Oh my goodness! I was visiting Reno for a work conference when my Uber driver suggested I check out…read morethe Rib Cookoff at Nugget Casino & Hotel. I'm so glad she did! I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was basically a fun outdoor fair with tons of vendors serving barbecue and selling BBQ-related items. The food was delicious, there was live music, and the atmosphere was lively and fun. I'm so glad I got to experience this before leaving Reno. It really made my trip worthwhile!

Where do I even start? I hadn't been to the Reno Rib Cook Off in about four years, so I was really…read morelooking forward to coming back. We drove three hours, arrived early, got great parking, and were excited to start eating some ribs. There were four of us, so our plan was to cover more ground. Each person bought a half slab from a different vendor so we could try several places. Unfortunately, the ribs were a HUGE disappointment. Right away, I could tell that a lot of these ribs were made with very little care. Several still had the membrane on, and most were bland and tasteless. It honestly felt like no thought, effort, or love went into them. When you drive three hours specifically for a rib cook off, the RIBS should be the best part! I remember this event being something worth looking forward to, but this year it felt more about making money and getting food out than quality and customer satisfaction. I was so disappointed that I'll probably skip this event for the next 2-3 years. The funny part is, the sides were actually the highlight. We enjoyed the cornbread, fried pickles, onion rings, popcorn, and beer. But the ribs? They sucked. For an event called the Rib Cook Off, that's a pretty big problem. After a three-hour drive and eating at a few different vendors, I expected a whole lot better.

My go to always!!! Love their suites and all the atmosphere along with the good restaurants. Really…read moregood gaming ands always have an amazing time!

Fun event and some really great, different kinds of chili. I wish there had been outside chili…read morecompetitors as this was all GSR restaurants.

This was a nice little afternoon diversion for the wife and me. We were able to walk around a bit…read moreand take in the scenery. So super conveniently located to Baldini's where we were able to go and have some lunch! Walking around we saw lots of cool little things and plants we might get at a later date. If we had smaller kids they probably would have loved the police vehicles that were on hand to ooooh and ahhhh over. We had too much planned out in the asphalt and concrete world we weren't able to stay for the different talks that they had planned throughout the day. Plus our brown thumbs probably would have started killing everything in sight. We aren't really crafty or gardeny ....not a word. Anyway maybe by next year we will have sprouted a green thumb to be nurtured by this event.

Nice festival that was exceptionally poignet with the horrific fires on Maui…read more I love the sharing of native cultures - food, dance, and song. This definately family friendly event is a very welcome annual festival in downtown Reno. Hope to be able to attend this fun event on a regular basis.

I loved this festival. It is very family friendly as it's a no-alcohol event and had lots of…read moreactivities for the kids. The whole vibe was very welcoming and positive. They had constant entertainment and it was not overcrowded. Their were food vendors and we had a delicious teriyaki chicken with rice and macaroni salad and for dessert there was shaved ice and mochi. Loved seeing the vendors with all types of crafts for sale. It's a really mellow festival and loved that they we're supporting the Maui Wildfire Relief fund.

This is the kick-off for what will be a monthly event in conjunction with the Wine Walk on the…read morethird Saturday from now until October. It is sponsored by the TMCC Alumni association with the proceeds going to support first generation TMCC students. This was a really nice event and really kept to the theme of local arts and crafts. There are booths with jewelry, pottery, hand crafted glassware, photography, visual arts, health and beauty items as well as wine snobs paraphernalia. There was live music which adds to the festival atmosphere. The items for sale were of nice quality and really ranged in price. I think it would be a great place to buy unique items that are not available at every other street fair around. Not a tie-die t-shirt or funky sunglasses to be found here. This is really a nice quality Arts and Crafts event.

I have never been to this festival before, but some of my friends told me about it and recommended…read moreit to me, so I decided to come by and check it out. When I first showed up I was quite surprise to see that it looked very similar to the Rib Cookoff, a yearly event that I go to every year! Lots of the streets closed off from traffic for foot walk, with several stands of shops, food, drinks and more! A live band performance, and people everywhere! I got food from one of the stands, Meatballs and Polenta. I got meatballs and garlic bread. The meatballs were really good but the garlic bread got very hard by the time I started to eat it. Pretty fun. Fun little event for sure! Definitely go check it out if you enjoy Italian food whenever you're in the area!

