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Chickadee enjoying some food with a gorgeous view of Lake Tahoe! The Reno/Tahoe region is well known to locals as a year-round outdoor playground, with the Sierra Nevada offering everything from skiing and snowboarding to scenic hiking and mountain biking. But word is spreading beyond our community— Alliance Française de Reno’s recent snowshoe randonnée near Lake Tahoe has caught national attention! On December 15, 2024 , AFR members and friends gathered for a snowshoeing adventure through Tahoe’s breathtaking winter landscapes. While locals know how magical this region can be, this event showcased to a wider audience the unique experience of trekking through pristine, snow-covered forests under dazzling blue skies. Snowshoeing offers a peaceful yet invigorating way to explore the mountains, appealing to both seasoned adventurers and first-timers alike. A big merci  to Christophe Soulet , AFR Board Member and outdoor enthusiast, for helping lead this memorable outing. Check out the photos and video to see why this event is getting noticed beyond our local community! 🔗 AF Reno Snowshoe Activity – Read Here the published event on the Alliance Française Fédération USA ! – Christophe Soulet, AF Reno

About the event The Alliance Française de Reno-Tahoe is thrilled to offer an exceptional language-immersion program in Bordeaux, France, scheduled September 11 -20, 2025. This unique opportunity is one of the many benefits of becoming a member of our non-profit association. Known as the world capital of wine, Bordeaux is famed for its vineyards and stunning châteaux. It is also a sought-after international destination, celebrated for its rich architectural and cultural heritage. In collaboration with the Alliance Française de Bordeaux Nouvelle-Aquitaine (AFB) , participants will enjoy morning group language classes at the AFB and enriching cultural activities in the afternoons. Designed for A2 to C2-level students (from advanced beginners to advanced learners), this program is not suitable for complete beginners. Participants can choose to stay with a host family ( en famille d’accueil ) or in a private studio. Please note: We’re in the early stages of planning and are actively finalizing details, including pricing. Stay tuned for updates! Prices will soon be posted with booking information.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and heritage of this enchanting francophone country. Indulge in an ALL-INCLUSIVE 10-day luxury journey through the diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Morocco, designed exclusively for Alliance Françaises members and their guests. June 7-18, 2025 Our   all-inclusive   adventure includes flights, lodging, meals, and expertly curated excursions, so you can relax and fully immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Morocco. Registration is open Spots are limited!

A New Winter Event has started! New dates will soon be added. Here's what one of our members thought about that first experience on January 19th, 2025. Bonjour- We had a wonderful time skiing with Jean-Claude et Chistophe! It was a bluebird day and everyone did quite well. Loved this adventure!  Merci- Amy et Jacques And a warm Merci to Amy et Jacques. The Alliance Française de Reno-Tahoe looks forward to seeing you and others for the next one. (XC ) - Tahoe City. Cross-Country Skiing (XC) - Tahoe City.

Seize these amazing opportunities that are part of your exclusive membership benefits! Culturethèque is an online library that grants Alliance Française members FREE  and UNLIMITED access to a vast array of digital resources, such as magazines, e-books, podcasts, and language learning exercises. Do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Click Here to follow instructions The 5 sections of Culturethèque Lire (read):  magazines, comics, literature. Ecouter (listen):  audio books, conferences, concerts, albums. Regarder (watch):  fictions, documentaries, conferences, concerts. Apprendre (learn):  french contents, professional training, computing, music. Jeunesse (youth):  resources for kids. If you have any issues with your registration or access to the Culturethèque, please contact us at: afrenonevada@gmail.com

Holiday Greeting Cards ( 'Cartes de Voeux') French people don’t send Christmas cards; they send New Year’s greeting cards instead, and one can wish 'Bonne Ann ée' throughout the month of January with a card or in-person starting a conversation with 'Mes Meilleurs Voeux' (with my best wishes).   Holiday Gift Giving  Étiquette 'Les  É trennes' Traditionally, the word refers to gifts given to workers who provide a regular service:  the mail carrier ('le Postier'),    local firemen (les 'Sapeurs-Pompiers'), and the trash collectors ( les éboueurs ).  In years past, they would ring the doorbell and offer a calendar while accepting a token money gift. Sadly, this tradition is fading because of scammers ('frauders'). One gift-giving tradition, however, has stood the test of time: the Etrennes for a building super (Le C oncierge).  It is customary for building tenants and owners to deliver a handwritten thank you note and a money gift in an 'understated' way consistent with French manners.

