Ongoing Festivals
Food, Blues & Views Summer Concert Series Throughout the summer Sierra Valley Farms is celebrating its 25th year anniversary with four blues concerts throughout the summer, paired with delicious food and beverage offerings and stunning views of Sierra Valley, the largest alpine valley in the western hemisphere. Musicians include Johnny “V” Vernazza, Annie Sampson, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, and more. Info: $50 for June 27, July 25, and Aug. 29 shows; $60 for Sept. 20; times vary, sierravalleyfarms.com/concert-series
Big Blue Adventure Throughout the summer Get your run, swim, and bike on. Many different events to suit your expertise. Info: bigblueadventure.com
Reno Wine Walk Third Saturday of Every Month Sample wine at participating merchants along the Truckee River and neighboring streets in downtown Reno. Strollers and pets not advised due to large crowds. Must be 21 years old. Info: $20, 2 to 5 p.m. downtown Reno, (775) 825-9255, renoriver.org
Truckee Thursdays Thursdays, June 11 to Aug. 20 Farmers market, artists, craft vendors, music, beer garden, and food line the streets of downtown Truckee. Info: 5 to 9 p.m., Donner Pass Road, Truckee, truckeethursdays.com
Music in the Park Wednesdays, June 17 to Aug. 26 Bring a low back chair, blankets, picnic, and enjoy the outdoors while popular local bands entertain you. Info: free, donations welcome, 6:30 p.m., Truckee Regional Park, Truckee, tdrpd.com
TOCCATA Summer MusicFest Throughout the summer Going for Baroque concert series June 17 to 23; 10th Anniversary Celebration July 14 to 21; Mozart in the Mountains Aug. 2 to 9; Elizabeth Pitcairn & the Red Stradivarius perform Mendelssohn and Verdi’s Requiem Sept. 12 to 22; toccatatahoe.com
Music on the Beach Fridays, June 19 to Aug. 7 Dance to live tunes with your feet in the sand, lineup to be announced. Info: free, 6:30 p.m., Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kings Beach, northtahoebusiness.org
Concerts at Commons Beach Sundays, June 21 to Sept. 6 Free community concerts at Lake Tahoe. Headliners include Groove Foundry, SambaDá, Almond Bros Clan, Con Brio, and more. Info: shows start at 3 or 4 p.m., Commons Beach, Tahoe City, concertsatcommonsbeach.com
Bluesdays at Squaw Tuesdays, June 23 to Sept. 8 Enjoy blues in the summertime at these ongoing concerts. Info: free, High Camp concerts 1 to 4 p.m., village concerts 6 to 8 p.m., Squaw Valley, squawalpine.com
Outdoor Movies Thursdays, July 2 to Aug. 27 Watch movies, star gaze, and gather with friends. Movies include Paddington, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more. Info: free, 8:30 p.m., Village at Squaw Valley, squawalpine.com
Pacific Fine Arts Festival Throughout the summer An outdoor art gallery for browsing and buying unique and original pieces. Info: free admission, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Homewood dates July 3 to 5, July 24 to 26, Aug. 29 & 30, Sept. 4 to 6; Tahoe City dates Aug. 14 to 16, Aug. 21 to 23; Truckee dates Sept. 12 & 13, pacificfinearts.com/2015-show-schedule
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MAY
Joshua Tree Music Festival May 14 to 17 This family-friendly festival is filled with music and camping. Info: $180/four day, $160/three day, $60/Thursday, $90/Friday, $90/Saturday, $60/Sunday, Joshua Tree Lake Campground, joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Emissions May 15 to 18 Gather together outdoors and expand your musical horizons while dancing to West Coast bass music, a subgenre of dubstep. Info: tickets start at $195, cabin and RV packages available, Belden Town, emissionsfestival.com
Inspired Adventure Spring Festival Fundraiser May 16 Join the Kindred Art & Folk Institute for a day of outdoor spring activities while raising funds for Kindred’s programming and scholarships. The day includes an obstacle course, live music and live painting, maypole dancing, games and crafts, artisan marketplace, wholesome food, and more. Info: many activities are free, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Community Arts Center, 10046 Church St., Truckee, kindredtruckee.org
Bay to Breakers Sunday, May 17 A 12k race from the Embarcadero to Golden Gate Park. Opt to run it seriously or stroll in costume. Info: $59/basic registration, San Francisco, zapposbaytobreakers.com
Truckee Maker Show Sunday, May 17 This community event showcases the local maker movement and encourages all to get involved. Crafts will range from ceramics, furniture, and jewelry-making to metalworking, bicycles, and presentations about large-scale projects. Info: Truckee Tahoe Lumber Co., facebook.com/truckeeroundhouse
