Have Fun at These Exciting Events In Reno

Reno is a great place to visit in the fall, with beautiful weather and many enjoyable events. The city has various entertainment options that will appeal to all ages. If you’re looking for family fun, there are plenty of activities to choose from, like a hot-air balloon race or a pumpkin festival. If you’d rather spend some time with other adults and escape from the kids for a while, you can choose activities like a wine walk or a Halloween pub crawl. Here are the details about many exciting events coming to Reno this fall.

The Great Reno Balloon Race

Since starting in 1981 with 20 hot-air balloons, the Great Reno Balloon Race is now the world’s largest free hot-air balloon event, with nearly 100 balloons participating every year. You can see the balloons up close at the park and learn more about how they work. The Super Glow Show starts before dawn with several balloons twinkling in the dark sky at 5 a.m. After the Glow Show, the daily Mass Ascension at 7 a.m. features 100 balloons launching together.

You will love the extra touches, such as balloon trading cards, specially shaped balloons, and choreographed balloon shows during the event. The event also features many food vendors and craft, art, and souvenir booths. Daily memberships are available, which provide parking, breakfast, and champagne for attendees.

Visit the Great Reno Balloon Race at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park during Sept. 9-11. The park is only 1.5 miles from downtown, and you can walk from town or use public transportation to get to the event. General parking is available for this free event with a $20 donation.

STIHL National Championship Air Races

The Reno Air Racing Association hosts the STIHL National Championship Air Races every September, with seven racing classes competing in the main event. This popular 50-year-old event attracts thousands of aviation enthusiasts from all over the world.

You will have the chance to see lots of aircraft on display and enjoy military and civilian flight demonstrations overhead. Watch the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team perform incredible aerial maneuvers in the U.S. Air Force’s stealth fighter aircraft. You can also see the U.S. Navy Flying Eagle squadron execute a tactical demonstration.

The STIHL National Championship Air Races run during Sept. 14-18 at 14501 Mt. Anderson St. in Reno. Admission prices vary depending on the day and event options. You can purchase general admission tickets, box seats, reserved grandstand seating, pit passes, and other special upgrades.

Water Lantern Festival

The Reno Water Lantern Festival is a unique family-friendly cultural gathering full of magic and friendship. Decorate a beautiful lantern with notes, poetry, and drawings, then launch the floating lanterns onto the lake.

The Reno Water Lantern Festival is held on Sept. 17 at Sparks Marina Park, 300 Howard Drive, in Sparks. Park gates open at 4:30 p.m., when you can enjoy food vendors, games, music, and entertainment. You can start designing your lantern at 7 p.m., and the launch time is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pricing begins at $35.99 per person and includes a floating lantern kit, a marker, an LED candle, and a commemorative bag.

Reno Wine Walk

The Riverwalk Merchants Association hosts a wine walk on the third Saturday of every month. The Reno Wine Walk allows adults age 21 and over to socialize, sample different wines, and check out local businesses along the Riverwalk. Tickets are available online and start at $30 per person. Choose one of the many starting points, including the National Automobile Museum, Pignic Pub and Patio, and Labels Consignment Boutique.

Street Vibrations Fall Rally 2022

The finale to the motorcycle season, Street Vibrations Fall Rally, offers food and drink vendors, a poker run, stunt and bike shows, a scavenger hunt, and live music.

The four-day motorcycle rally runs Sept. 22-25 and is free to attend. For $75, participants can upgrade to a VIP pass and get an event T-shirt and ride pin, entries to the poker run and scavenger hunt, and other perks. Event headquarters are at the Copa Room of the Sands Regency Casino Hotel in Reno.

World Championship Outhouse Races

For something completely different and hilarious, visit the 33rd annual World Championship Outhouse Races. Costumed racers push homemade outhouses down C Street to compete in this zany event. The contest is free for spectators and takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2, from noon to 3 p.m. in Virginia City.

The Great Italian Festival

Whether or not you have Italian heritage, you can enjoy the 40th Great Italian Festival in Reno. Stomp grapes to make wine, taste test delicious spaghetti sauces, visit the Italian farmers market and enjoy a variety of Italian foods.

The family-friendly free event features a variety of live entertainment and takes place Saturday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Reno.

PumpkinPalooza

The whole family will blast at PumpkinPalooza, a fall festival celebrating Halloween. You’ll be able to decorate pumpkins, join carving classes, and see the jack-o-lantern wall. The gala features food trucks and live entertainment. Families can also watch Halloween-themed movies in the Sparks Amphitheater.

This free event takes place in Victorian Square in Sparks during Oct. 22-23. Children can wear Halloween costumes, and pets are welcome at this fun holiday event.

Reno Zombie Crawl

If you love a good costume party, try the Reno Zombie Crawl. This adults-only bar crawl highlights around 40 different bars and four resort casinos on Oct. 22. Special features include a photo booth, makeup stations, zombie karaoke, free bowling, live shows, dancing, and other entertainment.

Admission is $10, which provides a Crawl Cup and a map of participating bars. The Crawl Cup is your admission pass, which pays any cover costs at participating locations and also includes drink specials and entries to contests and giveaways.

Whether you’re looking for something fun for the whole family or a grown-ups-only outing, we’ve got you covered with this long list of Reno fall events. Let us know what fun and exciting activities you’re planning in Reno this autumn.

Photo: Going up at dawn by ian dooley is licensed with Unsplash