Artown occurs throughout the month of July in Reno. The festival includes over 500 activities, ranging from live music and dance performances to theater and art workshops. The National Endowment for the Arts recognizes the event as one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the country. The festival combines national headlining artists with local talent.
Event Schedule and Planning
Because the schedule changes annually, visitors should check the official Artown website for the current calendar of activities. The festival includes events scheduled before and after the primary month of July.
Artown takes place at various locations throughout the city. Primary venues include:
- Bartley Ranch Regional Park: This location hosts the Monday Night Music Series, which features free concerts from both local and national artists across multiple genres.
- Rancho San Rafael Park: This park serves as the site for the opening and closing night concerts. It also hosts the Movies in the Park series, which takes place on Friday nights in July, starting at 8 p.m.
- Reno Riverwalk and Wingfield Park: These areas along the Truckee River host various visual and performing arts events.
For those interested in hands-on activities, the festival offers art workshops where attendees can create mosaics, paintings, or stained glass.
Airport Performances
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) hosts musical performances in the main lobby near the ski statue throughout July. The airport has supported Artown for nearly two decades. These performances are free to the public, though parking is the responsibility of the guest.
Traveling to Reno
Artown draws visitors from across the region to downtown Reno and surrounding parks. If traveling to the area, verify road conditions before departure, especially if driving over mountain passes.
Weather at Reno
Wind Advisory in effect — Wind Advisory issued September 12 at 1:47AM PDT until September 13 at 2:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
- Tonight
- Mostly Clear
- Temperature
- 52°F
- Wind
- 5 to 20 mph
- Zone
- NVZ003
Use the following resources to check for potential delays or closures on the major routes leading into the city:
Major routes into Reno.
Festival Highlights
The festival typically begins with an opening night concert and concludes with a closing night celebration. Past opening night performances have featured bands such as Smash Mouth at the Helaine Greenberg Stage at Rancho San Rafael. The closing night celebration has previously featured groups like Playing for Change at the same location.
The Movies in the Park series at Rancho San Rafael Park has historically included films such as Mamma Mia, Hamilton, and Grease.
Reno continues to develop its arts infrastructure, including sculpture gardens and over 100 murals throughout the city. Beyond the specific Artown schedule, the area maintains a variety of cultural venues and museums that operate year-round. Visitors planning to attend multiple events should allow for travel time between venues, as the festival utilizes spaces spanning from downtown to regional parks on the outskirts of the city.