The region’s preeminent holiday celebration and fireworks display – Star Spangled Sparks – takes place on July 4 with events at locations including Victorian Square in downtown Sparks, the Sparks Marina and the Legends at Sparks Marina destination retail center. The fireworks show, launched from John Ascuaga’s Nugget and viewable from Victorian Square at 9:30 p.m., is equally impressive.

• Reno’s new baseball team is offering its own show with fireworks launched at Aces Stadium in downtown Reno after the game.
• In North Tahoe/Truckee, several shows in Incline Village (Incline Beach), Tahoe City (Commons Beach) and Donner Lake (West End Beach) start at 9:30. If you’re headed to Truckee be sure to check out the parade downtown.
• And in Carson City, Mills Park offers revelers a party atmosphere highlighted by fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

Special events season is underway in Reno Tahoe, and for fans of beer, blues music and hearty barbecue there may be no better time than the Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival, June 27-28.

Microbreweries from all over the world pour into the region – 31 in all – this weekend to pour their finest wares, while bands play on several stages and ribs, burgers and brats sizzle on the grill.

Virginia Street in downtown Reno is closed to traffic and lined with vendor tents, all under the downtown casino skyline. Read More

The Little Book of Artown, a free pocket guide for all that is Artown, the nation’s most comprehensive arts Festival held in Reno, Nev., is now available. Covering every event, every hour for the entire month of July, the Little Book of Artown is a one-stop guide to the more than 400 events held at more than 100 locations.

The 2009 festival calendar boasts on average eight unique free events each day and includes international musical performances, national dance, theater, multi-cultural events, family and youth activities and entertainment, hands-on workshops for emerging artists and more.

Designed to point art lovers in the right direction, the Little Book of Artown is available at the Artown office, located at 300 E. Second St., ground floor as well as other locations throughout downtown Reno. If you’re from out fo the area and want more information on Artown – including a downloadable version of the Little Book – visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call 775-322-1538.

It’s an old tradition with the Reno Rodeo — the annual cattle drive through the streets of the Biggest Little City. Our intrepid photographer Rick Saake was there to catch the sights and sounds (and smells). Check out these photos:

The rodeo continues through June 28. Be sure to catch one of the region’s best events. On the Web

Terrible’s Sands Regency Casino Hotel is bringing extreme rock crawling to downtown Reno. The W.E. Rock Western US Rock Crawling Nationals will take place as part of Reno Rocks 4×4.com over Father’s Day weekend.

Two additional events scheduled for Reno Rocks 4×4.com will give amateur drivers the unique opportunity to test their skills on the manmade W.E. Rock course, the Surplus City Jeep Parts High Sierra Rock Crawling Championship and Northern Nevada 4×4 Club Challenge Crawl.

Other Reno Rocks 4×4.com highlights include a Wheelers for the Wounded Tour Stop, 4×4 Show & Shine and 4×4 Rough & Tough competitions, the Surplus City Jeep Parts Teeter Totter and Ramp Travel Index (RTI), a People’s Choice Team Tire Climb, Beauty and the 4×4 Beast Contest, New 4×4 Showcase, Military and Public Safety 4×4 Vehicle Displays, a Manufacturers Midway, a Friday night pool party with men’s and women’s swimsuit competitions, and free live music in the casino Friday and Saturday nights. For more information on any of the events taking place at Reno Rocks 4×4.com, visit www.RenoRocks4×4.com and follow the Forum links.

Spectator season passes for Reno Rocks are now available at www.sandsrenoevents.com. Participant registration packages are also available.

Reno Tahoe is gearing up for the Northstar-at-Tahoe Tour de Nez June 17-21, when one of the West’s premier cycling events comes to the Sierra Nevada with events in Reno, Truckee and North Lake Tahoe.

This is bicycle racing at its finest – some of the best athletes in the sport working with and against each other in a race that is part endurance, part speed and part strategy, all against the backdrop of perfect summer weather and the Sierra Nevada range. But it’s not all about the racing: The Tour brings with it a festival atmosphere buzzing with the energy of fitness freaks and partiers - and everyone and everything in between.

