What an exciting event I was fortunate to take place at. Being an Elite Yelper has its perks, and…read morethis event was one to be at! My father and I went down here to check it out and were surprised how much fun it was. The beer selection is endless, and lots of chilies to choose from also. The Reno Aces chili was for sure the best, white on white on delicious. They had games to play, live music, and seating to relax. Meatballs and other types of food were served also. I would go back, and would recommend you all to give it a shot! Thanks, Yelp.

This was my first time attending the Grand Sierra Resort Beer & Chili Festival, and I have to say,…read moreI absolutely enjoyed it! The event was well attended, with plenty of beer and chili to go around. There were several ticket options, including beer only, chili only, or all-you-can-eat chili and all-you-can-drink beer for $60. We went with the full experience, and it was absolutely worth the money for the few hours we spent there. One thing's for sure: **we didn't leave hungry!** In fact, toward the end of our chili tasting, I was asking vendors for smaller portions just so I could keep sampling. I think I ate more chili in one sitting than I have in my entire life! The beer selection was fantastic, with tons of vendors offering opportunities to discover something new. I even tried a nonalcoholic beer that was surprisingly good! As for the chili, there were some good options, and two in particular really stood out as fantastic. My only disappointment was that the chili entries represented restaurants within the casino. There's nothing wrong with that, but I had expected to see some local restaurants or independent chili makers participating as well. I think that would have added a little more variety and made the competition even more interesting. The festival was held outdoors around the main pool area, which made for a fun setting. **One thing to keep in mind is that there wasn't a lot of shade while walking around sampling the beer and chili.** Next year, I'll definitely come prepared with a sun hat! A little more shade throughout the tasting areas would make the experience even better. Overall, this was a really enjoyable event with a great selection of beer, more chili than anyone could possibly need, and plenty of opportunities to try something new. **I'd absolutely go again next year!**

What a beautiful day in downtown Reno enjoying the Great Italian festival! This is the 44th year of…read morecelebration. We got down there early to enjoy a plate of Mushroom Ravioli for $12. The plate was full of goodness. The line wasn't long at all!! We wanted to do the wine walk but decided not to because the line was super long even with tickets. The one line that was incredibly long was the muffin tin line it started at 12:30pm it wrapped down the street and around the block by 12:45pm. I love the entertainers on stilts. It's fun to get your photo with them. A must stop is the merch tent to grab a memory t-shirt!! They have a variety of t-shirts colors and sayings. I love sitting down and taking in the music and watching the people form a circle and dance with strangers! This weekend is usually the last of the nice weather and festival season until the holidays kick in! See you next year!

10/10/26 Couldn't…read moreask for perfect weather...but it was ! Youngest came up for this event and everything went smoothly.. Although the tri pasta booth was running late... almost fifteen minutes/. Skipped the flatbread-did try the meatball sandwich- good.. Of course the garlic bread was delish/.. Lasagna was really good along with the mushroom raviolis. My first time getting hot fried sfingi! Pure perfection too and coated with a cinnamon sugar. Love the vibe and the cries seemed happy!

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.

1 of 2 Yelp Reviews. 7/31/26 to 8/2/26 dates for this year…read more Quality/Quantity - I'm told if you come right before 8pm (closing time) and many vendors give discounts on their wings...? So many to choose from, I just could NOT decide. See their website for wing winners! I did not take the many other vendors' pictures. Ambiance - Approximately 4 city blocks, not including the side streets. Plenty of wing vendors; see my pictures, I am sure I missed a few. A few beer/drink vendors. Hand washing stations, thank you. Plenty of seating!! Thank you. Most behind the booths, side streets, etc. Activities, events, etc. We came on the last day which was not too busy, which is what I prefer. Festival Hours: Friday, July 31, 2026 | 1 PM - 10 PM. Saturday, August 1, 2026 | Noon - 10 PM. Sunday, August 2, 2026 | Noon - 8 PM. Country Music Headliners (free concerts): July 31: Harper Grace. August 1: Restless Road. August 2: Mackenzie Carpenter. Service - Good. Price - Depends on what you do, buy, eat, or drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 2014.

