Summer time is quickly approaching, which means most people are searching for some cool places to visit for a vacation.
One place to certainly consider this summer is South Lake Tahoe. No, it’s not just a ski town that has little to offer in the summer months. Actually, there are tons of interesting and diverse activities going on in the summer. And the weather is typically as gorgeous as the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe.
If South Lake Tahoe is the choice – pardon the pun – a mountain of interesting things to do and memories await. Below are some of the many things going on at the sun-drenched resort town.
FOURTH OF JULY: The American Pyrotechnics Association rates South Shore’s Fourth of July “Lights on the Lake” fireworks extravaganza one of the top five displays in the nation.
The nationally recognized “Lights on the Lake” entails 20 minutes of bright lights and colors that illuminate the night sky to celebrate a traditional Independence Day.
There are a variety of places and ways to enjoy the festivities, including beaches, boats, lodging properties, and trails. Those in the know will consider alternative modes of transportation, like public transit, rideshare, walk or bike.
CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT: The 36th annual American Century Championship, celebrity golf’s most prominent tournament of sports and entertainment superstars, takes place July 9-13 at beautiful Edgewood Tahoe.
Player commitments for the wildly popular event include newcomer, 49ers tight end George Kittle and longtime favorites Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Colin Jost, Miles Teller, Larry the Cable Guy, and Ray Romano.
Northern California sports stars are well represented with Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Aaron Rodgers, Kyle Juszczyk, Joe Pavelski, and perhaps Stephen Curry.
For more information, visit www.americancenturychampionship.com.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: A season-long schedule of standout headliners will perform in the 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheater at Caesars Republic (formerly Harveys) during the Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series.
Acts include Rod Stewart (June 14); Kane Brown (June 26); Earth Wind & Fire (June 28); Cody Jinks (July 11); Jon Pardi (July 18-19); Old Dominion (Aug. 1-2); Hozier (Aug. 7-8); Creed (Aug. 10); Whiskey Myers and the Tedeschi Trucks Band (Aug. 15); Glass Animals (Aug. 17); Weird Al Yankovic (Aug. 24); Dave Matthews Band (Aug. 26); Teddy Swims (Sept. 6); Darius Rucker (Sept. 13), and Megan Moroney (Sept. 20).
Showroom entertainment at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe includes Justin Hayward (May 17); Jefferson Starship (May 31); Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular (June 6); Donnell Rawlings (June 7); One Night of Queen (July 17); Piff the Magic Dragon (July 25); Steve Earle (July 30), and the Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 3).
BREWFESTS: The seventh annual Heavenly Village Brewfest returns June 14 with beer, kombucha and soda tastings, paired with live music. A portion of the proceeds supports Christmas Cheer, a local non-profit that offers an emergency food pantry for individuals in need.
The eighth annual Tahoe Brewfest is Aug. 23 and features dozens of regional craft brewers throughout California and Nevada with tastings, live music, arts and craft vendors along Ski Run Boulevard, all benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe.
HISTORIC WAGON TRAIN: The Highway 50 Association’s 76th Annual Wagon Train traces the area’s authentic Old West history with horse drawn wagons, surreys, carriages and garbed cowboys and girls on horseback along the 64-mile trek from Round Hill, NV to Placerville on May 31-June 7. Evening sunsets mark the time for gatherings around the campfire, storytelling and entertainment.
BOATHOUSE THEATRE: The Valhalla Tahoe historic boathouse theatre and outdoor lawn offer an only-in-Tahoe venue with a remarkable lineup.
The lineup has nearly 20 events and starts June 4 with Nether Hour and concludes Sept. 6 with a performance by Word Wave One-Act Winners.
SHAKESPEARE BY THE LAKE: This season, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival features the Bard’s “Twelfth Night” on July 6-Aug. 23, alternating with presentations of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a whimsical prequel to Peter Pan, July 5-Aug. 24.
It’s an ideal evening to pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the performances that overlook spectacular vistas at Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.
REVISIT THE RENAISSANCE DAYS: The 29th annual Valhalla Renaissance Faire transports guests back to the spectacle and grandeur of 16th century England with jousting, swordplay, pageantry, ale, food, music and crafts at Tahoe Valley Campground. Dates are Aug. 16-17 and Aug. 23-24.
CLASSIC BIKE RIDE, RUN: The 32nd annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride is June 1.
The event will attract 2,000-plus cyclists, who circle the lake clockwise, starting at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nev. at 6 a.m. and finish at the UNR 4H Camp in Stateline between noon and 6 p.m.
The 61st annual DeCelle Memorial Lake Tahoe Relay tests athletes as teams of seven people each run approximately 8-12 miles counterclockwise around Lake Tahoe, June 7, starting/finishing from Lakeview Commons, two miles from the state line. There are options for running solo or as a pair in a 72-mile ultra marathon.
HALF MARATHON, BIKING, TRIATHLON: The Rock Tahoe Half Marathon takes place June 21. The half marathon travels along a 13.1-mile course.
The half marathon starts at the top of Spooner Summit, elevation 7,146-feet. Runners will drop more than 1,000 feet as they wind down Highway 50 to the finish line at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe, where it’s time for a pool party for racers and their guests.
The Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival, a staple of the area, is supported by the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association and features bike demos, brews, and live music. The dates are June 21-22.
The Lake Tahoe Triathlon on Aug. 23-24 includes sprint, half, and Olympic distances, as well as a duathlon (run/bike/run) and aquabike (swim/bike), all starting from Sugar Pine State Park.
For all event information, visit http://www.visitlaketahoe.com/events. Key travel information is also available at “Know Before You Go” as well as Rules to Lake By with five easy ways to practice responsible tourism and keep Tahoe awesome for generations to come.
