Students are heading back to Washoe County's classrooms this week — drivers, take note — but that doesn't mean the end is here quite yet for some of northwestern Nevada's biggest summer events. This week includes four food truck rallies, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and six Reno Aces home games.

This weekend should be a bit cooler than usual, which is good news for special events like Reno's Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival, Tacos & Tequila and the Festival of Colors; Lake Tahoe's Valhalla Renaissance Faire; and the Cosmos in the Desert Dark Skies Festival at Lahontan Reservoir.

Here's what else you'll need to know for the week of Aug. 11-17, 2025.

Reno-Tahoe events, Aug. 11-17

David Brighton's Space Oddity: The Ultimate David Bowie Experience, Aug. 11: Brighton and his band bring the rock legend's musical journey to life on the shores of Lake Tahoe. It's happening at 7:30 p.m. at Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28 in Incline Village. For details and tickets, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Reno Aces vs. El Paso Chihuahuas, Aug. 12-17: Highlights this week include Princess Night and postgame fireworks on Friday; Toy Story Night with a Slinky giveaway on Saturday; and $1.50 hot dogs on Sunday. Games take place at Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave. For details and tickets, call 775-334-7000 or visit renoaces.com.

The Modern Gentlemen, Aug. 12: These "Modern Day Keepers of the Classics" perform the works of rock groups from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to the Beach Boys, Beatles, Eagles and more. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28 in Incline Village. For details and tickets, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival: 'Peter and the Starcatcher,' Aug 13, 15, 16: The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival features this Tony Award-winning prequel to "Peter Pan." Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28 in Incline Village. Tickets range from $22 general admission seating to $110 premium and table seats. For details, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Food Truck Wednesday, Aug. 13: The organizers behind Idlewild Park's Food Truck Friday will host a roundup in south Reno's Cyan Park, 2121 Long Meadow Drive, from 4 to 8 p.m. For details, visit facebook.com/RenoStreetFood.

Feed the Camel, Aug. 13: It's Hump Day, and food trucks are gathering at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center in the Reno Riverwalk District. The event runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at 925 Riverside Drive. For details, visit facebook.com/feedthecamel.

Angel Band, Aug. 13: An indie-pop group band from Denver, Angel Band plays with local rockers Bug Bath, Next Question and Solar Flora at this show at 7 p.m. at Holland Project, 140 Vesta Street. Tickets are $12-$15. Details: 775-742-1858 or hollandreno.org.

Willy Tea Taylor, Aug. 13: This Bay Area singer/songwriter headlines the Valhalla’s annual Loud as Folk show, which also features Reno singer/songwriters Spike McGuire, Greg Gilmore and Rachael McElhiney. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Boathouse Theatre, Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, California. Tickets are $32-$35. Details at valhallatahoe.com.

Femi Kuti and Positive Force, Aug. 13: One of the absolute best in the Afrobeat genre, Femi Kuti continues his father Fela’s sound with his own band. He’s touring with his full lineup for this show at 8 p.m. in the Crown Room at Crystal Bay Club Casino, 14 State Highway 28, Crystal Bay. Tickets are $30-$35. For details, call 775-833-6333 or visit crystalbaycasino.com.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival: 'Twelfth Night,' Aug. 14, 17: This year's Shakespeare play is this love-triangle comedy with performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28 in Incline Village. Tickets range from $22 general admission seating to $110 premium and table seats. For details, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Ten Foot Tiger with Zero Point Zero, Aug. 14: Two regional bands are set to perform as part of the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series at Lakeview Commons, 1004 Lakeview Ave. in South Lake Tahoe. For details, visit visitlaketahoe.com.

Food Truck Thursday, Aug. 14: The organizers behind Idlewild Park's Food Truck Friday are putting this one on at North Valleys Regional Park, 8085 Silver Lake Road, from 4 to 8 p.m. For details, visit facebook.com/RenoStreetFood.

Occults, Aug. 14: A band from Los Angeles who merge shoegaze guitars with classic post-punk vibes will play at 8 p.m. at Alturas Bar, 1044 E. 4th Street. Tickets are $10-$12. Details at facebook.com/alturasnv.

Happy Accident, Aug. 14: Puppet shows with often experimental indie music are becoming a thing again, and here is one example from Oregon. See it at 8 p.m. at Holland Project, 140 Vesta Street. Tickets are $15. Details: 775-742-1858 or hollandreno.org.

Magique, Aug. 15-16: A show that blends magic, comedy and dance, this week's show is at 8 p.m. Saturday. It takes place at the Celebrity Showroom, Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks. Tickets are $60-$140. For details, call 775-356-3300 or visit cnty.com/nugget.

The Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival, Aug. 15-17: This three-night event both international and local dance performers and groups. It includes festival guest artist Ina Okun, plus headliners such as Danza Azteca Aztlan, WhiteLight Bollywood, and Nevada Dance Company. It all takes place at 7:30 each day at the Plaza outside the Pioneer Center, 100 S. Virginia Street. Details at pioneercenter.com.

Food Truck Friday, Aug. 15: The Friday night food truck festival kicks off at 4 p.m. and runs through 9 p.m. at Idlewild Park, 1800 Idlewild Drive in Reno. For details, visit facebook.com/RenoStreetFood.

Leftover Salmon and The Infamous Stringdusters, Aug. 15: These two popular bands that merge jam-band styles with acoustic folk and bluegrass are teaming up for a tour. It’ll take place at 6 p.m. at Glow Plaza, J Resort, 345 N. Arlington Avenue. Tickets are $45-$80. Details at jresortent.com.

Whiskey Myers and Tedeschi Trucks Band, Aug. 15: Two current powerhouses in the roots-rock scene team up for this tour, which makes a stop at 6 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Amphitheater, Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino, 18 Highway 50. Tickets are $80 to $150. For details, call 800-342-7724 or visit caesars.com/harrahs-tahoe.

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Delta Wires, Aug. 15: A longtime blues-rock band from the Bay Area, the Delta Wires will play at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville Social Club, 1105 S. Carson Street, Carson City. Tickets are $25-$30. Details at thenashvilleclub.com.

War, Aug. 15: Keyboardist and singer Lonnie Jordan is the lone original member of this band with big hits such as “Low Rider” and “The World is a Ghetto.” War plays 8 p.m. at Grande Exposition Hall, Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia Street. Tickets are $70-$100. For details, call 775-325-7401 or visit ccaesars.com/silver-legacy-reno/shows.

Zane Lamprey, Aug. 15: This comedian, author and TV host known for touting great beer is performing at a bunch of breweries around the country on his “Another Round Comedy Tour.” This includes a stop at 8 p.m. at Schussboom Brewing, 12245 S. Virginia Street. Tickets are $30-$45. Details at zanelamprey.com.

Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Aug. 15: An unusual band to emerge from the Texas-based Red Dirt county movement, this group merges early ’70s hard rock, alternative music and Latin rhythms. They play at 8 p.m. in the Crown Room at Crystal Bay Club Casino, 14 State Highway 28, Crystal Bay. Tickets are $20-$25. For details, call 775-833-6333 or visit crystalbaycasino.com.

Valhalla Renaissance Faire, Aug. 16-17: The first weekend of this long-running renaissance faire is set for Saturday and Sunday with food, entertainment, shopping and, yes, jousting. It runs from 10 to 6 on Saturday, 10 to 5 on Sunday at Tahoe Valley Campground, 1175 Melba Drive in South Lake Tahoe. For details and ticket information, visit valhallafaire.com.

Tacos & Tequila, Aug. 16: The J Resort hosts this all-day festival of tacos, tequila, margaritas and craft cocktails, plus live music and Lucha Libre wrestling. It starts at noon at J Resort's Glow Plaza, 670 W. 4th Street. For details, visit jresortent.com.

Festival of Colors: Summer Special, Aug. 16: It’s the return of this festival featuring live music, DJs, color throws and artisans. This edition features live performances from hip-hop artists Ron Deazy and DJ Raffman, among others. It starts at 12 noon at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra Street. Tickets are $20-$25. Details at neteffectmedia.com/event.

Hazzard’s Cure, Aug. 16: All of the diverse sounds that make up metal music are represented in this excellent San Francisco band’s sound. They headline an eclectic day of local and regional rock, punk and metal with bands such as Furrow, Pussy Velour, Soothsayer, Reeking Slug and Beach Noise. It all begins at 3 p.m. at Corrigan’s Lost Highway, 1526 S. Wells Avenue. There is a $20 door charge. Details at instagram.com/corrigans_losthighway.

NB Ridaz, Aug. 16: This rap group performs at at 7 p.m. at Virginia Street Brewhouse, 211 N. Virginia Street. Tickets are $25-$30. Details at renobrewhouse.com.

Swagger, Aug. 16: An appropriate name for this Utah group that plays an upbeat take on Celtic music. They perform at 7 p.m. at the Outdoor Stage, Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King Street, Carson City. Details at breweryarts.org.

Wendell Mobley and Lee Thomas Miller, Aug. 16: These two Nashville songwriters are touring together playing hits they’ve written for some of country’s top artists. They play at 7:30 p.m. at Bally’s Lake Tahoe, 55 US Highway 50, Stateline. Tickets are $45. Details at casino.ballys.com/lake-tahoe.