Take the Quiz! If you have your story to share about Reno, please feel free to post a comment. Real people read it regularly. Merci!

Yes!... and No! Halloween in France is still a relatively low-key event that only really started in the 1990s, and it doesn't include any of the American glitz and glamour. It's often seen as a "commercial marketing scheme from the Americans," and local supermarkets tend to feel a bit awkward when they start putting out some Halloween costumes and candy. "It's for the children," they always say. For the French, October 31st isn't of much significance. It's La Toussaint, All Saints' Day, celebrated on November 1st, that holds importance. This official holiday is dedicated to honoring all the saints and remembering the deceased. Stores fill with chrysanthemums and cyclamens, and locals attend church before visiting cemeteries to pay tribute to their loved ones. Halloween en France reste encore un événement assez discret, qui n'a vraiment commencé qu'à partir des années 1990, et qui n'inclut pas le côté spectaculaire à l'américaine. On le considère souvent comme une "manœuvre commerciale venue des États-Unis", et les supermarchés locaux se sentent parfois un peu gênés lorsqu'ils commencent à mettre en rayon quelques costumes et friandises d’Halloween. "C’est pour les enfants", disent-ils toujours. Pour les Français, le 31 octobre n’a pas beaucoup d’importance. C’est plutôt la Toussaint, célébrée le 1er novembre, qui est marquante. Ce jour férié est consacré à honorer tous les saints et à commémorer les défunts. Les magasins se remplissent alors de chrysanthèmes et de cyclamens, et les habitants se rendent à l’église puis au cimetière pour se souvenir de leurs proches disparus. If you have your story to share about Reno, please feel free to post a comment. Real people read it regularly. Merci!

Pour son premier déplacement hors de la Baie de San Francisco, @Cardinaux_F est allé à la rencontre des Français de Reno et du Lake Tahoe . Vous pouvez compter sur la France pour renforcer les relations avec le nord du Nevada ! Thank you to the @MayorSchieve  and the @unevadareno  for their warm welcome. We are determined to build a renewed partnership between Northern Nevada and France through the Alliance Française, collaborations in mountain sports and expanded student exchange programs. Let’s be bold! For his first trip outside of San Francisco Bay, @Cardinaux_F went to meet the French people of Reno and Lake Tahoe . You can count on France to strengthen relations with northern Nevada!

"The Biggest Little City in the World?" Excerpt based on Alicia Barber 's KUNR Public Radio post. Some cities have nicknames that are instantly recognizable, like The Big Apple or the Windy City. Reno’s famous slogan, "The Biggest Little City in the World," also has a unique history. But how did it gain such fame? It all began in the late 1800s during the Gilded Age, a period when major cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco were booming with skyscrapers, electric streetcars, and thriving industries. Smaller towns, eager to attract attention and investment, began adopting the title "the biggest little city" to promote themselves. Reno was one of these towns, first dubbed the “Biggest Little City on the Pacific Coast” by a local reporter in 1901. The phrase emphasized not size, but ambition—Reno may have been small, but it had big vision, pride, and opportunity. In 1910, as Reno hosted the heavyweight boxing championship between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries, local businessmen marketed the town as “The Biggest Little City on the Map,” using the slogan on promotional materials handed to thousands of visitors. Though Reno’s population was around 10,000 at the time, it had a surprisingly urban feel with a university, a charming downtown, and a growing reputation for cultural sophistication, helped by visitors seeking Reno's famous six-month divorce process. By 1929, the slogan became official when it won a city contest, and it was soon emblazoned in neon on the iconic Reno Arch. When Nevada legalized gambling and streamlined divorce laws in 1931, Reno saw even more national attention, solidifying its title as “The Biggest Little City in the World all to itself.” Read the original piece here If you have your story to share about Reno, please feel free to post a comment. Real people read it regularly. Merci!