It’s the beginning of event season, which means that there are plenty of May events in Reno/Sparks to enjoy. There’s no shortage of things to do in Reno this May, from tasting weird beers, to helping homeless pets to honoring some of the city’s most powerful and influential women.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno Ukulele Festival

  • When: Wednesday, May. 1, 2019
  • Where: Peppermill Resort Hotel, 2707 S. Virginia St., Reno
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The 11th annual Reno Ukulele Festival Acoustic Faire with Swing Thing celebrates the growing popularity of the diminutive instrument. Enjoy outstanding workshops, concerts, open-mic performances, organized jams, vendor marketplace, and special daytime entertainment.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: 26th Annual Beer Fest

  • When: Friday, May. 3, 2019
  • Where: Reno Ballroom, 401 N. Center St., Reno
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Beer Fest will feature dozens of different brews and spirits from numerous regional breweries and distilleries, as well as live entertainment. The event, hosted by the Nevada Young Alumni Chapter, raises scholarship funds for students of the University of Nevada, Reno. All Beer Fest attendees will receive a commemorative pint glass, courtesy of Custom Ink, and all the brews you can responsibly taste from our many vendors.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Dine The District Food Tour

Sample an eclectic assortment of culinary options throughout the RiverWalk District in the heart of Reno. Each ticket includes a food tour map, serving as a formal admission to the self-guided tour. The 20 participating restaurants and shops will offer tastings of delectable fare, and some of the locations will provide vegetarian options.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Cinco De Mayo Festival

  • When: Saturday, May. 4–Sunday, May. 5, 2019
  • Where: Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. 2nd St., Reno
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Northern Nevada’s largest Hispanic heritage celebration is back. See live entertainment, including favorite bands from Mexico, Latin musicians and dancers, Mexican dancing horse performances and amateur boxing bouts. More than 100 vendors will offer food, specialty items, clothes, arts and crafts, community information.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Nevada Humane Society’s Heels & Hounds

  • When: Sunday, May. 5, 2019
  • Where: Silver Legacy Grand Exposition Hall, 407 N. Virginia St., Reno
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Put on your Sunday best and get ready to make a difference for our community’s homeless pets at Nevada Humane Society’s Heels & Hound. The event, celebrating its fifth year, features a champagne brunch, shopping from local vendors, entertainment, silent and live auctions and a fashion show with some of Reno’s local leaders strutting the catwalk. Of course, anyone looking to take home a new furry friend will have the opportunity to adopt a dog or cat.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: 150 Year Transcontinental Railroad Commemoration, Panel Discussion and Ceremony

  • When: Friday, May. 10, 2019
  • Where: Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St., Reno
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Join the Nevada Museum of Art to commemorate the historic 150th Anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Artists Zhi Lin and Hung Liu will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Ann M. Wolfe. They will discuss their artworks made in response to the sacrifices of Chinese Railroad workers who raced to complete the rail line that would unite America from east to west in 1869.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno River Festival

  • When: Saturday, May. 11–Sunday, May. 12, 2019
  • Where: Wingfield Park, Reno
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Brace yourself for an action-packed weekend in downtown Reno. The Reno River Festival kicks off the special events season and celebrates its 15th epic year. The whitewater competition is just one excuse why more than 50,000 outdoor enthusiasts flock to Wingfield Park and the Truckee River. Experience two days of hardcore leisure and wet and wild fun.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: The 2019 An Affur to Remember Gala

  • When: Saturday, May. 11, 2019
  • Where: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel, One South Lake Street, Reno
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Bring your well-behaved, vaccinated dog to An Affur to Remember, which benefits the thousands of homeless pets the SPCA of Northern Nevada rescues. The event is limited to 30 dogs. Enjoy an evening of dining and fun at Bundox Bocce. This year’s event features a cocktail hour, silent and live auction, lifesaving paddle raise, fantastic food, a photo booth, and fun, interactive entertainment.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno Venture Conference

  • When: Tuesday, May. 14–Wednesday, May. 15, 2019
  • Where: Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, 401 Ryland St. #101, Reno
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The inaugural Reno Venture Conference will bring together active angel investors and the region’s rising startups to showcase the growing ecosystem of technology and talent in Northern Nevada. The two-day conference will include angel education workshops, panel discussions with active angel investors, pitches from the rising pre-seed and seed stage startups including the InNevator IoT Accelerator companies.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Hot August Nights Spring Fever Revival

