JANUARY
8-9 Tahoe Winter Blue Adventure
Race: The Blue Adventure Race returns to Lake
Tahoe and Reno, kicking off with clinics and practice runs that culminate in
the race in Reno. Teams will participate and compete in a series of backcountry
and Nordic activities including free heel skiing, AT skiing, snowshoeing,
transceiver location, Nordic skiing, orienteering and map and compass
skills. Now in its second year, the Big Blue Adventure Race Series
challenges adventure-seekers, while showcasing the spectacular views of Lake
Tahoe and Reno. Contact 510-644-1441or visit www.bigblueadventure.com
for more details.
8 Elvis
Day at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe: Resort staff and visitors alike dress like the King
on this fun day celebrating the life and music of Elvis Presley. Visit www.mtrose.com for more information.
14-15 Winter
X Games Qualifiers:
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort hosts the only X Games qualifier in the United States.
Skiers, snowboarders and extreme athletes vie for the top slots at the world’s
largest extreme sporting event. For more information, call (530) 426-9000.
17 Martin
Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration: Join the 17th annual celebration honoring the
birthday of this civil rights leader. The event is being held in the Rose
Ballroom at John Ascuaga’s Nugget and will feature dinner, entertainment and
exciting guest speakers. The theme for the celebration is “Peace and Cultural
Understanding – It Starts With You!” Contact the Northern Nevada Black Cultural
Awareness Society at (775) 329-8990 for details.
5-6 King
and Queen of the Sierra: The top athletes in a variety of snow sports test their skills
on the slopes and vie for the crown as King or Queen of the Sierra. Call (530)
581-8329.
10-13 SledFest
2005: This
national level annual snowmobile festival will bring together snowmobile
enthusiasts for four days of explorations and adventure. Venue locations will
encompass the entire Lake Tahoe region, both on the Nevada and California side.
The event will also include a consumer tradeshow at the Reno-Sparks Convention
Center. Contact the RSCVA at 800 FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or visit www.RenoLakeTahoeSledFest.com
for more details.
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13-April 17 Nevada Museum of Art
(NMA) Exhibit: Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to
Lewis and Clark. Visitors take a voyage through more than 40 maps, books and
illustrations from 1544 to 1802 on the course of discovery of the Pacific
Coast. For more information, call (775) 329-3333 or visit www.nevadaart.org.
MARCH
March BULLNANZA: Reno serves as one of the sanctioned competition stops
featured on the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit. The televised event
features the best bull riders in the country competing for a prize-winning
purse and a chance at fame. Logon to www.pbrnow.com for details.
4-13 Snow
Festival 2004:
A 10-day festival in the North Tahoe communities featuring Snow-sculpture
contests, Spaghetti Feed, Pancake Breakfasts, Parade, Post Parade Party, Oyster
Eating contest, Rotary-Kiwanis Tug of War, Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim and a
Luau. Contact the North Lake Tahoe Snow Festival at (530) 583-5605 or logon to www.tahoesnowfestival.com
for more details.
12, 15 Sparks
Centennial Ball:
Celebrate a century of life in Sparks with the Centennial Ball March 12 at John
Ascuaga’s Nugget. Then witness the anniversary ceremony on March 15 on historic
Victorian Avenue. Visit www.sparks100.org
for specific times and places.
17-20
St. Patrick’s Day
Celebration: Think
green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with traditional Irish food and live music in
downtown Reno. Event features an arts and crafts fair and a Ceilidh. Contact
Fitzgerald’s at 775-785-3300 for details or visit www.fitgeraldsreno.com.
TBA Nevada
SnowMaster Adventure Race: The second annual
Nevada SnowMaster Adventure
Race, part of the annual Big Blue Adventure Series, lets teams compete in a
series of multi-sport events at Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area in the Lake
Tahoe Nevada State Park. Backcountry and Nordic activities for the event
include free heel skiing, AT skiing, snowshoeing, transceiver location, Nordic
skiing, orienteering and map and compass skills. Contact 510-644-1441or visit www.bigblueadventure.com
for more details.
21-23 Reno
Jazz Festival:
The 43rd annual Reno Jazz Festival hosts more than 300 performances
and clinics featuring the Vanguard
Jazz Orchestra, 40 jazz artists from around the nation and approximately 280
middle school, high school and college groups from around the west. Contact CJ
Walters at 775-784-4046 for details or visit www.dce.unr.edu/jazz/.
