festival

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra recently honored 12 South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) students for their winning Writing Festival essays. Each year the members of the club collaborate with the Language Arts teachers at STMS to provide an opportunity for students to express themselves.

Winning essays are selected from each grade level. First place and first place honors winners each won a $75 cash award, second place $50 and third place $25.

Sierra-at-Tahoe brings the second annual Equinox Spring Festival to the slopes beginning March 21. This free festival features live bands over three consecutive weekends, signature Sierra events for all ages and competitions on and off the mountain. Competitions including the Van's Hi-Standard Series and 9th Annual Buckle Up Big Air will be taking place on-mountain, while the 8th Annual Salsa Showdown will happen in the base area.

If you have driven anywhere in South Lake Tahoe this week, you'll know that droves of visitors have decided to come to town for the holidays. With both Christmas and New Years Day on a Thursday many have made their visit a four or five-day long weekend.

Highway 50 from Meyers to Camino has seen heavy traffic in both directions. According to travelers, Sno-Parks at Strawberry and near Echo Summit caused traffic to come to a halt as far away as Kyburz as dozens of cars lining both sides of the highway.

December 02 Eklektik / TYMK / IJV @ Whisky Dick's
Open Mic Night w/ Lucas Arizu @ Fat Cat Cafe
Jeremy Jones w/ clips from "Higher", "Further", and "Deeper" @ Tahoe Aty Haus
Cinema
December 03-07 Tom Rhodes / Ahmed Baroocha @ Improv at Harveys
December 03 Steve Wozniak @ Hard Rock Cafe
Light up a life @ Barton festival of trees and lights
Brennan Lagasse on skiing greenland @ Tahoe Art Haus Cinema
Lambchop, Gurbtron, Clutch, Bassment-ality @ The Grid
December 3-7 Barton Festival of Trees and Lights @ Harrah's
December 04 Inner Rythims @ Northstar

We all have our own traditional touches we put on our Christmas Trees, from Grandma's special ornament to strung popcorn and cranberries. There is nothing ordinary or traditional about the trees on display at Harrah's Tahoe this week during Barton's Festival of Trees.

Tree designer Tara Dobyns, a 37-year South Lake Tahoe local, was selected to design two trees this year. When asked if she was an artist or decorator, Dobyns answered "no, I'm a landlord!"

Breathtaking video footage of adventure thrill seekers as they ski, bike, jump, climb and surf around the world will be featured at the 13th Annual Tahoe Adventure Film Festival on Saturday, December 13.

MontBleu Resort & Spa is hosting the madcap on-screen adventure films and non-stop, on-stage party action. There is not just one movie on the screen, but a series of 10-12 minute clips from the industry's best videographers.

Single day passes for SnowGlobe in South Lake Tahoe go on sale Thursday, November 19. The popular three day passes have sold out, as did all discounted pre-sale tickets.

Food and fun for the entire family. Each child gets a goody bag and can enjoy crafts, the Teddy Bear Hospital, and a photo with Santa! Bring a favorite teddy bear from home to be pampered and dressed. Purchase tickets at: www.FestivalofTreesLakeTahoe.com or call (530) 543-5614. Get tickets early - this event sells out!

Price:Adults 13 and over: $30. Children 2-12: $25. Children under 2 years old are FREE!

Location

Stroll through a holiday wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights on decorated Christmas trees and holiday decor! Vote for your favorite tree in the Festival's "People's Choice Award" contest. Settle down to watch the entertainment, bid in the silent auction, enter the raffle, get a family photo with Santa, and take the kids to Teddy Bear Hospital. Kids can stop by the Gingerbread Junction, where they can write a letter to Santa and drop it in the giant mailbox for express delivery to the North Pole.

Location

Kick off the holiday season in South Lake Tahoe at the Barton Auxiliary's Holiday Faire at St. Theresa's Parish Hall on November 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and get holiday gifts, decorations, and treats - including the Auxiliary's famous cheese balls - will be for sale. Santa Claus will be there between 10am and 2pm. For more information about the Holiday Faire, call The Attic at 530-541-3378.

The Parish Hall is located at 1041 Lyons Avenue.

Location

The nomination period for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Awards ended on Friday, October 10 at noon. TahoeChamber’s prestigious awards program that recognizes exceptional South Shore businesses received over 175 nominations for eight separate award categories. The finalists and winners will be announced at the 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards dinner and ceremony on November 13 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Tickets for the awards ceremony are now available for purchase at www.tahoechamber.org.

The Nominees:

The SnowGlobe Music Festival will be in South Lake Tahoe December 29-31, 2014. They just released the first names of the bands and DJs who will be here: Trippy Turtle, The Floozies, Cherub, Branchez, Bro Safari, J Phlip, Djemba Djemba, Thomas Jack, Le Youth, Slaptop, Justin Martin, Lex, Odesza, Tincup, Emancipato Ensemble, Flux Pavillion, Phantogram, Porter Robinson Live, Atmosphere, Disclosure, Flume, Zedd and Skrillex.

More than 200 people enjoyed the unique cocktail creations served up at the 5th Annual Barton Foundation Signature Cocktail contest held at the Riva Grill on Wednesday evening.

