My family is a festival family…we love us some festivals. And one of the benefits of living in the Reno/Tahoe area is that when Summer arrives, so do the festivals!  Everything from art, theater & music to tasty foods, beer & classic cars.

Here’s a listing of festivals not to be missed: 

EuroFest
When:  June 4-6
4-10pm Friday, 11am-10pm Saturday, 11am-6pm Sunday
Where:  The Sands Regency
Fee:  FREE
The Festival:  Here you will find everything Euro…the food is amazing, the music – non-stop, the crafts – ready to be viewed and purchased. The food assortment includes brats, chorizo Basque sandwiches, spaetzle and lasagna.  (the battered mushrooms were Charming’s favorite though)  The music ranges from Young Doubliner’s Celtic rock to polkas gallore. 

Valhalla Lake Tahoe Festival
When:  June 4th – September 28
http://valhallatahoe.com/events.html for details
Where:  Camp Richardson (just north of South Lake Tahoe)
Fee:  Free – $30
The Festival:  Although there aren’t events every single day, Valhalla is basically like Lake Tahoe’s Artown, with music, theater, workshops, fine art and more.  There’s even a Renaissance Festival June 5th-6th and June 12th-13th. 

Reno Film Festival
When: June 13-20
Where: www.renofilmfestival.com or 775-334-6707
Fee:  Free-$100
The Festival: Everything Film!  Including a screenwriting workshop ($100), Family Shorts (Free), Indie Shorts (5), Lumiere Academy Awards (Free), Featured films (Free), VIP Reception ($35) and Short Film Competition ($10). 

Octane Fest
When: June 10-13
Where:  Fallon’s fairgrounds, Top Gun Raceway and Rattlesnake Raceway.
Fee: $5-$10
www.octanefest.com
The Festival:  Four days of dirt track racing for two and four-wheel vehicles, plus live music. 

XFest Brewgrass
When:June 12th
Where:Harrah’s Plaza in downtown Reno
Fee: $23 (includes six tickets for four-ounce tastings)  Proceeds benefit Sierra Arts and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful.
The Festival:  Features music from the Infamous Stingdusters, Strange on the Range, Special 49 and Hot Club of Reno.  Beers from Great Basin Brewing, Silver Peak, Mammoth Brewing, Spaten Brewing, Doppelganger’s and Blue Moon Brewing Co. 

Tour de Nez
When:  June 17-19
Where:  Sparks, Reno and Truckee
Fee:  FREE Admission
www.tourdenez.com for details.
The Festival:  This festival is for lovers of everything cycling…and mint juleps.  It opens on June 17  in Sparks at John Ascuaga’s Nugget and Victorian Square, makes it’s way into downtown Reno on June 18 for the circuit race, handcycle race, kid races and live music, then moves on up to Northstar-at-Tahoe June 19 for even more races, music and kids activities. 

Reno Rodeo 
When:  June 18-20
Where:  Reno Livestock Events Center
Fee:  Tickets from $12-$25, the Rodeo is nonprofit and donates back to the community.
www.renorodeo.com or call 775-329-3877 for details.
The Festival:  Parades, roping, county shops, bull riding, steer wrestling and more.  If you love cowboys, cowgirls, cattle, Old West nostalgia, you’ll love the Reno Rodeo while helping the community. 

Extreme Outlaw Weekend
When:  June 18-20
Where:  The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
Fee:  $10 General Admission, $120 VIP Admission (includes preferred view area for all 3 days, access to XO2 VIP tent that includes food and drinks. XO250 truck X02 bike race pits)
http://www.grandsierraresort.com/entertainment/calendar/xtreme-outlaws for details & tickets.
The Festival:  Dirt, dirt, dirt!  This 4 day festival is packed with action!  combines a 250 mile off-road desert race designed by legendary Rod Hall, a Supermoto race set to be the largest in the nation and freestyle motocross riders will be performing death defying acrobatics…freestyle jumping, Supermoto and off-site 250-mile desert race.  There will be live music, motosport vendors displaying their latest and greatest products and an afterparty at The Beach with Tommy Lee as the guest DJ. 

