It's officially time for the Fall season. A season filled with wearing cozy sweaters, sipping warm drinks, and watching the leaves transition into beautiful colors. The Reno and Northern Nevada area are prime locations when it comes to finding fun and exciting activities to get you into the fall spirit. As the temperature starts to drop, the community puts on plenty of events that are perfectly suitable for that crisp and chilly weather. While the Reno area has its own events and festivities that happen throughout the year, the city is so close to a number of other places that it simply just takes a short drive to get there. So whether or not you are a huge fanatic of Fall, these activities are guaranteed to make the season fully enjoyable.
1. Release your inner child at The Great Reno Balloon Races.
Although the Balloon Races already took place the weekend of Sept 9th-11th, this event marks the beginning of the transition from Summer into Fall. The "Dawn Patrol" show and the "Mass Ascension" of all of the balloons is worth that 3 am wake-up call.
2. Go to Street Vibrations
This annual event is occurring the weekend of Sept. 21st-25th, and brings in bikers from near and afar. This festival is not just for bikers though, anyone can come and hang out. There are hundreds of vendors, outdoor concerts, and tons of cool motorcycles to look at.
3. Cheer on the Wolf Pack at a University of Nevada, Reno football game
Fall is also the season of football. If you are interested in watching any of the Wolf Pack games, the official 2016 schedule can be found here. Make sure to also catch some of the must-watch games, including the Homecoming game against Wyoming and the game against our rival team UNLV.
3. Attend Zombie Crawl
If you love exploring new places in downtown Reno, love wearing costumes, and are over the age of 21, then the Zombie Crawl is perfect for you. This year the crawl will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22nd, and includes thousands of participants, tons of drink specials, and of course zombies. More information can be found here on their website.
4. Dance at "Thriller At the Stadium"
In previous years, this event has taken place underneath the Reno arch, but this will be the first time it is performed at Greater Nevada Field (a.k.a the Reno Aces Stadium). Preceding the Zombie Crawl, this flash-mob style performance is suitable for all ages and you can even learn the choreography to Michael Jackson's classic hit.
5. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
There are some great pumpkin patches in the Reno community that are locally owned and operated. Whether you go with your family, a significant other, or a group of friends, there are a lot of great activities to do. These are some of the businesses that can be found within the Northern Nevada area:
Ferrari Farm Pumpkin Patch
Toll House Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Trees
6. Get lost in a Corn Maze
Corn mazes are great for group activities, especially if you try to solve one at night. And if you're feeling really brave, there are also haunted corn mazes that are sure to give you a scare. Just be sure to take a flashlight with you.
7. Take a drive up to Apple Hill
Located in Placerville, California, Apple Hill is every Fall fanatic's dream destination. Filled with tons of local family farms, pumpkin patches, apple picking, wine tasting, and much more. The drive is about three hours away from Reno and is definitely worth the trip. You'll be coming home with tons of fall treats to snack on. More information on their farms and events can be found here.
8. Get Scared at "Slaughter House" inside Aces Ballpark
Located inside of Greater Nevada Field, this haunted house attraction is celebrating its 11th year frightening the Northern Nevada community. If you are a fan of getting scared and all things Halloween, you should definitely check out "Slaughter House."
9. Do a Fall Photo shoot
With so many different sights and sceneries, Reno is perfect for some instagram-worthy shots of the fall foliage. The picture above is actually me from last year at Rancho San Rafael Park playing around in the leaves.
10. Go see a screening of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'
If you have never been able to witness a live reenactment of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" you are in for a real treat. Performed on our very own University of Nevada, Reno campus, this fantastic show features shadow casting while the hit musical plays in the background. Make sure to come in a fun costume and be prepared to sing and dance your hearts out. For more information, here is the link to the event's Facebook page.
11. Take a stroll through the park
It's nice and relaxing to take a walk through the park and enjoy the chilly weather and picture perfect scenery. From 'Rancho San Rafael Park' to 'Idlewild Park' there are a lot of nearby places that will make you want Fall to last all year long.
12. Plan a hiking trip
Reno is surrounded by remarkable landscapes and hiking trails that must be experienced in everyone's lifetime. It's sometimes easy to forget about the great outdoorsy activities that we have right in our backyard. Some must-see trails include Hunter Creek Trail and Galena Creek Trail. Don't forget to also check out some of the other hikes that surround the Sierra Nevada, including the famous Pacific Crest Trail as pictured above.
13. Indulge in a fall treat
Explore some of the local businesses in the Midtown and Riverwalk District to see what kinds of food and drink options they are offering for the season. A lot of the Reno coffee shops also offer some tasty specialty drinks that bask in the flavors of fall.
14. Be amazed at Lantern Fest
This annual event attracts hundreds of people every year to release lanterns into the sky to make a real life 'Tangled' moment come to life. In addition, there is also live music, dancing, and campfires. The festival took place on Sept. 24th, but don't worry even if you missed it this time, you can always try to make plans for it next year.
15. Get a Virginia City Ghost Tour
Virginia City is filled with rich history and eerie stories that make it one of the most haunting places to visit. If you ever plan to drive here during the season, make sure to catch a ghost tour to get you into the Halloween spirit.
16. Watch the animals at Animal Ark's "Harvest Festival"
The Animal Ark out in Red Rock is home to a number of wildlife animals that have been injured or abandoned, and are unable to survive in the wilderness. The Harvest Festival is a day for people to come and watch the animals as they eat their favorite treats out of pumpkins.
17. Celebrate Nevada Day
Celebrate the anniversary of Nevada's admission into statehood on Oct. 28th. Carson City is also hosting the annual parade on Oct. 29th. More information on this event can be found here.
Fall is simply one of the best times of the year. Although the weather is starting to cool down, you shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying the crisp Reno air and all that it has to offer.
