Banana Split Extravaganza – Tahoe Donner | March 16 2019

March 15, 2019 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Banana Split Extravaganza – Tahoe Donner | March 16 2019

Banana Split Extravaganza - Tahoe Donner | March 16 2019 Grab your spoons and get ready to enjoy a tasty delight!

Tahoe Donner is having some winter fun this coming Saturday by building a 200 foot Banana Split at their annual Banana Split Extravaganza!

You’ll find this winter fun event at the Tahoe Donner Ski Resort on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.

This event is free, fun, but you’ll need to bring your own spoon to enjoy it by helping eat this monster-sized frozen delight!

If you don’t have plans for this weekend, and you are looking for some spring skiing, or late winter fun, Tahoe Donner would be a great place to enjoy your day.

Here is the schedule of events:

1:30 p.m. Banana Split Extravaganza
Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort | 11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee, CA 96161

The Tahoe Donner neighborhood is a planned master resort community with some private facilities for members only, but you are in luck, as this event is being held at the Tahoe Donner Ski Resort area and is open to the public.

For more information check out http://www.tahoedonner.com/events/200-foot-banana-split-extravaganza-2/ or call (530) 587-9444

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Tahoe Donner master planned community, this is a great opportunity to see one of their fun development events in person!

If you are looking for some ice cream fun, the Tahoe Donner Banana Split Extravaganza this Saturday, March 16, 2019!

Ready to make the Tahoe Donner Resort Community your second home? Check out what Tahoe Donner Homes are for sale here:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Banana Split Extravaganza – Tahoe Donner | March 16 2019

Carnelian Bay Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

March 11, 2019 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Carnelian Bay Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

Carnelian Bay Home Values | Market Report - Year End 2018 Looking for sold, year-end 2018 single family home market data for the Carnelian Bay area?

Here is the year-end 2018 real estate review for Carnelian Bay, CA 96140.

The Carnelian Bay real estate market conditions continue to be strong, and favor Sellers.

Inventory levels of available homes for sale in Carnelian Bay remain critically low and very limited.

Buyers have only a few buying options, and it doesn’t matter what price point you are looking at, they are all limited.

Here are the current Carnelian Bay homes for sale, all price points:

Need help as a Tahoe Buyer? Call me call Laura Allen, 530.414.1260, for help!

Single family home prices moved down in 2018, which was not how the entire region moved in price, which was up.

Part of the increase in the region was because we had a number of record lakefront sales on both the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and a number of sales in the Martis Camp neighborhood in Truckee.

Lake Tahoe lakefront homes hit new highs on the North Shore at $22+ million, and on the West Shore the sold prices were even more impressive with a new high of $40 million.

You can see on the graph below that the over-all longer-term market trend for Carnelian Bay home prices has been up, despite the 2018 results.

Carnelian Bay Home Values | Market Report - Year End 2018

Carnelian Bay single family home prices were down in 2018, with a median average sales price of $627,000, which is down from the record high posted in 2017 of $712,500, but it is still near the market highs realized in between 2006 through 2008.

A common question I am often asked by Buyers and Sellers is:

“What percentage of the listed price are Sellers getting on their Tahoe property?”

In 2018, Sellers realized approximately 99.7% of the their average listed median home sales price to the average sold median listed sales price in the greater Carnelian Bay area.

This is higher than the over-all region, which was at 98.9%.

If Sellers have correctly priced their property, they will get close to their asking price.

It also means Tahoe Buyers that are bargain-hunters need to focus on properties that have been on the market for some time, or that their agent feels are over-priced for current market conditions.

Real Estate Market Homes Sold Data for the Carnelian Bay Area:

Year-End 2018: YTD Period: 01-01-2018 to 12-31-2018

Number of Homes Sold: 60
Median Average Sold Sales Price: $627,000
Average Sold Sales Price: $990,210
Sold Price Range (Low-High): $354,000 to $5,386,370
Percent (%) Avg. List Price to Avg. Med. Sold Price Ratio: 99.7%
Average Days on Market (DOM in MLS): 95 DOM
Number of Distressed Sold Homes: Zero (0) listings
- Zero (0) Court Approval
- Zero (0) Short Sales
- Zero (0) REO|Bank Foreclosures

Other interesting Carnelian Bay single family home market observations: Days on Market (DOM) increased slightly from 2017 to 2018.

For 2018 the number of days on the market for single family homes is now at 95 days, up 5 days from the 90 days on market in 2017.

The slight increase in the marketing time for a home, may indicate a shift in the market, or it could just be the market stabilizing from the upward movement.

The fewer days on market, is always better for Sellers helping them realize a higher sold price.

Inventory – Current inventory levels are critically low. Again, another sign of the market favoring Sellers.

Search Carnelian Bay homes for sale by neighborhoods here:

Lower Number of Sales – The reduced number of sales in 2018 may have distorted the over-all price change.