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13-15 Reno
River Festival: After
the success of last year’s inaugural festival, which drew
thousands to the new $1.5 million downtown Reno
Truckee River Whitewater Park and Kayak Course, this year’s festival will reach
new heights. The event will feature an invitational competition, demos,
clinics, live music, a kayak movie, vendors, food and drink and much more. The
whitewater course, Nevada’s first kayak slalom racing course, is a total of
2,600 feet long, rated a class 2 to 3 for difficulty, on a scale of 1 to 6, and
includes north and south channels that surround a city park on an island in the
river and features
11 “drop pools” and boulders for kayaking maneuvers, a slalom racing course,
and 7,000 tons of smooth flat rocks along the shores for easy river access and
spectator seating. Contact the RSCVA at 800 FOR-RENO
(800-367-7366) or visit www.RenoRiverFestival.com for more details.
20-25 Lake Tahoe Jazz Festival: The sounds
of both traditional and contemporary jazz will fill the air at the second
annual Lake Tahoe Jazz Festival set in the serenity of Lake Tahoe in spring. Featuring
big-name jazz bands and performers at five different venues in and around
Incline Village and Crystal Bay, the Lake Tahoe Jazz Festival boasts an
impressive lineup of traditional jazz artists from the United States and
abroad. Call 800-468-2463 or logon to www.LakeTahoeJazzFestival.com
for more details.
20-22 North
Lake Tahoe Summer Smooth Jazz Festival:
Spend Memorial Day weekend soaking up the sound off jazz at
beautiful Lake Tahoe at the 2nd annual Smooth Jazz
Festival at the newly remodeled Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and
Casino. Call 800-233-1234 or logon to www.jazztrak.com for more details.
28 Kit
Carson Trail Wild West Tour: Visit the spirits of yesterday on a walking tour of
the Kit Carson Trail in historic Carson City, Nevada’s state capital. Selected
homes are open during the tour featuring character actors from the past. Contact
775-687-7410 or 800-NEVADA-1 for details or visit www.carson-city.org.
JUNE
TBA The
Mastercraft Pro Wakeboard Tour: World Sports & Marketing, producers of more than 250 televised competitions
including the ESPN X Games Wakeboarding events, will add a splash of fun to the
summer as they bring together the world’s best wake boarders for a two-day
nationally televised event. Contact the RSCVA at 800 FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or
visit www.renolaketahoe.com
for details.
10-12 Carson
City Rendezvous: This
event has it all: Mountain Man
Encampment, Civil War re-enactments and camp, cowboy stunt shows, camel rides,
Pueblo de Nevada village, Farriers competition contest, Native American
dancing, live music and concerts, arts and crafts and great food. Contact
775-687-7410 or 1-800-NEVADA-1 for details or visit www.carson-city.org.
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16-25 Reno
Rodeo: The
85th installment of the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West”
features the best Rodeo athletes from around the world, as well as a parade, a
carnival and numerous craft booths. Let the kids try their hand at Mutton
Bustin’ and grab a ringside seat for the excitement of steer wrestling, bronc
riding, bull riding and more. Contact the Reno Rodeo at 775-329-3877 for
details or visit www.renorodeo.com.
18-19 Sparks
Turn of the Century Faire & Parade: Celebrate 100 years of Sparks history with a parade
and fair on beautiful, historic Victorian Avenue. Visit www.sparks100.org for detail.
18-19 Tour
de Nez Classic Criterium: The 13th
annual Tour de Nez Class Criterium is part of USA Cycling’s national race
series comprised of 33 events throughout the United States with participants
earning points toward individual national ranking. The schedule includes a
Masters level race and a Pro race with cyclists winding through the streets of
Reno’s downtown river district on a 1.1 mile course. Additionally, the event
features a race expo area and other festivities including live music. Contact
775-378-1286 or visit www.tourdenez.com for details.
25-July 1 Volleyball
Festival: The Volleyball Festival is the world’s
largest annual sporting event, just slightly smaller in number of participants
than the summer Olympics. The tournament is expected to draw the following:
10,000 athletes ages 12-18; 1,400 club coaches; 200 college recruiters; 10,000
parents and spectators; and 450 paid staff. The tournament will be held at the
Reno-Sparks Convention Center with opening ceremonies scheduled for July 26 at
Ma Mackay Stadium on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Call 281-207-1070
or visit www.volleyball-festival.com
for details.