Although the weather wasn't perfect, this event was busy. We ended up going once to shop the booths…read moreand see all the neat stuff people make and sell. We went another time to eat when the food vendors were less busy. The artichoke/italian sausage was amazing. The mushroom ravioli was tasty, we found some pastries with cinnamon and sugar but I can't remember what they were called. There was a wine walk (we didn't partake in) but there were lots of wines to taste. Thanks to the Eldorado for this 12th straight year that I have attended.

This was my first time at the Reno River Festival and I had a good time. The vendors were nice,…read morefriendly, and genuinely passionate about their craft which was very refreshing. The live performances were fun, and I can definitely see this becoming a staple for Reno Events. I didn't expect to pay $20 for entrance which was a bummer as we were going to bring more family and friends but the entry cost was a little too high for bringing kids. There were a nice set of carnival rides, but I was discouraged on buying tickets as we had already $40 to get into the event and wanted to save some of our budget to buy things from vendors. We went on the last day of the event, in the early afternoon and it was nice to see more locals enjoying themselves and it wasn't too crowded which was a plus in our book! My fiancé and I loved that dogs are welcome to join us as some other outdoor events do not allow us to bring our puppy. Overall, the variety of food, atmosphere, and performances were awesome! I only wish the entry price was reduced as I would've brought more people and would've had more money to spend on the vendors. Final verdict... I would definitely come back, but only if the entry prices come down or are removed. If this is your first time attending the event, the $20 is not so bad to see the art installations and see the live performances. I would recommend this for first timers.

Wasn't expecting planning on the festival but really got a chance to enjoy it. I got a chance to…read moretake advantage of the VIP tent with lots of amazing food and great music.

Pumpkin palooza is such a fun time for the whole family. Sparks puts this on every year. Buy your…read moretickets early and save money. The have a midway , movie theater, food vendors, crafters, pumpkin carving and so much more. It's really so much fun for the whole family.

This event is incredible! There is fun for the whole family!…read more PumpkinPalooza is an event that benefits the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living and supports residents in the local community. It also provide a safe environment for families to go trick-or-treating, while getting to participate in fun games and watch live, family-friendly entertainment This is a free event to attend, and this year's turnout was great! There are a few booths that require additional purchases, but there are plenty of free and fun things to participate in. Pumpkin Painting, Pumpkin Derby Racing, and live costumed characters add to the excitement! Sponsors from local businesses host small games at their booths that include some great prizes, including LOADS of candy! This event is definitely worth attending with your little ones, and I can't wait until next year!

One of my favorite free things to do! Well maintained grounds, tranquil areas and it's so peaceful…read moreon weekends when there are no events! Such a beautiful place to simply unwind.

Went to Dragon Lights and this event is perfect for all ages! From first dates, young families, and…read moreso on! Spend all day here or kill a couple hours. Every scenery was designed with intention and there were a couple food trucks in case you wanted to grab a snack. Two sections for parking and we went on a Thursday so parking wasn't that bad! Definitely worth going!

This event in the Reno area is THE BOMB! I have lives her for 5 summers and last year 2025 was the…read morefirst year that I attended. I was kicking myself and so mad that I had not taken to tiem to come and see this awesome event in the 3 years prior! Yes, its an early wake up but man-oh-man what an awesome sight to see 75-100 hot air balloons glowing at 5:30 am in the dark morning sky. I was so enamored with this, I joined the crew for one of the balloons and now i get to come every year and help set up and launch/recover the balloon. Seeing this first hand and being up close is so fun. 2026 was a little dicey as we struggled with some wind in the forecast. The entire week showed that Saturday was looking pretty grim for flying but Sunday would be beautiful. Well, as a surprise to all, we lucked out on Saturday as the winds were within the range for safe flying. However, Sunday came and so did the winds. At 3:30 am winds were out of the west at 17mph way to fast for the max of 7 mph to fly. In fact they could not even inflate for morning glow. It was fun either way and as a Navy Veteran, I was asked to hold the flag for the singing of the National Anthem. What an honor.

If you've never been to the The Great Reno Balloon Race, put it on your list. Watching the balloons…read morelight up before sunrise and slowly fill the sky is something you have to experience in person. The event is well organized, family friendly, and has a great community atmosphere. My biggest tip is to arrive early, dress in layers, and bring a chair or blanket. It gets chilly before the sun comes up, but it's absolutely worth it. Whether you're a local or visiting Reno, this is one of those events that reminds you how special our community is. I'll definitely be back.