The festive and lively evening featured nine bartenders who were challenged to create a drink that featured Tahoe Blue Vodka. Contestants included Stephen Camp (Heavenly), Gary Gramprie (LewMarNel’s), Ian Sievwright (MacDuff’s ), Alice Schmalenberger (Mc P’s Pub ), Ken Newbold (MontBleu), Josh Thompson (Nepheles ), Erick Martinez (Riva Grill), Mara Milich (Sonney’s BBQ ), and Rob Morse (The Boathouse).

Beers, brats, and music are on tap at Camp Richardson Oct. 4-5, as Oktoberfest returns to the shores of Lake Tahoe. Now in its 20th year the annual event will showcase seven different autumn themed brews ranging from Drake’s Hefeweizen to Ninkasi Total Domination IPA.

Sept. 1-4 Burning Man decompression w/ Bhudda Lounge & Bhudda Bass @ 968 park Hotel
September 01 Cash Only Band @ Cabo Wabo
DJ Lambchop / Daytxna @ Fat Cat Cafe
September 02 Jesse Kalin @ Cabo Wabo
Open Mic w/ Lucas Arizu @ Fat Cat Cafe
Sept. 3-7 Will Durst / David Gee @ Improv at Harvey's
September 03 Open Mic w/ Jesse Kalin @ Cabo Wabo
Hypha, Professor Stone, DJ So freaky, IJV @ The Grid
Sept. 4-6 Dyer Maker @ Cabo Wabo
September 04 Kylan Johnson @ Cottonwood Bar & Grill
Graham Marshall Group @ Moody's Bistro
Sept. 5-7 Autumn Food and Wine Festival @ Northstar

Bassnectar, who has played at South Lake Tahoe's SnowGlobe, will be performing at MontBleu Resort on November 6.

The Electronic Dance Music heavyweight has rock critics saying his shows are not only finely tuned auditory experiences, but feature unparalleled light arrangements and awe-inspiring visual queues.

Bassnectar is the brainchild of Lorin Ashton, a San Francisco-based DJ, producer and artist.

Visitors and locals alike will find a variety of activities to enjoy in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday, August 31.

The highlight of the day will be the Annual Labor Day Fireworks show. The show features a simultaneous music broadcast that can be heard on local stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL - AM 1490. Show begins at 8:30 p.m. The fireworks are visible from all over town.

The kick off event for this weekend's Sample the Sierra will be a fundraiser for the Geodome/Grow Dome at Sierra House Mountain Academy.

Pop-Up Dinner will be held at the Lake Tahoe Community College from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The menu is curated and cooked by Chef Stephen Moise, the Executive Chef of The Ridge Tahoe and former Corporate Chef for Tommy Hilfiger. The meal will highlight local ingredients, including produce from the University of Nevada-Reno, ribs from the Carson Valley and crayfish from Tahoe Lobster Company.

Attendees of the Valhalla Art, Music and Theater Festival learned how to use a cross-cut saw, the primary tool still used today to keep trails open and accessible in the Wilderness. The event celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 National Wilderness Preservation Act.

U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit staff provided saws, logs and gloves and guided over 50 participants of all ages as they cut through a 10-inch log and received the souvenir slice branded with the 50th Wilderness Anniversary logo.

On Sunday, August 17 Valhalla presents the final in the free Concert on the Lawn series. This is a special free kids concert featuring the acclaimed children’s act the Banana Slug String Band. Their music is original and full of inspiring positive messages about taking care of each other and the environment. Everyone is invited to bring a picnic and join sit on the Grand Lawn at Valhalla from noon to 2:00 p.m.

Labor Day Weekend is only a few weeks away there are some ancillary events leading up to August 31's Sample the Sierra that the public can participate in.

Friday, August 29
Pop-Up Dinner
Enjoy a 3-course meal prepared by Chef Stephen Moise of The Ridge Tahoe and experience Elevate Tahoe. A portion of proceeds will be go towards Let It Grow! $75 per person

Saturday, August 30
Farm-to-Fork Bus Tour

A outdoor feast with the main course arriving straight out of Lake Tahoe and an indoor muscle and fitness protein fest will be the ultimate flex and fry events of the summer, Aug. 23 at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa.

The second annual Boil 'n Fry Day Festival is Lake Tahoe's version of an old fashioned New Orleans crawdad feed, complete with live music at the MontBleu Outdoor Event Center, carnival games, hot wings, barbecue, cold crafted beer and all the fried, boiled or barbecued fresh water crustaceans festival goers can eat.

The 2nd Annual Meyers Mountain Bike Festival will take place on August 10, 2014 in the Divided Sky parking lot, located at 3200 US Highway 50. The festival kicks off with a “Triple Crown Ride” covering 30+ miles and a 5,200 elevation gain. Riders should arrive at the Divided Sky at 7:30 a.m. to register for the ride. A $25 donation will support the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA), and Clif Bar will have water and fueling stations along the ride.

Each year, during the second weekend of August, the lawns and buildings at the historic Baldwin and Pope Estates turn back the clocks to a time of jazz, prohibition, prosperity and innovation.

The annual Gatsby Festival will be held at Tallac Historic Site August 9-10. Those that attend the free event will find vintage cars, games, music, Maytag clothes washer demonstrations, a speakeasy, tours and vendors with food and vintage clothing. The popular afternoon tea on Sunday is already sold out.

Pope House Living History Tours