What's Happening in Reno This Weekend — May 15-17, 2026

Three of the biggest headliners Reno has had in a month land back-to-back-to-back this weekend. Brad Paisley fills the Nugget Event Center in Sparks Friday. UB40 featuring Ali Campbell fills the Reno Events Center downtown Saturday. Jason Bonham brings the full Led Zeppelin catalog to the Silver Legacy Grande Exposition Hall Sunday night.

That's the headline. The undercard is just as deep: a hot-air balloon festival in Carson Valley, the Reno Antique Faire taking over four blocks of Virginia Street downtown, four simultaneous events at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (custom cars, gamer fest, vintage market, youth basketball), the REVEL Reno Tahoe Marathon finishing downtown Sunday morning, and a full slate of theatre, club nights, hands-on classes, and family events.

Here's everything happening May 15-17, 2026 in Reno.

Running All Weekend

A few multi-day events worth knowing before you pick a single night:

• West Coast Classic Rabbit & Cavy Show (Fri–Sun, Reno-Sparks Convention Center) — niche, joyful, and weirdly fun. Multiple Open and Youth shows across dozens of rabbit and guinea pig breeds. Family-friendly.
• The Lark at Brüka Theatre (Fri 7:30 PM, opens May 15 and runs through May 31) — Jean Anouilh's stirring retelling of Joan of Arc's trial. Brüka's intimate black-box room makes every show feel close.
• Gimme More Revue — A Millennial's Night Out (Thu–Sun, Good Luck Macbeth) — a full Britney Spears revue from Honey Productions. Front-row seating with seat-side beverage service. $38. Four nights only.
• Hot Air for Hope Carson Valley Balloon Festival (Fri–Sun, Lampe Park, Gardnerville) — 45 minutes south of Reno. 25+ hot-air balloons, mass ascensions, food trucks, tethered rides. Family event of the weekend if you're willing to drive.
• Cirque Alice — Eldorado Showroom — still running. Fri 8:30 PM, Sat 7:30 & 9:30, Sun 5 PM matinee.

Friday, May 15

Brad Paisley — Nugget Event Center (Sparks)

The big one. 8 PM at the Nugget Event Center on Nugget Ave. in Sparks. Full arena production, country hits + new material, the kind of show that anchors the weekend and pulls visitors in from Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Carson City. Tickets through the Nugget Event Center box office. Easy parking on-site; stay at the Nugget if you don't want to drive after.

Niko Moon — Silver Legacy

Country-pop on the casino showroom side. 8 PM in the Silver Legacy showroom. Tighter room, ticketed.

Magique — Magic, Comedy & Dance — Nugget Celebrity Showroom

An evening that blends stage magic, comedy, and dance. 8 PM Friday and Saturday. Tickets $60–$140. Good Friday-night option if you're staying in Sparks.

Sam Janosik — The Alpine

Local country-folk artist Sam Janosik plays The Alpine at 8 PM. Tickets $15–$20. Small room, low-key, drink-with-a-friend energy.

Frida and Her Lovers — Reno Little Theater

Latino Arte brings back Mario Delarosa's play about the life of Frida Kahlo for one weekend only. Fri 7 PM, Sat 3 & 7 PM. Don't sleep on this — Latino Arte productions sell out fast and don't tend to come back.

Last Lists of My Mad Mother — Restless Artists Theatre (Sparks)

Restless Artists Theatre debuts a play about a daughter caring for her mother through Alzheimer's. Fri/Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM matinee. Heavy material handled gently.

Second Rodeo's Fourth First Fundy — Lo-Bar Social

Burning Man camp fundraiser with DJs Calinalcaru, Nat Not Nate, Shahbbles, and HB. 9 PM at Lo-Bar. Donations at the door.

Hands-On: Basque Table at Nothing To It

Friday evening Basque culinary class. 6 PM at Nothing To It Culinary Center on Crummer Lane. Traditional Pyrenees flavors and techniques. Reserve ahead.

Saturday, May 16

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell — Reno Events Center

Saturday's anchor headliner. Reggae-pop legends, full catalog — Red Red Wine, Can't Help Falling in Love, Kingston Town. 8 PM at the Reno Events Center, the second night in a row the venue gets a national act.

1 Umbrella — Bay Area Hip-Hop Collective — Cargo Concert Hall

Allblack, Lil Bean, Lil Yee, 22nd Jim, ZayBang — five Bay Area rappers in the same room for the first time. 8 PM at Cargo in the Whitney Peak Hotel. Tickets $55–$65.

Moonshine Bandits — Hawkins Amphitheater (Bartley Ranch)

Central California country-rock-rap duo plays the outdoor amphitheater at Bartley Ranch Regional Park. 7:30 PM. Tickets $40–$115. Big upgrade from the usual venue size.

Northern Nevada Celtic Cèilidh — Reno Public Market

Annual gathering of traditional Irish and Celtic music — headlined this year by the Black Irish Band. New location: Reno Public Market on Plumb Lane. Starts 11 AM. Family-friendly.

Reno Antique Faire — Downtown Reno *(Sunday but worth previewing here)*

The May 17 outdoor market — but Saturday is your scouting day if you want to plan your Sunday morning route. (Details under Sunday.)

Silver & Blue Wine Walk — Downtown Riverwalk

May edition of the monthly Riverwalk Wine Walk. 2–5 PM. Nevada-pride theme this month. $30, 21+. Stroll downtown, sample at participating venues.

Reno Burner Fur Party 2026 ft. Hatiras — The Alpine

17th annual Burning Man fundraiser with national DJ/artist Hatiras. 8 PM at The Alpine. $25–$40. House/electronic, full lights and lasers.

