Hot August Nights in Reno

Every August in Reno, the nights come alive. The city of Reno and nearby Sparks host a car show that would make any auto enthusiast droll. It's called Hot August Nights because the nights are hot and the cars are hotter.

Classic cars from across the country convene on this area for days of showing off and nights of cruising.

Reno, Nevada isn't as well-known as its famous cousin, Las Vegas, but is a popular destination all the same. Located at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Reno is close to Lake Tahoe and a wonderful starting point for both mountain activities and desert activities, but the city itself has its own fun.

Home to numerous casinos, the National Bowling Stadium, a baseball stadium for their home team the Aces, National Automobile Museum, and the Truckee River, there's something for everyone. In addition, there's always events and concerts going on. One of these events is Hot August Nights, a citywide car show that happens around the first week of August each year.

Hot August Nights is a yearly event held in Reno, Nevada, you guessed it, every August.

Considered the largest classic car festival in the western United States, attending Hot August Nights is something every car lover should do. Streets are filled with cars from every year imaginable, 50's and 60's music is playing everywhere, and there's something fun for everyone.

It will take you back in time, every time.

There are numerous specialty events that happen during Hot August Nights. Car shows, auctions, sock hops, and concerts all add to the fun. This video shows just a bit of some of the fun.

Hot August Nights is always held at the beginning of August. The event dates for the next few years are:

• 2015: August 4 - August 9
• 2016: August 2 - August 7
• 2017: August 1 - August 6
• 2018: August 7 - August 12
• 2019: August 6 - August 11
• 2020: August 4 - August 9

There are always hot bands scattered around Reno during Hot August Nights, as well as a few concerts that you have to pay to attend. Usually including some wonderful, small groups, as well as older, famous groups, most of the music is stuff you wouldn't be surprised to hear during the fifties, though you can find any sort of music there.

Recent performances at Hot August Nights have included:

• Paul Revere and the Raiders
• Beach Boys
• Herman's Hermits
• Papa Doo Run Run
• Rain (Beatles tribute band)
• Blood, Sweat & Tears
• Little KISS (all little person KISS tribute band)
• Billy Idol
• Life in the Fast Lane (Eagles tribute band)
• Montgomery Gentry
• Solid Gold Soul (Tribute to 60’s Soul Music)
• The Guess Who
• Dream, Dream, Dream (Orbison and the Everly Bros. Reimagined)

The underlying sound of Reno though, is the constant thrum of revving engines and conversation about which is the hottest vehicle they've seen so far.

Classic cars, hot rods, decked-out trucks, one-off autos, and custom cars fill Reno, Sparks, Virginia City, and Lake Tahoe during Hot August Nights. The entire area is filled with beautiful vehicles to admire and people taking drives.

Hot August Nights isn't just about hot cars, there are some hot trucks there too.

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

Picture via Creative Commons from Gary Lerude

Picture via Creative Commons from Tilly Dog Fauxtografix

Picture via Creative Commons from lyng883

We can't forget about the hot cars at Hot August Nights, there are cars from just about every year, all of them gleaming in the sunlight and looking ready for a drive.

Picture by Dan King

Pictures via Creative Commons from Anya_

Though Hot August Nights has just about every vehicle I love, these little hot rods always get my vote. To me, they always look like they're begging for a nice fast drive, and I'd love to take them on one.

Picture from Dan King

Picture from Dan King

Walking around Reno during Hot August Nights you can feel the rumble of engines come up through your feet and into your brain. Your entire body becomes part of the reverberation in the city, as the purr of the engines encourages you to climb behind the wheel of one of these beauties and take her for a drive.

Picture by Dan King

Picture via Creative Commons from dave_7

Picture via Creative Commons from The Brain Toad

Pictures via Creative Commons from aresauburn

There are corvettes galore at Hot August Nights, including these colorful beauties that were raffled off by the Atlantis casino.

Pictures via Creative Commons from Gary Lerude

Pictures via Creative Commons from Gary Lerude

What would a car show be without a few 'stangs?

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

Picture via Creative Commons from Meyer Family

Picture via Creative Commons from The Brain Toad

Picture via Creative Commons from bryce_edwards

These little beauties always enrich a car show.

Picture via Creative Commons from bryce_edwards

Picture via Creative Commons from The Brain Toad

Picture via Creative Commons from bryce_edwards

Picture via Creative Commons from elpollomuerte

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

Hot August Nights isn't just about hot cars, anything with a motor is welcome, and sometimes, they just steal the show.

Picture via Creative Commons from elpollomuerte

From across the country thousands of vehicles gather for Hot August Nights.

Pictures via Creative Commons from RenoTahoe

Pictures via Creative Commons from RenoTahoe

Pictures via Creative Commons from RenoTahoe

Part of the fun of Hot August Nights is cruising the city.

There's a route around downtown for a car parade, but even outside of town you'll find people taking their babies for a spin.

Seeing all the fun, you may just want to turn up the radio and take your baby out for a drive, and you never know what'll pull up next to you at a stoplight, it could be a Model T or a Jaguar.

Get with it and don't get frosted, but there's no racing allowed. The heat will be all over you if you try to drag. So, don't think of getting your wife out there with a scarf or going for pinks. And keep those hopped up rockets nice and slow. We don't want anyone to get creamed.

Picture via Creative Commons from elpollomuerte

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

Picture via Creative Commons from RickC

What would a car show be without a few girls in poodle skirts?

Lots of people dress up to drive their cars or just attend Hot August Nights. There are women and girls wearing poodle skirts; cool ladies in cats' eye glasses; and leather jacket wearing greasers. Some people do 50's do-wop costumes, others look like extras on Grease.

Most years are there are even costume contests. So, get out those pencil pushers, letterman jackets, saddle shoes to twist the nights away.

Almost every major parking lot in town has gems parked there. It's not surprising to spot a classic Chevy parked in front of a local eatery or a custom coupe by a tattoo shop, but the best spots to spot cars are the casino parking lots. The Atlantis, Peppermill, Nugget, and Grand Sierra casinos have their parking lots filled with gleaming metal, and downtown Reno has cars lining its streets.

Reno really comes alive at night.

It is called Hot August Nights for a reason. Lights and sounds are everywhere.

The neon gleaming off of chrome and windshields creates a unique beauty that draws you in, making you dream of driving a fast car down a dark road, or of cruising down a boulevard with your car full of friends and your radio blaring.

In the evenings, a parade of cars cruise down the main drag. These hotties are on their way to coolsville in their chrome-plated machines. Virginia Street is where it's at during hot August nights in Reno.

Highlights from Hot August Nights 2008, recorded on location in Reno, Sparks, the Grand Sierra Resort, and the Atlantis.

You'd have to work hard to not have a blast at Hot August Nights. The wonderful music and cruising cars all conspire to make sure you have fun.

It's more fun than submarine races.

What do you think of this event? Have you attended Hot August Nights or do you want to? Leave a comment down below and let me know you came by!