So pack up the bike, make your way to Reno Tahoe and enjoy Nevada’s great outdoors.

From Fernando Leal, a Reno developer and supporter of the Tour de Nez:

As developer for The MONTAGE in downtown Reno, I understand the importance of a vital urban core. Cities thrive when there is a downtown from which civic pride and participation can grow and flourish; a core where resident and tourist participation is encouraged through active lifestyles in recreation, the arts, restaurants, entertainment and events.

The Tour de Nez combines two of my great passions – downtown Reno and cycling. A five-day cycling festival that includes recreational rides, world-class racing, cycling movies, parties and more … what’s not to love? I am honored that Montage Marketing Corporation is a proud sponsor of the Tour de Nez. The sponsorship is our way of demonstrating our appreciation and support to the event organizers for hosting a world-class event that we Renoites can be proud of.

Special events like the Tour de Nez and Artown bring thousands of visitors to our area who stay in our hotels, dine at our great local restaurants, and help with a downtown culture we are all working hard to create. These events also leave visitors with a great impression of Reno so they serve as good public relations ambassadors for our city.  The Tour de Nez has been instrumental over the last 15 years in providing a sense of community for Reno residents. Reno residents benefit from a variety of wonderful events that provide great entertainment options nearly every weekend. These events have a huge impact on improving the quality of life in our great city. The least we can do as citizens is to support these wonderful amenities in order to ensure their long-term viability.

Race schedule:

June 17

• Meet and greet with pro racers at Amendment 21
• Screening of “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”

June 18

• Downtown Truckee criterium for professional men and women, masters and handcycles
• Downtown Truckee races for clunkers, messengers and kids
• Music and feast after races in downtown Truckee

June 19

• Morning group ride with athletes
• Downtown Reno Circuit Race for professional men and women, masters and handcycles
• Downtown Truckee races for clunkers, messengers and kids
• Reno Film Festival bicycle film “Breaking Away,” at Wingfield Park Amphitheater

June 20

• Morning group ride with athletes
• Village circuit race at the Village at Northstar at Tahoe for Pro men, women and masters, juniors and handcycles
• Village races for clunkers, kids and messengers
• Expo, music, demos, food, festival, and party, all in the Village at Northstar

June 21

• LUX, The great Tour de Nez Century ride along the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe

Recognized as one of the most comprehensive art festivals in the country by the National Endowment for the Arts, Artown brings more than 400 events to downtown Reno, Nev., for an extraordinary showcase of theater, dance, film and history as well as multi-cultural, musical, visual and performing arts.

Now in its 14th year, Artown expands its month-long event into a 32-day festival transforming the city into a summer epicenter of cultural entertainment. Launching Artown into the month-long cultural celebrations, the festival’s July 1 opening night brings Richie Havens, the artist that opened Woodstock 40 years ago.

This year’s Artown Opening Extravaganza includes a children’s hands-on printmaking workshop with festival artist Candace Nicol, face painting for children with Body Masterpiece and a performance by Havens. The festival continues with the nationally recognized and multi-faceted Aspen Santa Fe Ballet July 24 and ”Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent and the Rage with opening band Contraband July 25.

A number of Festival favorites return including the Family Series, Monday Night Music Series, World Music Series, Dancing in the Park, Rollin’ on the River music series, Movies in the Park, Artown After Dark and the Discover the Arts children’s series. Artown’s Closing Night, which has grown year after year to now rival opening night, brings Motown stars The Funk Brothers to Wingfield Park on what festival organizers are dubbing July 32 (Aug. 1) to wrap up the festival’s 14th year on a Saturday.

For schedule details or to advance order a FREE copy of the Little Book of Artown, visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call 775-322-1538.

It’s loud. It’s fast. It’s competitive. And the cars are junkers.

