Weekend Warrior: Mid-August to Mid-September (2021)

Enjoy an eclectic mix of entertainment and intriguing works of local artists at Third Thursday in Downtown Sparks. This month, the reggae/ska/soul vibe of Reno band Keyser Soze will keep you movin’ and groovin’. Third Thursday also features tasty food, cold drinks, live entertainment, crafts, chef demos, and movies on the big screen.  A Knight’s Tale,. plays at this month’s gathering, August 19 at the Tony Armstrong Amphitheater at 8:15 pm. and is offered year-round!  For more info about the August 19 offerings and other Third Thursday entertainment, visit 39NortthDowntown.com.

Dragon boat racing returns to Northern Nevada on Saturday, August 21!  What began in southern China as an ancient folk ritual among neighboring villages, the races in boats shaped and decorated like dragons has emerged in modern times as an international sport that began in Hong Kong in 1976.  Northern Nevada’s festival offers plenty of racing excitement and wholesome, family-friendly festivities.  Visit the many vendors and exhibitors in the Health and Wellness Village, Food Truck Bazaar, Kids Fun Zone, and more.  For additional information visit GwnDragonBoat.com.

Greater Nevada Field overflows on August 22 with heaps of bravery and some of the most daring feats performed at Nitro Circus!  The legendary 45-foot Giganta ramp will launch athletes into the sky at 40 miles per hour while moto-riders will send it 65 feet high. Nitro’s daredevils will also attempt the craziest stunts imaginable on new contraptions you never imagine could fly! With no roof there are no limits. These real-life action heroes are sure to inspire fans of all ages as they push the envelope at every show with incredible new tricks never seen before. Catch all the action and excitement and get your tickets and more information at GreaterNevadaField.com.

Get your HULA ON at the Reno Aloha Festival, a beautiful celebration of the unique traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. Experience Hawaiian culture in dance, music and mouthwatering food. Shop the many islander merchants while the kids enjoy Keiki Village that offers fun interactive activities. Attend educational workshops and learn how to play the ukulele, hula or even speak the Hawaiian language.  Held in the heart of downtown Reno at Wingfield Park along the rushing Truckee River, this event is perfect for all ages!  Visit the Reno Aloha Festival Facebook Page to learn more! 

If you have a hankering for some of the best ribs west of the Mississippi, then head on over to the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off.  It’s is the “place to be” for one of Northern Nevada’s most cherished annual events where 20 of the best cookers in the country converge on Victorian Square in Sparks to treat us to finger-lickin’ goodness that will make your mouth water.  Don’t worry, there are plenty of ice-cold beverages to wash those ribs down, and live music to dance it all off.  For more information about the event and parking, visit NuggetRibCookoff.com.

In past years, the talented actors who have graced the Sand Harbor stage have treated us to one comedy and one tragedy each summer at our beloved Shakespeare Festival.  This year, they are shaking it up with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)!  Tuesdays to Sundays through August 22, three ambitious classic Converse-clad actors armed with an outrageous assortment of outerwear and props, cram the Bard’s entire canon of plays (and sonnets!) into two hours of sheer Elizabethan-esque ecstasy. Need the play writers and directors more? Buckle your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. This endearingly irreverent and lightning-paced romp through the greatest plays of all time will have you rolling with laughter and jumping in the aisles. Perhaps The Today Show captured its spirit best when they said, “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!”

In addition to the hilarity of Shakespeare, you are invited Monday evenings to Sand Harbor’s remaining Showcase Series Events. Bring your own picnic or partake in the delicious fare offered at the performances to enhance your experience.  Here is the lineup this summer:

August 16: Mumbo Gumbo- The 7th Annual Prim Music Night
August 23: Reno Jazz Orchestra- An Evening with Diane Schuur

We’re #1 (so far) in the Triple A West League!  Woohoo!  The Reno Aces, as of August 15 have a winning record of 28-17, and are ahead of the competition in the West and East Divisions.  Can we keep up this stellar performance through the end of the season?  Join the fun at Greater Nevada Field to find out, and enjoy these fun promos while cheering on the Aces to victory:

Military Mondays invite all Military Members and First Responders to take advantage of BOGO tickets, enjoy Baseball BINGO, and bring your vaccinated fury friend (no… not your high school buddy… your well-behaved, leashed pup!!)
Taco Tuesdays call us to enjoy two street tacos for $6 or two street tacos and a beer for $10, presented by Alice 96.5.
Thirsty Thursdays offer $2 Coors Light Drafts and $4 “Aceball Ales” and are presented by Coors Light.
Firework Fridays illuminate the sky over the ballpark.
Saturday, August 28 is Military Appreciation Night complete with a Kevin Cron Tank Bobblehead giveaway and pre-game fun on the plaza!
Family Sundays begin at 1:05 pm and feature $1 hot dogs… Hot Diggity Dog!!

For more info about the Reno Aces, the schedule, promotions, COVID guidelines and more, please visit MILB.com/Reno.

Head on up to historic Virginia City for one of our region’s zaniest events of the year!  The 62nd Annual International Camel and Ostrich Races grace the fairgrounds and will provide side-splitting entertainment you won’t soon forget. This comical racing spectacle sends daring riders on camels, ostriches and zebras around the arena and across the finish line… and sometimes not.  Join the amusement at one of the three races happening this weekend.  Click through to VisitVirginiaCityNV.com for more details and ticket sales.

September 10-12, Northwest Reno’s skies will once again be covered with a sea of vibrant balloon beauty!  The Great Reno Balloon Race is a three-day event that is free to the public, and brings a multitude of shapes, sizes and colors to watch in awe. Roll out of bed (pre-dawn) and grab some doughnuts, your Thermos of piping hot coffee, some comfy beach chairs and blankets, and head out to Rancho San Rafael park to witness the “Super Glow Show” and mass ascension. It’s a spectacle to behold and only happens once a year at one of Reno’s most beloved annual traditions. The Great Reno Balloon Races started in 1982 with about 20 balloons. Currently, we no enjoy about 100 different balloons these days. Visit RenoBalloon.com for more on this super community event.

I feel the need! …the need for SPEED!!  Planes and their pilots are pushed to the limits at the National Championship Air Races September 15-18!  Experience the thrill of the chase of six different racing classes with speeds reaching over 500 miles per hour.  In addition to racing action, talented performer pilots take to the skies over Reno-Stead airport.  The lineup includes Tucker’s Air Patrol, a throwback to the glory days of barnstorming, U.S. Marine Corps, MV-22 Osprey, demonstrating vertical takeoff and landing as well as short takeoff and landing capabilities, and F35A Lightening II Demonstration Team, boasting the world’s most advanced multirole stealth fighter.  Don’t miss the thrilling, aerobatic action of Jim Peitz Aerosports and an exhilarating hour-long demonstration of flight excellence by our U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. For all the awesome details, visit AirRace.org. 

Harvey’s Summer Concert Series keeps rolling with its hot line-up you won’t want to miss!  Megastars of country and rock hit South Lake Tahoe’s Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s to bring you unforgettable concert experiences you won’t want to miss.  Get your tickets soon before all seats are gone!  Here are the scheduled concerts through Summer 2021 and into 2022:

Dierks Bentley (Country): Sunday, August 22
Eric Church (Country): Friday & Saturday, August 27 & 28
Phish (Rock): Tuesday & Wednesday, August 31
Miranda Lambert (Country): Thursday, September 2
Train (Rock): Friday, September 3
Alabama (Country): Saturday, Saturday, September 4
Jackson Browne (Rock): Saturday, September 11
Kenny Chesney (Country): Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12 & 13, 2022 (Rescheduled)