Must-See September Events in Reno-Tahoe: Great Reno Balloon Race, Greek Festival, and More

September in Reno-Tahoe is a month filled with exciting events that showcase the region’s vibrant culture and community spirit. From the awe-inspiring Great Reno Balloon Race to the delicious Genoa Candy Dance, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you're a fan of art, music, food, or history, Reno-Tahoe offers a diverse lineup of events that capture the essence of this unique area.

The Great Reno Balloon Race kicks off the month with its colorful display of hot air balloons soaring through the skies, drawing crowds from around the world. Following closely, the Reno Greek Festival offers a taste of Mediterranean culture with authentic food, music, and dance. Art enthusiasts can look forward to the Reno Tahoe International Art Show, which continues to grow in size and reputation, featuring local and international artists. For country music fans, Jason Aldean's performance promises a night of unforgettable entertainment. And as the month winds down, the historic Genoa Candy Dance and the Reno Phil’s season-opening performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony provide perfect ways to celebrate the rich traditions and artistic excellence that define our region.

Don’t miss out on the incredible events below that make September a truly special time to experience Reno-Tahoe!

The Great Reno Balloon Race

September 6 - 8 

The Great Reno Balloon Race is the world's largest free hot air ballooning event. During four days in early September, you can look up into the Reno skies and see a rainbow of hot air balloons soaring about. From its humble beginnings in 1982 with just 20 balloons, The Great Reno Balloon Race has taken flight with up to 100 balloons each year. The idea was to create an event that would keep visitors in town the weekend between the State Fair and the Reno Air Races and 42 years later, it is known as a world-renowned, and locally, a beloved community tradition.

Reno Greek Festival 

September 6 - 7

Be Greek for the weekend! Authentic Greek cuisine infuses the neighborhood with delicious scents of olive oil, lemon and oregano. Traditional food, dance, music, desserts, and imports create a Mediterranean atmosphere and family-friendly environment. Sharing the Greek culture with the community for nearly 40 years, the Reno Greek Festival has proven to be a signature celebration in Reno, Nevada.

Reno Tahoe International Art Show

September 12 - 15

The 2024 Reno Tahoe International Art Show doubles its footprint for the third time, making it the fastest growing fine art event in the United States. The annual four-day fair is a celebration of fine art and sculpture, bespoke furniture, film and music. The RTIA Show is unique to Reno Tahoe, showcasing local talent and art organizations alongside national and international galleries, independent artists and sculptors from across the county. Special features for 2024 include the Basque Cultural Feature, the First Nations, Indigenous Peoples Pavilion, the Design Vignettes throughout the show and the ‘Post Playa Art’ Burning Man Sculpture Exhibition.

Jason Aldean 

September 20

Jason Aldean is a country music superstar who hails from Macon, Georgia. The five-time Grammy Award nominee has had nine No. 1s on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and has toured with genre heavyweights Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, and Kenny Chesney. He ascended to mainstream success with 2010's quadruple-platinum My Kinda Party, which is home to his career-highest Billboard Hot 100 single "Dirt Road Anthem". In 2019, Aldean was named Artist of the Decade at the ACM Awards. He has also earned three consecutive Entertainer of the Year awards at the ACMs, and numerous accolades at the CMT Music Awards. Aldean has continued to lead by example into the next decade with his ambitious two-part, tenth album Macon, Georgia.

Genoa Candy Dance

September 28 - 29

The Genoa Candy Dance tradition continues to support the Town of Genoa today. A dinner and dance that originated in 1919 as a fundraiser to purchase much needed streetlights, has become a world-renowned outdoor festival of epic proportions for the small town - Nevada's first recorded settlement. Through the years, donations and volunteers made up the majority of the momentum behind the historic annual Candy Dance. Starting with Lillian Virgin Finnegan and all the first volunteers, the Genoa Candy Dance has become the success it is today through hard work and great people.

Reno Phil Presents Beethoven’s Eroica

September 28 - 29

The Reno Phil's 56th season gets off to a joyous start with Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony, a supreme work that is heroic, somber and ecstatic! Music Director & Conductor Laura Jackson leads the Reno Phil Orchestra in this masterpiece, which redefined the symphonic art form forever. The Reno Phil’s own Eric Fassbender brings his technical prowess to Carl Maria von Weber’s Concerto for Bassoon. Opening the celebration, the sparkling Kauyumari (meaning “blue deer”) by Gabriela Ortiz explores music’s power to grant us access to the intangible, healing our wounds and binding us to what can only be expressed through sound.