It is always beneficial for Buyers and Sellers to look at the entire North Lake Tahoe – Truckee regional single family home price trend, which was up +7.45% for 2018, with a median average sales price of $721,000 (TSMLS Areas 1-9).

As a result, I recommend looking the the entire North Lake Tahoe – Truckee Region for market trends and take that into consideration when looking at smaller data sets, and area.

North Lake Tahoe – Truckee Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

Looking for help as a Tahoe Seller? If you already own a home in the Tahoe area and want to know what is your Carnelian Bay property is now worth?

Call me call Laura Allen, 530.414.1260, for a confidential consultation.

Tahoe Home Buyers should do the following:

Look at new listings as soon as possible. Don’t wait.
Be prepared to write an offer the same day as seeing a new listing. Decisions need to be made as soon as possible.
Use a Buyers’ Agent. Work with an experienced local Tahoe Real Estate Agent. They understand the market conditions, and how other agents work and may respond.
Do you have your loan approval letter? If you will need a loan, make sure your lender has approved you.
If you are buying a condo or townhome in the area, make sure you are using a local lender. Using a local lender that has recently processed a loan in the complex you want to buy in will do two things for you.
- First, you will have the confidence that the lender has already reviewed their HOA docs and previously approved the development, which will increase your odds of the same outcome.
- Second, Sellers that know you have selected a lender with this experience will give you extra credit for knowing your lender is ready to go on their property.

If you want more long-term real estate data, check out the following table that has a lot of data going back over ten years.

I have included both the average median sales price and average sales price (in some cases there is a significant difference between the two, but the trends are the same direction for both) are included for each year in the following table.

Carnelian Bay Sold Single Family Homes 01/01/2018 – 12/31/2018

(This table is best viewed on a laptop, desktop, or a device with a larger screen.)

Year	Homes Sold	Median Average Sales Price	Average Sales Price	Days On Market DOM	Lowest Price Sold	Highest Price Sold	% Cash Sales	% Distressed Sales	Breakdown of distressed Sales
2018*	60	$627,000	$990,210	95	$354,000	$5,386,370 5 Lakefronts	30%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales
2017	67	$712,500	$1,181,496	90	$322,000	$5,725,000 8 Lakefronts	28%	3%	1 REO’s 0 Short Sales 1 Court Approval
2016	43	$520,000	$625,656	117	$329,000	$2,958,500 1 Lakefront	25%	9%	2 REO’s 2 Short Sales
2015	67	$505,000	$850,113	100	$254,500	$5,250,000 6 Lakefronts	25%	1.5%	0 REO’s 1 Short Sales
2014	56	$555,000	$1,247,111	66	$245,000	$10,550,000 9 Lakefronts	43%	1.8%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales 1 Court Approval
2013	65	$475,000	$780,885	93	$195,000	$5,250,000 6 Lakefronts	26%	7.7%	2 REO’s 3 Short Sales
2012	78	$417,000	$739,205	148	$197,423	$8,600,000 6 Lakefronts	38%	22%	7 REO’s 10 Short Sales
2011	44	$417,500	$808,212	150	$205,000	$3,500,000 6 Lakefronts	34%	44%	6 REO’s 6 Short Sales
2010	54	$452,500	$954,024	120	$200,000	$10,000,000 7 Lakefront	37%	31%	11 REO’s 6 Short Sale
2009	33	$458,000	$781,039	80	$151,000	$6,000,000 3 Lakefronts	33%	29%	7 REO’s 2 Short Sale 1 Court Approval
2008	23	$656,000	$1,130,120	134	$380,000	$5,915,000 5 Lakefront	17%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sale
2007	34	$650,000	$1,194,136	72	$315,000	$12,500,000 2 Lakefronts	15%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sale
2006	35	$686,000	$1,051,585	98	$410,000	$6,150,000 3 Lakefronts	11%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sale

REO’s = Real Estate Owned, which is the name banks use for their bank foreclosed properties.

Short Sales = Owner does not have the money to pay off all of the debt and asks the debt holders to take less back in order to close the sale.

*YTD period is 01/01/2018 – 12-31-2018. Data Source: Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service (TSMLS).

Year-to-date summaries are based on information from the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors (TSMLS).

Due to TSMLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy, this data is only informational and may not be completely accurate.

Therefore, Laura Allen, or Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the data’s accuracy.

Data maintained by the TSMLS’s may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. All information is deemed to be reliable, but is subject to change, modification, and/or correction without prior notice.

If your property is currently listed for sale, or you have an active Buyer Representation Agreement, this is not intended as a solicitation.

Thinking about a townhome/condominium in the Carnelian Bay area as an alternative to buying a home?

Carnelian Bay only has one condominium/townhouse development:

Carnelian Woods (only 118 units in the complex)

Here are the Carnelian Woods condos that are for Sale:

Sill want to buy a Mountain home?

Want more options in addition to the Carnelian Bay area?

