May Family-Friendly Activities In Reno, Sparks, And Beyond

We are sharing May family-friendly activities in Reno, Sparks, and Beyond. If you’re a mom, dad, or caregiver and you’re looking for the ultimate guide to Nevada, Nevada Moms is the spot.

We are the #1 family guide to Nevada experiences and activities. From upcoming events, kid-friendly activities, local businesses to check out, and more – you don’t want to miss it.

By local moms for local families.

Don’t forget to bookmark our website and follow along with us on Instagram @northernnevadamoms and Facebook @northernnevadamoms. As always thank you for supporting our locally owned and operated small business.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES IN OUR AREA

Northern Nevada has something to offer year-round!  You can check out any of these family-friendly activities on the days you aren’t looking for a specific event to attend:

• The Complete List of Farmers’ Markets in Reno, Sparks, Carson City
• Indoor Activities in Northern Nevada
• Best Parks in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City
• Free Storytime Locations

Looking for local discounts for Nevada Moms readers to enjoy? Check all of our active offers and promo codes over here.

THE BEST LIST OF CARSON CITY, SPARKS, AND RENO FAMILY EVENTS

Keep scrolling if you’d like to read details on events, however, we do also offer the best list of Carson City, Sparks, and Reno events in town!

Our calendar is updated as soon as new events are shared and businesses can even submit their own events if they are family-friendly. Click the link above or here to access the FULL calendar as below is just a preview.

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS: SELF-CARE GIFT GUIDE

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, which means all of our husbands, partners, and other family members are going to be asking us what we really want. Let’s be honest, we all deserve a little self-care!

So we’ve put together a list of Mother’s Day gift ideas to help get some self-care in and also to support local businesses in Nevada.

MOTHERS DAY BRUNCHES AND ACTIVITIES

Check out our list of activities and brunches happening this Mother’s Day!

May Family-Friendly Activities In Reno

SWEET: A TASTY JOURNEY

Date: January 15 – May 15, 2022

Location: 1595 N. Sierra Street, Reno, NV. (Inside Rancho San Rafael Regional Park)

Sweet will take you on a journey through the history and manufacturing of candy, chocolate, and other treats. Learn about candies of the past, meet real-life Willy Wonkas, and explore cultures around the world through their candy.

Play a life-size Candyland game, take a tour of Candy Mountain, see candy art, test your taste buds, photo ops, and more! Cost: $10 adults / $9 children & seniors

RIVERSIDE FARMERS MARKET

Date: Every Saturday from 9am – 12pm

Location: McKinley Arts Center

Enjoy Reno’s year-round farmers market! Fresh local food, vendors, and more!

FAMILY DAY AT BUNDOX BOCCE

Date: Every Sunday from 12pm-4pm

Location: Bundox Bocce

Bring the family for FREE bocce play every Sunday from noon to 4pm. Check their website for date exclusions and closures.

MIDTOWN RENO FIRST THURSDAY

Date: May 5th, 2022

Location: Midtown Reno, NV.

Join in the MidTown Holiday Festivities every 1st Thursday of the month!

Be sure to treat yourself to a day at your favorite MidTown retailers, services, bars, and restaurants. Our local businesses plan exciting in-store events including food and beverage tastings, local art exhibits, live music, and more.

Each merchant creatively plans their own event so check each listing for individual hours and details at

MARKET AT THE PARK AT RED (RENO EXPERIENCE DISTRICT)

Date: May 1st and 15th, & 29th 9am-1pm

Location: Midtown Reno, NV.

The Reno Outdoor Marketplace presents “Market at the Park” at RED (Reno Experience District). March 20th celebrates this kick-off event for this market that will run through May 29th. Expect to see amazing vendors, food trucks, and more.  The market runs every other Sunday  from 9am – 1pm.

MAGIQUE

Date: Every Saturday and Select Other Days

Location: The Theatre

Magique is a fun-filled extravaganza starring renowned international Illusionists Kevin & Caruso. Kevin and Caruso have starred in and produced, some of the biggest and longest-running illusion shows in the world!