Another great year of fresh air, music, vendors and of course wings. We committed to trying 3…read moredifferent wings and found some good ones. FURY Hot Chicken & Shaka Wings had a unique dry rub that was probably our favorite. Slater's Ding-a-Wing's hot wings were tasty without over doing the "hot". Men Wielding Fire's BBQ wings came as no surprise since they have been perfecting this flavor for at least 15 years. We actually wanted to try Moonshine BBQ but the lines were long and barely seemed to be moving (usually a good sign of good flavors) but we wanted to get out of the heat. Fun event that filled the weekend right before Hot August Nights kicked off.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

2018. Part 2 Two…read moreweeks really meant dividing the review into two parts. Over the weekend I stopped in at one of my most favorite places- SÜP, for their RBW special trio of soups and a mini loaf of bread for $10. They have participated all seven years. I get this to go, and it becomes lunch for three days. Always delicious. Not on Monday, I finally got to Moo Dang. I am such a wimp when it comes to spicy, but I still enjoy Asian foods. The RBW special was Drunken Noodles (zero spice for me) and a Big Chang Beer for $10. The noodles still had fabulous flavor and the beer I sent to another table- cheers. Wednesday was continuing the RBW dine with friends. Erica and went to Zozo's for their over the top $30 RBW special. So many choices !!! Probably the best bargain during the event. Appetizer, soup or salad, main, and dessert all for $30. Oh, and don't forget their very addictive basket of garlic bread. Yep, easily two meals here. See separate Zozo's review for all the food. So indecisive and running out of time. Thursday I ran up to Skyline Kitchen and Vine. $30 for an adult beverage, appetizer, main and dessert. Craving a burger, I did the 8 oz Kobe Burger, topped with caramelized onions, white cheddar, and a steak sauce aioli. Check restaurant review for full food description. Another busy Friday, but Claudy came up from Carson to try the RBW $10 lunch special at Chihuahua's on South Virginia across from the Lexus dealer. Plenty of food for the price. Chips and salsa arrived first. Then platter of a beef enchilada and a chili Relleno with beans and rice. The meal was good, but nothing wowed me. And the food chilled off rather quickly. That didn't matter because the waitress took my plate before I was all thru. Claudy and I ordered each of the desserts. Both were very sweet. The place wasn't packed during lunch, but I did feel rushed. Saturday!! Oh no RBW is over. The fabulous finale is always the Chef Showdown. This year 6 chefs who participated in RBW sliced, diced and sautéed against each other for bragging rights of the best in Reno. They an hour to create a vegetarian plate using butternut squash, couscous, turmeric and pomegranate. Mmm the aromas that filled the air. The best part is you get to walk around all the kitchens and see how they cook and ask questions. Brett Moseley won best use of ingredients and Joe Bell won best plating and overall WINNER. Congrats to everyone!!! Now after two weeks of having so many fabulous food specials with lots of friends- I'm off to the gym. See you next year. Or in any locally owned restaurant. Remember- Break the Chain, Reno has fabulous food.

This year was the 7th Annual Reno Bites Restaurant Week, however for me, it was my very first…read moreparticipating in it. It was two weeks of absolute fun as my room mates and I made an effort to visit as many restaurants as we possibly could. I already made separate reviews for all the places we dined at for the Reno Bites Restaurant Week, but just in case you missed it, we visited: Liberty Food and Wine Exchange, Chihuahua's Cantina and Grill, Skyline Kitchen and Vine, Sierra St. Kitchen, Moo Dang, Shore Room, and lastly Fin and Filet. Of course, I would have loved to try them all out, but there's only so much we could visit with work and what not. I love food and I love to eat. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, I love them all. Not to mention there are countless restaurants and new ones keep popping up. With Reno Bites Restaurant Week, there are those selected and highlighted restaurants advertising their specials for those two weeks, making it very appealing to want to try them out. I, personally, was able to dine at many restaurants that I always wanted to try out, but never got the chance to. It was not just the food, but the experience as a whole. For those selected restaurants, it was great exposure and they were able to showcase a little taste of what they were about. And for us, it was fun and delicious experience. Unfortunately, we missed the Chef Showdown because we were out of town for the weekend. But, there's always next year and many years to come. Overall, this being my first ever Reno Bites, I have to say I loved every minute of it. Prices were very affordable and the foods were all so tasty. Sad to think we'll have to wait a whole year until the next one rolls around, but when it does finally come, I'll be ready!