Okay, I've attended more than 30 ukulele events/festivals since my first one (Rhode Island, Ukulele Hall of Fame Expo, 2003). I can tell you I wouldn't keep returning if they weren't such fun. Of course, you might also wonder why I'm not an absolutely wonderful player if I've so many of these in my past, but it's not the festivals' fault
In the "old days," I used to advise people to be prepared with paper, pen, folder to hold all the worksheets you'll receive. These days, most festivals (including Reno) have worksheets available as PDFs ahead of time so it's your responsibility to download print/put 'em on your tablet/iPad/device-thing before you get there. Don't count on wifi at the site (although it should be pretty good at Reno from past experience).
Carry a lightweight backpack for your support "stuff." Bring a snack you like in case there isn't food on-site that you like (oooh, that reminds me of the toasty freshly-made malasadas at the Northern California Ukulele Festival, but I digress...) or in case you're so busy jamming with new friends, taking classes or ogling the vendor booths that you don't have *time* to eat. Water bottle, too.
Planning on trying out a lot of new instruments at the vendor booths (and why wouldn't you?)? Don't wear a belt buckle or anything metallic/scratchy; vendors like to see ukulele folks stretch a bit and try out instruments which may be a bit out of reach financially, but they do *not* want you to scratch the instruments you're trying out on a big silver rodeo belt buckle. Same goes for having sticky hands from food if you're trying out instruments.
It can be a challenge to actually "hear" an instrument sometimes in the vendor areas--there are so many people and noises that it's hard to hear the tones in any instruments you're trying. If possible, head to a corner of the room and play so that the sound "bounces" back at you so you can hear it for yourself.
It used to be you had to bring cash or check for buying the goodies at festivals. This could include not only instruments but CDs, DVDs, ukulele bling (self promotion: hey, look for my booth at Reno), Hawaiian mementos, etc. With Square and other forms of credit card acceptance, though, just have that credit card handy and you'll be fine. Cash, however, is always appreciated
Do *not* be afraid of jamming. Even if you're a total stranger to a group you see playing, and all you know is a C chord, you'll likely be welcomed. Stand around for a few songs, watching how the jamming is done in that group of people and then, if they haven't asked you first, ask someone if you can join in. Don't play too loud but don't be afraid to smile and get in the spirit of the group's playing. At my first festival, the owner of three chords (yes, C, F and G7), I found myself playing "Love Potion #9" with a room of total strangers at 1:45 am. And I couldn't stop smiling!
Don't overdo on the workshops. You will *not* be able to absorb everything at every workshop; instead, your head will be spinning and you'll be working so hard at catching every single thing "to do" that you'll likely miss out on the experiences (like jamming, trying out new instruments, meeting folks) that aren't on the workshop schedule.
If you're going to audio or video the workshop, ask the instructor *ahead* of time; most are okay with it, but it's always polite to ask. And less embarrassing than being called out in a large group...
At workshops, sit close to the front, if possible (typically you have to arrive early for a workshop to snag a front seat). I like to sit to the middle, left of a room facing the instructor. If you're too far to the right, it's hard to see their fretting left hand clearly. Don't hog more than your one chair you're sitting in; keep your gear close to underfoot. If you can't balance your music worksheets on your lap, consider using a skirt hanger with clips and sit in the second row so you can hang the hanger from the back of the seat in front of you (like this:
http://ukuleletonya.com/blog/2013/04/easy-music-stand-for-workshops). I haven't figured out how to adapt that to an iPad yet...
Take some photos of the festival--not usually the performances because they're just too hard to capture with most regular/phone cameras. Instead, get some pix of your new friends (for some funny ones from my photo booth, see:
http://ukuleletonya.com/blog/2013/08/were-you-at-reno-heres-proof), a few jamming circles, some ukuleles you fell in love with but your bank account determined they'd be an unrequited love.
If you see a fellow attendee with an instrument you've always heard about, feel free to ask to look at it more closely--and maybe even play it (don't forget, no sticky hands, no big belt buckles). I'll have one of my Moore Bettah Ukuleles with me at Reno this week and anyone's welcome to ask to play it. I love to share how nifty it is to play a deluxe instrument--everyone should have a chance to try it! Here's who I got to share an MBU with at Reno in 2013:
http://ukuleletonya.com/blog/2013/08/didnt-mom-always-tell-you-to-share
What will you take home? Hopefully some new friendships, a few new skills, an awareness that there is a *lot* more to playing than you'd ever thought and a desire to get to the next ukulele festival you hear about. That's how it is for me, at least.
See you at Reno!