Reno-Tahoe

The Great Reno Balloon Race returns for its 28th year Sept. 11, 12 and 13 to Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in northwest Reno, showcasing more than 100 hot-air balloons from all over the world. This year’s event will include the World’s Largest Pajama Party on Saturday, Sept. 12. So stay in your PJs and don’t be afraid to show off that bed-head in the hilarious Bed- Head Competition.

Crowd favorites return this year with the Wells Fargo-sponsored bumble bees and stagecoach- shaped balloon. The Energizer Bunny keeps going and going as it makes yet another appearance this year, with ears as tall as the presidents’ faces on Mount Rushmore! Smokey the Bear returns to the Balloon Race thanks to Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators. The Mayflower balloon will make its third event appearance this year thanks to Sierra Moving Systems.

A new shape will make its debut at the Balloon Race this year thanks to the Wilbur D. May Foundation.  Pandy the Panda Bear, standing at 100-feet tall, will provide tethered rides to children after Mass Ascension each day. Lastly, Tony the Tiger will appear, standing nearly nine stories tall!

It’s worth the wake to see these gentle giants ascend into the early morning sky for a spectacular show of bright colors and fun shapes. For a full event schedule, travel resources and parking information, visit www.renoballoon.com or call (775) 826-1181.

Answer: The same as great golfers, wildlife, great scenery, cardivascular exercise, a kids party zone, awesome food and drinks and of course the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

Take a look at these photos and see what you are missing if you don’t get out to the Montreux Golf Course and see this great event for yourself.

Legends Reno-Tahoe Open
Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course, Montrêux Golf & Country Club
August 3 – 9, 2009
http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/events/08-03-2009/legends-reno-tahoe-open

Exciting PGA TOUR action returns to northern Nevada with the 11th annual Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, playing through Aug. 9 at Montrêux Golf & Country Club.

As the PGA TOUR’s only summer West Coast stop, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open offers fans a fun-filled week of low-scoring professional golf along with the return of many of the tournament’s most popular events including “Fiesta Loco,” “Kidz Par-Tee Zone,” Vino 100 Wine Walk, as well as the charity events “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” and “Birdies for Charity.”

The 16th hole is once again home to “Fiesta Loco,” a fiesta-themed hospitality area featuring margaritas, a taco and burrito bar and the fan-favorite Mariachi Band. Also back for a fourth consecutive year is the “Vino 100 Wine Walk” beginning each day at 9 a.m. with mimosas at the driving range and inviting spectators and wine enthusiasts to walk the course and enjoy a wine tasting along the way. The “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” also makes its return to entertain the junior fans Friday through Sunday with a play area including a putting green, bounce houses, face painting and more.

While the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is committed to helping the community in which it plays year-round, tournament time brings two charity events that encourage attendees to join along in the spirit of giving, “Get Fit Fore Charity,” and “Birdies for Charity.”

The “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” walk is a course-long pedometer walk through Montrêux’s beautiful tree-lined fairways. With a $5 donation, each participant receives a pedometer and a chance to win a prize based on the number of steps taken along the course. “Birdies for Charity” is another way to follow the action and compete among friends while helping a worthy cause as participants are tempted to donate anywhere from 10 cents to $10 or more for each birdie carded during the tournament with the closest guess taking home a prize. Proceeds from both charity events benefit local non-profit organizations.