Search Homes for Sale in North Lake Tahoe (North Shore of Lake Tahoe and the West Shore of Lake Tahoe) here:

Want to see other past Carnelian Bay Real Estate Market Reports?

Here are recent past market reports for single family home sales for the entire North Lake Tahoe – Truckee homes for the region:

When you’re ready to buy, or sell in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee Region, call Laura Allen, 530.414.1260, with Coldwell Banker the top real estate brokerage in the Lake Tahoe – Truckee region!

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com

BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent CalRE# 01473598

Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Carnelian Bay Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

Spring Forward – Time Change | Sunday March 10 2019

March 9, 2019 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Spring Forward – Time Change | Sunday March 10 2019

It’s that time of year to Spring Forward and move your clocks ahead one hour if you live in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area!

I’ll admit, this is one of my favorite days of the year.

I long for the longer days of sunshine, and I am happy to see the short dark winter days disappear here in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area!

It’s been a long winter with a lot of snow. This photo was taken on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

You can see how much snow is around this pool that is only open during the summer.

We have a lot of snow to melt out before we get to our summer season!

So you can see why I’d be excited to have longer days with more sunshine.

On Sunday, March 10, 2019 we will all need to move our clocks forward one hour (yes, an extra hour of daylight at the end of our days, and one less hour of sleep) as we start daylight savings time here in our area.

Yes, there are states that do not have the time change twice a year, but we are one of those states that does have it.

Since the shortest day of the year last December 21, 2018, we’ve added about 81 minutes of daylight, or approximately 1.35 hour of sunshine to each day.

If you want to do the math this means that in the Tahoe City area on the shortest day of the year in December 2018, sunset was at 4:40 p.m.

Before the time changes, on Saturday, March 9, 2019 sunset will be at 6:01 p.m. or a gain of 81 minutes!

Once we spring forward on Sunday, March 10, 2019, sunset will be an hour later at 7:02 p.m.!

So before you go to bed on Saturday, March 10, 2018, you’ll need to remember to set your clocks ahead one hour!

Since we have the twice a year clock change, here is my list of things additional tasks to do on Spring Forward day:

Change clocks in our home, office,kitchen (microwave and oven) and cars (move forward one hour). Yes, we still have some manual clocks that do not reset on their own.
Check smoke alarms (new ones have the battery good for 10 years) just to make sure they are all working and replace those that are older.
Check all carbon monoxide alarms/detectors just to make sure they are still working.
Fire extinguishers (check to make sure they haven’t been moved and/or damaged). This is also a good time to buy and add another one and put it in a room that doesn’t already have one. If you add one each time we have the time change, the additional expense is easier on your budget.
Any security device or item that uses a battery and is wireless (security cameras, video door bells, exterior/interior lights) that need to be changed every 6 months to a year.
All Flashlights (working, extra batteries), candles, matches, lighters, short-term lighting devices. We just purchased more triple AAA and double AA batteries at Costco, so if you haven’t checked your battery drawer, this is a good time to make sure you are well stocked.
Back-up charger device for cell phones/lap tops (if they have a solar option for re-charging that’s always a bonus). I can also check this one-off my list. The recent power outages had me re-charging these two items a couple weeks ago.
Canned goods/emergency food supplies (we’ve been pretty good about rotating our inventory, but it’s time to check on the bottled water and to make sure we are still well stocked)
Still on my to-do list:
- Get a battery operated radio
- Get a small TV that can be powered by connecting to just a USB port device
- Get the TV antenna device that will work with a digital TV that can get us the free national channels, just in case the cable goes down.

For those not as familiar with the Lake Tahoe – Tahoe City – Truckee areas some of our important utility lines (electric, cable, phone) are located above ground, and several times a year the power will go out for all different types of reasons, so we’re becoming better prepared.

Take advantage of this timely reminder to not only change your clocks, but to do some routine safety checks, along with being proactive on your emergency home preparation, for that just in case moment!

Upcoming future dates to keep in mind (number of days are from March 10, 2019):

Next time Change: Sunday, November 3, 2019 | 238 days (Fall Back and Gain One Hour)
Longest Day of the Year: Friday, June 21, 2019 Summer Solstice | 104 days
4th of July | 117 days
Shortest Day of the Year 2019 – Friday, December 21, 2019 | 287 days – Winter Solstice

While we still have several weeks of winter ahead of us, Spring and Summer will be here before you know it.

Now is the time to make the most of 2019. If you haven’t made your plans to be here in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area, now is the time to look at your calendar and figure out when you can be here!

If you live in the greater North Lake Tahoe – Tahoe City area, it’s time to move your clocks forward this Sunday, March 10, 2019!

Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out the homes that are for sale here:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent | CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Spring Forward – Time Change | Sunday March 10 2019

Homewood Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

March 6, 2019 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Homewood Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

Homewood Home Values | Market Report - Year End 2018 Looking for sold, year-end 2018 single family home market data for the Homewood area?

Here is the year-end 2018 real estate review for Homewood, CA 96141.

