Best Annual Event in Carson City
Best of Carson City winners — 2018–2025
2025 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day Parade
Second Place
Taste of Downtown
Third Place
Levitt AMP Summer Concert Series at Brewery Arts Center
2024 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day Parade
Second Place
BAC Summer Concert Series
Third Place
Taste of Downtown
2023 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day Parade
Second Place
Taste of Downtown
The Taste of Downtown, Carson City’s premier summer event
In 1995, the revitalization of Carson City was just beginning. Small shops and restaurants were slowly returning to downtown buildings, bringing along a sense of excitement and opportunity to an area that had been long depressed. After discovering a restaurant serving delicious creations in a hidden backroom of a bar, the idea for the Taste of DownTown was born.
Advocates To End Domestic Violence, a non-profit agency providing services to survivors, had been struggling to keep the doors of the shelter open, producing and participating in 17 fundraisers annually. The staff and volunteers were looking to replace the dozen plus annual events with one large event that could grow and produce the necessary revenue needed to provide services to those in need. The Taste of DownTown proved to be the ideal opportunity to meet both the needs of the agency as well as increase awareness of the culinary, retail, and historic downtown district of the capital city.
During the first Taste, 500 tickets were sold with seven restaurants and one band providing the food and entertainment for an evening that would grow into a signature event for the community. As the Taste has grown, so has the City’s commitment to invest in the revitalization of the historic downtown community. The Taste has proven to be the biggest and best attended event to date with 2,000 tickets sold, 40+ restaurants providing tantalizing tastes, 15 shops and galleries, and seven live bands playing into the warm summer evening. What began as a humble hope, has become a popular celebration of fabulous food, music, shopping, and excellent social gathering.
P.O. Box 2529, Carson City NV 89702
Third Place
Carson Farmers Market
2022 Winners
Second Place
Taste of Downtown
TASTY BEGINNING
In 1995, the revitalization of Carson City was just beginning. Small shops and restaurants were slowly returning to downtown buildings, bringing along a sense of excitement and opportunity to an area that had been long depressed. After discovering a restaurant serving delicious creations in a hidden backroom of a bar, the idea for the Taste of DownTown was born.
Advocates To End Domestic Violence, a non-profit agency providing services to survivors, had been struggling to keep the doors of the shelter open, producing and participating in 17 fundraisers annually. The staff and volunteers were looking to replace the dozen plus annual events with one large event that could grow and produce the necessary revenue needed to provide services to those in need. The Taste of DownTown proved to be the ideal opportunity to meet both the needs of the agency as well as increase awareness of the culinary, retail, and historic downtown district of the capital city.
During the first Taste, 500 tickets were sold with seven restaurants and one band providing the food and entertainment for an evening that would grow into a signature event for the community. As the Taste has grown, so has the City’s commitment to invest in the revitalization of the historic downtown community. The Taste has proven to be the biggest and best attended event to date with 2,000 tickets sold, 40+ restaurants providing tantalizing tastes, 15 shops and galleries, and seven live bands playing into the warm summer evening. What began as a humble hope, has become a popular celebration of fabulous food, music, shopping, and excellent social gathering.
Third Place
Punk Rocktober
Shoe Tree Brewing Co. is a craft brewery that is located in Carson City, NV, founded by brothers Jeff and Paul Young. We offer a blend of both traditional and experimental brews. Shoe Tree Brewing is Carson City's most award winning and oldest operating brewery. Now serving you in two locations in Carson City at 1496 Old Hot Springs Rd and in Minden at 1758 US 395 Suite A in the Ironwood Shopping Center.
2021 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day Parade
Second Place
Taste of Downtown
TASTY BEGINNING
In 1995, the revitalization of Carson City was just beginning. Small shops and restaurants were slowly returning to downtown buildings, bringing along a sense of excitement and opportunity to an area that had been long depressed. After discovering a restaurant serving delicious creations in a hidden backroom of a bar, the idea for the Taste of DownTown was born.
Advocates To End Domestic Violence, a non-profit agency providing services to survivors, had been struggling to keep the doors of the shelter open, producing and participating in 17 fundraisers annually. The staff and volunteers were looking to replace the dozen plus annual events with one large event that could grow and produce the necessary revenue needed to provide services to those in need. The Taste of DownTown proved to be the ideal opportunity to meet both the needs of the agency as well as increase awareness of the culinary, retail, and historic downtown district of the capital city.
During the first Taste, 500 tickets were sold with seven restaurants and one band providing the food and entertainment for an evening that would grow into a signature event for the community. As the Taste has grown, so has the City’s commitment to invest in the revitalization of the historic downtown community. The Taste has proven to be the biggest and best attended event to date with 2,000 tickets sold, 40+ restaurants providing tantalizing tastes, 15 shops and galleries, and seven live bands playing into the warm summer evening. What began as a humble hope, has become a popular celebration of fabulous food, music, shopping, and excellent social gathering.
Third Place
Carson Farmers Market
2020 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day
Second Place
Taste of Downtown Carson City
Third Place
Carson Farmers Market
2019 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day Parade
Second Place
Taste of Downtown
Third Place
BAC Levitt Amp Music Series
2018 Winners
First Place
Nevada Day Parade
Second Place
Taste of Downtown
Third Place
BAC Free Outdoor Levitt Amp Concerts