Strawberry Spring Music Festival May 21 to 25 A family music festival nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Lineup includes The Dixie Giants, Bonnie Raitt, The Dustbowl Revival, and more. Info: $225/four day, $205/three day, single day tickets and camping packages available, Nevada County Fairgrounds, strawberrymusic.com
Lightning in a Bottle May 21 to 25 Celebrating art, music, performance, sustainability, and life. Info: $275/full weekend, $205/two-day pass, Bradley, lightninginabottle.org
California Roots Music and Arts Festival May 22 to 25 Fun-filled weekend with roots reggae music, live painting, yoga, and bike valet. Lineup includes Slightly Stoopid, Cypress Hill, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Kbong, and more. Info: $190/advanced three-day, $75/advanced single-day, Monterey County Fairgrounds, californiarootsfestival.com
Black Rock Rendezvous May 22 to 25 Join the Friends of Black Rock High Rock, the Nevada Outdoor School, and the Friends of Nevada Wilderness in the Black Rock Desert to celebrate diversity and stewardship. Events include kids camp, workshops, rocket launches, and more. Info: free, Black Rock Desert, blackrockdesert.org
Made in Tahoe Festival May 23 & 24 Peruse booths and support local artists, culture, food, and music. Info: Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Village at Squaw Valley, squawalpine.com
BottleRock May 29 to 31 Rockin’ lineup featuring No Doubt, Awolnation, Snoop Dogg, Robert Plant, Gipsy Kings, and more. Info: $295/three-day pass, $119/single day, Napa Valley, bottlerocknapavalley.com
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Valhalla Renaissance Faire May 30 & 31, June 5 to 7 The magic and merriment of the Renaissance portrayed through four stages with music, dancing, jesters, costumed actors, Shakespearean vignettes, staged battles, storytelling, archery tournaments, plus merchants selling themed goods. Info: $18/adults, $13/seniors, military, and ages 13 to 17, $8/children ages 6 to 12, Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina, South Lake Tahoe, valhallafaire.com
JUNE
Reggae in the Hills June 12 to 14 Jam to reggae headliners like Ky-Mani Marley, Don Carlos, Kabaka Pyramid, and more. Info: $120/three-day pass, RV packages available, Calaveras County Fairgrounds, reggaeinthehills.com
Truckee Brew Fest Saturday, June 13 Tenth annual fundraiser to support programs, sponsorships, grants, and scholarships for the youth of Truckee. Info: $25/advanced, $30/gate, Truckee River Regional Park, truckeeoptimist.com
Tough Mudder June 13 & 14 Tough Mudder is a team-oriented, 10- to 12-mile obstacle course designed to test the physical and emotional strength of participants. Info: registration starts at $165, prices increase after May 26, Northstar California, Truckee, toughmudder.com/events/2015-tahoe
Music in the Mountains SummerFest June 16 to July 5 One of the oldest and largest classic music festivals on the West Coast. Headliners include Randy Newman, Storm Large of Pink Martini, and Cirque de la Symphonie. Info: throughout the Sierra Foothills, (530) 265-6124, musicinthemountains.org
Reno Rodeo June 18 to 27 “The wildest, richest rodeo in the West”, complete with carnival, music, and food. Events include bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronco riding, team roping, tie-down roping, mutton bustin’, and barrel racing. Info: tickets start at $17, Reno Livestock Events Center, Reno, renorodeo.com
The Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews, and Blues Festival June 19 & 20 This is Reno’s summer kickoff party and includes live blues, food, and more than 40 microbrews. Info: Friday noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday 2 to 8 p.m.; Eldorado Hotel and Casino, Reno, eldoradoreno.com
Sierra Nevada World Festival June 19 to 21 Featuring three days of the best in roots reggae and world music on two stages with a late-night dancehall. Info: $175/three-day pass, $75/camping, Boonville, snwmf.com
Solstice Festival June 19 to 21 Enjoy Tahoe City and artisan food and wine, acclaimed musicians and artists, and local shops and galleries. Headlining events include the Bridgetender Fireworks Street Dance, a Commons Beach concert, the Tahoe City Classic Car Stroll, and a wine walk. Info: visittahoecity.org
Adventure Sports Week June 19 to 28 Races, clinics, music, film, and family activities in North Tahoe. Compete in trail running, mountain biking, triathlon, stand-up paddleboarding, and swimming. Info: registration varies, North Lake Tahoe, adventuresportsweektahoe.com
