NewToReno Info

October 2026 Events and Activities in the Reno Region

Search NewToReno

Custom Search

Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes
	Halloween fun around the Reno region.

Get Polar Express Tickets
	Get tickets soon - they sell out fast.

Wolf Pack Football
	Go Pack!

October is Disability Awareness Month. Learn more from "City of Reno Inclusion and Adaptive Programs." It is also the continuation of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15, 2026).

Big events during October, 2026 include...

• Halloween
• Fall Break Camps
• Great Italian Festival
• Wolf Pack Football
• Nevada Day

Dragon Lights Reno - October 2 through November 29, 2026. Dragon Lights Reno returns to the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Rancho San Rafael Park with an exciting new theme: Many Worlds Aglow. This year's spectacular lantern festival invites visitors on a journey through three immersive realms, each brought to life with breathtaking artistry, vibrant colors, and larger-than-life illuminated displays. Tickets available online.

Offbeat Music Festival - Friday and Saturday, October 2 - 3, 2026. It's a multi-venue festival that's all about discovering the amazing things being created right here in Reno – music, food, art and more. Discover new music from a choice of 60+ performances over 2 days at different locations around the core of Reno. Tickets are available online.

37th World Championship Outhouse Races in Virginia City - Saturday and Sunday, October 3 - 4, 2026. The Races pit teams of costumed outhouse racers against each other. One person rides and the remaining team members push, pull or drag the decorated outhouses down the racetrack, which is C Street in Virginia City. This event is free to the public and is quite the spectacle. Races begin each day at noon.

Downtown Truckee Wine, Walk and Shop - Saturday, October 3, 2026, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Join us for this iconic fall event in beautiful downtown Truckee. Attendees will receive a commemorative wine glass for wine tastings at 25+ venues as well as delicious bite-sized snacks at a variety of downtown restaurants and merchants. This year's beneficiary is Tahoe Food Hub. Tickets are available online at $75 advance, $85 day of.

Fall Break at Washoe County Schools - Monday through Friday, October 5 - 9, 2026. Fall break activities for children and families around Reno and Sparks include camps and other things to do from several area organizations.

Wolf Pack Football - Saturday, October 10, 2026, kickoff TBA. The Pack takes on the University of Texas at El Paso. It's an away game in El Paso, TX. Go Pack!

44th Annual Great Italian Festival - Saturday and Sunday, October 10 - 11, 2026. It's free to attend the Great Italian Festival, when downtown Reno becomes Little Italy. This is a fun, family-friendly festival, with street performers, free music from two stages, plenty of good food and drink, and lots more. Hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hands ON! Second Saturdays - Saturday, October 10, 2026. Come to the Nevada Museum of Art for a day of fun family activities and free admission for all, sponsored by the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Junior Ranger Adventure Day - Sunday, October 11, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Ranger Brett will lead a tour of the historic Bowers Mansion, share stories from the family that built it and talk about the glory days of mining in Nevada. We'll have fun activities including a scavenger hunt. Bowers Mansion Regional Park, 4005 Bowers Mansion Rd., Washoe Valley south of Reno. Event is free, but please register online.

2026 Great Nevada ShakeOut - Thursday, October 15, 2026. Nevada lies within one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. Along with California and Alaska, Nevada ranks in the top three states subject to the most large-scale earthquakes during the last 150 years. The Great Nevada ShakeOut is a simple, coordinated "drop, cover and hold on" exercise. Last year, more than 600,000 Nevadans participated. To register as an individual, business, school or government agency or organization, go to the official website. All Nevada residents are encouraged to register and participate.

Lake Tahoe Marathon - Friday through Sunday, October 16 - 18, 2026. Welcome to 3 days of running and fun that includes much more than just a marathon. There is something for your whole family, club or group of friends at one of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the world. Competitors range from toddlers to octogenarians, and the venues are breathtakingly beautiful. Visit the website for all the details and online registration.

UNR Ski Swap - The Avalanche Sale - Friday through Sunday, October 16 - 18, 2026. The UNR Ski Swap features a huge selection of new and used equipment. Everything from boards to boots, skis to snow shoes, clothing, helmets, gloves and more. Save up to 70% on hundreds of new/used items and get outfitted for the season. Admission is free. Friday - 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event is at the Reno - Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S. Virginia Street in Reno.