19 Silver
Sage Adventure Race:
Held in Reno, Nevada, the race is the opening event of the Big Blue
Adventure Series, a series comprised of four multi-sport races in which teams
and individuals compete in kayaking, mountain biking, trail running, orienteering,
navigation, high ropes skills and other disciplines. Kicking off from Wingfield
Park in the heart of Reno's revived river district, the Silver Sage features a
unique “riverteering” experience through the Truckee River corridor and
mountain biking on muscle-burning terrain sculpted with surprises around every
corner – a true urban adventure “Reno-Tahoe style”. Contact 510-644-1441or
visit www.bigblueadventure.com
for details.
20-22 Tahoe
Arts Festival: The
Tahoe Arts Festival will celebrate the best in visual and performing arts at
the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino in Crystal Bay. The festival will feature
street painting and other special events including the Artists’ Marketplace,
the Tahoe Biltmore’s Kim Lubell Concert and an amateur artist area for children
and adults to create their own street paintings. Contact 530-583-5605 for
details or visit www.laketahoeartsfestival.com.
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25-26
Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews &
Blues Festival: Nothing
washes down a good barbecue like a cold beer and cool blues and party-goers
will find it all plus live music, great food and microbrews, right in downtown
Reno. Contact 800-648-5966 for details or visit www.eldoradoreno.com.
1-31 Artown:
Named one
of the largest arts events in the country, the annual summer arts festival
features hundreds of performing and visual arts events in dozens of locations
citywide including music, dance, theater, opera, children’s workshops, movies
in the park, cowboy poetry, historical walks, visual arts and many more. Contact
Artown at 775-322-1538 for details or visit www.renoisartown.com.
1-31 Sunday
Music Series: Plan
on attending Carson City’s “Concerts in the Park” for live music and family fun.
The concerts are held every Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. on the legislature lawn by
the capital building. Contact 775-687-7410 or 1-800-NEVADA-1 for details or
visit www.carson-cty.org.
4 Fourth
of July: It wouldn’t be Independence Day without
fireworks and Reno-Tahoe takes pyrotechnics to a whole other level. Catch
firework shows at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, during the Star Spangled
Sparks event at John Auscaga’s Nugget in Sparks, Carson City’s Cavalcade of
Spectaculars at Mills Park or at anyone of four Lake Tahoe locations
including: Kings Beach, Tahoe
City, Homewood and South Lake Tahoe. Contact 1-888-HIT-RENO or visit www.renolaketahoe.com.
4
Star
Spangled Sparks: This event will celebrate the 228th
birthday of the United States with a day-long extravaganza that starts at
Sparks Marina at 7:30 a.m. with numerous fun filled activities for the entire
family. The celebration moves to Victorian Square at 7 p.m. with more events
and a spectacular fireworks show beginning at 9:30 p.m. Contact 775-353-2291
for details or visit
www.ci.sparks.nv.us/departments/parks/spec_events/ .
12-17 Celebrity
Golf Championship: Come watch more than 75 of your favorite athletes, movie
stars and television stars as they vie for top honors in this annual tournament
held at the Edgewood Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe. Call 800-468-2463 or
logon to www.tahoecelebritygolf.com
for more details.
17-August 24 Lake Tahoe Shakespeare
Festival: Experience
one of Tahoe’s most popular events and get a front row seat to the summer’s
greatest cultural production. This year’s festival presents the humorous
“Comedy of Errors” and adds a drama to the lineup with “Macbeth.” See the best
of Shakespeare performed against the backdrop of Lake Tahoe and scenic Sand
Harbor State Park. Contact 800-747-4697 for details or visit www.tahoebard.com
17-21 Nugget
Amateur Challenge: The 6th Annual John
Ascuaga’s Nugget Amateur Challenge will take participants to some of the best
courses in northern Nevada including D’Andrea, Lakeridge, Red Hawk and Thunder
Canyon with finals at Coyote Moon Golf Course. The
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tournament is expected to draw more than 400
participants. Players are flighted within women’s, men’s, senior men’s and
super senior men’s divisions. Contact John Ascuaga’s Nugget at 800-803-6918 or
visit www.renoamateurchallenge.com.
