Spring in the Silver state: 38 festivals to look forward to
There are scores of Nevada festivals happening this spring. No matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find one that’s right up your alley.
With more than three dozen festivals planned across the state throughout March, April, and May, there’s no excuse to be bored this Spring in Nevada.
Nevada festivals have something for people of all ages. You’ll find food festivals, cultural festivals, music festivals, and everything in between, at a variety of distances and price points (including free). No matter what you’re into, there’s likely a Nevada festival for you.
From donkeys and oysters to beer and whiskey to reading and drilling, here are 38 Nevada festivals you won’t want to miss during the spring of 2026.
March festivals
35th Annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry
Where: Virginia City
When: March 14
Cost: From $25
A St. Patrick’s Day celebration for 35 years, the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry is a cheeky cooking competition with prizes including best Rocky Mountain Oyster in the West. There’s a costume contest, parade, live Irish music, Irish-themed drinks, sweet treats, and a saloon crawl.
ICS and Silver State Chili Cook-Off
Where: Petrack Park,150 NV-160, Pahrump
When: March 20-22
Cost: TBA
A three-day celebration of food, family, and community, the ICS and Silver State Chili Cook-Off includes live entertainment, contests, a carnival, vendors, and chili. Proceeds benefit the Pahrump Disabilities Outreach Program (PDOP), Pahrump Theatre Company, and Bikers Against Bullies.
Las Vegas Water Lantern Festival
Where: Craig Ranch Regional Park, 628 W. Craig Rd., North Las Vegas
When: March 21
Cost: From $31
Design your own lantern and set it afloat at the Water Lantern Festival, a family-friendly event with food trucks, music, and festivities. Be sure to bring a lawn chair, blanket, sunscreen, bug spray, and weather-appropriate clothing.
2026 Donkey Jamboree
Where: Donkey History Museum, 355 W. Mesquite Blvd., Mesquite
When: March 21
Cost: Free
Party with pack animals at the 2026 Donkey Jamboree, a festival for all ages, including live music by the Mesquite Cafe Blues Band and donkeys from the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. Attendees will also pan for real gems, enjoy food and drinks, and have an opportunity to tour the world-famous Donkey History Museum.
Foodieland
Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas
When: March 27-29
Cost: From $14
Taste local and global flavors at Foodieland, a family-friendly celebration of food, culture, and community. Expect to peruse more than 200 food, drink, and craft vendors.
Boulder City Beerfest
Where: Wilbur Square and Bicentennial Park, Boulder City
When: March 28
Cost: TBA
Head to Boulder City for brews, food trucks, craft vendors, games, and live music at the Boulder City Beerfest, hosted by the Boulder Dam Brewing Company. Your ticket buys you unlimited beer tastings in a souvenir glass.
Great Vegas Festival of Beer
Where: Downtown Las Vegas
When: March 28
Cost: From $59
Great Vegas Festival of Beer features local and visiting craft breweries, restaurants, and mixologists across 200,000 square feet at 6th and Carson in Downtown Las Vegas. Pick from hundreds of libations and eats, this year in a larger venue.
InFERNo Music and Fire Festival
Where: Reno Fernley Raceway, 1965 S. Hwy. 95a, Fernley
When: March 28-29
Cost: From $82
Things are heating up in Fernley with beer, heavy metal, and a massive bonfire of tumbleweeds at InFERNo. It will be dusty and loud with plenty of vendors, a car show, live music, and fire. BYOT–Bring Your Own Tumbleweed.
April festivals
Whiskey Bonanza
Where: Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center
When: April 4
Cost: From $23
A bonanza of whiskey and outdoor sports, the Whiskey Bonanza features unlimited tastings of rare, national, and local whiskeys for adults and a variety of activities for all ages, like a climbing wall, archery practice, fishing, bull riding, and surfing. There will also be food vendors, line dancing lessons, a DJ, and live music.
9th Annual Kizuna Japanese Spring Festival
Where: Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Dr., Las Vegas
When: April 4
Cost: Free
The Kizuna Society Japanese Spring Festival features entertainment, food trucks, booths, workshops, and activities about Japanese culture.