The following is a list of activities and offerings at the 2009 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, Aug. 5 – 9:

Thursday, Aug. 6

• 7 a.m.: First Round Tournament Play
• 9 a.m.: “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th hole; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – Live First Round Coverage
• 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – First Round

Friday, Aug. 7

• 7a.m.: Second Round Tournament Play
• 9 a.m.: “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens; “Vino 100 Wine Walk” begins
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th green; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – Live Second Round Coverage
• 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Second Round

Saturday, Aug. 8

• 9 a.m.: “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 9:30 a.m.: Third Round Tournament Play
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens; “Vino 100 Wine Walk” begins
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th hole; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 6 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – Live Third Round Coverage
• 9 – 11 p.m.: Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Third Round

Sunday, Aug. 9

• 9 a.m.: Final Round Tournament Play; “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens; “Vino 100 Wine Walk” begins
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th hole; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 6 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – LIVE Final Round
• 6 p.m.: Trophy Presentation on 18th Green
• 9 – 11 p.m.: Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Final Round

Monday, Aug. 10

• 5 – 7 a.m.:  Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Final Round

**All times are approximate and subject to change.

For more information on this year’s Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, including ticket sales, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LegendsRenoTahoeOpen.com or contact the tournament office at 775-322-3900.

Hot August Nights is in full swing in the Truckee Meadows. For those who aren’t familiar, Hot August Nights is an annual celebration of America’s love affair with the automobile, drawing hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts for a week of cruises, entertainment and socializing under the Sierra Nevada sun.

Even if cars aren’t your thing, there is plenty to appreciate with the crafstmanship and dedication some restorers have put into these projects. For a full schedule of Hot August Nights events, click here. And if you make it out the Atlantis Casino Resort, you may see some of these cars (shot today):

Hot August Nights, one of the nation’s biggest events for auto enthusiasts, has finally started, and the streets are filled to the brim with custom rigs, hot rods, classics and exotics, while the stages are pumping with classic sounds.

The event runs through Aug. 9, with dozens of events every day throughout the Reno and Sparks areas. Download a schedule here.

Every year, the shore of Sand Harbor in Incline Village transforms into a playground for the arts, as the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival takes center stage with beautiful Lake Tahoe and perfect “Mid-summer night” sunsets to make it all the more magical.

We had occasion on July 29 to take in a performance of “Much Ado About Nothing,” a Shakespearian love story with all of the twists, turns and bumbling characters typical of the Bard’s work. In addition to unique portrayals, including modern references and musical interludes, the troupe nailed their timing and didn’t hesitate to bring the audience into the production on occasion.

Although the atmosphere is casual – a laid-back amphitheatre setting with concessions – there is no sacrifice made for quality. Theater buffs will be pleasantly surprised as characters like Beatrice and Benedick, Don Pedro and Claudio, and of course the lovely Hero, come to life. Borachio and Conrade provide frequent comic relief as clumsy Mafiosos.

This year’s Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival runs through Aug. 23, with performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Measure for Measure,” as well as the Urban Village Music Series on Monday nights. Tickets are reasonable, guests are encouraged to bring picnics … and where else can you put your toes in the sand while watching Shakespeare?

For more information, log on to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Web site. Don’t miss one of Reno Tahoe’s great annual events.

For one week a year, some of the best golfers in the game stream into Reno Tahoe, seeking birdies, avoiding bogies and playing on one of the best golf courses in the West.

The Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, a PGA TOUR stop at Montreux Golf and Country Club (Aug. 3-9) in south Reno, offers a unique setting among the pines of the Tahoe forest (just minutes from Lake Tahoe) but is also right at the tree line with the Nevada desert on display in the valley below.

And although the LRTO offers a true PGA experience, this isn’t your father’s – or even grandfather’s – golf tourney. Spectators come out for the laid-back party atmosphere. It’s serious golf without the serious attitudes.

Take the Fiesta Loco-themed hole at #16. Here the margaritas and tequila drinks will be flowing, along with a burrito and taco bar. Oh, and there is also a Mariachi band. What would a PGA TOUR event be without a Mariachi band?

And of course there is plenty of fun for the kids. The Kidz Par Tee Zone offers a bounce house, face painting, putt-putt golf and more. This may be the only tournament where the cheers of the gallery have to compete with the sound of squealing kids having a blast.

If you are a wine lover, the Vino 100 Wine Walk offers the opportunity to enjoy all of the golf action while sampling wines at various tasting stations throughout the course. What could be better than a sunny day, high-level pro golf and wine tasting all at the same time?