Wolf Pack Football - Saturday, October 17, 2026, kickoff 4 p.m. The Pack takes on the North Dakota State University Bison at Fargo, ND. Go Pack!

Library Book Sale - October 17 - 25, 2026. Library book sales are in the mall space next door to the Sierra View Library in the Reno Town Mall. Preview day for Friends of Washoe County Library members is on the Friday before each sale period, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you aren't a member, you can join Friends at the door. The sale is open to all every day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Grand Sierra Beer & Chili Festival - Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Savor beer tastings from dozens of local, regional and national craft beer favorites. In between sips, slurp your way through delicious chili samples and other menu specialties from local restaurants – then vote for your favorite chili to take home the People's Choice prize. A portion of all ticket sales will benefit the Reno Rodeo Foundation. At the Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. 2nd St. in Reno.

Wicked Wine Walk - Saturday, October 17, 2026, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Riverwalk Merchants present this fun event every third Saturday of the month, with October having a Halloween theme. Visit any of the participating merchants with $30 and receive your wine glass and hand stamp (with photo ID), then make the rounds sampling wines at numerous businesses in the area. This is a 21+ event. Pets and strollers are not advised. For more information, call 775-825-WALK(9255).

Reno Zombie Crawl - Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Reno Zombie Crawl is one of the top 10 costumed Halloween parties in the nation, attracting around 15,000 undead to prowl the streets of downtown Reno. Enjoy thousands of dollars worth of costume contest prizes and drink specials at about 40 bars, clubs, restaurants and taverns. It's only $13 - $15 to join in (prices vary depending on when you buy). You can buy cups online or the start location Circus Circus Resort Casino on the night the zombies stalk the streets. The Zombie Crawl takes in downtown Reno.

Western Heritage Festival at Bartley Ranch - Sunday, October 18, 2026, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join us for a Western Heritage Festival featuring a rodeo exhibition, antique tractors, tours of historic buildings, children's drawing contest, and more. Free and open to all ages. At Bartley Ranch Regional Park, Western Heritage Interpretive Center, 6000 Bartley Ranch Rd., Reno.

Reno Ukulele Festival - Wednesday through Saturday, October 21 - 24, 2026. This four-day family-friendly event promises a delightful experience with a lineup of daily workshops, evening concerts, artist discussion panels, open mics, community performances, and an extensive shopping experience. At the Nugget Casino and Resort in Sparks. Check out the Schedule for details. Tickets available online.

Wolf Pack Football - Saturday, October 24, 2026, kickoff 2 p.m. The Pack takes on the San Jose State Spartans at Mackay Stadium in Reno. Go Pack!

Harvest Festival at Animal Ark - Saturday and Sunday, October 24 - 25, 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is open to the public, a family friendly festival filled with sweet treats, trick or treating for kids, animal antics and more. All our animal residents will get a pumpkin filled with food, however some will be given their pumpkin on a schedule and others will have theirs to enjoy all day, with animals out on exhibit with their treat. $23 adults, $21 seniors, and $17 for children. Ages 2 and under free. Animal Ark is at 1265 Deerlodge Road, off of Red Rock Road in the Stead area of Reno. (775) 970-3111.

Galena Creek Fall Festival - Friday, October 30, 2026, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring the whole family out for a fun-filled fall day celebrating our community and the great outdoors. There will be something for everyone, including pumpkin smashing and carving, live music, local vendors and non-profits, hot dogs, arts and crafts, kids' games, raffles featuring donations from local businesses and community members, adult beverages, and more. At Galena Creek Visitor Center, 18250 Mt. Rose Hwy., Reno.

Wolf Pack Football - Saturday, October 31, 2026, kickoff TBA. The Pack takes on UCLA in Los Angeles, CA. Go Pack!

Nevada Day Celebration in Carson City - Saturday, November 1, 2025. Enjoy the Nevada Day Parade down Main Street, along with numerous other events and activities to celebrate Nevada statehood. Come enjoy the single jack rock drilling contest, Nevada Day chili feed, hot air balloon launch, beard contest, free admission to the Nevada State Museum and Railroad Museum, and lots more. "Wild Wild West" is this year's theme.

Halloween - Saturday, October 31, 2026. Haunted houses, trick-or-treating, pumpkin patches, and much more. The Reno area does Halloween in a big way and there are plenty of activities for everyone in the family, including a few for adults only.

Sponsored Links
Sponsored Link

Share NewToReno(dot)com