Looking for a place to take your little ones this week? Look no further! Here is a list of family-friendly (and fun!) activities and events happening this week around Carson City and beyond.
Multiple Days
Casino Fandango’s Annual Rockin’ Rib-Fest
Get ready for some finger-licking fun at Casino Fandango’s Annual Rockin’ Rib-Fest Powered by Award Winning Amplified Entertainment!
Don’t miss the chance to indulge in mouthwatering Ribs while enjoying live music with a stacked entertainment lineup! Browse through a wide array of arts & crafts, food & local boutique vendors, AND sip on refreshing beverages at the beer garden including craft beers & specialty cocktails.
The Rib-Fest takes place May 23rd – May 26th (Memorial Day Weekend) at Casino Fandango located at 3800 S. Carson Street in Carson City.
Memorial Day Weekend of Steam at the Nevada State Railroad Museum
Join us in celebrating Memorial Day and ride behind the V&T No. 25 and the Glenbrook! This is an all-inclusive event that includes unlimited train rides as well as museum admission: $20 for Adults, $15 for Children ages 4-17, Free for Children 3 and under. The trains will be leaving at the following times: 10:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:20 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. All rides board 10 minutes before departure.
Rastelli’s Circus at the Fuji Park Fairgrounds
Get ready for the 2025 tour of our real family circus with an all-new show that’s fun for the entire family! Tickets start at just $9.99 online only.
Pre-Sale discount tickets at: RastelliCircus.com/tour-dates/
Save big with online-only specials—tickets from less than $10 per person when you grab a Family Saver or Pre-Sale Special (limited time offer).
Carson City fairgrounds (Fuji Park) – 601 Old Clear Creek Rd, Carson City, NV 89701
Upcoming Shows:
Friday, May 23 | 6:30PM
Saturday, May 24 | 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, May 25 | 2:00PM
Questions? Check our FAQ at RastelliCircus.com.
Recurring
Toddler Time at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
Toddler Time Tuesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Designed for children 1-3 years of age. Play with educational toys, encourage social development, and meet other caregivers.
Monday, May 19
Recurring:
Mondays Outside Carson City
Pre and Post Natal Stretch and Strengthen at Biggest Little Baby – Reno
Breathe and move in a way that is designed specifically for the pregnant & postpartum body to prepare for and recover from childbirth. We will have time for a brief community check-in, yoga/pilates based movement to build strength and stretch and end with guided relaxation & imagery. Although class is designed with the perinatal period in mind, class is also welcoming to all levels, ages and stages of life. Babies and children are welcome in class although there is no specific childcare attendant
Tuesday, May 20
Robotics Showcase at Carson Tahoe Health: Rock the Da Vinci Robot
Discover the future of innovation at our Robotics Showcase, where you can explore the thrilling world of STEM through hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and a chance to “test drive” the state-of-the-art da Vinci Robot. This engaging event is your gateway to unlocking the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math while inspiring the next generation of innovators! This is a family-friendly event open to all ages
The event takes place Tuesday, May 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 1600 Medical Parkway, Carson City.
Recurring:
Tuesdays Outside Carson City
World Bee Day at Idlewild Park
Celebrate World Bee Day at Idlewild Park with fun activities, educational workshops, and a chance to learn about the importance of bees.
Recurring:
2’s & 3’s on the go! event by the South Lake Tahoe Library
Burn some energy while learning the fundamentals of early literacy. Join in for this energetic group every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Library. Suitable for young children ages 2-3 years old and their caregivers.
STEAM Sensory Toddler Play Group at Biggest Little Baby – Reno
This STEAM Sensory Playgroup is perfect for parents with busy toddlers. Each month there will be a theme such as “rainbows,” and each week the sensory stations will have an emphasis in one or two of the STEAM categories (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). The stations will consist of a mixture of sensory bins, art, science experiments, and constructive play all meant to strengthen your child’s fine motor, problem solving, and social skills while being fun and engaging for both parents and kids.
Wednesday, May 21
Recurring:
Frances Humphrey Lecture Series: The Work of the Washoe People, free for 17 and under
The Washoe people of Nevada and California have experienced incredible changes to their lifeways and homelands beginning in the early 19th century. From the California Gold Rush to the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the Washoe people were pushed from their homelands and forced from making a living as hunters and gatherers to a market economy. Despite the life-altering changes brought by Europeans, the Washoe people responded with resilience and ingenuity. The transition between making baskets for everyday activities such as foraging, cooking, food processing, and the transportation of goods, to making baskets for sale, can be seen in the incredible basketry on display in the new Under One Sky basketry gallery featuring the works of Washoe people. Dr. Anna Camp is Curator of Anthropology and Interim Director at the Nevada State Museum. This lecture will be presented in person. Admission is $10 for adults, members and children ages 17 and under are free.
Thursday, May 22
Recurring:
Whistle Stop Storytime every Thursday at the Nevada Railroad Museum in Carson City
Head down to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, located at 2180 S. Carson Street, in Carson City every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. for story time! The stories visitors can expect include train-based picture books as well as an arts and crafts project associated with the book to follow. The recommended age range is 0-7, but any children of any age can participate.
Thursdays Outside Carson City
Recurring:
Kids Yoga at Biggest Little Baby
This class at Reno’s Biggest Little Baby uses yoga sequences, songs, stories, and games to teach kids aged 5-12 life skills via the fundamentals of yoga. We will incorporate breathing and relaxation exercises and sometimes even create mindful crafts! Located at 7693 S. Virginia St. from 4 to 5 p.m. Register at the link above. $22.50 per class for drop-ins, or $75 per month. Held every Thursday.
