* October 6-7. After watching Reno's Columbus Day Parade through downtown (10 A.M., October 6, on Virginia Street), you may have a hankering for more of the sights, sounds, and tastes of Italy. So head for the 20th Annual Great Italian Festival at the Eldorado Hotel Casino's special events plaza on Fourth Street. Indulge in aromatic Italian fare from Gilroy garlic growers, Castroville artichoke growers, Colombo Bakeries in San Francisco, and others. You can watch live entertainment, a spaghetti sauce cook-off, magicians, face painters, a bocce ball tournament, and a kids' gelato-eating contest. The highlight: grape stomping contests each day at noon. 10-4. (800) 777-5325.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group
