I hadn't been to the Reno River Festival in along time. I remember when it was free to go and it was in Winfield park. I have to say it sure has grown into a top notch event! I really love the new location at Idlewild park! There were many Vendors, Food and Drink Choices. One of my favorites is Mr Margarita. I love to mix the two choices together $9. I was starved and I had a $5 hot dog that hit the spot. Then my husband tried a hand dipped foot long corn dog which I had a bite of and it was tasty. What's not to love at the festival, I think any choice is a win! The musical was good, I found it interesting you can now purchase VIP tables each day. What a nice added touch to the event. There are many add ons you can purchase as well. Something for everyone, craft beer tasting, rafting, golf, rock climbing or just sit back and listen to the entertainment while taking in the beauty of your surroundings. If you haven't gone to the festival I definitely suggested going, you can take blankets, low back chairs, but no pets or outside food or drink. General admission is a weekend pass only $15 no exceptions. read more

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This was my first time at the Reno River Festival and I had a good time. The vendors were nice, friendly, and genuinely passionate about their craft which was very refreshing. The live performances were fun, and I can definitely see this becoming a staple for Reno Events. I didn't expect to pay $20 for entrance which was a bummer as we were going to bring more family and friends but the entry cost was a little too high for bringing kids. There were a nice set of carnival rides, but I was discouraged on buying tickets as we had already $40 to get into the event and wanted to save some of our budget to buy things from vendors. We went on the last day of the event, in the early afternoon and it was nice to see more locals enjoying themselves and it wasn't too crowded which was a plus in our book! My fiancé and I loved that dogs are welcome to join us as some other outdoor events do not allow us to bring our puppy. Overall, the variety of food, atmosphere, and performances were awesome! I only wish the entry price was reduced as I would've brought more people and would've had more money to spend on the vendors. Final verdict... I would definitely come back, but only if the entry prices come down or are removed. If this is your first time attending the event, the $20 is not so bad to see the art installations and see the live performances. I would recommend this for first timers. read more

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Food and beer this year were not good. Almost of the vendors was NY sidewalk stuff, nothing to really shop. The location though was pretty good. Step up. Event could have been better overall. read more

Reno River Festival - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Had been looking forward to the Reno River Festival (RRF) since it started popping into my social media feed weeks ago. The promo of band and musical reveals was fun to anticipate. Thanks to "The STUDIO" for offering yoga in the park this lovely warm Friday morning (also will be offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings). Originally was stage side with the music acts but because of sound check, we relocated to a shady area on the other side. It was nice to see the vendors still setting up before the crowd started. Was able to see all the always yummy food offerings: lemonade, bbq, adult beverages, funnel cake etc etc. Enjoying the amplified country music playing keeping the vibes upbeat. $10 admission for all three days but if you participate for yoga with THE STUDIO, entry is complimentary. (Thank you!) The river is running at a fast pace (to me) but with the warm temps, I am tempted to at least dip my toes into the water. read more

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Love the live music but there's no water and ice refill stations. I don't want to buy $10 water in toxic plastic bottles. People should be allowed to bring their own filtered water and ice. It's heartbreaking to see dumb dog owners walking there dog on the burning pavement and not providing them any water. The event coordinator for this event needs to have sectioned smoking area and water and ice. People should be allowed to bring their own food , especially if they have special needs. The food here is not healthy at all. so many people brought there dogs read more

We love the Reno River Festival. We've gone for the last three years and for the last two years read more

Reno River Festival - Lots of Vendors - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

My upbringing in Central California, I have endured the sizzling heat of festivals. Being a recent transplant to Nevada; I was fascinated by the pure fun of this festival. What makes this festival shine amongst any other festival I attended was the Truckee River within Downtown Reno and the citizens of Washoe County. This festival is an ideal location to enjoy nature while enjoying the tasty treats from local vendors and out-of-town vendors. My family and I love this event and I will be volunteering next year to do my part within this community. read more

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Reno River Festival has historically been the kick off to Reno's summer events, but I'm not sure that's the case anymore with additional activities added to the Reno calendar each year. Overall I think this event is fine. I'm not sure it's worth $10/person entry unless you're eager to just get out and do something. If the kayakers aren't on the water, then the event is kind of boring. The same vendors participate in the shopping village each year and the lines for food and drink are long. Once you've done this event once, it doesn't really make sense to go back year after year. read more

This event is fun. There is admission but I can't remember if it's 10.00 or $7.00. There are a ton of vendors and there is live music. There are vendors outside the area as well. This goes on for the whole weekend. There's food, shopping and music :). Nice way to spend your weekend and be by the river read more

What a fun event! I moved here last august, so i am super excited to get to experience all of the events now that things are opening back up! On a nice & warm Saturday, it was nice to walk around, look at different shops, grab some food & drinks and hang out. When it got too hot, we went and put our feet in the river, before checking out some of the live musicians. There was a lot to do for people of all ages - all the kids seemed happy with the rides and glitter tattoos, while the adults had plenty of options to shop, try some beers, & relax in the shade by the stage. A great start to summer festivals in Reno!! read more

