Rib cook-off, Numaga Days, Food Truck Friday finale set for this week in Reno-Sparks

Warm temperatures return this week and extend through the three-day Labor Day weekend as Northern Nevada marks the unofficial end of summer 2024. The highlight of the week will be the annual Best in the West Rib Cook-Off, which kicks off Wednesday, but the packed lineup this week includes Nevada's largest powwow, high school football, concerts, magic and more.

Check out the events, weather and road conditions in the Reno-Sparks area, now through Labor Day Monday.

Northern Nevada events, Aug. 26-Sept. 2

The Struts, Aug. 27: This British rock band has landed alternative rock hits in the U.S. for more than a decade, including "Could Have Been Me," "Kiss This" and "Pretty Vicious." They're performing Tuesday Night at the Grand Sierra Resort's Grand Theatre, 2500 E. 2nd Street in Reno. For details and tickets, visit grandsierraresort.com .

Best in the West Rib Cook-Off, Aug. 28-Sept. 2: This year's competition has an expanded field of 24 competitors, and organizers are expecting more than 350,000 attendees over the six-day event. Last year's champion Porky Chicks BBQ is back to defend its title, as well as People's Choice winner Back Forty Texas Barbecue.

How about ribs with a side of music? Acts at the festival include hip-hop artists Ying Yang Twins (Aug. 28), country duo Thompson Square (Aug. 29), country-rock singer Uncle Kracker (Aug. 30), blues rockers Foghat (Aug. 31), veteran country singer Eddie Montgomery (Sept. 1) and reggae group The Legendary Wailers (Sept. 2). It takes place outside the Nugget Casino Resort, 100 Nugget Ave., Sparks. More details at nuggetribcookoff.com .

Sada Baby, Aug. 29: This rapper from Detroit is known for both sales and social media hit songs such as “Bloxk Party” and “Whole Lotta Choppas.” He performs at 8 p.m. at The Bird, 555 E. Fourth St., Reno. Tickets are $23-$29. Details at onevisioneg.com .

Numaga Days Indian Powwow and Handgames, Aug. 30-Sept. 1: Nevada's largest powwow is back for its 36th year, with singers, drummers, handgames and more. Seating is limited, bring your own chairs (and your appetite for Indian tacos). This free family-friendly event begins Friday night with Grand Entry set for 7 p.m.; Saturday's events lineup begins at 1 p.m. and Sunday's festivities start at noon. It's all happening at County Highway 200 in Hungry Valley , just a few miles north of Spanish Springs. For details, visit rsic.org .

Martina McBride, Aug. 30: The voice of this legendary country singer has been influential among many modern artists in that style. Her best-known songs include “Wild Angels,” “Anyway” and “This One’s for the Girls.” She sings at 7:30 p.m. at TJ’s Corral, Carson Valley Inn, 1627 Highway 395 North, Minden. Tickets are $25-$100. For details, call 775-782-9711 or visit carsonvalleyinn.com .

Food Truck Friday, Aug. 30: It's the summer's final edition of Food Truck Friday, with a 50-vendor cuisine lineup including American, Mexican, Asian fusion, Southern, Mediterranean, Brazilian and so many more. It's happening from 4 to 9 p.m. at Idlewild Park, 1800 Idlewild Drive in Reno. For details, visit facebook.com/RenoStreetFood .

High school football, Aug. 30: Dayton, Douglas, Fernley, Hug, McQueen, North Valleys, Reed and Virginia City all play at home this Friday. For matchups and game times, visit niaa.com .

Marca Registrada, Aug. 30: This Sinaloan band is a mainstay on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, and this Friday they're heading to the Grand Sierra Resort's Grand Theatre, 2500 E. 2nd Street in Reno. For details and tickets, visit grandsierraresort.com .

Marauda, Aug. 30: The heavy-metal style of this DJ/producer’s logo points to his distinctive use of louder and more extreme rock styles in his bass-heavy music. With in-sync visuals to the fore of his live shows, Marauda will keep ’em dancing at 9 p.m. at Cargo, Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., Reno. Tickets are $25-$35. For details, call 775-398-5400 or visit cargoreno.com .

Moonshine Bandits, Aug. 30: This duo has been merging country and rap for close to two decades. They frequently make stops in the area, including this one at 9 p.m. at The Ranch House, 906 Victorian Ave., Sparks. Tickets are $26. Details at facebook.com/30silverpresents .

Bailazo del Año, Aug. 31: The headliner for this one is Sonoran singer-songwriter Chuy Lizárraga, with Banda Corona el Rey and El Jossi also set to perform at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S. Virginia Street in Reno. Doors open at 7, with the show starting at 8 p.m. For details, visit visitrenotahoe.com .

Magique, Aug. 31-Sept. 1: The Theatre plays host to a dazzling performance of illusions and special effects by Reno duo Kevin & Caruso. The magic begins at 8 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday at 505 Keystone Avenue, Reno. Tickets start at $50. For details, visit wethetheatre.com .

Northern Nevada weather, Aug. 26-Sept. 2

Monday: Sunny and warmer, with highs in the mid-80s in the valleys and in the 70s at higher elevations. Mostly clear overnight, with lows in the mid-50s in the valleys and in the 40s at higher elevations.

Tuesday-Thursday: Sunny, with highs around 90 in the valleys and in the mid-70s to mid-80s at higher elevations. Mostly clear overnight, with lows in the mid-50s in the valleys and in the mid-40s to mid-50s at higher elevations.

Friday: Sunny, with highs around 90 in the valleys; mostly sunny with a slight chance of afternoon showers at higher elevations, with highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows near 60 in the valleys and in the mid-40s to mid-50s at higher elevations.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with highs near 90 in the valleys; a chance of rain at higher elevations, with highs in the 70s. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows near 60 in the valleys and in the mid-40s to mid-50s at higher elevations.

Sunday and Labor Day Monday: Mostly sunny with a chance of showers; highs in the upper 80s in the valleys and in the 70s at higher elevations. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows in the upper 50s in the valleys and in the 40s at higher elevations.

Northern Nevada roads, Aug. 26-Sept. 2

Nugget Rib Cook Off street closures, Sparks: Roads around Victorian Plaza Circle will be closed through Thursday, Sept. 5 for the rib cook-off, both for the event itself and for setup and breakdown of the event. Road closures include stretches of Victorian Avenue, Victorian Plaza Circle, Avenue of the Oaks and 10th Street.

I-580 through Washoe Valley; Slide Mountain Road: Overnight lane reductions will take place on I-580 from Bellevue Road and Eastlake Boulevard through mid-September to allow crews to replace the roadway median barrier. Additionally, Slide Mountain Road will be closed through mid-September as crews replace the roadside guardrail.

Steamboat Parkway, south Reno: Crews will expand the stretch of Steamboat Parkway from four lanes to six between Marketplace Drive and Veterans Parkway through November.

U.S. 395, North Valleys: Northbound traffic will continue be reduced to two lanes on U.S. 395 through mid-2025 due to NDOT's work to widen U.S. 395 between North McCarran Boulevard and Golden Valley Road. The on-ramp at Panther Valley north of Reno will be closed through late 2024.

U.S. 395 north of Topaz Lake: Single-lane closures will take place in one-mile sections from the state line to Ray May Way between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays through August as NDOT repaves the roadway. Reduced speed limits will be in place. Drivers should expect travel delays of up to 30 minutes.

Mark Earnest contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Rib cook-off, Numaga Days, Food Truck Friday finale set for this week in Reno-Sparks