The Homewood real estate market conditions continue to be strong, and favor Sellers.

Inventory levels of available homes for sale in Homewood remain critically low and very limited.

Buyers have only a few buying options, and it doesn’t matter what price point you are looking at, they are all limited.

Here are the current Homewood homes for sale, all price points:

Need help as a Tahoe Buyer? Call me call Laura Allen, 530.414.1260, for help!

Single family home prices move up significantly in 2018, and part of that increase was because we had a number of record lakefront sales on both the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe lakefront homes hit new highs on the North Shore at $22+ million, and on the West Shore the sold prices were even more impressive with a new high of $40 million.

You can see on the graph below that the over-all Homewood home price trend for the average median home sold sales price move up in 2018.

Homewood Home Values | Market Report - Year End 2018

Homewood single family home prices were up in 2018, with a median average sales price of $809,500, which is near the market highs realized in 2006 and 2007.

A common question I am often asked by Buyers and Sellers is:

“What percentage of the listed price are Sellers getting on their Tahoe property?”

In 2018, Sellers realized approximately 100% of the their average listed median home sales price to the average sold median listed sales price in the greater Homewood area.

This is higher than the over-all region, which was at 98.9%.

If Sellers have correctly priced their property, they will get close to their asking price.

It also means Tahoe Buyers that are bargain-hunters need to focus on properties that have been on the market for some time, or that their agent feels are over-priced for current market conditions.

Real Estate Market Homes Sold Data for the Homewood Area: Year-End 2018: YTD Period: 01-01-2018 to 12-31-2018

Number of Homes Sold: 36
Median Average Sold Sales Price: $809,500
Average Sold Sales Price: $1,348,141
Sold Price Range (Low-High): $434,000 to $7,000,000
Percent (%) Avg. List Price to Avg. Med. Sold Price Ratio: 100%
Average Days on Market (DOM in MLS): 54 DOM
Number of Distressed Sold Homes: Zero (0) listings
- Zero (0) Court Approval
- Zero (0) Short Sales
- Zero (0) REO|Bank Foreclosures

Other interesting Homewood single family home market observations:

Days on Market (DOM) declined 30% from 2017 to 2018. For 2018 is the number of days on the market for single family homes is now at 54 days, down 24 days from the 78 days on market in 2017.

The shorter the marketing time for a home, the stronger the market is for Sellers.

Fewer days on market is going to help Sellers realize a higher sold price.

Inventory – Current inventory levels are critically low. Again, another sign of the market favoring Sellers.

Search Homewood homes for sale by neighborhoods here:

Lower Number of Sales – The number of sales in 2018 may have distorted the over-all increase.

As a result, I recommend looking the the entire North Lake Tahoe – Truckee Region for market trends and take that into consideration when looking at smaller data sets, and area.

North Lake Tahoe – Truckee Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

Looking for help as a Tahoe Seller? If you already own a home in the Tahoe area and want to know what is your Homewood property is now worth?

Call me call Laura Allen, 530.414.1260, for a confidential consultation.

Tahoe Home Buyers should do the following:

Look at new listings as soon as possible. Don’t wait.
Be prepared to write an offer the same day as seeing a new listing. Decisions need to be made as soon as possible.
Use a Buyers’ Agent. Work with an experienced local Tahoe Real Estate Agent. They understand the market conditions, and how other agents work and may respond.
Do you have your loan approval letter? If you will need a loan, make sure your lender has approved you.
If you are buying a condo or townhome in the area, make sure you are using a local lender. Using a local lender that has recently processed a loan in the complex you want to buy in will do two things for you.
- First, you will have the confidence that the lender has already reviewed their HOA docs and previously approved the development, which will increase your odds of the same outcome.
- Second, Sellers that know you have selected a lender with this experience will give you extra credit for knowing your lender is ready to go on their property.

If you want more long-term real estate data, check out the following table that has a lot of data going back over ten years.

Homewood Sold Single Family Homes 01/01/2018 – 12/31/2018

(This table is best viewed on a laptop, desktop, or a device with a larger screen.)