LITTLE SPROUTS: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WORMS

Date: May 3, 10, 24, 31

Location: Wilbur D. May Center, 1595 N Sierra St, Reno, NV

The same program will be offered every week; only sign up for one date please! Little Sprouts is a FREE program for children ages 2-5 to come to the garden and learn about nature and the world around them. Adult attendance is required and they must stay for the duration of the event. Space is limited; register today! Contact the Arboretum Educator at RDunn@washoecounty.gov or 775-785-4153 to RSVP.

WOLFPACK BASEBALL

Date: May 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 21,

Location: Don Weir Field at Pecoole Park

Come cheer on the Wolf Pack baseball team at a home game this season!

RENO RIVER FESTIVAL 

Date: May 7-8, 2022

Location: Wingfield Park

The Reno River Festival is taking outdoor adventure to a whole new level in downtown Reno! This community celebration features live music with performances by nationally recognized artists, food, shopping, family-friendly rides and attractions, a Craft Beer Experience, a Hard Seltzer Experience, a Mother-Daughter look-a-like contest, and the Reno River Roll: one of the most unique bike rides in Northern Nevada.

BLAST OFF ON SCIENCE 

Date: May 8th, Second Saturday of Every Month. 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: The National Automobile Museum

With exclusive activities from the Nevada Space Center, home of the Challenger Learning Center of Northern Nevada.

HANDS ON! SECOND SATURDAY

Date: May 8th  (Second Saturday of each month), 10am – 4pm

Location: Nevada Museum of Art, 160 West Liberty, Reno, Nevada 89501

This monthly event is free for the community and is fun for the entire family.  Enjoy hands-on art activities, a tour of the museum, live performances, and more.  Head to nevadaart.org To find a full schedule and upcoming themes for Hands ON! Second Saturday.

RENO ACES BASEBALL 

Date: May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,

Location: Greater Nevada Field

Take the family out to the Reno Aces baseball game!  Enjoy the game, good food, and the fireworks after every Friday home game!

DIVAS DAY OUT

Date: May 7th at 10am

Location: Grand Sierra Resort

This event is limited to guests 21+ only and takes place in the Summit Pavilion at Grand Sierra Resort. Divas’ Day Out will showcase over 100+ businesses, on-site, for shopping, giveaways and information on health, fitness, beauty, fashion, motherhood, finance, education, career and a lot of fun. All the things that women love!

DISCOVER YOUR PARKS WALK

Date: May 12@6pm

Location: Crystal Peak Park

Discover Crystal Peak Park! They will be discussing the rich history of this park as well as spring migration. During this walk, they will be observing the diverse birds that call this park home! Register ahead of time.

MARKET AT SANDS

Date: May 14, 21, 28

Location: Sands Regency, Reno

The Reno Outdoor Marketplace presents “Market at Sands”. Enjoy vendors, food trucks, and more!

NORTHERN NEVADA CELTIC CELEBRATION

Date: May 21

Location: Bartley Ranch Regional Park

Fun for all ages! This festival has entertained visitors and residents and provided a cultural experience rooted in the seven Celtic Nations. This unique cultural celebration features pipe band competitions, Scottish and Irish dancers, Highland games, Celtic critters, kid’s games, living history demonstrations, Celtic merchandise and food and drink. There will also be amazing musical guests on the main stage!

LIQUID GOLD 5K

Date: May 21

Location: University of Nevada, Reno campus

Come celebrate the annual Liquid Gold 5k and bring awareness to breastfeeding and feeding of mother’s milk.The beautiful morning starts off at the University of Nevada, Knowledge Center.  There will be a children’s fair, kid/family friendly vendors, post race snacks and drinks, and a raffle. And don’t forget The Latch On which will take place after the race too! We will have swag bags for those participating in the Northern Nevada Latch On event. The latch On is a free event.

