Reno River Festival Events
Reno River Festival LLC is the new owner of the event and is bringing land based activities to town to complement the whitewater competitions. As before, there will be a large number of vendors offering a variety of goods and services, including food, drink, clothing, and the latest in outdoor products. Several bands will be performing at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater.
Events Schedule: Find out what's happening and when with the Reno River Festival Event Overview and Schedule.
Kayaking: Both pro and amateur kayakers will compete in the river's rapids. Look for freestyle and boatercross competitions, along with free whitewater clinics. Paddlers can register online at the Reno River Festival registration page, or call (775) 788-2131.
Run Amuck: Get a partner and enter this newest Reno River Festival event. Run Amuck is 2.5 mile relay run along the Truckee River from downtown Reno to Idlewild Park. The course will include a crawl through a mud pit and a couple of what promoters are calling "mystery obstacles." Register your team at the Reno River Festival registration page, or call (775) 788-2131.
Truckee River Whitewater Park
The Truckee River Whitewater Park was an immediate hit when it opened in 2004. It created something of a moving park in the heart of the city, providing a place for people to relax, stroll by the water along the Riverwalk, play in the water on hot days, float along on tubes, and kayak the class II - III rapids. It was a significant milestone in the redevelopment of downtown Reno, one that seems to have spurred along numerous other projects along the river corridor.
It's a little confusing, but the Truckee River Whitewater Park is a component of downtown Reno's Wingfield Park. The Whitewater Park was built along and within the Truckee River flowing through Wingfield Park. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, or put together as the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield.
Where to Park
You can park at the Parking Gallery in downtown Reno, corner Sierra and First Streets (entrance is from First Street), at Reno High School on Booth Street, and at the McKinley Arts Center on Riverside Drive and Bell Street. Street parking around downtown Reno is metered until 6 p.m. except on Sundays, which is free all day. The Sierra Spirit bus system offers free transportation around the downtown area. Stops are designated by the yellow Sierra Spirit signs along the route.
Street Closures
Several downtown streets will be closed to vehicle traffic at various times during the Reno River Festival, so plan your route accordingly.
- May 8 - 11: First Street from Arlington Avenue to Stevenson Street, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- May 8 - 11: Arlington Avenue from First Street to Court Street, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- May 10: First Street from Arlington Avenue to Riverside Drive, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- May 10: Eastbound lane of Riverside Drive from First Street to Booth Street, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- May 10: Booth Street from Riverside Drive to Idlewild Drive, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- May 10: Westbound lane of Idlewild Drive from the Booth Street Bridge to 1805 Idlewild Drive (Snowflake Pavilion, Idlewild Park), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Source: Some information in this article was obtained from press releases issued by Betsy McDonald of The Bauserman Group, Reno, NV.
