Celebrate Independence Day in Reno-Tahoe

The summer season in Reno-Tahoe is heating up with exciting events, plenty of outdoor recreation and loads of fireworks to light up the sky this Fourth of July. So this year, don’t plan another boring barbecue…experience your next adventure in Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place.

Named one of the largest and most inclusive arts and culture events in the country, the entire month of July plays host to Artown. The 11th annual summer arts festival features 300 performing and visual arts events in dozens of locations citywide, most of which are free to the public, including music, dance, theater, opera, children’s workshops, movies in the park, cowboy poetry, historical walks, visual arts and more. Contact Artown at 775-322-1538 or visit www.renoisartown.com for more information.

Join the dozens of restaurants and bars from all over the world that come to Reno during the Great International Chicken Wing Society Cook-Off, July 1 – 3. Serving up their own version of everybody’s favorite bar food, visitors can wander throughout the cook-off to purchase sampler plates from each participant. For more information, call 775-358-8376 or log on to www.thegreatinternationalchickenwingsociety.com.

It wouldn’t be Independence Day without fireworks and Reno-Tahoe takes pyrotechnics to a whole new level. Catch firework displays at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, the Star Spangled Sparks event at the Sparks Marina and John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, at Carson City’s Cavalcade of Spectaculars at Mills Park or at any of four Lake Tahoe locations including Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Incline Village and South Lake Tahoe. Call 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com for more information.

Revolutionary Indie punk band, Sonic Youth, performs July 4 at the Reno Hilton. Fresh off the release of its 23rd album, “Rather Ripped,” the band’s double-sided1988 album, “Day Dream Nation” catapulted Sonic Youth into punk rock infamy with hits like “Teenage Riot,” “Candle” and “The Sprawl.” Tickets are $25. Call 800-648-3568 or log on to www.renohilton.com for more information.

Take on a mighty challenge during the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure July 7 – 8. Traveling from Reno up through the Sierra Nevada, along the shores of Lake Tahoe and then circling back through the high desert of northern Nevada, the relay covers 178 miles and is divided into 36 legs of varying lengths, difficulties and altitudes. Each runner completes three legs of the course over two days. Contact 775-825-3399 for details or visit www.renotahoeodyssey.com.

Nothing washes down good barbecue like a cold beer and cool blues at the Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival July 8. Party-goers also find tons of live music and headlining entertainment, all in the heart of downtown Reno. Contact 800-648-5966 for details or visit www.eldoradoreno.com.

The 34th annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival celebrates a landmark season in 2006. Taking the stage for an unprecedented 39 consecutive nights from July 13 – Aug. 20, this year’s play bill features another first – three plays, performed seven nights per week: Othello, Twelfth Night and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). Experience one of north Lake Tahoe’s most popular events set against the backdrop of Lake Tahoe and get a front row seat to the summer’s greatest cultural production. Can’t make it to Sand Harbor? Not to worry. The Festival performs in Reno for the first time ever at the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheatre at Bartley Ranch July 5 at 7:30 p.m. Contact 800-74-SHOWS (800-747-4697) for details or visit www.LakeTahoeShakespeare.com.

Celebrate Reno’s Basque heritage July 15 during the 39th annual Reno Basque Festival at Wingfield Park. Take part in the first-ever golf scramble July 14 at Washoe County Golf Course for a chance to win a trip for two to the Pyrenees region of France and Spain or simply sit back and enjoy the traditional food, dance, Basque mass, games and sporting competitions including soka tira (tug-of-war), wood chopping and weight lifting. Contact 775-762-2577 for details or visit www.renobasqueclub.org.

Live the life of the Big Easy July 15 – 16 at Victorian Square in Sparks. This annual street festival is held in celebration of Mardi Gras and features Cajun cuisine and street vendors, craft booths, a parade, live blues and Zydeco on three outdoor stages…not to mention plenty of beads. The event is free to the public, compliments of the Silver Club Hotel Casino. Log on to www.silverclub.com or call 800-905-7774 for more information.

The seventh annual John Ascuaga’s Nugget Amateur Challenge, July 16 – 20, takes participants to some of the best courses in northern Nevada including ArrowCreek Country Club, D’Andrea Golf Club, The Resort at Red Hawk, Genoa Lakes and Dayton Valley, with finals held at Grizzly Ranch. The tournament is expected to draw more than 600 participants. Players are seeded within women’s, men’s, senior men’s and super senior men’s divisions. Call 800-803-6918 or visit www.renoamateurchallenge.com for more information.

Travel through history at the Great Basin Chautauqua Festival as scholars portray major literary and historical figures at Rancho San Rafael Park July 16 – 20. Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2006, Chautauqua is held in conjunction with Artown and provides five days of both education and entertainment in fun summertime surroundings. The Great Basin Chautauqua Festival also features a Young Chautauqua portion that includes children ages 8 to 18 who research and develop characters for six months prior to performing in front of the festival audience. Call 800-382-5023 for more information.

For the area’s best hotel rates online, log on to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com/bestrates. For more information about Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place contact 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or visit online.