At the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (4590 S. Virginia St)

Four simultaneous events under one roof — RSCC is the hidden anchor of this weekend if you don't already know what's on its calendar:

• Best of Show: Reno Super Show (Custom Cars) — Saturday only, 11 AM–6 PM. Lowriders, classics, builds, judging.
• Reno Gamer Festival — Sat–Sun, 10 AM–4 PM. Video games, TCG, pop-culture collectibles, tournaments.
• Tanners Marketplace Antique, Craft & Retro Show — Sat–Sun. Local favorite indoor vintage market.
• West Coast Shootout — youth basketball tournament in Hall 4. Boys/girls divisions 4th grade through Varsity. Free for spectators.

Full Reno-Sparks Convention Center weekend schedule →

Biggest Little Spring Cleaning Day — Traner Middle School

City of Reno community volunteer event. 9 AM–12 PM. Free. Gloves and bags provided.

Hands-On: Eggs for Brunch at Nothing To It

Hands-on Saturday brunch class — perfect poaches, fluffy scrambles, shakshuka, benedicts. 9:30 AM. Reserve ahead.

FoolZDen — All-Local Punk/Metal Bill — The Empire

Local punk-meets-metal headliner FoolZDen brings Wink, Malice, and Fraye to The Empire on Ryland. 6 PM doors, $10.

Sunday, May 17

Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening — Silver Legacy Grande Exposition Hall

Sunday's anchor. Jason Bonham — son of John Bonham — leads a tribute group through the full Zeppelin catalog. 8 PM in the Grande Exposition Hall. $70–$115. This is the kind of show that pulls fans in from three states.

REVEL Reno Tahoe Marathon

Marathon, half marathon, and 5K. Mostly downhill point-to-point from the Sierra down to downtown Reno. Sunday morning start, finish line downtown. Spectator-friendly along the course — heads-up for road closures along the route into town.

Sunday Jazz at RLT: The Angelo Monroy Trio Plays Gershwin

This month's Sunday Jazz at Reno Little Theater features the Angelo Monroy Trio doing George and Ira Gershwin. 7 PM at RLT on Pueblo Street. Small room, big sound.

Reno Antique Faire — Downtown Virginia Street

The only antique and vintage fair of its kind in Northern Nevada. 150+ vendors plus 10 food and beverage trucks lining Virginia Street from 1st through 4th. 10 AM–4 PM. Free. Outdoor. Easily the most foot-traffic-friendly event of the weekend if you live or work downtown.

Titan and Oathbound — Death Metal Double Bill — The Alpine

Two touring death metal bands take The Alpine. 8 PM. $20–$30. If that's your wheelhouse, this is the night.

Bonsai Workshop: Styling and Wiring — Rail City Garden Center

Hands-on technical class on shaping miniature trees using styling wire. 11 AM at Rail City Garden Center in Sparks. Niche but it always sells out.

Reno Food Systems Seedling Sale & Open House

Urban farm at 3295 Mayberry Dr hosts a Sunday seedling sale for spring gardens. Plants acclimated to the Truckee Meadows climate, plus working-farm tours. Free entry, plants priced separately.

Rolling Recreation — Downtown Reno

City of Reno's family games and sports equipment pop-up downtown. 11 AM–2 PM. Free. Casual way to fill a Sunday afternoon with kids.

Josh Rosenblum at Peppermill *(starts Sunday, runs through Wed)*

Southern California guitarist/singer playing blues, pop, and rock 6 PM nightly May 17–20 in the Peppermill's Terrace Lounge. Free cocktail-hour live music.

Quick Picks by Vibe

• Concert-head, one night only: Brad Paisley (Fri) → or UB40 (Sat) → or Jason Bonham (Sun). Pick one and lock it.
• All three nights, downtown anchor: Brad Paisley Fri (drive or rideshare to the Nugget in Sparks) → UB40 Sat at the Reno Events Center → Jason Bonham Sun at Silver Legacy. Stay at the Whitney Peak or Renaissance for the Sat/Sun walking radius.
• Date night: Frida and Her Lovers at RLT → Silver & Blue Wine Walk → Sunday Jazz at RLT.
• Family weekend: Hot Air for Hope balloon festival Sat morning → Reno Antique Faire Sun morning → Rolling Recreation downtown Sun afternoon.
• Hands-on / maker weekend: Basque Table Fri → Eggs for Brunch Sat → Bonsai Workshop Sun. (Full Reno classes & workshops →)
• At the convention center all day: Reno Gamer Festival OR Tanners Marketplace OR Reno Super Show. Pick your floor.
• Local club night: Sam Janosik @ The Alpine Fri → FoolZDen @ The Empire Sat → Titan/Oathbound @ The Alpine Sun.
• Free Sunday: Reno Antique Faire → Rolling Recreation → Reno Food Systems open house. Zero cover, all afternoon.

Heads Up: Reno Aces Are Away

No home games this weekend. Greater Nevada Field is dark until the next homestand. Save the ballpark for next time.

Full Event Calendar

Every event on this guide plus 100+ other things happening across May and June 2026 are on the full Reno Events Calendar. Filter by this weekend, classes & workshops, Reno-Sparks Convention Center, or Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

Bookmark ask-reno.com/events/this-weekend — it refreshes every week with the newest confirmed events.

See you out there.

Events sourced from official venue calendars (Reno Events Center, Nugget Event Center, Silver Legacy, Nugget Celebrity Showroom, Peppermill Terrace Lounge, Brüka Theatre, Good Luck Macbeth, Reno Little Theater, Restless Artists Theatre, The Alpine, Cargo Concert Hall, Lo-Bar Social, The Empire, Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch, Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno Public Market, Rail City Garden Center, Nothing To It Culinary Center, Reno Food Systems, Lampe Park / Hot Air for Hope) plus the City of Reno events list, RGJ event roundup, and Reno Tahoe events calendar.