Popular Major Events in Northern Nevada:

Northern Nevada has a variety of events and recreational pursuits that are sure to appeal to you regardless of your kind of fun. What are the best events in Nevada Nevada? Our area boasts some of the top rated events in the nation and most are within a short distance form QM Resort properties. Why stay in a hotel and pay a premium when you can own your home away from home? If you choose to attend these events, you are a short distance away and we hope you enjoy the beautiful weather in Northern Nevada.

Reno Air Races – The Reno National Championship Air Races and Air Show is a sight to behold! There is a variety of planes that race around the course at speeds as high as 500 MPH! This is a fun event that also has appearances from the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. If you have never been, it is a great event full of racing action, airplane exhibits, vendors and more!

Great Reno Balloon Race – The Great Reno Balloon Race is the largest free hot air ballooning event in the Nation. During three days in early September, you can look up into the Reno skies and see a rainbow of hot air balloons soaring about. From its humble beginnings in 1982 with just 20 balloons, The Great Reno Balloon Race has taken flight with more than 100 balloons each year. Taking place just a few miles north of downtown Reno, the event enchants both young and old with its vibrant colors and inspiring music. The Balloon Race has won many awards over the years including ‘Best Special Event in Reno’ and ‘Best Special Event in Northern Nevada.’ With an average of 150,000 spectators attending the event each year, the number of lives touched by the beautiful spectacle continues to rise just like the balloons themselves. Force yourself out of bed before sunrise and check out “Dawn Patrol” where they light up the balloons in the early morning hours. This will be a sight you and your family will talk about for years to come!

Hot August Nights – Hot August Nights is the premier classic car rally anywhere in the country. During the event, Reno Sparks is inundated with everything related to the 50s and 60s. The streets are taken over by cruise nights and the sounds of rock n’ roll permeates the atmosphere. If you are a fan of cars and trucks from the “good ol’ days” when vehicles were built out of American steel, then this is the place to be.

The Reno Rodeo – The Reno Rodeo is a big time rodeo. It’s held at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center and features all the rodeo action you would expect – saddle bronc, bull riding, bareback, women’s professional barrel racing, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, drill team competitions, and team penning and cutting. Special events include a kid’s rodeo, PRCA Xtreme Bulls, Western States Drill Team Competition, and the Reno Rodeo Invitational Amateur Team Roping Competition. Look for top notch performances from professional cowboys and cowgirls, all trying to get a share of over $500,000 in prize money. There is a carnival during the event with all the rides and games you would ever want in one location.

The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off – Victorian Square in Sparks is the site of the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off, one of the biggest and best events around Reno / Tahoe. Rib cooking teams from around the world compete for the best ribs trophy while we get to have fun and enjoy some mighty tasty eating. If you are a fan of the BBQ shows airing on TV then this is your chance to experience it firsthand. Book today with QM Resorts and enjoy the event.

The Great American BBQ Festival / Chicken Wing Cookoff – This event is split between downtown Reno and the Grand Sierra Resort. The Great American BBQ Festival is located on Virginia Street on the strip and offers up some great BBQ, vendors and is a great event. This event is still relatively new to the Reno area and will continue to attract the premier Pitmasters from around the country. The Chicken Wing Cook Off was moved from Downtown Reno to its new location at the Grand Sierra Resort parking lot. This event attracts many local businesses that want the coveted title of Reno’s Best Chicken Wings.

Reno Jazz Festival – Since its first year in 1962, the festival has endeavored to bring to Reno both talented students and renowned professional artists. The festival has consistently attracted some of the best school bands in the nation, in part because they enjoy the festival’s competition and also because they know they will get to see great artists in concert and in workshops. This is not the typical Reno event but if you like Jazz, you may want to stop by this event held at the University of Nevada Reno.

Star Spangled Sparks – This event is a celebration of the 4th of July and has a variety of activities taking place at the Sparks Marina Park, a short walk from the Victorian RV Park, beginning at 6AM until 3PM when the party is moved to Victorian Square (also within walking distance) to view the fireworks and enjoy the vendors, food, and drinks. This is a nice place to view the show.

Reno/Tahoe Open – The Reno-Tahoe Open is truly ‘BIG TIME’ as one of just 47 PGA TOUR events worldwide. This Reno-Tahoe Open occurs at the stunning Montreux Golf & Country Club. This private club, that is normally closed to the general public opens its doors once a year with big names in golf like John Daly, David Duval, Boo Weekley, Shaun Micheel, Justin Leonard, Pat Perez, Paul Goydos, Robert Garrigus, Tim Herron, Steve Elkington, Chris DiMarco, Jose Maria Olazabal and many more joining in the chase for the purse worth 500K.

Burning Man – Burning Man creates Black Rock City a few miles north of the town of Gerlach, on the playa of the Black Rock Desert about 100 miles from Reno. During Burning Man, Black Rock City magically emerges from the playa dust to become Nevada’s 7th largest city for a week. What can one say about Burning Man? Well let’s just say it is hard to describe unless you have been there!

Eldorado Great Italian Festival – Downtown Reno hosts the Great Italian Festival, stop in to sample some great Italian food or kick off your shoes and participate in the grape stomping event. You can walk the street and sample lots of different sauces made by professional Italian chefs as well as the family run vendors looking to share their family’s secret sauce. This is a family friendly event with plenty of entertainment sure to make your stay a memorable experience.

Eldorado Brews & Blues Festival – This is a must attend event for any beer lover! Grab your mug, pay a few bucks for entry, and you will be able to consume as much beer as you want from the more than 30 breweries that attend this weekend long event. It is held on the main drag in Downtown Reno and the streets are filled with great smelling BBQ, vendors, and did I mention over 30 breweries? Better get a designated driver for this one!

Street Vibrations – “Street Vibes” as it is commonly referred to by locals, is one of the largest motorcycle events in the country. Reno Sparks is one of the best venues in the country for bikers looking to take some great rides during their trip. We can direct you to the rides of your choice including Virginia City up a twisty grade to one of the great boomtowns of its day. Virginia City is a MUST STOP location for bikers looking for some wild times! You can also take a ride to Lake Tahoe that offers a 72 mile loop around the lake with great scenery, and some great twisties around Emerald Bay. Take a ride down to the town of Genoa and have a brew at the state’s oldest bar. Carson City Harley Davidson offers entertainment and vendors during the event. There are many other great places to check out during Street Vibes, just stop contact the front desk while at a QM Resort Property and ask us about all of the great places to see during your trip.

Cinco De Mayo Celebration – The Cinco de Mayo celebration features several Latino bands, amateur boxing, Mexican dancing horse performances, around 100 vendors with food, arts and crafts, and a children’s playground. Held in downtown Sparks’ Victorian Square, it is a great place to eat authentic Mexican food and enjoy the culture.

Brew Ha Ha – The John Ascuaga’s Nugget puts on an annual event that celebrates the art of craft brewing. Are you a fan of drinking some of the world’s best brews? Then this is a must attend event where the cost of entry gets you an all access pass to all of the beers that you can handle.

Reno Wine Walk – Are you a wine connoisseur? Then make a stop in Downtown Reno every third Saturday of the month from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm when the Riverwalk Merchants Association hosts the popular Wine Walk along the Truckee River and neighboring streets in downtown Reno. You pay $20 at any of the participating merchants and you will receive a wine glass and bracelet for all of the wine you can drink. You might want to take a cab for this one!