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What a great way to start the summer season! For a while it seemed that the weather wasn't going to be in our favor but the rains held off and allowed us to enjoy the music, merriment, drinks, food, and all the crafts for sale. The layout is excellent, making it easy to enjoy walking without feeling crushed by the crowds. To top it off, I don't think I've ever seen the river as high as today in all of the years we've come to this event. What made this extra special was our ability to bring our dog Milo along with us. They did make us sign a waver before bring him in, but that wasn't a problem. Along with having such a good time, part of the entry fee goes towards keeping the Truckee Meadow Beautiful. It's always great when you can enjoy an event and know that you're helping your community. Oh, and the $10 entry fee is good for all three days if you want to go back and listen to some of the great live music. read more

This was my first time back at RiverFest in a few years and it was a wonderful time overall! I originally had stopped going due to an entrance fee being charged and at the time, the actual river events had stopped so I didn't really see the point. This year I attended with my mother and was pleasantly surprised at the experience we had! The attendance fee really isn't a deterrent and I wouldn't mind paying it again as the event itself has hardly changed and is a great time for the whole family to enjoy! The spot to purchase your wristband/entrance weren't very clearly marked, so some signs would be helpful! Once inside the event, it is easy to navigate between vendors. When we entered we were greeted with a ton of food trucks directly in front of us that provided a large number of options to choose from. In the first part of the day, there aren't many lines so you don't have too wait too long in the heat. On the right side are all of the art/crafts vendors which are pretty shaded and fun to walk through, you can definitely see the local love! To the left of the entrance is where they have the main stage and a few activities for the kids as well as some alcohol for purchase. When we arrived, we were looking forward to the band that was scheduled to play at 11am. While we waited we learned that the band performing their sound check was for the later performance that evening - they had been doing their sound check since 9:45 and gave the 11am band only 5 minutes for a sound check before their set. That was a little bit ridiculous and unfair in my opinion. The 11am band sounded great despite the sound check issues. Overall it was a great day and I look forward to going again in the future! read more

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The vendors are great people and there are a lot of them. Unfortunately the prices have gone up significantly just like everything else. It's been a while since I've been, when did they start charging a cover?? That put a bad taste in my mouth. read more

2018 Reno River Festival was fun and amazing. This is a yearly event and signals to me that summer is right around the corner. I went on Mother's Day, Sunday after an amazing brunch. Weather was fine in the morning, with some showers in the afternoon. Made for a nice stroll along the Truckee River. Music was great, catchy contemporary tunes for a 60 something like me. "Carni food" along Arlington, and a nice Crafters Village along the other side of Truckee River. I was not there long enough to see the competition, but long enough to have a relaxing morning, nice walk and experience our unique mountain and river people. Loved it! read more

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Food, drinks, music, and tons of activities; I present to you the Reno River Festival! 2019's Reno River Festival was held during Mother's Day Weekend on Saturday May 11, 2019 through Sunday May 12, 2019. My friends and I went on Saturday and we had an absolute blast. Traffic and parking could be tricky, especially since it was held at Wingfield Park. Fortunately for us, we drove down to our friend's house just a few blocks away from the event and walked down from there. It was far enough to where there was street parking and close enough to where the walk was easy and enjoyable. For those of you who do drive, there is the City Garage as well as the casino garages. Since it's all in Downtown Reno, the walk will be short and sweet. This was my first time attending the Reno River Festival, but as I said before, it was a great time. The weather was sunny without a single cloud in the sky. The streets were filled with local vendors, food trucks, and festival goers alike. After grabbing some beers and a plate from Koko Teriyaki, we headed towards the river and found a spot under some shade. There was a lot of activities for the kids which included carnival games, rides, bouncy houses and even a zip line across the river! The music and entertainment on their main stage was fun and lively. My room mate said that she wanted to see the headliner that day, which was Filmore. While they watched his performance, my friend and I decided to observe the kayaking event. As you know, the Truckee River is definitely flowing with force and watching those kayakers kept me on the edge of my seat. It was so great to see the park filled and lively. It was also dog friendly with people and their K9 companions maneuvering through the festival grounds. And the best part of this event was that it didn't cost anything to attend. The Reno River Festival had so much to offer, so much to see and so much to do. There's nothing like enjoying live music right along the rapidly flowing Truckee River. Plus, this event is both pet and family friendly so what's not to love? Although this was my first time attending, I am very much looking forward to next year's festival! read more

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Such an incredible event! A little something for everyone. Carnival, rides, wine, beer, food trucks, live music, and more! Such a great way to spend a day by the river! read more