Tahoe City Wine Walk Saturday, June 20 Sip wine from more than 25 wineries, shop, and explore beautiful Tahoe City. Info: $40/advance, $50/door, $20/designated driver, registration tables at Boatworks Mall and North Lake Tahoe Visitors Center, tahoecitywinewalk.com
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Alpenglow Mountain Festival June 20 to 28 Nine-day series of workshops, sport product demos, full moon hikes, climbing demos, fun runs, and more. Info: alpenglowsports.com
Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival June 27 This all-day reggae festival returns to Tahoe with artists like Iration, Matisyahu, The Green, and more. Info: $45/general, $90/VIP, $10/children, doors at 12 p.m., music at 12:30 p.m., Hard Rock Hotel & Casino outdoor arena, South Lake Tahoe, hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com/basejam-summer-2015-outdoor-concert-series
Susanville Bluegrass Festival June 27 & 28 It’s back and under new ownership by the Lassen County Fair. Info: ticket info as well as headliner to be announced, Lassen County Fairgrounds, Susanville, s-w-b-a.com
JULY
Artown July 1 to Aug. 1 A month-long celebration of art in Reno featuring this year’s new addition of two commissioned traveling performances. Thursday night’s Soiree Under the Stars features Betty Buckley, Home Free, Clint Black, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Info: renoisartown.com
Red, White and Tahoe Blue July 3 to 5 Incline Village and Crystal Bay celebrate Independence Day with parades, tributes to veterans, fireworks, concerts, chalk drawings, rubber ducky races, food, and more. Info: times and locations vary, redwhiteandtahoeblue.org
High Sierra Music Festival July 2 to 5 Blues to bluegrass and rock to folk all performed in the Sierra Nevada. Headliners include The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, The Word, and more. Info: $245.50/four-day, Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, Quincy, highsierramusic.com
Fillmore Jazz Festival July 4 & 5 The largest free jazz festival on the West Coast. Events include three stages of back-to-back music. Info: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine, Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Street, San Francisco, fillmorejazzfestival.com
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival July 10 to Aug. 23 Admire the sunset from the East Shore while Shakespeare’s work comes alive on the stage. This year features Romeo and Juliet and The Fantasticks. Info: tickets start at $27/adults, Sand Harbor State Park, Incline Village, laketahoeshakespeare.com
Truckee Tahoe AirShow & Family Festival Saturday, July 11 This year’s theme is A Salute to Veterans. Info: free, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., opening ceremony at 10 a.m., Truckee Tahoe Airport, truckeetahoeairshow.com
Lake Tahoe Bluegrass Festival Saturday, July 11 The inaugural Lake Tahoe Bluegrass Festival is an all-day event bringing musicians like Greensky Bluegrass, The Del McCoury Band, The David Grisman Sextet, and more. Info: $45/general, $90/VIP, $10/children, doors at 12 p.m., music at 12:30 p.m., Hard Rock Hotel & Casino outdoor arena, South Lake Tahoe, hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com/basejam-summer-2015-outdoor-concert-series
Art, Wine & Music Festival July 11 & 12 Browse booths by fine artists and crafters, enjoy live music performances, and sip wine from featured wineries. Info: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., tasting from 2 to 5 p.m., all proceeds benefit Disabled Sports USA Far West, the Village at Squaw Valley, squawalpine.com
Mendocino Music Festival July 11 to 25 Summer festival featuring orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz, big band, and more. Info: times and tickets vary, Mendocino, mendocinomusic.org
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California WorldFest July 16 to 19 Eight stages with music, camping, crafts, and children’s programming. Headliners include Beats Antique, Dengue Fever, Dakhabrakha, and more. Info: $185/four-day with camping, $175/three-day with camping, $145/two-day with camping, $85/one-day with camping, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, worldfest.net
Wanderlust California July 16 to 19 Bringing the world’s leading yoga teachers, top musical acts and DJs, renowned speakers, chefs, and winemakers together in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. Music headliners include Michael Franti, DJ Drez, Thievery Corporation, and more. Info: $495/Sage four-day, $395/Seeker three-day, Squaw Valley, wanderlustfestival.com
