With so many August events in Reno/Sparks, there are plenty of ways to make the most out of the peak of summer fun. The variety of things to do to in Reno and Sparks this August is pretty impressive, from the largest classic car and nostalgic event in the country to festivals and theatrical performances and more. Here are 19 you can’t miss!
August Events in Reno/Sparks: First Thursday: Hot Rod Rebellion
- When: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019
- Where: Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St., Reno
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Meet friends and explore the galleries at this lively social event featuring live music, performances, and specialty refreshments. Hosted by Great Basin Brewing Company and KTHX Radio, this long-standing gathering welcomes guests and members alike. Wine sponsored by Whispering Vine Wine Company.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Bacon, Bourbon & Brews 2019
- When: Friday, Aug. 2, 2019
- Where: Wingfield Park, 2 S. Arlington Ave., Reno
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Bacon, Bourbon, and Brews has everything you need for a fun-filled, summer evening out with great food and locally crafted spirits and brews! CARE Chest’s Bacon, Bourbon, and Brews brings together the best of the area’s brewers and distillers with hundreds of supporters of the agency. The event includes tastings of regional beers, a selection of fine bourbons, and culinary creations built around everybody’s favorite delicacy: bacon! Guests will also enjoy live music, dancing and a fabulous silent auction with all proceeds benefiting CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Hot August Nights Kickoff Rally
- When: Friday, Aug. 2–Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019
- Where: Virginia City
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Step back in time and revel in the sights and sounds of yesteryear. The region’s most prominent classic car gathering, Hot August Nights, kicks off in Virginia City. The town comes alive with rumbling engines and nostalgic tunes to kick off the event’s 33rd year. Walk the historic streets to see an array of cars and enjoy free, daily entertainment.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno Phil Presents Classical Broadway
- When: Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019
- Where: Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., Reno
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Enjoy your favorite show-stopping hits performed by vocalists straight from the Broadway stage performed with a symphony orchestra. Hear selections from Guys and Dolls, Evita, Mamma Mia, and more!
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Twelfth Night – A Ballet Noir
- When: Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019
- Where: Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., Reno
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Sierra Nevada Ballet presents William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night—A Ballet Noir. The same comedy classic you love, but with a Film Noir twist. Follow the lovely Viola from a harrowing shipwreck to a strange new land fraught with comedic hijinks, danger, gender swapping, mistaken identity, and a hilarious love-triangle! Ananda Bena-Weber returns to direct her second full-length production starring the SNB company and guest artists from around the world.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Hot August Nights
- When: Tuesday, Aug. 6–Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019
- Where: Various locations around Nothern Nevada
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The Biggest Little City revs into high gear for Hot August Nights, the largest classic car and nostalgic event in the country! Thousands of visitors pay tribute to the exquisitely powerful automobiles and electrifying music of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. At the world’s premier classic car event, more than 5,000 vehicles from the golden era of design are showcased with events throughout Reno and Sparks. Restored hot rods and sexy muscle cars give car enthusiasts a first-hand experience of popular decades past. The week-long event features show-n-shines, nightly cruises, drag races, burnouts, a classic car auction, a swap meet, shopping at the Big Boys Toys Store and The Dazzling Diva, free headline entertainment, The Garage VIP concert experience and so much more.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Hot August Nights Auction Presented By MAG
- When: Thursday, Aug. 8–Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019
- Where: Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S. Virginia St., Reno
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One of the anticipated events during Hot August Nights is the collector car auction. Managed by Motorsport Auction Group, the auction features street rods and classics to special interest and exotic vehicles crossing the block every few minutes. In addition to the adrenaline of the indoor auction, the event includes a multitude of automotive-related vendors, memorabilia and lifestyle exhibitors. You don’t have to be a gear-head to find an exhilarating automotive array at this auction.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Sierra Nevada European Car Festival
- When: Thursday, Aug. 8–Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019
- Where: Sands Regency Casino Hotel, 345 N. Arlington Ave., Reno
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In conjunction with the legendary Hot August Nights event, car enthusiasts have an opportunity to celebrate the significant style, design, and function of European vintage automobiles. The Sands Regency Casino Hotel is the backdrop for the inaugural Sierra Nevada European Car Festival, showcasing world-class vintage European cars from 1940-1979. The stunning collection will be on display as live musicians perform and on-site chefs prepare delicious culinary treats for purchase, as well as fully stocked bars with local specialties.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: The American Look: Georgia O’Keeffe and the Fashion of Her Time
- When: Friday, Aug. 9, 2019
- Where: Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St., Reno
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The period when Georgia O’Keeffe crafted her signature style of dress was also one of great development and change in American fashion at large. Against the background of the war in Europe, a worldwide Depression, and the rise of Hollywood, America’s nascent fashion design industry sought to develop a distinctly American style to break free from the perceived dominance of French fashion. This talk will look at the elements and sources of O’Keeffe’s signature wardrobe and locate them within the larger story of American fashion of her era. Melissa Leventon, a founding partner of Curatrix Group museum consultants, is a specialist in European and American fashion and textiles. The Art Bite series is supported by Nevada Humanities.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Hot August Nights Vintage Trailer Revival