On top of it all, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is an open invitation to have a great time viewing the game that we all love. Beyond the unique events and attractions – and of course competitive golf (players are competing for a $3 million purse as well as all-important FedExCup points), tickets are reasonable, and transportation from Reno Tahoe hotels is fast and easy.

For more information, visit the LRTO page at VisitRenoTahoe.com.

Knowing no bounds, the Club Cal Neva will once again push the envelope with La Tomatina en Reno, with the hopes of starting the nation’s largest ever food fight.

On Saturday, Aug. 29 at approximately 6 p.m., the Reno City Plaza at 10 North Virginia Street will be covered with people drenched in tomato juice as a crowd estimated to be between 3,000-5,000 people participate in the country’s biggest tomato fight.

Admission in to the tomato fight is a minimum $10 donation with all profit from the event going to the American Cancer Society.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. with street vendors on Virginia Street between First and Second streets. Visitors will be able to enjoy plenty of food, beverage, and live street acts while they peruse for gifts and novelties. Food and merchandise vendors will also be on the plaza venue where live bands and other entertainment will be showcased.

The day will climax at 6 p.m. when roughly five tons of tomatoes will spill onto the plaza and thousands will scramble to pick up their ammunition for the biggest food fight the city of Reno, the state of the Nevada, and quite possibly the United States has ever seen.

For more information, visit Club CalNeva’s event listing.

A partnership between the Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open and Tahoe Creamery is bringing together two favorite summer pastimes – ice cream and golf.

With the purchase of a pint of Tahoe Creamery coffee or chocolate ice cream (with the tournament logo), earn a $5 discount on tourney tickets. The PGA TOUR stop comes to Montreux Golf and Country Club Aug. 3-9, bringing some of the biggest names in golf as they compete for $3 million in purse money and a chance to earn valuable FedExCup points.

Read the Reno Gazette-Journal story and learn more about the tournament online.

It’s the nostalgia of poodle skirts and doo-wop music … a trip back to a simpler time of drive-in diners and movies, when the car was king America and a night of fun was as easy as hopping in and cruising downtown.

That feeling still lives in Reno Tahoe, where each year thousands of car enthusiasts, ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s fanatics, and music lovers of all stripes descend on the area for Hot August Nights. The 10-day celebration (July 31-Aug. 9) is a non-stop parade of food and family fun, with events at venues throughout Reno and Sparks. Most of the events are outdoors, under the warm Sierra Nevada sun and free to visitors.

This year, organizers expect as many as 800,000 people to visit casino-hotel parking lots filled door to door with rare classics, music on stages in downtown Reno and Sparks, and events like a sock hop, a huge classic car auction and controlled cruises featuring the best cars.

And although enthusiasts travel from thousands of miles to show off classic, restored and one-off rides, Hot August Nights is far from being all about the cars. This is a cultural can’t-miss event that guarantees a good time for all.

Hot August Nights 2009 highlights:

• Peter Frampton plays John Ascuaga’s Nugget July 31
• Show-N-Shine at Cabala’s Outfitters, with raffles and giveaways Aug. 1
• Downtown Reno Show-N-Shine presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus casinos Aug. 2
• Sparks Victorian Square Craft Fair; kick-off party and cruise night at Peppermill Resort Spa Casino Aug. 3
• Guinness Book of World Records Hula Hoop contest at the Atlantis Casino Resort Aug. 4
• Controlled cruises in downtown Reno and downtown Sparks Aug. 5
• Bog Boys Toy Store at the Reno Events Center in downtown Reno Aug. 6
• Meet the stars and see the cars from American Graffiti at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino Aug. 7
• Grand Sierra Resort “Best of Show” $10,000 Competition Aug. 8
• Official Hot August Nights parade in downtown Reno Aug. 9

Check out complete information online at www.hotaugustnights.net