As a show town with a libertine history of gambling and 24-hour nightlife, Reno pairs well with the raucous spirit of Halloween. Throughout October, there’s an abundance of Halloween-themed shows as well as bar crawls, costume parties and haunted houses. Family-friendly events aren’t left out in the cold either, with numerous trick-or-treats and cultural events appearing throughout the town. If you’re planning on just one night of Halloween costume-wearing, think again – there’s a whole slew of Halloween experiences to enjoy in Reno.
Photo: The Discovery's annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat happens Saturday, October 24, combining Halloween fun with hands-on learning. Photo: The Discovery Facebook
Cultural Events and Trick-or-Treats
Reno’s premier science museum, The Discovery, is putting on its 15th Annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat on October 24, spanning the whole day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a members-only segment from 10 a.m. to noon. During the event, little ones will have the opportunity to wear their costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the museum, with each gallery being populated with ghosts, ghouls and spooky decorations.
Reno has two Day of the Dead Festivals around this time of year. In the City Plaza, on October 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. and October 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., High Sierra Entertainment is putting on the Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos) Festival. Expect a mix of Hispanic American and Halloween cultural traditions on display at this free event filled with music, dance and culture in Downtown Reno. On Sunday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., head to the free Dia do Los Muertos Festival at Reno Little Theater at E. Pueblo Street and Wells Avenue for music, dancing and other entertainment, children's activities, traditional food and more.
If you’ve never seen Day of the Dead traditions on display, these are great places to experience the striking costumes and customs.
Photo: Dia de los Muertos Festival is a day full of arts, music, food, costumes and Latino culture. Photo courtesy Latino Arte and Culture Reno | Facebook
Another downtown event on October 31 is the Hillside Cemetery Walking Tour from 6 to 8 p.m. An authentically historical and spooky trick-or-treat, it's held in one of Reno’s few downtown cemeteries that sits on a hillside overlooking Downtown Reno.
And if you’re looking for some midtown fun, Mary Chuy’s restaurant is hosting its own free Trick-or-Treat event on October 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. With a number of vendors, a scavenger hunt to find items at nearby shops and a big lineup of games and entertainment, this an excellent Halloween Eve party in vibrant Midtown.
Crawls, Shows and Haunted Houses
For grown-up events, there's the well-known Reno Official Halloween Bar Crawl. A Halloween night event that transports you to multiple bars via a pedal-powered beer bike and ending in an after party, the Halloween Bar Crawl is for you if you like hitting the bars in costume.
If you want more of a show at a venue, Reno is not going to let you down in that department. On Saturday, October 24, the Holland Project is putting on its Halloween show, with local bands playing Rob Zombie, No Doubt, the Cars, MGMT, Cake and even more all-star bands. Similarly, JMAX is putting on a 2000s party at the Alpine on Friday, October 30, which will be a hit with Millennials looking back to the days of Britney Spears and Eminem. And there’s even a Rocky Horror Picture Show event on the 30 and 31 at Cargo Concert Hall, which is sure to be homage to all things wild, strange and decadent.
If you are more interested in the spooky side of Halloween — I mean, the really scary stuff — then you’ll have to make a trip over to the Final Hour Haunted House in Sparks, a 25,000-square-foot maze of terror open throughout the month of October. If you don’t walk away with a fright in your bones, you must have a heart of steel.
Photo: Looking for the scary stuff? Head to Sparks for the Final Hour Haunted House. Image courtesy The Final Hour Facebook
All these shows and events, of course, don’t give justice to the spirit of Halloween that takes place all throughout Reno with the house and office parties, neighborhood trick-or-treats and displays of decorations. Whatever flavor of Halloween suits you, there’s going to be something Reno for you.
About the Author Dan Bablinskas
Dan Bablinskas is a relentlessly curious person with a passion for travel, foreign languages, affordable food and lodgings, well-fashioned cappuccinos and refreshing craft brews. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in creative writing, he traveled through Europe and South America while working as an English teacher and travel blogger. After trying a number of different careers, he settled into technical and content writing for his day job. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the Reno-Tahoe area by foot, car, bike and ski. He lives in Reno with his wife and two kids. 