Year	Homes Sold	Median Average Sales Price	Average Sales Price	DOM Days On Market	Lowest Price Sold	Highest Price Sold	% Cash Transactions	% Distressed Sales	Breakdown of Distressed Sales
2018*	36	$809,500	$1,348,141	54	$434,000	$7,000,000 3 Lakefronts	44%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales 0 Court Approval
2017	44	$628,000	$861,069	78	$361,300	$6,000,000 1 Lakefronts	39%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales 0 Court Approval
2016	39	$679,000	$1,158,014	134	$326,000	$11,000,000 3 Lakefronts	36%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales 0 Court Approval
2015	45	$620,000	$1,235,056	132	$230,000	$9,950,000 5 Lakefronts	38%	4.4%	0 REO’s 1 Short Sales 1 Court Approval
2014	28	$637,500	$1,136,454	114	$390,500	$3,400,000 5 Lakefronts	54%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales 0 Court Approval
2013	31	$605,000	$973,580	67	$280,000	$5,000,000 3 Lakefronts	29%	9.7%	0 REO’s 2 Short Sales 1 Court Approval
2012	34	$495,000	$841,411	114	$202,000	$4,350,000 3 Lakefronts	27%	6%	0 REO’s 2 Short Sales 0 Trustee Sale
2011	31	$495,000	$917,346	87	$295,000	$4,400,000 4 Lakefronts	32%	19%	4 REO’s 2 Short Sales
2010	30	$453,000	$885,503	107	$260,000	$6,000,000 2 Lakefronts	33%	27%	6 REO’s 2 Short Sales
2009	26	$605,000	$935,871	105	$295,000	$4,750,000 3 Lakefront	44%	19%	2 REO’s 2 Short Sales 1 Court Approval
2008	6	$621,000	$840,333	289	$515,000	$1,525,000 0 Lakefronts	17%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales
2007	19	$874,000	$1,539,961	154	$435,000	$7,000,000 3 Lakefronts	26%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales
2006	20	$830,000	$898,455	92	$465,000	$2,095,000 0 Lakefronts	15%	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales

REO’s = Real Estate Owned, which is the name banks use for their bank foreclosed properties.

Short Sales = Owner does not have the money to pay off all of the debt and asks the debt holders to take less back in order to close the sale.

*YTD period is 01/01/2018 – 12-31-2018. Data Source: Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service (TSMLS).

Year-to-date summaries are based on information from the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors (TSMLS).

Due to TSMLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy, this data is only informational and may not be completely accurate. Therefore, Laura Allen, or Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the data’s accuracy.

If your property is currently listed for sale, or you have an active Buyer Representation Agreement, this is not intended as a solicitation.

Thinking about a high-end townhome/condominium in a lakefront complex, as an option to buying a home in Homewood?

Homewood only has two (2) high-end condominium/townhouse developments:

Fleur du Lac (only 22 units in the complex)
Chambers Landing (only 43 units complex)

Here are the Homewood condos that are for Sale:

Looking to buy a Mountain home? Want more options in addition to the Homewood area?

Search Homes for Sale in North Lake Tahoe (North Shore of Lake Tahoe and the West Shore of Lake Tahoe) here:

Want to see other past Homewood Real Estate Market Reports?

Here are recent past market reports for single family home sales for the entire North Lake Tahoe – Truckee homes for the region:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com

BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent CalRE# 01473598

Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Homewood Home Values | Market Report – Year End 2018

SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe

February 28, 2019 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe

The 38th Annual SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe Snow Festival will start their ten (10) days of winter fun this week.

This is one of my favorite local events that we have in the North Lake Tahoe, California area.

We are fortunate to have so many free, fun, local events in both of our peak seasons.

Snowfest! is the event in the winter, and in the summer we have free outdoor movies, concerts, and street fairs and festivals like Truckee Thursdays.

As of Tuesday, February 26, 2019 we have received over 537 inches of snow, with 22 inches in the past 24 hours. It’s been a big winter season and SnowFest! is going to keep you in that winter party mode!

SnowFest! 2019 kicks off on Thursday, February 28, 2019 with the Kick-off Party and Snow Queen Coronation and will end on Sunday, March 10, 2019 with the annual River Ranch Snow Sculpture Contest.

It’s hard to believe that this annual event began back in the spring of 1982.

It has become the place to be in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee area with ten (10) days of winter events, and activities for everyone!

The North Lake Tahoe SnowFest event has become one of the largest winter carnival events in the western United States.

It is a great way for everyone to celebrate our amazing snow conditions, all of our winter sports, and the beginning of Spring Skiing. Yes, Spring Skiing is almost here!

SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe The North Lake Tahoe snow festival event planners are busy all year-long to make this winter experience that keeps bringing people back to the North Lake Tahoe area year-after-year amazing.

Returning for the third year in a row will be the fireworks show on Friday night at Commons Beach in downtown Tahoe City beginning at 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting).

Don’t be late for this one. There is something special about seeing firework here in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area. It’s a special experience.

You’ll find that the schedule continues to offer fewer multiple events occurring at the same time.

I personally like having fewer events going on at the same time. It allows for everyone to be at just about every event without having to miss out on another event.

SnowFest will begin this year on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at Gar Woods Grill and Pier in Carnelian Bay.

Tickets are $35 at the door, and will get you into this SnowFest! Opening Ceremonies and Queen Coronation.

There will be live music, auction, and more for a fun evening to kick off the SnowFest week of activities!

If you’ll be up in the greater Tahoe City – Truckee, North Lake Tahoe, California area you’ll want to take advantage of all of the fun events that are scheduled for this week.

Some of my favorite events during the ten days are the fireworks.

In the past this has been at Squaw Valley, but are now being held on Friday night in downtown Tahoe City at Commons Beach.