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Reno River Fest is the kickoff to the summer season in the #BiggestLittleCity! Great love bands, fun vendors and demos, and normally professional Kayakers competing in the beautiful waters of the Truckee River, all happening in the heart of Downtown! Each year it seems they have some deal with the weather gods because it is downright perfect for popping down on a blanket and listening to great tunes and kicking it with friends. This year was no different, in fact this year's weather may have been the best yet! Sunshine, blue skies, cool breeze and about 75 degrees made it so you could sit outside all day long. Just about the only thing missing this year was the river. Ok, I had to make that joke. But seriously, it wasn't quite the same without the Kayakers. What was nice though was that with Sculpture Fest happening, and a great pig roast going on at Pignic, I was able to walk from one edge of downtown to the other, party hopping all along the way! The city truly felt alive and this was one of the most fun weekends I've had in a while! Rating this event is hard, but I think 4 is fair. This review is not based on this year alone, but rather many visits through the years. And the reason why they lose a star? Simple, the fact is they don't allow 4-legged friends to enjoy the fun with you. All year long you can walk your dog in Wingfield Park, take them swimming in the river and even eat with them on patios all over town, but none of that is allowed at River Fest. In fact, security even looks at you like a criminal if you try to walk across the Arlington St Bridge to get to the other side with your dog. It's something I'll never understand about this event. All in all, I love this event. If I were to offer any criticism, Id love to be able to bring my dog, Id love to see more activities and game to play, and Id love to see better local food offerings as well. But other than that, keep doing what you do. This event is a fixture in the community and one many of us look forward to year after year! read more

I volunteered at a booth at this event, so I came a few minutes early to park in the nearby garage (I couldn't be bothered spending an hour searching for street parking) and to wander around a bit and see what the kayaking competition looked like. The weather held out pretty well. Signs everywhere said NO DOGS, but this is Reno, downtown at the river, on a weekend, you're gonna get a lot of people walking with their dogs. So "security" did a somewhat half-assed job trying to turn people away as I saw plenty of pooches where no dogs were supposed to be. There was a live band that played some great music on the stage and it was fun to watch the kayakers maneuver around obstacles and play in the fast-moving waters. For kids, there was bouncy things and zip lines and the usual entertainment. The only negative experience I had was at a small jewelry booth - I was perusing some of the jewelry and the woman who manned it hovered over me a bare 2 inches away, practically breathing down my neck. GET OFF MY JOCK. I don't know if she thought I was trying to steal something or if she thought she was being helpful, but to me, it was pure annoyance. Our stand was unfortunately located about three booths away from the most popular food available - teriyaki chicken kabobs! Two hours of smelling that meat roasting! Too bad the lines were so long or else I would have tried it myself. Definitely a fun event and free. read more

A great event. Even better when we have a river to fest. Since I live downtown, walking over to the event is the way to go. Traffic can be a challenge with so many events going on, but there is ample parking in the City Garage, the Courthouse parking, the casino garages, and City Hall garage. Or park upstream and walk down the beautiful riverwalk and admire the raging river. The weather was great. A bit cold and rainy on Saturday, but it is a river event so that did not keep things from happening. Sunday was close to perfect with intermittent sun and clouds and very comfortable temps. And the river was flowing mightily. The kayaking events were interesting. I was particularly intrigued by the paddle boards. Lots of activities for the kids with bouncy houses and a zip line. All manner of junk food, beer and non-alcoholic drinks to consume. Lots of arts and crafts and information booths to peruse. Highlight for me were the free coffee mugs from Department of Wildlife and getting to see the river. I helped out at the Yelp booth for a while. It was great seeing friends old and new, and helping people get signed up for Yelp. We also admired the beautiful waters of the Truckee River. This is a great event for everyone, and it is FREE! Did I mention the river was flowing in full force this year? read more

2018 didn't disappoint, even though the weather was not that great. The people came out in droves on Sunday for the Mother's Day events. Mom's on the Run was a hit, the Mother/Daughter look alike contest had 20 entries. The music was phenomenal, there were so many vendors for food that I couldn't even begin to describe them all. I know that the deep fried oreos were a hit, the funnel cakes always make the kids happy. Those margaritas were so good! It was great to see so many local vendors with Reno/Tahoe/Nevada themed products. I am so proud to live in a city with such a deep sense of community. This is our family tradition for Mother's Day and Reno River Fest never fails to make it a great day! read more

The Reno River Festival is a lot of fun but this year it rained which was a bit of a bummer. The festival includes a bunch of vendors selling food, beer, wine, clothing, housewares, etc. There are a couple of rides for kids but the best part is watching the kayak tournament! Lots of fun for everyone. read more

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So happy all of the participants for the River Festival had a great day for it. Mike, the weatherman on channel 2 said that there was going to be more rain today than there was yesterday. He was very wrong. It was a lovely day very little wind, some clouds and a huge crowd! We arrived late, about 4:30 PM, and there were still lots of people there. It was somewhat disappointing that many of the booths were already closed or closing up before 5 o'clock because the advertisement for this event said it was to go till 6 o'clock. We made a big circuit and enjoyed the kayakers showing off their rolling abilities in the water. Seems like there were quite a few more activities for little kids this time. Lots and lots of dogs on leashes everywhere. Lots of beer being consumed but the dogs and the people all seemed to be getting along well together. read more

Reno River Festival - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

It's been a long time since I have been to the river fest, but I was impressed today. Combining it with the sculpture fest was a great idea. Made for a great walk around downtown. I really think the mayor is making a positive impact in Reno. Felt safer and better for families. The festival itself was very cool... Watching the kayakers, and all the local stuff, booths, food, community, etc... Keep it up and Reno eNVy will become more and more real! read more