BBQ, Brews & Blues 2026:
June 19–20 in Downtown Reno
The 29th Annual BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival (also known as the Great Eldorado BBQ and Blues) returns to Virginia Street with FREE admission, 50+ microbreweries pouring 100+ beers, live blues and rock on two stages, and BBQ vendors from across the region. Beer tasting packages start at $45. Same weekend as the Reno Rodeo — plan for both.
BBQ Brews & Blues 2026 Dates
- Friday, June 19: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday, June 20: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Location: Virginia Street at The Row (Eldorado)
- Same weekend as: Reno Rodeo (June 18-27)
Tickets & Pricing
- General Admission: FREE (music, BBQ vendors, festival)
- 1-Day Tasting: ~$45 (unlimited beer + souvenir mug)
- 2-Day Tasting: ~$75 (both days)
- VIP Tap Tent: All-you-can-eat BBQ + unlimited drinks
Tasting packages are 21+ only. Prices increase closer to the event.
Quick Facts
Dates
Jun 19-20
Fri 3-9PM, Sat 11AM-8PM
Breweries
50+
100+ beers
Music
2 Stages
Blues, rock, and more
Admission
FREE
Tasting from $45
What to Expect
Craft Beer Garden
50+ microbreweries pour 100+ beers. Local favorites like Great Basin Brewing, Lead Dog, Pigeon Head, and Depot Craft Brewery are typically represented alongside regional craft breweries. Unlimited tastings with your wristband. Plus a $12,000 Beer Judging Competition where each brewery enters their best beer.
Two Live Music Stages
Night Ranger headlines Friday night — 'Sister Christian,' 'Don't Tell Me You Love Me,' full arena-rock energy on Virginia Street. Saturday headliner TBA. Free outdoor concerts run all weekend. Past headliners include Don Felder, The Commodores, Everclear, and Smash Mouth.
BBQ Vendors & Food
Gregg's BBQ Pit serves St. Louis-style ribs, smoked brisket, and pulled pork with all the fixings. Geno's Smoked New York Steak Flatbread is back. Plus chili cheese dogs, Nashville hot chicken, smokey chicken wings, street tacos, funnel cakes, and shaved ice. No tasting package needed to buy food.
Beer Olympics & Extras
Lawn games, beer pong tournaments, photo ops, and vendor booths. The VIP Tap Tent adds all-you-can-eat BBQ and shaded seating if you want the full experience.
2025 Beer Judging Competition Winners
Each year, breweries enter their best beer in a $12,000 judging competition. Here's who won last year — look for them pouring again in 2026.
Best Light Lager
Kona Brewing Company
Kona, HI
Best IPA
Dust Bowl Brewing Company
Turlock, CA
Best Hazy IPA
Maui Brewing Company
Maui, HI
Best Fruit Beer
Athletic Brewing Company
Milford, CT
Best Dark Ale
Schussboom Brewing Company
Reno, NV
Best Red Ale
Alaskan Brewing Company
Juneau, AK
Shoutout to Reno's own Schussboom Brewing for taking Best Dark Ale.
Local Breweries to Look For
These Reno-area breweries typically pour at the festival. Hit them up before or after for a proper taproom experience.
Great Basin Brewing
Reno's OG craft brewery. Icky IPA is the local standard.
Lead Dog Brewing
Midtown taproom. Hazys and sours.
Pigeon Head Brewery
Sparks. Small batch, loyal following.
Depot Craft Brewery
Downtown in the old train depot. Great outdoor patio.
Brew Brothers (Eldorado)
In-house at The Row. They're literally the hosts.
IMBIB Custom Brews
Midtown Reno. Rotating taps and food.
Schussboom Brewing
2025 Best Dark Ale winner. Reno local.
The Reno Rodeo + BBQ Combo Weekend
BBQ Brews & Blues falls during the Reno Rodeo (June 18-27). This is Reno's biggest back-to-back weekend — rodeo events during the day, BBQ and beer downtown at night. If you're planning a trip, this is the weekend.
The Honest Take (From People Who've Been)
We dug through Yelp reviews and forum posts from past years. Here's what people actually experienced — not the marketing version.
On the tasting package:
"The tasting kit was $46.40 online, $54.50 at the door. Good from 3pm-7pm. Plenty of beer vendors for tasting. However, I discovered Siri's Casino nearby has about 16 beers on tap for $5 each — got a couple Guinness Draughts and it was plenty for me."
— Past attendee
On the food (manage your expectations):
"There is not much BBQ (or other food) at all. There was one chicken wing vendor, one smash burger vendor, and only 2 BBQ vendors selling plates from $21 to $25."
— Past attendee
On the VIP Tent:
"The VIP Experience is a waste of money. We could have brought our own chairs and sampled much more food from the other vendors and spent a lot less money. Although the food was good, there was not much selection — only one kind of ribs and one kind of chicken. It was obviously oversold."
— Yelp review (2024)
On the music:
"Band had the crowd's attention for sure. Food was decent — I did like the jalapeño corn muffins and the BBQ chicken. Glad my youngest was here to enjoy."
— Yelp review (2024)
Our take: This is a beer festival with live music that happens to have some BBQ. If you go in expecting a massive BBQ competition, you'll be disappointed. If you go for the beer, the music, and the downtown street party vibe, you'll have a great time. Skip the VIP tent — general admission with a tasting wristband is the move.
Local Tips
Make the most of the weekend.
Buy the tasting pass online in advance — it's about $8 cheaper than at the door. In 2025 it was $46 online vs $55 at the gate.
The tasting window is roughly 3-7 PM. If you show up at 6:30, you're getting 30 minutes of tasting for full price. Arrive by 4 to get your money's worth.
Don't count on the food vendors for dinner. Past attendees report limited BBQ options (2-3 vendors, $21-25 per plate). Eat before you go or plan dinner at a nearby restaurant after.
Local hack: Siri's Casino is right there and has 16+ beers on tap for $5 each. If you don't want the unlimited tasting package, you can still drink well for cheap.
Skip the VIP Tent. Multiple reviews say it's oversold and the food selection is limited. General admission with a tasting wristband is the better value.
Friday evening is the move — Night Ranger headlines, it's less crowded than Saturday, and the weather cools off nicely after 5 PM.
The Reno Rodeo is happening the same weekend. If you're in town for both, stay at The Row — you're already on-site for BBQ Brews & Blues and a short ride to the Livestock Center.
Where to Eat Nearby
If you want a sit-down meal before or after the festival, these are all walking distance.
Liberty Food & Wine
UpscaleUpscale American in Midtown. 15-minute walk south. Great date night option.
Wild River Grille
RiversideRight on the Riverwalk. Steaks and cocktails with patio seating.
Gold & Silver Inn
DinerClassic retro diner. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. Huge portions.
Depot Craft Brewery
BreweryIn the old train depot downtown. Good food and their own craft beer on tap.
See our full Reno Restaurant Guide for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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