VIVA LE CIRQUE

Date: May 26 – June 12

Location: Grand Sierra Resort

Viva Le Cirque! is a large-scale spectacular show starring today’s most amazing cirque artists. Featuring an international cast including former Cirque du Soleil acrobats, Viva Le Cirque! is a homage to the great world of cirque. Gymnasts, aerialists, contortionists, hand balancers, jugglers, and daredevils take us through a supernatural voyage into the mind of a lost traveler who crash-lands, of all places, inside the theater at the Grand Sierra Resort

SPARKS

MAKER FAMILY MEET-UP

Date: Every Thursday from 3:00-5:00pm

Location: The Generator, 2450 Oddie Blvd Sparks, NV 89431

Drop-in every Thursday afternoon from 3:00-5:00 for the Maker Family Meetup! This is a pay-what-you-can drop-in art experience for kids and their families. Each week will be a different art activity as well as fun art activation stations for your child(ren) to explore! This is a fun, hands-on, and lowkey place for kids to express their creativity and check out our maker space.

3RD THURSDAYS

Date: May 19th from 4-9pm (third Thursday of every month)

Location: Victorian Square

This includes good food, cold drinks, live entertainment, crafts, chef demos, movies on the big screen, and all the art you can handle! Downtown Sparks is the place to be this and every 3rd Thursday of the month, all year round!

CARSON CITY

SATURDAY NIGHT STAR PARTIES

Date: 2nd and 4th Saturday

Location: Jack C Davis Observatory

The Jack C Davis Observatory hosts free star parties on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month year-round, starting at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Mike Thomas at mnethomas@sbcglobal.net or Dr. Tom Herring at Thomas.Herring@wnc.edu.

SNOOPY AND THE RED BARON EXHIBITION

Date: February 19 – May 15, 2022

Location: Brewery Arts Center, 449 W King Street Carson City, NV 89703

Snoopy and the Red Baron, a traveling exhibition on view at the Brewery Arts Center, from February 19-May 15, 2022, celebrates one of Snoopy’s most recognized personas. Learn about this favorite storyline in Peanuts through high-quality reproductions of original comic strips and discover the rich World War I history Schulz used in nearly every strip.

Tuesday through Sunday from 12pm to 4pm,

Thursdays from 12pm to 7pm and for special events.

Entry will be for a suggested donation of $10 per adult and $5 for students and seniors.

KIDS TO PARKS DAY

Date: May 21 from 10am-2pm

Location: Mills Park

Head to Mills Park for Kids To Parks Day. There will be food, drinks, activities, and family fun

V&T RAILWAY

Date: May 21, 22, 28, 29

Location: V&T Railway

This relaxing, all-day train excursion is fully narrated with historical facts and anecdotes. Departing from Carson City’s Eastgate Depot, the 24-mile roundtrip tour includes a fun 3.5-hour stopover in historic Virginia City, where you can stroll the boardwalks and explore restaurants, shops, saloons, museums, mines and more.

VIRGINIA CITY

CHILI AND THE COMSTOCK

Date: May 21-22, 2022

Location: Virginia City

Top chili cooks gather in Virginia City for the 39th annual Chili on the Comstock. Combined with a Craft Beer Tour featuring pours from local saloons and award-winning craft breweries, it’s the most delicious and satisfying event of the year.

Chili cookers are competing to win your vote for the best chili and people’s choice awards. Rejoice at the endless varieties to sample along C Street, all cooked up by top chili cooks competing for a spot in the International Chili Society World Finals.

TAHOE

HEAVENLY VILLAGE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Date: May 27-29, 5:45pm-9:15pm

Location: The Shops at Heavenly Village

The Shops at Heavenly Village will host free outdoor concerts every Friday and Saturday evening from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day from 5:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

MADE IN TAHOE FESTIVAL

Date: Sat, May 28, 11am-5pm and Sunday May 29, 11am-5pm

Location: The Village at Palisades Tahoe

Made in Tahoe celebrates all things local. The Village at Palisades Tahoe will host a wide array of offerings that are made in or inspired by the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee areas: local artisans, businesses, chefs, organizations, and entertainers. Discover, explore, and experience our rich community full of talented creators while enjoying a variety of local food and beer.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

What May family-friendly activities in Reno are you looking forward to attending with your family this month?

Have travel plans to the Las Vegas area? Check out upcoming events in Southern Nevada for the month of May.