Reno’s biggest special event each year, Hot August Nights is a natural for car buffs. It's also a chance for baby boomers to relive their teenage years.
The event began in 1986 as a celebration of the nostalgia of the ‘50s and ‘60s, but it was soon obvious that a few hundred cars from the show-n-shine era were the event's main attraction.Through the years, showing and shining the automobiles became more and more important, so that now – although several of the nostalgia-related events remain, Hot August Nights is primarily one big car show.
Main Venues
The 2009 (August 8-14) events, as in former years, will take place in several locations throughout Reno and its neighbor city, Sparks. The major sites are as follows:
Downtown Reno – With mini show-n-shines, nightly cruising (7 to 10 p.m. ), this venue is one of three for the Celebrity Choice Show-n-shines. It’s one of the sites at which official Hot August Nights merchandise is for sale,
The Reno-Sparks Convention Center (4590 South Virginia Street) – The classic car Silver Auctions will be held at the center . Admission tickets are required.
Reno Sparks Livestock Center (1350 North Wells Avenue – This is the setting for the annual Hot August Nights Swap Meet.
Victorian Square in Sparks - Home of the Plaza Show-n-Shine, the square is the locale for a craft fair and live headliner entertainment. On sevveral night, there are also cruises down Victorian Avenue.
Additional Action Sites
Satellite sites in hotel/casinos will also play a big part in the celebration. The following are a sampling of hotel/casino related events:
- Atlantis Casino Resort (3800 S. Virginia Street) will host daily show-n-shines, hula hoop contests.
- Circus Circus Hotel & Casino (500 North Sierra Street) is the site of the official Hot August Nights Sock Hop.
- Grand Sierra Resort (2500 East 2nd Street) is where car participant check-in takes place. It’s also a venue for the Celebrity Show-n-Shine and will present free headliner on-stage entertainment.
- Peppermill Hotel Casino (3800 S. Virginia Street sponsors the officiall Kick-Off Party , specialty car displays and Night Life Show-n-Shine. There are also vendor booths on the premises.
- Silver Legacy Resort & Casino, along with Eldorado Hotel Casino is the setting for the Prom. It’s also home of the Big Boy Toy Store.
- The Summit (13925 South Virginia Street) presents a Show-n-Shine with live music and dancing .
Each year several other casinos join in the fun with concerts, special parking lots reserved for classic cars and entertainers popular in the '50s and '60s. Stars who have been part of previous Hot August Nights include Tower of Power, Platter, Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys and Herman’s Hermits among others.
Food of the ‘50s is also on the menus of places like A&W, Sonic and Mel’s (inside the Sands Regency Hotel/Casino). Several casinos also have soda shops in their parking lots. Event dates are available on Hot August Nights will be available.
Connie Emerson - Ever since I can remember, going places and seeing new sights has intrigued me. A robin drinking from a puddle after a springtime Paris ...