Tahoe Trail 100 July 17 & 18 The Leadville qualifying series for mountain biking; participants can ride alone, relay, or tandem. Info: Northstar California, tahoetrailmtb.com
Sierra Storytelling Festival July 17 to 19 Curators and special guests will captivate participants with stories from different traditions, as well as heart-warming folk tales. Featured tellers include Patrick Ball, Rafe Martin, and more. Info: $82.50/all events, $20.75/Friday evening, $30/Saturday day, $22.75/Saturday evening, $12.50/Sunday all day, $8.50/children’s concert, Nevada City, sierrastorytellingfestival.org
Lake Tahoe Dance Festival July 22 to 24 Movement comes to the mountains through world-class dance. Info: $65/opening gala on July 22; $30/main stage performances on July 23 & 24, Gatekeeper’s Museum, Tahoe City, laketahoedancefestival.org
Night in the Country July 23 to 25 Break out your cowboy boots and dance to The Band Perry, Jake Owen, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, and more. Sunday will feature extreme bull riding. Info: $95/two-day, Yerington, nightinthecountry.org
Reggae on the River July 30 to Aug. 2 An internationally renowned celebration of the best in reggae and world music featuring Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Cham, CeCile, and more. Info: tickets start at $200, French’s Camp, reggaeontheriver.com
Bluesapalooza July 30 to Aug. 2 Showcasing the best craft breweries and top blues performers, including headliners Robert Cray, Jonny Lang, Robben Ford, The Suffers, and more. Info: $165/four-day pass, $120/two-day pass, Sam’s Wood Site, Mammoth Lakes, mammothbluesbrewsfest.com
Guitarfish Music Festival July 30 to Aug. 2 A four-day family, community, and arts festival to raise awareness of overfishing and pollution in our oceans, and to help preserve watersheds. Headliners include Dead Winter Carpenters, Kinky, Dumpstaphunk, and more. Other offerings include on-site camping, yoga and Pilates classes, arts and crafts, and food vendors. Info: $189/four-days, Cisco Grove Campground, Cisco Grove, guitarfishfestival.com
SummerFest Concert Series July 31 to Aug. 16 Now recognized as a national event, this year’s special guests include Joseph Kalichstein, Paul Watkins, and Ana Vidovic. Info: rehearsals are free and open to the public, ticket prices and times to be announced, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, tahoesummerfest.org
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AUGUST
Jerry Bash Saturday, Aug. 1 Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia’s birthday with vendors, food, and a full bar. Event is family friendly. Info: $20, 4 to 10 p.m., Miners Foundry, Nevada City, (530) 265-5040, minersfoundry.org
Hot August Nights Aug. 4 to 9 Cars and music to celebrate rock ‘n’ roll and the ’50s. Entertainment and event schedule to be announced. Info: Reno, hotaugustnights.net
Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance Aug. 7 & 8 One of the premier events showcasing wooden boats including boat exhibits, dinners, awards ceremony, and more. Info: $25/advance, $30/door; $35/two-day advance, $40/two-day door, free/children under 12, Obexer’s Boat Company, Homewood, laketahoeconcours.com
Outside Lands Aug. 7 to 9 Music and art in Golden Gate Park. Headliners include Mumford & Sons, Shakey Graves, Elton John, Kendrick Lamar, and more. Info: $135/Friday, $295/VIP tickets, many ticket packages already sold out, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, sfoutsidelands.com
Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival Aug. 14 to 16 An outdoor festival hosted by the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association, which is dedicated to promoting and preserving old-time and traditional bluegrass, and related folk music in Northern Nevada. This year’s headliner is Blue Highway. Info: $20, free/children under 12, Bowers Mansion Regional Park, Reno, bowersbluegrassfestival.org
Peaks and Paws Festival Saturday, Aug. 22 Treat your dog to a weekend at Squaw. Events include live music, art booths, beer tasting by Lagunitas Brewing Company, and doggy vendors. Info: donation to enter, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Village at Squaw Valley, hstt.org
Truckee Championship Rodeo Aug. 22 & 23 Come get down and dirty with the cowboys. Kids’ day, Aug. 20, is free for all. Info: $12/advance, $15/gate, $7/child, free/6 and under, McIver Arena, Truckee, truckeerodeo.org
Burning Man Aug. 30 to Sept. 7 Find your true self in Black Rock City and immerse yourself in art, music, and community. This year’s art theme is Carnival of Mirrors. Sold out. Info: Black Rock City, burningman.com
SEPTEMBER
