The Reno River Festival runs May 29–31 at Idlewild Park along the Truckee River. Originally founded in 2003 to mark the opening of the Truckee River Whitewater Park, the three-day gathering now draws more than 40,000 attendees each year.
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
Getting to Idlewild Park and Parking
Idlewild Park sits west of downtown Reno along the river corridor. Travelers coming across the Sierra or from North Lake Tahoe can monitor conditions along I-80 road conditions or check the I-80 webcams before heading down the canyon. Drivers arriving from Carson City or South Lake Tahoe can check US-395 road conditions or view live camera feeds across town via Reno city cameras webcams.
I-80 webcams approaching Reno and the Truckee River corridor.
Guaranteed parking passes are issued for areas within Idlewild Park during the event. Those arriving without designated parking permits will need to seek standard city street parking or downtown garage spaces and walk west toward the river grounds.
River Events and Water Activities
The festival originated around whitewater sports and continues to center events on the Truckee River:
- The Great Reno River Rally: A professionally guided rafting tour down the Truckee River that takes participants straight into the festival grounds.
- Truckee River Whitewater Park Heritage: The venue was built to host whitewater athletes and regional competitions, which served as the original foundation for the event in 2003.
MusicFest and Live Entertainment
MusicFest runs throughout the three-day event across two stages set up in Idlewild Park:
- More than 30 acts perform across the weekend.
- The roster includes national headliners, singer-songwriters, and local bands.
- Music Fest is fueled by Monster Energy, featuring a VIP Adventure Tent option that offers a dedicated viewing area, VIP bar access, one food voucher per day, and three drink vouchers per day.
Food Fest and the Hops & Happiness Tour
Dining and drink options are distributed across the park grounds:
- Food Fest: Nearly 20 vendors and food trucks from around Reno and Sparks sell items such as gourmet burgers, Korean BBQ, craft sodas, donuts, and ice cream.
- Hops & Happiness Tour: A ticketed tasting experience that includes general festival admission, 14 drink samples selected from a tour map, and one full pour of beer or bubbly refreshments along the river path.
Adventure Park, Games, and Dog Jog 5k
Outside of the water and concert stages, the festival sets up active zones inside Idlewild Park:
- Reno Tahoe Adventure Park: Includes carnival rides, obstacle courses, games, and challenges. All-inclusive wristbands operate for Saturday and Sunday access.
- Bucket Golf Course: An 18-hole outdoor layout presented by BucketGolf for casual and competitive rounds.
- Dog Jog 5k: A run through the park area open to both human participants and dogs.
- Vendor Village: A craft and retail market featuring nearly 100 creators, shops, and artisans selling handmade art and gifts.
Those planning travel around the Sierra passes before or after the event can check the road conditions hub for mountain highway updates.