Big Bounce at Belden
When:  June 18-21
Where:  Belden, Calif. (near Quincy)
Fee:  $130 for advance weekend pass, $150 at the gate.  Tickets available at the Melting Pot in Reno or online at www.bigbounceatbelden.com
Call for details: 866-558-4253
The Festival:  This festival is geared for those who love electronic dance music & raves.  (not anything close to my cup of tea)  A three-day club-music festival. 

Eldorado BBQ Brews & Blues
When:  June 25 (3-8pm) – 26 (11am-7pm)
Where:  Virginia Street, downtown Reno.
Fee:  Free Admission
The Festival:  A ton of worldly beers to sample mixed in with the blues.  Bands for the microbrew and music festival include Shane Dwight, Ruddy Parris Band and Jason King Band on June 25;  Lee Rocker, Shane Dwight, Ruddy Parris Band, J.C. Smith, Shake Rattle and Roll, Chris Cain, Delta Wires and Rick Hammond Blues Band on June 26. 

Artown
When:  July 1 – August 1
Where:  Citywide in Reno!  www.renoisartown.com or 775-322-1538 for details.
Fee:  Free Admission
The Festival:  Let’s just say that if you love anything “ART” then you’re going to love this festival.  We’re talking dance, theater, painting, music, comedy… 

Americana Festival
When:  July 9-11
Where:  Various Virginia City venues
Fee: $10 for the Saddle Cats show, most others are free.  www.nevadabluegrassproject.org for details
The Festival:  This festival is perfect for those who love regional bluegrass, country and Americana bands.  Bands include: Saddle Cats, Steve Spurgin, Shades of Blue, Hot Club de Reneaux and more. 

Beerfest & Bluegrass Festival
When:  July 10
Where:Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort
Fee:To Be Annouced.  www.northstarattahoe.com or 800-466-6784 for details.
The Festival:  Features bluegrass music bands (to be announced) plus beer from two dozen regional brewers. 

Squaw Valley USA Art, Wine & Music Festival
When:  July 17-18
Where:  Squaw Valley USA Village
Fee:  $25 per day for wine tasting.  www.squaw.com or 530-583-6985 for details.
The Festival:  Fine wines, fine art, artists, performers, musicians and charitable festivities.  Live music on two stages, fine wines from numerous wineries and a fine art exhibition.  This even is a fundraiser for the Disabled Sports USA Far West and Tahoe Arts for the Schools. 

Wanderlust Festival
When: July 29-August 1
Where:Squaw Valley Usa
Fee:  $29.50 for daily music pass only; $340-$420 for music and yoga ticket packages.  www.wanderlustfestival.com for details.
The Festival:  Top teir yoga instructors are paired with top teir bands for this even.  The music this year is less of an attraction than the yoga.  Music features Moby, Bassnectar, Brazilian Girls, Pretty Lights, Yard Dogs Road Show, Beats Antique, MC Yogi and more….along with top yoga instructors in the morning. 

Hot August Nights
When:  August 1-8
Where:  Events at just about every casino around Reno
Fee:  Many events are free to attend.  www.hotaugustnights.net or 775-356-1956 for details.
The Festival:  This is a car enthusiast’s dream!  Let the sights and sounds of the 50′s live again!  A baby-boomer’s time warp back to the days of jukeboxes, poodle skirts and cruising.  This is by far Reno’s biggest festival and includes classic car cruises, car shows, concerts and a closing parade of classics to not be missed.  (Not to mention that it’s also one of our family’s favorite events) 

Brews, Jazz & Funk
When:  August 14-15
Where:  Squaw Valley USA
Fee: $4 per beer.  Benefits the Truckee Tahoe Humane Society.  http://www.squaw.com/9th-annual-brews-jazz-funk-fest or 530-583-6955 for details. 

