attempt to ride and race an assortment of camels and other large animals this weekend in Virginia City. Spawned from a prank war between two newspapers, the International Camel and Ostrich Races hails back to 1959 when the editor of the Territorial Enterprise wrote a fake story about camel racing in Virginia City. The San Francisco Chronicle, not knowing it was a hoax, printed the story. The following year, in response to this humiliation, the Chronicle sent a team to Virginia City to race a camel that was borrowed from the San Francisco Zoo. And so, the event that later became the International Camel and Ostrich Races was born. Professional and amateur jockeys continue the offbeat tradition by racing camels and ostriches, as well as zebras and emus, down a track while spectators cheer them on. The 66th annual event kicks off with its Hot Camel Nights show at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5. It continues with two shows at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, and wraps up with its Family Day show at noon, Sunday, Sept. 7. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $30 for shaded seating and $14 for kids ages 3-12. The fun takes place at the Virginia City Fairgrounds, 458 F St., Virginia City. Free shuttles will run to and from C Street and the fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday. Go to visitvirginiacitynv.com or liquidblueevents.com/international-camel-ostrich-races.
A grand Gael-la
There’s a change in the air. The days are getting shorter, and the leaves are just starting to turn. It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to cozy fireplaces, pumpkin spice lattes, and … St. Patrick’s Day! OK, so most of us aren’t ready to break out the shamrocks and Kelly green T-shirts anytime soon. However, the Northern Nevada chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Erin will be counting down the days to March 17 at the fourth annual Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Concert featuring Celtic rock band Tempest. The San Francisco Bay Area band blends Irish, Scottish and Norwegian musical traditions with fiery fiddle tunes, compelling vocals and rock energy. Known for their dynamic stage presence and musical virtuosity, lead singer/electric mandolinist Lief Sorbye, guitarist Rob Wullenjohn, bassist Ian Butler, fiddler Jon Berger and drummer Adolfo Lazo fuse ancient traditions with modern sensibilities. Tempest blows onto the stage at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane. Admission is free. Visit www.renopublicmarket.com/community-events or irishnevada.org.
Hairy situation
Whether you sport a Van Dyke or a ZZ Top-style beard, show off your facial hairdo at the Best in the West Beard and Music Festival. The three-day event combines music, sports and plenty of mustaches, sideburns and other examples of facial hair gone wild. The festival also features vendors, food trucks, a beard competition, a Muay Thai exhibition, live music and more. Headlining bands Rednex and Green Jello perform at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6. Rednex will perform again with support from Yukka and False Rhythms beginning at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. Festival hours are 3 to 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Lazy 5 Regional Park, 7100 Pyramid Way, Sparks. Admission to the festival is free, but on-site parking will cost $10 for a daily pass or $20 for a weekend pass. Tickets to the Muay Thai exhibition on Friday and headlining concerts on Saturday and Sunday are $25 each night. The event benefits The Altruistic American, a nonprofit that raises awareness of mental health issues. Visit bestinthewestfest.com or thealtruisticamerican.com/bitwbamf-1 for more information on schedules and tickets.
Give cancer the birdie
Spend some time on the greens for a good cause at the Reno Cancer Foundation Golf Tournament. The 10th annual event is a team-scramble, hole-in-one competition to benefit the nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to Northern Nevada cancer patients while they’re undergoing treatment—covering costs like rent, utilities, groceries, lodging and transportation for treatment, and more. Registration opens at 7 a.m., followed by the shotgun start at 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Washoe County Golf Course, 2601 Foley Way, Reno. The event wraps up with lunch, a silent raffle and the announcement of winners and prizes. You can participate as an individual player for $125, or play as part of a team for $500. All money raised goes directly to the needs of local cancer patients. Go to www.renocancerfoundation.org for more details.
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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