Reno River Festival Makes a Splash

We're still recovering from all the fun we had over the weekend at the fifth annual Reno River Festival. We started the weekend early with a few dozen other vendors by setting up our booth on Thursday morning. This was the first time myself or Matt Brown, Editor of Nevada Magazine and fellow Traveling Nevada blogger, had set up a tent for an outdoor event—evidenced by the fact that we failed to realize that a 10-by-10-foot E-Z UP becomes a large kite when not weighed down with sand bags. Needless to say, we quickly learned our lesson.

Friday was the official start of the event, and our booth saw a steady stream of people interested in learning more about Nevada Magazine and the Nevada Commission on Tourism. We even had a couple of Traveling Nevada blog fans stop by. One of our most popular giveaway items turned out to be the Nevada Commission on Tourism's Adventure Guide—we went through 150 of them by early afternoon Saturday. We frequently headed down to the water to watch the kayak competitors flip and spin their boats for bigger and better tricks.

Traveling Nevada blogger Matt Brown (left) lines up with other costumed runners at the start of the Run Amuck relay race. Photo by Paul RaymoreOn Saturday, the festival kicked into high gear, with tens of thousands of people turning out to see the kayaking competitions, peruse the various booths and vendors, and enjoy the sunny Reno weather. Our publisher and fellow Traveling Nevada blogger, Joyce Hollister, and her husband relieved Matt and me Saturday afternoon so we could participate in the much-anticipated Run Amuck relay—a two-mile run along the Truckee River with a 60-foot mud pit and inflatable bounce-house at Idlewild Park. More than 100 teams, in costumes that included diapers, afro-wigs, devil outfits, and everything in between, competed in the first obstacle relay to be a part of the Reno River Festival. Despite the bumps, bruises, and blood, we didn't win, but had a great time just the same. Next year, I think I'll wear football pads—at least it won't look out of place. After the run we took a much-needed dip in the river to wash off the mud, and headed over to the New Belgium beer garden for some post-race refreshment. Working together with the Nevada Wilderness Project, all the proceeds from New Belgium's beer sales went to protect the Nevada outback.

After recovering from our Saturday mud bath, Sunday was a relaxing finish to a great weekend. We took a few minutes away from our booth as the crowds dwindled to watch some of the competitors battle the current and each other during the Boatercross competition, and I even found time to take a test drive of a Hybrid Toyota Prius that boasted 48 miles per gallon.

For more information on the Reno River Festival, visit TahoeWorld.com.