Events & activities
Looking for activities in Reno usually starts with the calendar: what’s on tonight, this weekend, and the signature annual weeks that define the city’s year — plus everything else as the venue and district feeds come online.
Signature events
Burning Man
Black Rock City, about two hours north of Reno. Not a Reno event — but the reason Reno's hotels, hardware stores and airport are full for two weeks either side.
Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off
Six days of competition barbecue on Victorian Square in Sparks, ending on Labor Day.
The Great Reno Balloon Race
Free, and the best morning of the Reno year — up to a hundred balloons launching from Rancho San Rafael before dawn.
International Camel & Ostrich Races
The 67th running, in Virginia City. Camels, ostriches and zebras, raced by people who mostly should not be racing them.
Street Vibrations Fall Rally
Motorcycles in downtown Reno and Virginia City over one weekend, with live music on the street.
Reno Zombie Crawl
Downtown Reno's largest bar crawl, and the one where everyone is in makeup. Starts at Circus Circus.
Reno Rodeo
One of the richest rodeos on the PRCA tour, run over about ten days in June at the Nevada State Fairgrounds.
Artown
Reno's month-long July arts festival — around 350 events at about 100 venues across the city.
Hot August Nights
The largest classic-car event in the country takes over downtown Reno and Sparks for ten days — cruises, show-and-shines, and several thousand pre-1979 cars.
Next 60 days
Let's Talk
October 7–9 · Great Basin Hall (GBH)
A Few of Our Favorite Things: 65 Years of Special Collections and University Archives
October 7–9 · Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
On Location: Photographs from Robert Nuñez and Alejandra Rubio
October 7–9 · McNamara Hallway Gallery
Nevada Radon Education Program Tabling at Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center Community Health Fair
Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center
92 Events: A Fluxus Show
October 7–9 · Front Door Gallery
Dance With Me
Ballroom of Reno
Dr. Madeline Harts Masterclass
University Foundation Arts (UFA)
Earth's Winding Sheet
October 7–9 · John & Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art
Gather-Carry-Keep: Basketry from the Great Basin
October 7–9 · Front Door Gallery
UNLV Exchange Show: Death to Decorum
October 7–8 · Student Galleries South
Without Mountains and Rivers Without End: Speculative Geographics on an Interior Northwest
October 7–8 · Sheppard Contemporary Gallery
Energy Solutions Forum Presents: Sabbie Miller
Joe Crowley Student Union
Cosmo’s Gallery Reception: “Illuminations” by Uziel Gutierrez
Cosmo’s Snack Bar
Educational seminar series: Research at Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area
Little Valley Research Station
Election WolfPack Community Howl Discussion
Joe Crowley Student Union
The Rasmus w/ Saint Agnes and Death Valley Dreams at Cargo Concert Hall
Cargo Concert Hall
Leviticus
Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre
Dingbat Superminx, Luke Sweeney, Lich, Luna Wilson
The Holland Project
Voice Area Grade Level Recital: A Celebration of Composers of Color
University Foundation Arts (UFA)
The Rasmus
Cargo Concert Hall
The Rasmus, Saint Agnes, Death Valley Dreams
Reno
Alex Ramon "Magic"
Lake Tahoe
The Used
Grand Sierra Resort
Dragon Lights 2026 Season Pass
October 7 – November 1 · Reno
Therapy Dogs
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
Pediatric head injuries and management
RRMC Sierra 101
Keeping heritage languages alive: Benefits and strategies
Jon Bilbao Basque Library
LAUNCHNEVADA | Networking + Fireside chat w/ Danny Nikolai
Joe Crowley Student Union
Faculty Colloquia Series - Carlos Mariscal Ph.D Presents "Game Theory as a Guide to Universal Biology"
Nazir Ansari Building (AB)
Visiting Artist Lecture: "Wait, is Reno part of the Pacific Northwest?”: UNR Art + Geography Panel Discussion
William J. Raggio Building (WRB)