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Come celebrate the 40th annual Great Italian Festival located in downtown Reno, Nevada. This family-friendly event requires a ticket or entry fee. Festival hours are
- Saturday, October 8 – 11 am to 6 pm
- Sunday, October 9 – 11 am to 5 pm
Downtown Reno will be transformed into Little Italy with an Italian farmers market, wine walk, food vendor booths and free, live entertainment throughout the festival. See for yourself why people return year after year to the Great Italian Festival.
The Sauce Tasting Fever is always a highlight of the festival. Families throughout the western states bring their sauce recipes to life before your eyes. Pasta muffin tins go for $5 and can be purchased at the Reno Ballroom starting at 12:30 pm. Taste away! You can also act as a judge for the Sauce Cook Off by submitting your ballot for your favorite sauce.
There will be a gelato eating contest and may the best sweet tooth win!
And everyone’s favorite part of the festival is the food! You’ll find everything from traditional spaghetti and meatballs to fried calamari to Italian sausage. Try the local favorite, mushroom ravioli with a decadent porcini cream sauce. And then top all off with sweet treats, including homemade cannoli, crepes and gelato.
On October 8th and 9th, everyone in Reno is Italian for a weekend, no questions asked. Don’t miss it!
Hotels
If you’d like to visit Reno for the Great Italian Festival, you should consider the following hotels. They are all offering discounted rates which can save you money on your stay.
- Peppermill Resort Spa Casino 31% Discount
- Atlantis Casino Resort Spa 29% Discount
- Plaza Resort Club 23% Discount
- Silver Legacy Resort Casino at The Row 18% Discount
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Reno 17% Discount
- La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Reno 14% Discount
- Hilton Garden Inn Reno 10% Discount
- Sands Regency 10% Discount
- Courtyard by Marriott Reno 6% Discount
- Courtyard Reno Downtown/Riverfront 6% Discount
