SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The inaugural VanWood festival hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, in partnership with Kirkwood Mountain Resort and Epic Promise, took place this April and brought with it one of the biggest spring snowstorms of the season.
Over the three-day weekend, more than 42 inches of snow fell on Kirkwood. What could have created major logistical challenges ended up defining the weekend in the best way, with deep powder riding, indoor events, and a community of campers that were fully in it from start to finish.
VanWood was designed as THE spring camping experience, giving attendees (and their dogs) a rare chance to camp overnight at Kirkwood and spend the weekend moving between the slopes, camp, and events. More than just a festival, VanWood was built as a community-driven experience centered around the mountain and a shared commitment to supporting local youth.
Skiing and snowboarding took center stage while morning yoga, coffee chats, aprés DJ sets, live music, and community gathering spaces carried the festivities into the evenings. Saturday afternoon was the highlight of the weekend, with attendees enjoying unlimited tastings from regional breweries at the VanWood mini Tahoe Brewfest while Scott Pemberton O Theory and special guest musician Cliff Porter of Jelly Bread delivered an incredible performance that had Red Cliffs Lodge packed and the energy high.
If you missed the event but want to try the official VanWood beer, Sunset Shred, crafted in collaboration with Kirkwood Mountain Resort executives and Cold Water Brewery, makes its official tap debut at Cold Water Brewery on Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. with extended happy hour pricing from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Pints of Sunset Shred are $5 during happy hour, with 20 percent off appetizers at the bar. $2 from every pour of Sunset Shred that day goes directly to the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe.
A special thanks to everyone who helped make this event a reality: Kirkwood’s amazing team, The Alpine Community Fund, TWC, Embarc, Cold Water Brewery, Paddle House, Bare Roots, On Course Events, The Cornice staff, Red Cliffs Lodge staff, Kirkwood parking staff, 7800 Bar, 2 Towns Cider, Aleworx, Dust Bowl Brewing, Pigeon Head, Sidellis, South Lake Brewing Company, South of North, Tahoe Brew House, Ricky Newberry, Greg Kiskinen, Rob Guistina, Ryan Kronenburg, Ryan Palmer, Gabe Gavilanes, and Mike Adlard. For a first-year event, the response was clear: VanWood has established a strong foundation with significant potential for growth.
VanWood raised over $18,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe in its very first year, with final totals still being counted. At the heart of it all are the kids BGCLT serves and this weekend proved that the Tahoe community shows up for them.
The Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe looks forward to welcoming the community back to Kirkwood Mountain in 2027.
-Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