- When: Friday, Aug. 9–Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019
- Where: Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N Sierra St, Reno, Reno
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It’s the talk of the trailer park. Located at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, just one mile north of downtown Reno, the newest addition to Hot August Nights includes four-wheeled accommodations. Spectators can enjoy another layer of nostalgia by viewing the exterior and interior of beautiful vintage trailers, 1979 and older. There are some incredible “rolling living spaces” to appreciate, many of which will participate in a show-n-shine judged by industry experts.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: 3rd Thursday, Farmers Market And More
- When: Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019
- Where: Victorian Square, Victorian Avenue, Sparks
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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.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Reno Storytellers Project: Outdoors
- When: Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019
- Where: Reno Little Theater, 147 E. Pueblo St., Reno
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Nevada hugs its residents with mountains filled with hidden trails, alpine trees, desert valleys, and getaways. Join the Reno Gazette-Journal for a night of stories about wildlife, hiking, and survival in the shadows of the Sierra Nevada.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Northern Nevada Dragon Boat Festival
- When: Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019
- Where: Sparks Marina, 300 Howard Drive, Sparks
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The 2nd annual Northern Nevada Dragon Boat Festival celebrates ancient Chinese culture, sport and the natural wonders of the Reno-Sparks region. Dragon boats are 40-foot human-powered canoes decorated with ornate Chinese dragon heads and tails. Led by the rhythmic beat of a drum, teams consisting of 20 synchronized paddlers, one drummer, and one steersperson race the boats 500m across the lake. The more in sync the paddlers are, the faster the boat glides through the water. Dragon boat racing has become the world’s fastest growing water sport. The festival is open to the public and family-friendly. With free admission for spectators, there is plenty to do between the races. Festivities include the health and wellness village, various vendors, exhibitors, food trucks, artisans, and more.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: 2019 Northern Nevada Garden Tour
- When: Saturday, Aug. 17–Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019
- Where: UNCE Master Gardener Program, 4955 Energy Way, Reno
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Join this tour through some of Northern Nevada’s most beautiful gardens. This all-ages self-paced tour allows participants to visit as many of the featured gardens as they like. Tour-goers will be astounded at what fellow high desert gardeners have created and will walk away with inspiration and ideas from the area’s most successful battle born gardeners and do-it-yourselfers.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Nevada Humane Society’s Duck Race and Festival
- When: Monday, Aug. 19, 2019
- Where: Wingfield Park, 2 S. Arlington Ave., Reno
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The Duck Race and Festival features food trucks, live music, carnival games, vendors, a raffle, and pet adoptions culminating in a rubber duck race down the Truckee River. At 4 p.m., 30,000 rubber ducks are dumped into the river to race for a collection of grand prizes. Prizes have included a car, vacation packages, dining packages, and others. Spectators line the banks of the river to watch the spectacle of the race and cheer for the winning duck.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: 4th Annual Reno Aloha Festival
- When: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019
- Where: Wingfield Park, 2 S. Arlington Ave., Reno
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This free event is a cultural showcase, preserving the unique traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. Experience the Hawaiian Islands in dance, music and mouth-watering food. Shop the many islander merchants while the kids enjoy Keiki Village offering fun interactive activities. Attend educational workshops and learn how to play the ukulele, hula, or even speak the Hawaiian language.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Burning Man
- When: Sunday, Aug. 25–Monday, Sep. 2, 2019
- Where: Black Rock Desert
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Tens of thousands of people gather in Northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary and vibrant metropolis, dedicated to community, art, self-reliance, and self-expression. Burning Man is a practice in community and Burners are not merely “attendees,” but active participants. Burners create incredible art, the city itself, and the interaction and exchange of ideas. The burning of the Man is a symbol whose meaning is as varied as the attendees themselves. Participation is a gift given to the broader community for everyone’s benefit. This includes ensuring that burners know and understand the “pack it in, pack it out” or “leave no trace” mentality.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Best In The West Nugget Rib Cook-Off
- When: Wednesday, Aug. 28–Monday, Sep. 2, 2019
- Where: Victorian Square, Victorian Avenue, Sparks
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Calling all rib lovers! This 30th annual ultimate rib-lovers event transforms the Labor Day holiday into a must-attend culinary, music, craft, and family end-of-summer affair. Enjoy ribs from 23 of the best cookers from across the world! Shuttles, admission, and live entertainment are free. A massive amount of pork ribs, 240,000 pounds to be exact, are served to the hungry crowds.
August Events in Reno/Sparks: Georgia O’Keeffe: The Candid Camera with Dr. Ariel Plotek
- When: Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019
- Where: Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St., Reno
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From an early date, Georgia O’Keeffe’s reputation as an artist was tried to her image; a public person crafted principally through photography. Central to this was her relationship, beginning in 1917, with Alfred Stieglitz. But Stieglitz was not the only photographer who made her a frequent subject. Friends, including Ansel Adams and Todd Webb, captured O’Keeffe in more candid moments. This talk focuses on photographs from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum’s collection. Dr. Ariel Plotek is the Senior Director of Collections and Interpretation at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