Alpen Wine Festival Sunday, Sept. 6 Listen to live music and sample wine. Event includes a silent auction and raffle to benefit Can Do MS, a foundation providing wellness and education for people with multiple sclerosis. Info: $40/includes a crystal wine glass souvenir, 2 to 5 p.m., Village at Squaw Valley, squawalpine.com
Sample the Sierra Sunday, Sept. 6 El Dorado County local farmers and chefs pair up to produce tasting samples. Events include live music, storytellers, and cooking demonstrations. Info: Bijou Community Park, South Lake Tahoe, samplethesierra.com
Nevada City Film Festival Sept. 10 to 13 Independent and international films, live comedy, workshops, and local filmmaker showcase. Info: Historic Downtown Nevada City, nevadacityfilmfestival.com
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Guitar Strings vs. Chicken Wings Friday, Sept. 11 Bands and restaurants square off to raise funds for Tahoe Institute for Natural Science. Info: $5, 6 to 10 p.m., Village at Squaw Valley, squawalpine.com
Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival Sept. 11 to 13 Three days of cooking seminars and demonstrations, culinary competitions, wine tasting, grape stomping, and more. Events and tickets to be announced. Info: Northstar, Truckee, northstarcalifornia.com
Virginia City International Camel Races Sept. 11 to 13 Featuring competitors of every unlikely species, from camels to ostriches to emus. Info: $15/general admission, races begin at noon, Virginia City, visitvirginiacitynv.com
The Great Reno Balloon Race Sept. 11 to 15 The largest free hot air ballooning event in the nation. Arrive at dawn to see more than 100 balloons take flight in the newly expanded dawn patrol. Info: free, 5 to 10 a.m., Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Reno, renoballoon.com
ARC in the Park Saturday, Sept. 12
A benefit concert for Adventure Risk Challenge, a local nonprofit outdoor education program that strives to integrate literacy and wilderness programming and to empower underserved youth to make change. Festival includes local musicians, artists, and food trucks. This year’s lineup will feature The Trespassers, Coburn Station, Lost Whiskey Engine, Aaron Oropeza, and more. Info: $20, noon, Truckee River Regional Park, Salty Gephardt Amphitheater, arcprogram.org/arc-in-the-park
Trails and Vistas Sept. 12 & 19 Experience live performances and art installations along a guided three-hour hike that blends art and nature at Spooner Lake on Sept. 12, and Donner Summit on Sept. 19. Don’t miss the World Concert on Sept. 12 at Sand Harbor. Info: art hike $35/general, concert tickets start at $23, discounts available, trailsandvistas.org
American River Music Festival Sept. 18 to 21 Music on the banks of the south fork of the American River. Headliners to be announced. Info: camping packages available, Henningsen-Lotus Park, Coloma, americanrivermusic.org
IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Sunday, Sept. 20 Get yourself moving and enjoy the victory of completing an IRONMAN race, or cheer on the racers as they whiz past. Info: $700, course throughout North Tahoe/Truckee, ironman.com
Lost Sierra Hoedown Sept. 24 to 27 It’s not a festival…it’s a hoedown. Celebrate country life and simple living with dancing music from The Haunted Windchimes, Miner, Sneaky Creatures, and more. Info: $100/four-day pass, Johnsville Ski Bowl, Plumas County, lostsierrahoedown.com
OCTOBER
Celtic Festival Oct. 2 to 4 Celebrate Celtic heritage with live music, dancing, and family fun. Info: early bird ticket pricing through May, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, kvmr.org/celticfestival
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Oct. 2 to 4 Three days of free music in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, featuring more than 100 musical artists on seven stages. Lineup to be announced. Info: hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
Downtown Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop Saturday, Oct. 3 Sip wine, eat tasty food, shop, and enjoy downtown Truckee while supporting this year’s beneficiary, Elevate Tahoe. Attendees will receive a commemorative wine glass to sample wine at 30+ venues Info: $40/advance, $45/door, noon to 4 p.m., downtown Truckee, truckeewinewalk.com
Truckee’s Historical Haunted Tour Oct. 15 & 16 Small groups will be immersed in engaging tales performed by talented characters at seven historic sites. Skillfully weaving together dramatic, funny, and downright haunting stories inspired by times of yore, this tour will be complete with treats and tricks. Info: downtown Truckee, truckeehistorytour.org