A fireworks show in North Lake Tahoe is always a must see event!

If you can’t be here for the Friday night fireworks show, don’t forget the Weekly Winter Saturday Night Fireworks Show at Squaw Valley each week.

While this is not officially part of the SnowFest events schedule, I think you should put it on your to-do list and plan on seeing it too.

My advice, do not be late to these firework shows. They are not long, and they do start on time.

Next on my SnowFest list is the annual Tahoe City Parade, which will happen on Saturday, March 2, 2019.

This is the very best of small town living. It is a great reminder that communities have heart and can be seen in the local traditions it celebrates like the annual SnowFest parade in downtown Tahoe City.

A couple of parade watching tips:

Bring your own folding chairs
Arrive early so you can get yourself a good parade watching spot and parking spot.
It may snow, or it may be sunny. Depending on the final weather forecast if it is sunny, wear sunscreen to protect your skin.
Dress in layers so you can adjust to meet the sunshine, shade, and a breeze if we get one.
If it is going to snow, I like to wear a rain slicker over my coat. They are inexpensive – think yellow plastic game day ponchos and they will keep you warm and dry.
Bring water
If you bring your Fido, be sure they are on a lease. Remember to bring plastic bags to pick up after them. You should also be prepared for loud noises, so if your pet does not do well in a crowd, or around other animals, leave them in the car, or at home.

If you are still up for more fun after the parade, you you’ll need to check out the 31th Annual classic Polar Bear Swim at Gar Wood’s in Carnelian Bay.

SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe This is an event that you won’t believe until you’ve been there to watch those brave souls that will actually wade into Lake Tahoe and try to swim that race, let alone finish it.

It’s crazy to watch, and you’ll be impressed with those swimmers that actually finish the race. A must see SnowFest event.

One of the keys to a successful SnowFest week is to pace yourself!

On Saturday, March 2, 2019 you’ll need to pace yourself so you’re ready for more fun on Sunday, March 3, 2019 with the Fat Cat’s Hot Wing Eating contest followed by the annual Sunnyside Luau at the Sunnyside Resort on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Truckee River Winery Wine n' Ice Competition (Wine N'Ice) During the week there are a number of fun SnowFest events like the Truckee River Winery Wine n’ Ice Competition (Wine N’Ice), Blackout BINGO at Rosie’s Cafe, or the 11th Annual Bridgetender’s Ribfest.

If you can’t be in North Lake Tahoe on the opening weekend of SnowFest! 2019, you’ll get a second chance the following weekend to enjoy the NTPUD pancake breakfast, and see another SnowFest parade in downtown Kings Beach on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

On Sunday, March 10, 2019 the annual SnowFest event will come to an end with their final events.

If you haven’t checked out either the Tahoe Donner Iditarun (I-did-a-run) that benefits the Tahoe Truckee Humane Society, or the River Ranch Snow Sculpture Contest in Alpine Meadows, put both on your list to do this year.

There is so much fun just waiting for you here in North Lake Tahoe – Truckee and SnowFest 2019 is just one of our annual events that keeps bringing people back to our area year-after-year!

SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe Snow Festival Events Schedule:

Thursday, February 28, 2019

5:00 p.m. – 8 p.m. Opening Ceremonies & Queen Coronation at Gar Wood’s in Carnelian Bay, CA (5000 North Lake Blvd.) $35 per person donation at the door. Queen coronation, hosted Wet Woodys, wine, beer, heavy appetizers, and live music with Groove Foundry!

Friday, March 1, 2019

2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pioneer Cocktail Club Block Party – Join the Pioneer Cocktail Club for an afternoon of outside live music and activities A $15 fee/adults $8/kids 16 and under. Gets you entry to the music as well as one free drink. ALL proceeds go to the High Fives Foundation
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Blake Apalooza | Blue Agave’s Blake Apalooza & Fireworks Show, hosted by The Blue Agave (425 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA) Apres SkiBlake-Apalooza is a social tribute to the legacy of local legend and friend to all of Tahoe City, “Blake Beeman.” An evening of music, food, and fun. Join the celebration, and enjoy an awesome view of the fireworks!
7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. SnowFest Fireworks Spectacular 2019 – Commons Beach Downtown Tahoe City – You’ll be able to see the fireworks anywhere you can see downtown Tahoe City. This event is Free, but be on time, so you don’t miss anything. This is a weather permitting event.
9 p.m. – 11 p.m. Live Music at the Hacienda del Lago, Tahoe City – Live music Local Anthology

Saturday, March 2, 2019

7 a.m. – 11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast by the Tahoe City Fire Department (North Tahoe Firefighter’s Association) – 222 Fairway Drive (New North Tahoe Fire Station up behind the Cheveron Station in Downtown Tahoe City), Fundraiser for the Firefighter’s Association who works with the NT Fire District. Cost: Kids (ages 4-12) $5 | Adults $8 | kids under 3 free
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 noon Parade Watching Party at Blue Agave downtown Tahoe City, CA – Annoucing, viewing and judging
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tahoe City SnowFest Parade – downtown Tahoe City, CA – Free

Parade Day Tips –

Get to the parade early (around 11 a.m.) as parking and access to the downtown area becomes a challenge the closer to it gets to parade time.
Make sure your phone, or camera has a full charge.
Bring folding chairs.
Dress in layers.