Ice Nine Kills, Aug. 16: INK is a Boston band combines melodic metalcore music with horror-movie inspired lyrics. They perform at 8 p.m. at the Grand Theater, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, 2500 E. 2nd Street. Tickets are $75-$160. For details, call 775-789-1115 or visit grandsierraresort.com.

Burning Harvest, Aug. 16: This Reno metal band tops the bill with three other locals starting at 8 p.m. at Alturas Bar, 1044 E. 4th Street. There is a $10 cover charge. Details at facebook.com/alturasnv.

Cosmos in the Desert Dark Skies Festival, Aug. 16: Join fellow skywatchers for a night of stargazing at Lahontan State Recreation Area. Programs include telescope viewing, nocturnal wildlife walks, dark sky storytelling and onsite food and drink vendors. It runs from 8 p.m. until midnight at Lahontan State Recreation Area Beach 3 (1971 Fir Avenue, Silver Springs). For details and directions, visit parks.nv.gov/events.

Lahontan Reservoir at dusk.

Josh Turner, Aug. 17: This country singer has scored hits such as “Hometown Girl,” “Your Man” and “All Over Me” since his debut in the early ’00s. He’ll perform at 7 p.m. at Grande Exposition Hall, Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia Street. Tickets are $60-$95. For details, call 775-325-7401 or visit caesars.com/silver-legacy-reno/shows.

Glass Animals, Aug. 17: This popular UK alternative rock band merges influences from both psychedelia and dance culture for its distinctive sound. They perform at 8 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Amphitheater, Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino, 18 Highway 50. Tickets are $90 to $150. For details, call 800-342-7724 or visit caesars.com/harrahs-tahoe.

Ward Davis, Aug. 17: Playing a solo acoustic show, this roots-rock musician has become popular on that circuit for his diverse influences and intense shows. He plays at 8 p.m. in the Crown Room at Crystal Bay Club Casino, 14 State Highway 28, Crystal Bay. Tickets are $25-$30. For details, call 775-833-6333 or visit crystalbaycasino.com.

Reno-Tahoe weather, Aug. 11-17

Monday: Sunny, with highs in the upper 90s up toward 100 in the valleys, and in the low 80s to low 90s around Lake Tahoe. Clear overnight, with lows in the 60s in the valleys and in the 50s around Lake Tahoe.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain, with highs in the upper 90s up toward 100 in the valleys and in the 80s around Lake Tahoe. Clear overnight, with lows in the 60s in the valleys and in the 50s around Lake Tahoe.

Wednesday: Sunny, with highs in the mid-90s in the valleys and in the 80s around Lake Tahoe. Clear and slightly cooler overnight, with lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s in the valleys and in the low 40s to low 50s around Lake Tahoe.

Thursday-Saturday: Sunny and cooler, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s in the valleys and in the mid-70s to mid-80s around Lake Tahoe. Clear overnight, with lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s in the valleys and in the low 40s to low 50s around Lake Tahoe.

Sunday: Sunny and cooler, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s in the valleys and in the 70s around Lake Tahoe. Clear overnight, with lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s in the valleys and in the 40s around Lake Tahoe.

Northern Nevada roads, Aug. 11-17

Washoe County commuters, give yourselves a few extra minutes in the morning and keep an eye out for bus stops and students returning to school this week. Here's what else to plan for during your commute.

Veterans Parkway-Geiger Grade roundabout, Reno: Construction to improve the roundabout at Veterans Parkway and Geiger Grade will continue through December. Expect lane closures and delays.

California Avenue and River Run Parkway, Reno: California Avenue remains closed between Idlewild Drive and Hunter Lake Drive as RTC Washoe rehabilitates the roadway. Work will continue through the summer.

Mill Street, Reno: After pausing during Hot August Nights, work on Mill Street resumes this week, with both night and day shifts from Sunday night through Friday. Matley Lane at Mill Street will be closed for two weeks beginning Sunday night.

Arlington Avenue, Reno: The bridges over the Truckee River on Arlington Avenue have been demolished, and traffic is being re-routed to nearby bridges. Replacement bridges will be completed in summer 2026.

Sparks Boulevard, Sparks: Work is getting underway on the Sparks Boulevard Capacity Improvement Project, which will expand the route from four lanes to six on the roughly two-mile stretch between I-80 and Baring Boulevard. Work also will include improvements to bike lanes, sidewalks, sound walls and ADA infrastructure. Expect possible delays.

Arrowcreek Parkway, Reno: Arrowcreek Parkway may be closed from Thomas Creek Road to Wedge Parkway through Tuesday as RTC Washoe works to rehabilitate the road, curb and pedestrian ramps.

Mark Earnest contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Festival of Colors, Dark Skies Festival: 37 things to do in Reno-Tahoe this week