Nevada State Fair & Rodeo
Where: Clark County Fairgrounds, Logandale
When: April 8-12
Cost: From $17
One of the nation’s premier rodeos, the five-day Clark County Fair and Rodeo draws more than 600 professional athletes and some of the best livestock in the west. You will also enjoy live entertainment, a carnival, vendors, and a variety of exhibits.
29th Annual Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend
Where: Orleans Hotel, Las Vegas, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas
When: April 9-12
Cost: From $45
The world’s largest, longest-running rockabilly event, Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend features live bands, DJs, a pre-1964 classic car show, burlesque, dancing, and vintage fashion.
Tacos and Tamales
Where: Desert Breeze Events Center, 8455 Kids Zone Pkwy., Las Vegas
When: April 11-12
Cost: TBA
Tacos and Tamales Festival is all about mouthwatering tacos, savory tamales, and enticing tequila and cerveza. Choose from a variety of food trucks while taking in Lucha Libre performances, cooking demonstrations, live music, painting, and an art competition at this family-friendly festival.
Pirate Fest Las Vegas
Where: Craig Ranch Regional Park, 628 W Craig Rd., North Las Vegas
When: April 11-12
Cost: Free
Ahoy, mate! The Pirate Fest celebrates all things pirate-related at this family-oriented, interactive Renaissance-style festival, including pirate battles, horses, fire breathers, sword swallowers, mermaids, and vendors.
Powwow for the Future
Where: Cox Pavilion at UNLV
When: April 18-19
Cost: Free
Powwow for the Future, previously Powwow for the Planet, is a two-day celebration of indigenous dance, tradition, and education. All are welcome at this peaceful, community event.
Reno Earth Day Festival
Where: Idlewild Park, Reno
When: April 18
Cost: Free
Reno Earth Day Festival celebrates the planet with local non-profits, artisans, live entertainment, and eco-friendly fun.
Las Vegas Celtic Festival and Highland Games
Where: Craig Ranch Regional Park
When: April 18-19
Cost: Free
Enjoy music, dancing, bagpipes, athletics, food, and all things Celtic at the Las Vegas Celtic Festival and Highland Games, a family-friendly celebration.
Universal Whiskey Experience
Where: Wynn Las Vegas
When: April 22-24
Cost: From $545
Sample an extensive range of rare whiskies and spirits from around the globe while connecting with fellow whiskey connoisseurs at the Universal Whiskey Experience. This is among the bougiest of all Nevada festivals.
Reno Jazz Festival
Where: University of Nevada, Reno
When: April 23-25
Cost: TBA
The Reno Jazz Festival features world-class jazz artists and rising talent in a non-competitive environment with clinics, concerts, and jam sessions. There are lots of chances to listen, watch, learn, and play.
Genoa Western Heritage Days 2026
Where: Genoa
When: April 24-26
Cost: Free for some activities
Celebrate the Western heritage of Nevada’s oldest town with music, history, art, and food at Genoa Western Heritage Days. Events include a free daytime festival, a $40 progressive food dinner, a concert, a horse parade, and Cowboy Church.
Sick New World
Where: Las Vegas Festival Grounds, 2784 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas
When: April 25
Cost: From $364
A one-day music festival, Sick New World features nu-metal, hard rock, and industrial bands across multiple stages. This year’s headliners include System of a Down, Korn, Deftones, and Slayer.
5th Annual Henderson Reads Book Festival
Where: Water Street Plaza, Downtown Henderson
When: April 25
Cost: Free
Hear from authors and illustrators of picture books, middle-grade, and young-adult genres at the Henderson Reads Book Festival. There will be live readings, author talks, book signings, and kids’ activities like face painting, photo booths, and a scavenger hunt.
Las Vegas City of Lights SoulFest: Spring
Where: Clark County Government Center, 500 South Grand Central Pkwy, Las Vegas
When: April 25-26
Cost: Free
The Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz and R&B Festival is a laid-back, family-friendly event with picnic-style seating on soft grass, vendors, and music. Bring your own picnic food and accessories.
Vegas Unstripped
Where: Palm Casino Resort
When: April 26
Cost: From $158
Sample cuisine and cocktails by the city’s most acclaimed chefs and mixologists at Vegas Unstripped. With food and drinks from 30 restaurants, 40 chefs, and 12 bartenders, you will want to go on an empty stomach.