12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. SnowFest Post Parade Party Pete ‘n Peters – at 395 N Lake Blvd, downtown Tahoe City, CA. meet the Vulcans from Minnesota and our own miners.
12:30 p.m. – 3 Tahoe Community Nursery School Winter Party & Fundraiser at Za’s lakefront restaurant, Tahoe City, CA. Fundraiser for the Tahoe Community Nursery School.
11:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Paint the Snowman (Crafts) – 380 North Lake Blvd, North Tahoe Arts, Tahoe City, CA North Tahoe Arts will Paint the Snowman! Children are invited to come to North Tahoe Arts and paint wooden cutouts of snowmen. Free event.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 31th Annual Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim, Gar Woods (5000 North Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay, CA.) Swimmer registration beginning at 1:30 p.m. Race at 2:30 p.m. Call 530-546-3366 for more information on the race, or for more information. Must be 18+ or older to race. Watch swimmers swim out to the buoys (about 250 yards) before heading back to the restaurant. Watch from the restaurant, deck, beach, or pier.
3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Haus Brewfest, Cobblestone Mall, Featuring beers from five breweries, food from Men Welding Fire, live music, games, and more. All ages welcome. Proceeds benefit the Shane McConkey Foundation.

(Not on the official SnowFest Calendar, but who doesn’t love seeing more winter fireworks?)

5:30 p.m. Winter Fireworks Show each Saturday at the Village at Squaw Valley (January, February, and March) – You’ll be able to see the fireworks anywhere you can see the Village and ski resort area. This event is Free, weather permitting. Be early for this one!

Sunday, March 3, 2019

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Great Ski Race
12 noon The Dog Pull 12 p.m. registration and 1 p.m. races begin – Behind Plumas Bank in Downtown Tahoe City, hosted by Cafe Zenon – The popular Dog Pull returns! Register your dog, no matter what size! They will pull weighted sand bags according to their size and weight. Prizes will be awarded!
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. 3rd Annual Fat Cat Hot Wing Eating Contest 599 North Lake Blvd. Tahoe City –Hot Wing Eating Contest – prizes! Entry fee is $30 and all proceeds go towards Keep Squaw True.
4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Sunnyside’s Hawaiian Pig Roast – Sunnyside Resort, 1850 West Lake Blvd.,, Tahoe City, CA. Wear your Hawaiian outfits and come out and enjoy a Hawaiian inspired cuisine and cocktail menu. Sign up for the Hula Pie Eating and Hula Hoop Contests. Additional food and drink fees will apply depending on what you order. Nothing feels like SnowFest than wearing Hawaiian shirts, sipping on beach inspired drinks while the snow flakes fall outside. Bring on the winter fun!

Monday, March 4, 2019

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Third Annual Za’s Clam Bake – Za’s, 120 Grove Street, downtown Tahoe City, CA A traditional East Coast Clam Bake including clams, chicken, potatoes, and corn. Call for pricing.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Pete ‘N Peter’s Bar Game Olympics – Pete ‘N Peter’s, age 21+, Entry Fee, downtown Tahoe City, CA. This event is limited to sixteen (16) two-person teams. Entry fee $20 per team. Sign up Early as space is limited 530-583-2400

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

12 noon – 7 p.m. Wine ‘n Ice Competition – Truckee River Winery’s Ice Carving Extravaganza – Truckee River Winery, 11567 Brockway Road, Truckee, CA Cost: $10 Cover (souvenir wine glass, Marti Gras beads, etc…) Proceeds benefit the Truckee River Watershed Council. www.truckeeriverwinery.com
8:30 p.m. 11 p.m. Rosie’s Bingo Night – Rosie’s Café, downtown Tahoe City, CA Must be 21+ Call for cost.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Willard’s Apres Ski Willard’s Sport Shop at 170 N Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City – Do Apres Ski the right way — with snacks, beverages, and great deals throughout the store!
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Meet the Rescue Dogs of Squaw Valley, hosted by North Lake Tahoe Visitor Center – TC Visitors Center – 100 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA Meet the Avalanche Rescue Dogs of Squaw Valley, in person.

Get your photo taken surrounded by our “Heros of Winter” dogs. All of the $5.00 donations go to the Squaw Dog Foundation. T-shirts for sale, free snacks, and hot cider provided. Donations gladly accepted for beer and wine.

8 p.m. – 11 p.m. Za’s Cornhole Tournament– Za’s, 120 Grove Street, downtown Tahoe City, CA First annual cornhole tournament.