19-20 36th
Annual Reno Basque Festival: Celebrate Reno’s Basque heritage at this annual
event featuring traditional food, dancing, a Basque mass and games for children
and adults in addition to sporting competitions including soka tira
(tug-of-war), wood chopping and weight lifting. Contact 775-784-4854 for
details.
23-24 Reno
Celtic Celebration: Experience
true tradition at a Celtic celebration with bagpipe bands, Irish and Highland
dancing, Celtic crafters and much more. Contact 775-332-3336 for details.
29-31 Silver
Dollar Car Classic: One
of Carson City’s legendary events, the the Silver Dollar Car Classic offers a
spectacular fireworks show, treasure hunt, drive-in movie, champion speedway
parade laps, contests and prizes. Help celebrate the show’s 10 years of classic
cars, speedway excitement and hot-rod magic. Visit www.silverdollarcar.com/event.html
for more details.
30-August 7 Hot August
Nights: This
nationally recognized annual celebration of vintage music and autos returns for
another famous lap down Virginia Street. Featuring top entertainers of the ’50s
and ’60s, car auctions, poker runs drag races and parades, this event promises
to be the best of the best for car-lovers everywhere. Contact 775-356-1956 for
details or visit www.hotaugustnights.net.
AUGUST
4-11 Wooden
Boat Week and Concours d’Elegance: Enjoy this week-long celebration
of classic wooden boats. The event features the Concours d’ Elegance, a two-
day competitive and educational event, as well as numerous social events
offering participants and spectators an opportunity to get together to show off
and enjoy their wooden boats. Call 530-581-1956 or logon to www.tahoeyc.com.
17-21 Reno-Tahoe
Open at Montreux: A
top field of PGA TOUR professionals face off at one of the area’s toughest and
most scenic golf courses. The week-long event features a pro-am tournament and
golf professionals competing for a $3 million purse. Contact 775-322-3900 for
details or visit www.renotahoeopen.pgatour.com.
24-28 Nevada
State Fair: Everything
that makes the Silver State great is featured at this annual event. Visit the
Reno Livestock Events Center for livestock exhibits and events, entertainment,
rides, carnival games and more. Contact 775-688-5767 for details.
25-28 Tahoe-Reno
International Film Festival: The 8th annual Tahoe International Film
Festival at Tahoe’s North Shore screens national and international films and
videos and offers visitors a rich film experience presenting every thing from
experimental animations and sociopolitical documentaries, to rowdy comedies and
historical features. Contact 530-583-FEST for details or visit www.tahoefilmfestival.org./
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1-5 Best
in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off: The biggest and most prestigious rib cook-off
competition in the United States features 24 cookers, 125 crafts booths, free
entertainment including headliner acts nightly on the main stage all in the
heart of downtown Sparks. Contact 800-648-1177 for details or visit www.janugget.com.
5 Labor
Day Lake Tahoe: Celebrate
Labor Day with a series of events at Stateline, South Shore Lake Tahoe
including the Great Lake Tahoe Sternwheeler Race, a fireworks display and the
Big ‘Ol Fishin’ Derby. Contact 1-800-AT-TAHOE for details.
9-11 The
Great Reno Balloon Race: More than just an exhibition of these gorgeous flying machines,
the Great Reno Balloon Race features the nations top balloonists competing in
events like the Hare and the Hound, Target Drop and Key Grab. Contact
775-826-1181 for details or visit www.renoballoon.com.
9-11 Virginia
City Camel Races: While
not known for their speed, these desert troopers hit the racetrack as a
nostalgic reminder of the Comstock Lode’s bonanza days. This family event
features camel, ostrich and water buffalo races, specialty acts, daily parades
and more. Contact 775-847-0311 or 775-329-7469 for details.
10 Tour
de Tahoe Bike Big Blue: This annual bike ride includes a challenging
800 foot climb overlooking Emerald Bay and a 1,000 foot climb to Spooner
Junction plus a boat cruise, 40 mile fun ride and a 72-mile ride around the
lake. Call 800-565-2704 or logon to www.bikethewest.com for more details.
TBA Tahoe
Big Blue Adventure Race: This second
annual multi-sport event invites teams and individuals to compete in kayaking,
mountain biking, trail running, orienteering, navigation and high ropes skill
disciplines along the beautiful shores of north Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Big Blue
is a challenging yet relaxing adventure experience - an event that both
participants and their families and friends will want to mark on their
calendars for years to come. The event starts out at 6200’ and heads up to
9000’ mastering steep terrain and unmatched views of the lake. Contact
510-644-1441or visit www.bigblueadventure.com for details.