Mother Goose on the Loose at South Lake Tahoe Library
Join us at the South Lake Tahoe Library for our in-person Mother Goose on the Loose! Every Thursday at 10:30 AM with Miss Anel. This award winning program combines music, movement, visual literacy and language development to help children get ready to read! Mother Goose on the Loose is a lap-sit story time for little ones aged 0-2 years and their caregiver. 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at South Lake Tahoe Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.
Friday, May 23
Recurring:
Toddler Time at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
Toddler Time Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am. Designed for children 1-3 years of age. Play with educational toys, encourage social development, and meet other caregivers.
Fridays Outside Carson City
Recurring:
Family Yoga at Biggest Little Baby
This hour-ish family yoga class at Reno’s Biggest Little Baby is a supportive and nurturing space to practice yoga and mindfulness with children. We practice yoga through songs, stories, games, and breathwork in a format that is accessible for all ages and levels. Classes often incorporate seasonal or narrative themes. The intention of this class is to bring peaceful moments of connection to families through yoga and mindfulness. All classes include some form of quiet relaxation time. Adults should plan to participate in classes with their children. No yoga experience necessary! Cost is for adults; children accompanying adult are included. $25 per class. Located at 7693 S. Virginia Street. Register at the link above.
Multilingual Story Time at Biggest Little Baby
Join our multilingual reader Alison for a free weekly story time in the yoga studio at Biggest Little Baby. Children of all ages and their grown ups are invited to acquire language and preliteracy/literacy skills through movement, song, interaction, and stories in English, Spanish, French, and ASL. Alison has years of teaching and child development expertise and speaks multiple languages. Her love of reading and children is both apparent and contagious. We invite you to come learn to love language and reading as much as we do. 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. at Biggest Little Baby in Reno at 7693 S. Virginia St.
Saturday, May 24
Family Art Saturdays at the Community Art Building
This week’s lesson is Impressionism & Cassatt
Hosted by the Sierra Arts Foundation. Families are invited to explore the joy of art making through hands-on visual art activities that engage and educate. Each session focuses on a particular art style/movement and a famous artist. The art activities are geared for kids 5 and older. However, all ages are welcome; children under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Cost: $10/person (kids 4 and under are free with paid adult).
Coin Press Demonstration Minting of the Dat So La Lee Commemorative Medallion
Come watch history in action at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City and listen to the compelling story of the Carson City Mint. This Saturday, Coin Press No. 1 is minting the Datsolalee Commemorative Medallion to celebrate the opening of the all-new Under One Sky Basketry Gallery, “The Work of the Washoe People.” Featuring “The Queen of the Basketmakers,” Louisa Keyser (Datsolalee) on the obverse and Coin Press No. 1 with the famous CC mint mark on the reverse, this half-ounce medallion is minted from .999 fine silver, encased in a protective air-tight capsule and displayed in decorative matting. Get your finished medallion in the Museum Store or purchase a voucher for a silver planchet and watch it be struck on Coin Press No. 1 with your own eyes! Planchet sales begin at 11 a.m.
Recurring:
Saturdays Outside Carson City
Spicy, mild or chili verde? Pick your favorite at the 42nd Chili on the Comstock where the International Chili World Qualifier takes over Virginia City with mouth-watering chili. While some of the best chili cooks in the West compete for a spot in the International Chili Society World Finals, they’re also looking for your vote for ‘People’s Choice Chili’. Think you have an award-winning chili recipe? Sign up as a cook.
And what’s chili without beer? Pair those tastings with some frosty brews in our Craft Beer Tour. Virginia City’s famous saloons and the Chili on the Comstock Craft Beer Tents are pouring hand-selected local and regional craft beers all weekend long. Tour tickets guarantee you 12 beer samples and 3 sweet treats.
We are excited to be bringing back our free, family event, Day of the Young Child – now called Kid’s Expo Tahoe!
This outdoor event will have free: community resources, hands on activities, food for kids, face painting, performances, and more!
Truckee River Railroad First Run of 2025
Come ride the train at the Truckee River Regional Park beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. A team of volunteers came out to the park on May 3rd, cleaned the track, tuned up the locomotives, got the crossing gates working, and put up a new fence between the depot and the playground. Come on out and ride the train on May 17!
Sunday, May 25
Learn about some of Washoe Lake’s riparian and desert plants during a ranger-led hike along the Deadman’s Creek Trail. We will talk about some of the plants beside the creek and on the hills above the park. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times.
This trail is 1.5 miles long, with an elevation gain of approximately 380 feet. Participants should bring water and sun protection, dress in layers for the weather, and wear comfortable walking shoes.
The event takes place Sunday, May 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Washoe Lake State Park located at 4855 Eastlake Blvd. in Washoe Valley. Meet at the boat ramp parking lot inside the park on the south end of the lake. Take Exit 10 from I-580 and drive north on Eastlake Blvd. for four miles. The park entrance is on the left. Turn left past the fee booth and follow the road to the boat ramp.
No additional fee is required beyond the standard park entrance fees: $5 for Nevada residents and $10 for non-residents
Recurring:
Family STEAM Sunday at the Nevada State Railroad Museum
Join in every Sunday for science and art programming at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Family STEAM Sundays is included with Museum Admission: Adults 18 and over are $10 and children ages 17 and under are free. Members are always free!
Sundays Outside Carson City
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aspen Grove. Join us for a delightful day filled with laughter, food, face painting, bounce houses, and the beauty of the great outdoors in support of FCF! GA tickets: $14; Bearific Ticket: $35 (comes with backpack, teddy bear and more!)
Did we miss any? Send any your event information to krisha@carsonnow.org and be sure to add to our calendar here!