24 Hours of LeMons is coming to Reno-Fernley Raceway this weekend (May 23-24), offering not-so-serious racing with not-so-serious cars in a not-so-serious LeMans-style format.

The race, part of a national series, challenges teams to get the most out of their old beaters and have some fun along the way. Although there is prize money at stake, the biggest bragging rights might come for the team(s) that get their cars chosen for crushing (incidentally, this is also a fan favorite). Check out this video of what to expect at the 24 Hours of Lemons and get out here.



There might be better ways to spend a Memorial Day weekend, but not many.

EVENT

Saturday, May 23

• 8 a.m.: Gates Open
• 10 a.m.: Drivers’ Meeting (Mandatory)
• 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.: Race Session I

Sunday, 24 May ‘09

• 9:30 a.m.: Drivers’ Meeting (Mandatory)
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Race Session II
• Noon: People’s Curse
• 3 p.m.: Checkered Flag
• 3:30 p.m.: Awards Ceremony
• 7 p.m.: Gates Close

DIRECTIONS

Reno-Fernley Raceway is located in Fernley NV about 30 miles east of Reno.

From Reno: Take Interstate 80 East 30 miles to Fernley Exit 46. Turn right at the off-ramp and follow the road to 95A (at the stop light) and take a right. The track will be 5 miles down on the right.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported today that the Tour de Nez cycling event, taking place in Reno-Tahoe June 17-20, will incorporate the Hand Cycling National Criterium Championship into the event schedule. An excerpt:

A field of up to 50 participants will ride for the men’s and women’s U.S. Championships. In addition to the hunt for the national title, the hand cyclists will also compete in a three-day Omnium of their own, with criterium races in downtown Truckee and through the Village-at-Northstar Resort.

“The Tour de Nez, a celebration of the bicycle and bike culture, is extremely excited to have the National Hand Cycling Criterium Championship for 2009,” event promoter Tim Healion said. “Hand cycling embodies the spirit of the Tour de Nez, and we are delighted to be hosting the National Championships. We look forward as well to the three-day Omnium competition as well, as we welcome hand cycling back into the fold for 2009.”

For more information on the Tour de Nez, visit the event Web site.

There’s laughter, love, scheming, scandal, and dancing – and it all happens with majestic Lake Tahoe as the backdrop.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is back for its 37th season at Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe (July 11-Aug. 23), offering both diehard and casual Shakespeare fans weeks of high drama, comedy and music, all under the Sierra Nevada sky. This year, the festival offers the dramatic comedy “Measure for Measure,” a provocative play of political intrigue and moral responsibility, as well as “Much Ado About Nothing,” the sparkling romantic comedy of wit and banter, fools and tricksters – some of the Bard’s best work in all its glory.

Monday night music series

Each week the festival shakes things up with a variety of musical acts that run the gamut from Broadway to jazz, to Latin funk. The music series is a first for the festival, and is designed to provide some variety for festivalgoers. Artists include: Broadway on the Beach (June 13), Ricardo Lemvo (July 20), Babbo (July 27), Sugaray (Aug. 3), Omar Alexander (Aug. 10) and Karen Briggs (Aug. 17).

About the venue

There are other Shakespeare festivals, but none can rival the setting of Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe’s hamlet of Incline Village. A natural amphitheater forms the seating area, while the cool blue of the lake rises in the background. Seating is a casual affair, while food and drink are offered to attendees. Lake Tahoe evenings offer consistent moderate temperatures and clear skies. Shakespeare was meant to be experienced here.

Ticket options

The festival is also a great value. Although there isn’t a bad seat in the house, there are many options including: Premium, Reserved Seating, Globe Tickets, Lower Gallery and Upper Gallery. Shuttle service is available from Incline Village and Reno, and wine tasting events are also being offered. True fans and local residents will want to invest in a season pass. Check the ticketing site for booking options.

Shakespeare giveaway

We’re giving away four Lower Gallery mid-week tickets to the festival, good through Aug. 13. Enter online by May 19 (winner will chosen May 20).