May festivals
6th Annual Henderson Pride
Where: Water Street Plaza, Henderson
When: May 2
Cost: Free
Celebrate diversity, self-awareness, family, health, and wellness with the LGBTQ community at the Henderson Pride Festival. There will be music, vendors, entertainment, and a family fun zone.
Boulder City Spring Jamboree
Where: Bicentennial Park, Wilbur Square, and North and South Escalate Parks in Boulder City
When: May 2-3
Cost: Free
Spanning four parks in Boulder City, the Boulder City Spring Jamboree is fun for the whole family. There’s art, crafts, food, live entertainment, vendors, kids’ activities, and a car show.
Bighorn Barrel Race, Rodeo, and Festival
Where: Horseman’s Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas
When: May 7-10
Cost: Free
Put on by the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA), the Bighorn Barrel Race, Rodeo, and Festival includes traditional rodeo competitions, as well as campy events, entertainment, dancing, vendors, and more.
Art Festival of Henderson
Where: Water Street Plaza
When: May 9-10
Cost: Free
A Mother’s Day tradition, the Art Festival of Henderson is a juried art show with live entertainment. See the work of contemporary artists while perusing crafts, fashion, and home décor. You’ll also see live art demonstrations, including a chalk art gallery.
Carson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival
Where: Lampe Park, Gardnerville
When: May 15-17
Cost: Free
Watch the sky fill with colorful balloons at the Hot Air for Hope: Carson Valley Balloon Festival while taking in live music and exploring vendors in the park.
EDC Las Vegas
Where: Motor Speedway
When: May 15-17
Cost: TBA
Widely considered the premier electronic music festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is a three-day celebration with hundreds of performers and a full-sized carnival.
Northern Nevada Celtic Ceilidh
Where: Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane, Reno
When: May 16
Cost: Free
Sponsored by the Sons & Daughters of Erin, the Northern Nevada Celtic Ceilidh celebrates all things Celtic and Irish.
44th Chili on the Comstock & Craft Brew Tour
Where: Virginia City
When: May 16-17
Cost: From $30
Virginia City goes all out for Chili on the Comstock, where professional and amateur chili cooks from the region unite to celebrate chili and craft beer. These delights will be offered at more than 20 locations in town. This year also brings a hot chili pepper-eating contest.
55th Annual Jim Butler Days and Nevada State Mining Championships
Where: Tonopah
When: May 18-26
Cost: Free
With a parade, pageant, and lots of food, the highlight of Jim Butler Days and Nevada State Mining Championships is the drilling contests, in which Nevada contestants compete for silver hammers and shovels (and cash).
Best Dam Barbecue Challenge
Where: Bicentennial Park, Boulder City
When: May 23-24
Cost: Free
Enjoy all things barbecue plus live entertainment, shopping, a rib-eating contest, a kid zone, a car show, and family-friendly activities at the Best Dam Barbecue Challenge over Memorial Day weekend.
24th Annual Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle and Music Festival
Where: Winnemucca
When: May 22-24
Cost: From $50
The Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle and Music Festival includes free concerts, a $1,000 poker run, death-defying motocycle acts, a barbecue, and vendors.
Schellraiser’s Humboldt Hideaway
Where: Wells City Park, 824 Clover Ave, Wells
When: May 29-30
Cost: From $55
Head to Eastern Nevada for Schellraiser’s Humboldt Hideaway, an all-ages festival with three days of concerts, food trucks, drinks, and vendors. Expect alternative, independent, and underground artists performing everything from country to cumbia, punk to pop, and soul to psychedelia.
Reno River Festival
Where: Idlewild Park
When: May 29-31
Cost: $15
The Reno River Festival incorporates three days of live music, food, drinks, shopping, rafting, and rides. It’s a music, food, and art festival, all in one.
HAAPIROOTS Cultural Festival
Where: Downtown Container Park, Las Vegas
When: May 31
Cost: Free (donations are welcome)
An event honoring Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, the HAAPIROOTS Cultural Festival is a celebration of community and culture with live performances, a cultural fashion showcase, and a curated marketplace of AANHPI-owned small businesses.
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