Italian Festival in Reno

The Reno Italian Festival brings Little Italy to The Biggest Little City with a variety of events, including a wine walk, Italian farmers’ market, grape stomp by local celebrities, a sauce tasting, a kiddie land, and, of course, lots and lots of pasta and other traditional Italian dishes.

The Italian Festival Reno celebrates its 40th year on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9. Held close to the famous Reno Arch, the Eldorado Italian Festival is sure to bring smiles and tons of live entertainment throughout the two-day street festival. Attendees are invited to “finire di mangia” – or “eat up,” as the Italians say. Dishes to look forward to include chicken Parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, meat ravioli with Bolognese, tortellini Eldorado, Gnocchetti pesto, Italian sausage and peppers, fried ravioli, fried calamari, and the ever-famous and scrumptious mushroom ravioli with porcini cream sauce. Complete your meal with delicious desserts such as homemade gelato, cannolis, or Nutella ricotta Crespo, a sweet ricotta crêpe with strawberries and a drizzle of Nutella.

One huge draw of the Eldorado Italian Festival is the Great Italian Sauce Cook-off. Italian families from across the West Coast bring their recipes to life right on the street for guests to taste. People’s Choice ballots for favorite sauce are handed out with the purchase of pasta. Vote for your favorite and help a vendor win the sought-after prize and title of best Italian sauce on the West Coast.

The Italian Festival Reno event begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 and runs through 6 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 9, the event kicks off at 11 a.m. and closes out at 5 p.m. It takes place outside the Eldorado Resort and Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., Reno. Admission is free.

Don’t miss out on this taste of Italy at home!

For details, visit https://www.caesars.com/the-row-reno/events/great-italian-festival.