Reno Tahoe Blues Fest
When:  August 27-29
Where:  Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch.
Fee:  To Be Announced.  775-857-3378 for details.
The Festival:  This three day event includes Floyd Taylor, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Tina Carrol on Aug. 27; Barbara Carr, Chick Willis and Ms. Jody on Aug. 28; E.C. Scott, Alabama Mike and the 3rd Degree and Zac Harmon on Aug. 29. 

Best In The West Nugget Rib Cook-off
When: September 1-6
Where:All along Victorian Square near John Ascuaga’s Nugget.
Fee: Free Admission (unfortunately the food is not free, but very reasonable)  www.janugget.com or 775-356-330 for details.
The Festival:  This is our Numero Uno Festival of Choice!  The event that we look forward to every year.  We’re talking some of the nation’s best of the best BBQ Experts competing in in doing so, offering their culinary goodies for your enjoyment.  (it’s by invitation only, so you know it’s going to be great)  Get ready for a very happy mouth & tummy! 

Competitors line both sides of the street and the smell of BBQ just floods the whole area.  My Charming lives for the ribs, my little kiddles live for the shaved ice and I live for the pulled pork sammys. (Awesome Aussies are my personal favorite pulled pork)  

Live music is also offered to keep the droves happy: Mumbo Gumbo on Sept. 1; Del Castillo on Sept. 2; Jack Ingram on Sept. 3; Gin Blossoms on Sept. 4; Asia on Sept. 5. 

The Great Reno Balloon Race
When:  September 10-12
Where:  Rancho San Rafael Park
Fee:  FREE.  www.renoballoon.com or call 775-826-1181 for details.
The Festival:  The Great Reno Balloon Races is one of the most colorful and spectacular events Reno has to offer. Don’t miss exciting the Hare & Hound Race, mass ascension and community launches at dawn. A favorite with the locals, this event takes place at Rancho San Rafael Park, located just north of downtown’s glittering casino action. After lift-off, enjoy food, crafts, art and souvenirs. 

National Championship Reno Air Races and Air Show
When:  September 15-19
Where:
Fee:  Purchase General Admission, VIP & Pit Passes  and get detailed information HERE
The Festival:   Enjoy five days of racing by five different classes of aircraft, racers reach speeds of over 500 mph – by far the fastest-moving machines in motorsports! The event also includes a world-class air show featuring top aerobatic performers, military and civil flight demonstrations, and a large display of static aircraft. 

In addition to enjoying all of the flying, you can visit the pits and watch race teams work on their aircraft, browse any of the hundreds of participating vendors’ booths, and enjoy a wide variety of food and beverages and other amenities. 

Street Vibrations
When: September 22 – 26
Where:  Citywide Event
Fee: http://road-shows.com/street_vibrations.php for details.
The Festival: A celebration of music, metal and motorcycles. Reported to be America’s sixth largest motorcycle event, bikes of all makes and models will roll into Reno for five days of intense fun at Street Vibrations.  A portion of the proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Association. 

Eldorado Great Italian Festival
When:  October 9-10 (11am-4pm)
Where:  On Virginia Street in front of the Eldorado Hotel Casino
Fee:  Free admission. For details, call the Eldorado at 1-800-648-5966 or 775-786-5700 in Nevada.
The Festival:  Everything Italian!  From food fare to a bocce ball tournament.  The sites and sounds of Italy are there for everyone’s enjoyment. Festival highlights include free live Italian entertainment on three stages, a spaghetti sauce cook-off, traditional Italian fare, the famous grape stomping contest (such fun to watch), kids’ gelato eating contest (who doesn’t like gelato?), a gourmet Italian buffet inside the Eldorado at 4 p.m. each day. Don’t miss the last big farmer’s market of the season as well as the Garlic Growers Association of Gilroy and the Castroville Artichoke Growers.