Experience Summer in Reno, NV

Sitting in clear view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Reno is a scenic and historic small town that offers abundant activities year-round. Although you might associate Reno with the gaming and tourism industries, you can find plenty to do both indoors and out. With the arrival of summer, the activity meter surges toward maximum output. Whether you are a foodie; love music, movies, and the arts; participate in sports; or have other interests, you have a good chance of finding what you’re looking for in Reno during the summer months.

To help set your agenda, the attorneys and staff at De Castroverde Law have compiled a list of their favorite summer activities in Reno.

Reno Street Food – Food Truck Friday

Reno, NV Mountain views

When Reno does food, it does it big. The annual Food Truck Friday series returns in 2023 in Idlewild Park. Over 35 vendors have signed up to serve gourmet food, craft desserts, beer, wine, and mixed drinks. You’ll only have to budget for the food, as attendance is free. Stay for the live entertainment if you wish, but bring something to sit on, such as a blanket or lawn chairs. This is a family-friendly event, as the park also has a giant playground.

Lazy 5 Summer Music Series

Summer in Reno doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Once again, this year, Washoe County is turning Lazy 5 Regional Park into a concert venue with its annual summer concert series. Every Wednesday from June 14 through Aug. 16, you can enjoy the park as well as good food, music, and camaraderie. Bring a blanket or chairs and some money for food and pub trucks.

Riverside Farmers Market Summer Series

Summer also brings out some of the best our region offers in freshly grown food. The Riverside Farmers Market expands during summer to bring in extra patrons for produce, healthy prepared foods, and more. Stay for free yoga and art classes, all in a friendly, community-based environment. Best of all, you get the chance to support local businesses.

Boneyard Blast XVI

Boneyard Blast is a weekend warrior’s dream. The Blast is one of the largest softball tournaments in the world. What makes it unique is the non-stop action. Games occur continuously over 48 hours as 160 teams vie for the title. Teams from all over the United States and Canada come to Reno for this event. In addition to the on-field competition, you can watch or participate in other amusements such as corn hole tournaments, a homerun derby, and hitting accuracy contests. A word of caution: there might also be streaking.

Harmony in the Park – A Celebration of Barbershop Music

If you’re looking for something a little more laid back, consider Harmony in the Park, which celebrates the art of barbershop music. The show features High Desert Harmony and Silver Dollar Chorus, along with various quartets. If you’re interested in learning about barbershop singing, you can attend a workshop.

Movies in the Park

Getting outside in the summer is a must — even if you’re a movie buff. Consider attending the Cordillera International Family Festival in Wingfield Park.  The festival offers you the chance to view your choice of 150 movies over five days and then analyze what you’ve seen during panel discussions. You can enjoy trivia, food, drinks, giveaways, and special guests.

Hot August Nights

Car lovers, unite: Reno is the home to events celebrating classic cars and the eras that produced them. Hot August Nights is an annual event that pulls together owners of some 5,000 vehicles, showing the highlights of automaking in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. You’ll see plenty of your favorite cars, including hot rods and muscle cars.

However, it’s not just about the cars. You can also come to Hot August Nights to enjoy food from vendors and listen to music from headline acts as well as participate in and witness cruises, drag races, a car auction, and “show and shine” competitions. Events take place across the Reno area.

Reno Chalk Art & Music Festival

Some people use paint and paper to create art; others use chalk and blacktop. The Reno Chalk Art & Music Fair at the Reno Atlantis Casino Resort brings together more than 150 of the best chalk artists in the nation. The goal is to turn the west parking lot of the Atlantis casino into the largest chalk art event in the region and maybe in the nation. Come for three days, peruse the art in motion, listen to music, and have something to eat and drink.

You can also shop with local artisans and let the children play in the Kid Zone. Artists compete for honors in the best use of color, best use of 3D, best reproduction of a master’s work, and the people’s choice award.

Reno Wheelmen Twilight Road Race Series

The Reno Wheelman Club is an institution in Reno that has been promoting and supporting the sport of cycling since its inception in 1896. During summer, the group organizes the Twilight Road Racing Series, in which racers complete several tight loops to see who is fastest. The speeds the cyclists reach are eye-opening. The series runs once a week in the summer.

Are You Ready To Discover Your Next Favorite Activity?

And there you have it. Our list only begins to scratch the surface of activities you can do in Reno. Let us know if you go to any of these events, or if you have others you prefer, and we’ll add them to the list.

Photo Credit: Reno, Nevada by Trevor Bexon is licensed with CC BY 2.0