15-18 National
Championship Air Races: The world’s longest running
air race is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The nationally
recognized event features a variety of race classes, military and historic
airplane displays and aerobatics exhibitions. Contact 775-972-6663 for details
or visit www.airrace.org
21-25 Street
Vibrations: Get
your motor running with three days of motorcycle tours, live concerts and
entertainment, ride-in shows, a parade, poker run and numerous vendors. An official
event of the Harley-Davidson Dealers Association of Northern California, Street
Vibrations is Hog heaven! Contact
775-329-7469 or 800-200-4557 for details or visit http://www.road-shows.com/street_vibrations.htm.
24-25 Genoa
Candy Dance: The
82nd annual Genoa Candy Dance, a craft fair like none other, nestled
in the small town of Genoa in Carson Valley, is a perfect place to start your
holiday gift shopping. It’s the ultimate candy and craft sale to which artisans
from all over
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Northern Nevada flock to sell their wares. Breathe
in the small-town spirit of an old-fashioned craft sale, and stock up on candy
and sugar plums for the upcoming holidays. The vendor booths are open from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. and are scattered all through town, so wear walking shoes and
get their early to get a good parking spot. For more information, call (775)
782-8696.
24-25 Nissan
XTERRA USA Championship: The Nissan XTERRA USA Championship is the culmination of a
series of nearly 40 qualifying events across the US that award points to the
top athletes in XTERRA's eight regions. The best of the best are invited to
compete in swimming, mountain biking and a trail run at Lake Tahoe and battle
for the title of
XTERRA National Champion and a share of the $80,000
prize purse. In addition to the race, spectators can pick up tips from the pros
and enjoy the XTERRA Expo with food, climbing walls and product displays. Call
877-751-8880 or logon to www.xterraplanet.com for more details.
30-Oct. 2 20th
Annual Autumn Food & Wine Festival: Celebrate the season’s harvest with three days of
food, wine, cooking demonstrations, competitions and even an old-fashioned
grape stomp. Visit MyTahoeVacation.com for details.
8-9 Great
Italian Festival: The
21st annual installment of this proud celebration is held at the
Eldorado Hotel Casino in downtown Reno. Activities include a grape-stomp,
spaghetti eating contest, Italian food booths and entertainment. Contact
775-786-5700 or 1-800-777-5325 for details or visit www.eldoradoreno.com/events/.
22 Kit
Carson Trail Ghost Walk: Walk the path of yesterday with spirits of the past appearing
in selected historic homes. Walking tour begins at 9 a.m. in the Nevada State
Museum courtyard. Contact 775-687-7410 or 1-800-NEVADA-1 for details or visit www.carson-city.org.
TBA Lake
Tahoe Food and Wine in the Pines: Nothing is better than four days of great food and
wine in beautiful Stateline, South Lake Tahoe. This event features food and
wine tasting, celebrity chefs, special dinners and more. Contact 775-783-8144 for more details.
3-6 Reno
Film Festival: The
6th annual Reno Film Festival is the latest addition to the Reno
arts scene. The Reno Film Festival offers fun parties and events, celebrities
and a tribute to the year’s exceptional films. Contact 775-334-6707 for details
or visit www.renofilmfest.com.
TBA National
Senior Pro Rodeo Finals: The nation’s top cowboys and cowgirls, age 40 and over, compete
in all the traditional rodeo events at the Reno Livestock Events Center. Contact 775-688-5751 for details or
visit www.seniorrodeo.com.
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DECEMBER
3 Sparks
Hometowne Christmas: This
annual celebration showcases a colorful holiday parade, family entertainment,
photos with Santa, arts and crafts and a spectacular tree lighting ceremony. It
is a true Nevada tradition to warm the winter. Contact 775-353-2291 for details
or visit www.ci.sparks.nv.us/departments/parks/spec_events/.
TBD Victorian
Home Christmas Tour: Experience
the magic of Christmas on a tour of Victorian homes decorated for the holidays
along the Kit Carson Trail. The tour is open to the public from 1 to 6 p.m. and
is presented by the Nevada Landmark Society. Contact 775-882-1805 for details.
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