Photo Courtesy of Hot August Nights/ Marcello Rostagni
  • When: Friday, May. 17–Saturday, May. 18, 2019
  • Where: Downtown Reno
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In advance of the premier summertime classic car event, downtown Reno will hum with the sound of powerful engines and dreamy sighs as classic cars from bygone eras line the streets for Hot August Nights Spring Fever Revival. Marvel at the show-n-shines and enjoy free live entertainment. The event also features food, drinks, and booths filled with memorabilia and merchandise.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno Street Food – Food Truck Friday

Enjoy more than 30 rotating gourmet food, craft desserts, beer, wine and mixed drink vendors at this food truck event. Make a night of it with live music, lots of grass and shade, plenty of free parking, a large playground for the kiddos and train rides as well. Relax in the park, bring your lawn chairs and a blanket and let the trucks do the cooking for you.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: 3rd Thursday, Farmers Market And More

This family-friendly event is part classic street fair, part artisans market and part lecture series. This unique farmers market and arts experience takes place on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The event features farmers from around the region, arts and crafts, and live cooking demos from local celebrity chefs.

 

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Chili On The Comstock

  • When: Saturday, May. 18–Sunday, May. 19, 2019
  • Where: Virginia City
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The 36th annual Chili on the Comstock brings together the best chili cooks in the west for a cook-off, a Fun with the Runs 5K and the Fireball Saloon Crawl. Endless varieties of chili and of course plenty of cold, refreshing beer wash it all down awaits.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Northern Nevada Celtic Celebration

  • When: Saturday, May. 18, 2019
  • Where: Bartley Ranch Regional Park, Reno
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Delight in Celtic activities and performances for all ages. For almost three decades, the festival has entertained visitors and residents and provided a cultural experience rooted in the seven Celtic Nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Galicia, Isle of Mann, Brittany, and Cornwall. This unique cultural celebration features musical guests on the main stage, pipe band competitions, Scottish and Irish dancers, Highland games, Celtic critters, kid’s games, living history demonstrations, Celtic merchandise, and food and drink.

 

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Strange Brew Festival

  • When: Saturday, May. 18, 2019
  • Where: Brewers Cabinet, 475 S. Arlington Ave., Reno
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This celebration of uniquely crafted brews from local breweries features offerings only available at the festival. These rare beers, in many cases specially crafted for this event, will challenge your taste buds, your ideas of beers, and your sensibilities. The event features live music from local bands and a barbecue.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: “Compass of the Ephemeral: Aerial Photography of Black Rock City” with Will Roger

  • When: Thursday, May. 23, 2019
  • Where: Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St., Reno
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Join author, photographer, and co-founder of Burning Man, Will Roger as he reveals his newest book which includes a substantial collection of Roger’s aerial photos chronicling the ever-changing cityscape and transformation of the temporary Black Rock City.  This program will feature a panel discussion between Will Roger and William L. Fox, Director of the Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art, moderated by James Stanford.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Salute To Women of Achievement

  • When: Thursday, May. 23, 2019
  • Where: Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. 2nd St., Reno
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The Nevada Women’s Fund will honor many local women for their personal and professional achievements and contributions to the community during their signature annual fundraising event. Keynote speaker Ieshia Champs will share her story of how she became a recent graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law, a single mother of five, and the first person in her family to pursue a graduate degree.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Cuisine, Corks & Crafts Festival

  • When: Saturday, May. 25–Sunday, May. 26, 2019
  • Where: Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks
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This Memorial Day weekend, check out the Nugget’s Cuisine, Corks & Crafts Festival. The festival includes a wine and spirits walk, celebrity chef appearances, cooking demonstrations, food tastings, art exhibits, craft vendors, live entertainment and more.

 

May Events in Reno/Sparks: The 2nd Annual Sierra Nevada Top 20 Most Powerful Women Awards

  • When: Wednesday, May. 29, 2019
  • Where: Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, 3800 S. Virginia St., Reno
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The Northern Nevada Business View’s 2nd Annual Sierra Nevada Top 20 Powerful Women Awards banquet recognizes the powerful women in our community. The event’s emcee will be Connie Wray of The Next Stage, and the keynote speaker will be Danyelle Musselman. Each attendee will receive lunch and a bag full of goodies.

May Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno-Tahoe Odyssey

  • When: Friday, May. 31–Saturday, Jun. 1, 2019
  • Where: Wingfield Park, Reno
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Teams of 12 runners cover a 178-mile course that is divided into 36 legs of varying lengths and difficulty. Each runner typically runs around 15 miles over three legs. The Reno Tahoe Odyssey starts in downtown Reno and travels along the Truckee River, up to the Sierra Nevada range and along the shores of Lake Tahoe, passes through the Northern Nevada high desert including Virginia City, before returning to Reno.

At Dickson Realty, our team of local experts knows about the best events, activities, and places to live. To learn more about how to enjoy the Reno/Sparks region, contact one of our Realtors today.