Friday, March 8, 2019

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 11th Annual Bridgetender Rib Fest (65 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) – This event sells out every year, so get their early if you love to eat ribs. Entry is $20. Pricing for food is available at the event. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Chris Parks Scholarship Fund.
7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Ike & Martin 80’s Dance Party at Jake’s on the Lake (Boatworks Mall Tahoe City) – Dress in your favorite 80’s swag and bring on the party.

Saturday, March 9, 2019

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) Pancake Breakfast – 8318 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, CA | North Lake Tahoe Event Center, downtown Kings Beach, CA. Pricing available for $8/Adults and $4/Children at event.
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Dress Up Your Dog – Sponsored by NTPUD, 8318 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach. $10 per dog. Categories that will be judged include, Best in Show, Looks Most Like Owner, Most Creative!
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SnowFest Kings Beach Parade, downtown Kings Beach, CA The parade will move along Hwy 28 in downtown Kings Beach! Over 30+ local businesses and non-profit groups will have parade entries.

Parade Day Tips – Get to the parade early (around 11 a.m.) as parking and access to the downtown area becomes a challenge the closer to it gets to parade time. Make sure your phone, or camera has a full charge. Bring folding chairs, dress in layers, and wear sun screen so you’ll enjoy the event!

1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Alaskan Open Snow Golf Tournament, Tahoe City Gold Course First annual Alaskan Open. Best Ball 4 person scramble snow golf played with tennis ball and up to three clubs per player. This event is a 2 p.m. Shotgun start with 9 holes. $160/team ($40/player) Benefits Achieve Tahoe.
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Ice Cream Eating Contest At the Log Cabin restaurant in downtown Kings Beach. Open to all ages, no entry fee.
1 p.m. 3rd Annual Snowball Drop Fundraiser sponsored by the North Tahoe PTO – Tahoe City Golf Course|Winter Park 251 North Lake Blvd, downtown Tahoe City, CA. Snowballs are sold in advance by the 5th -12th grade Tahoe City Students and benefit North Tahoe PTO – all ages. Grand prize $1,000
Pre-purchase raffle tickets Drawing directly following the Kings Beach SnowFest Parade. Look for the Snowglobe by d’Lish Catering!

1st Place Grand Prize is $1,000, 2nd Place Prize is $100.
Tickets can be purchased through students at North Tahoe School and North Tahoe High School with cash, checks (made out to NT PTO) or online through PayPal: PayPal.me/snowballfundraiser.

All proceeds from this fundraiser help our PTO fund school programs, supplies, field trips, and much more for North Tahoe School and North Tahoe High School students.
3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Get S’more Saturday Snow Shop, dine and get S’more out of the Kings Beach businesses you love Head to 12 eateries and shops and receive something extra and unexpected; track your visits on a play card; then stroll to the outdoor gathering area to enjoy free S’Mores, heaters and fire pits; plus multiple chances to win raffle prizes valued at $3,000.Participating businesses will offer shoppers and diners something extra and unexpected, such as complimentary beverages and snacks, free appetizer or specialty menu items, complimentary balloon animals, artist demos, and more.
(Not on the official SnowFest Calendar, but who doesn’t love seeing more winter fireworks?)
- 5:30 p.m. Winter Fireworks Show each Saturday at the Village at Squaw Valley (January, February, and March) – You’ll be able to see the fireworks anywhere you can see the Village and ski resort area. This event is Free, weather permitting. Be early for this one!
9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Live Music at the Hacienda del Lago, Tahoe City – Live music Mojo Green

Sunday, March 10, 2019

SPRING FORWARD – Did you remember to move your clocks forward 1 hour? The twice a year time change happened at 2 a.m. so make sure your clocks are reflecting the right time!
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Family Fun Day – Tahoe City Winter Park – downtown Tahoe City
12 noon – 3 p.m. 15th Annual Tahoe Donner I-Did-A-Run – Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area – 11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee, CA in Tahoe Donner, Truckee, CA – Event sign-ups start at 12 noon and the race starts at 1 p.m. Event takes about 2 hours. Event raises money for the Humane Society of Tahoe-Truckee – all ages are welcome – different dog categories. $20/entry. Limited to 40 contestants. Dogs pull a covered wagon sleds down a snow covered chute against the clock.
12 noon River Ranch Annual Snow Sculpture Contest, River Ranch, Hwy 89 South at the entrance to Alpine Meadows, CA 29th Annual snow sculpture contest. Entry fee to build a sculpture, but Free Admission to see the entries. Cost on any food or beverage items purchased.

Get ready to have a lot of fun regardless of the weather conditions. Have some fun, make some memories, come to Lake Tahoe!

To check for updates, or more information on events check out the SnowFest 2019 schedule here, or better yet plan to be here in Lake Tahoe and have some winter fun!

See you at some of the SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe Snow Festival events this year!

Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out the homes that are for sale here:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

SnowFest 2019 North Lake Tahoe