Late Summer in Reno: Music, Community, and the Next Adventure

Late summer in Reno has its own kind of perfection. Cool mornings ease into warm afternoons that stretch back to cool evenings, like the weather can't decide if it's ready for fall. Between a few rainy spells, we enjoyed a short hike, poolside time, a local music competition, and a city festival that showed off Reno's community spirit, and even a stunning rainbow. In the middle of it all, we've been in final prep mode: polishing our itinerary, testing gear, downloading offline maps, and charting our route through Utah and Nevada's red rock country. And we might have added a couple bonus stops that weren't in the original plan.

Even when you're traveling slowly, prep weeks are real. This one meant juggling the fun stuff with the practical stuff. Packing lists mixed with poolside research sessions, supply runs between audio equipment practice. Those quieter moments weren't just for relaxing; we used them to dive into desert photography tips and think through the moments we really want to capture on this next adventure. We’re still new to content creation, with plenty to learn, but each week brings small improvements. It's all part of the nomad rhythm. The behind-the-scenes work makes the highlight reel possible.

Saturday night we discovered Battle of the Bands at Legends Bay Casino in Sparks. A free local competition where six bands got thirty minutes each to win over the crowd. Here's the cool part: the audience was the judge, voting by phone through QR codes after every set. The winner takes home $1,000, but honestly, the energy was so good and welcoming that it felt like everyone won something. By the end of the night, both Reed Peterson and the Rebekah Chase Band were declared winners. Reed got our vote, and from the crowd response, plenty of others felt the same way.

The same weekend, Reno-Tahoe CityFest took over Rancho San Rafael Park…in the rain. This free Christian festival, put on by local churches partnering with Palau ministry, brought thousands together for action sports, kids' activities, food trucks, and a solid lineup of concerts. Saturday had artists like Lecrae, Colton Dixon, and Marisol. We went Sunday night and caught Jon Reddick, Rhett Walker, and Cain. Andrew Palau shared a message about gospel hope and community that really captured what the whole festival was about. People coming together through music and faith.

We got some of the music on video so you can experience a taste of CityFest with us over on our YouTube channel.

We made the most of Reno’s free events this week. Both festivals were well worth attending, and the price couldn’t be better. It’s a reminder to check what’s happening close to home and say yes when the community gathers. Those are often the experiences that stay with you.

This upcoming September road trip is another practice run for the bigger journey ahead. We’ll be living on the go with limited supplies, keeping things simple with a mix of shelf-stable foods, fresh finds from local markets, and the local favorites we stumble across. The balance takes some thought: planned enough to avoid stress and catch the highlights, but open enough to leave room for the unexpected discoveries that make travel memorable. It’s the same approach we’ll carry next year into Europe and South America: prepared, but flexible.

Reno, Nevada

This week’s visuals shifted from trailside quiet and homemade flat whites to stage lights. The calm of preparation gave way to the energy of local music and community festivals.

See More visual stories in our Instagram highlights »

It’s desert time. We're heading to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Las Vegas. Think sandstone trails, camping under serious stars, and the wild contrast between wide-open silence and neon chaos. Along the way, we're targeting a couple detours: one through a stretch of highway known for its otherworldly reputation, and another that dips below sea level into the hottest valley on earth. Should be interesting.

This week felt like a perfect example of living local in Reno. Sometimes it's those in-between moments that matter most. A morning hike, homemade flat white espresso drinks (watch the videos), relaxing pool moments, festival discoveries, and the satisfying work of trip planning. These are the things that help us get grounded before the next adventure. Reno gave us exactly the pause we needed. Now we're ready to trade the pool for desert trails and neon lights.

Until next week,
S&S

Some Great Place
Living local in a global world