SnowFest! 2015, North Lake Tahoe, California

It’s here! SnowFest! 2015 will start its 34th year of ten crazy days of winter fun here in North Lake Tahoe, California this Thursday, February 26, 2015 .

It doesn’t matter what our local weather will be like over the next week – snow, rain, sunshine, or all three, event planners are ready to go!

This annual event, which began back in the spring of 1982, has become the place to be in the North Lake Tahoe area with ten days and nights of exciting fun winter events, and activities for everyone!

You may not know that Tahoe’s SnowFest! has become one of the largest winter carnival events in the western United States.

Event organizers plan all-year to make this winter snow festival event and experience one that will bring people back to the North Lake Tahoe area year-after-year. This year the SnowFest! organization has turned to Crowd Sourcing to make up the budget short fall. If you’ve enjoyed this event in the past and want it to continue, your contribution can help make that happen. Click here to donate!

This year SnowFest! 2015 officially begins on Thursday, February 26, 2015, and will end on Sunday, March 8, 2015.

SnowFest! will unofficially begin with a Remembrance for Old Man Winter at 4:30, followed by a Kick-Off Fund Raising Party on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Gar Woods Grill and Pier in Carnelian Bay. A $30 donation at the door gets you into this SnowFest! party, along with appetizers, Wet Woody’s, Wine and Beer, Raffle, Auction, and music with Groove Foundry. Get ready to start this years’ SnowFest! with this kick-off party!

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.

Some of my favorite events during the ten days are the torch light parade and fireworks on Friday night at Squaw Valley, then on Saturday the Pancake Breakfast, followed by the Tahoe City SnowFest! Parade, followed by the 26^nd Annual classic Polar Bear Swim at Garwood’s.

Pace yourself because there’s more fun on Sunday, March 1, 2015 with the Dog Pull Contest, and the annual Sunnyside Luau at the Sunnyside Resort on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Don’t forget the Truckee River Winery Wine and Ice Competition, BINGO at Rosie’s Cafe, or the Girl’s night out Bunco Bash on Wednesday, March 4, 2015.

There are many events through-out the week, and the following weekend you’ll have another chance for pancakes, and to watch another SnowFest! parade in downtown Kings Beach on Saturday, March 7 2015, and you’ll want to check out the River Ranch Snow or Sand Sculpture Contest in Alpine Meadows on Sunday, March 8, 2015.

So much fun just waiting for you here in North Lake Tahoe and SnowFest! 2015 is just one of our annual events that keeps bringing people back to our area year-after-year!

Check out a few of the SnowFest! Event highlights here in this video with Laura Allen, Tahoe REALTOR:

Here’s a detailed look at the upcoming SnowFest! 2015 North Lake Tahoe, California Events Schedule:

Thursday, February 26, 2015 (Pre-Kick Off Party)

4:30 p.m. A Remembrance for Old Man Winter – JC Krise has been the Tahoe area Old Man Winter for the past 33 years and a remembrance in his honor will be held prior to the kick-off event.

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Kick Off Party at Gar Wood’s in Carnelian Bay, CA $30 Donation, 21+ and older

Friday, February 27, 2015

The 39th Annual Dick Linkey Rotary Ski Challenge at Northstar Ski Resort – The largest gathering of skiing Rotarians. This events benefits the communities in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area. For more information click here.

6 – 7 p.m. SnowFest! Queen Coronation – Village at Squaw Valley, Olympic Valley, CA Free

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Torchlight Parade – Don’t be late for this one. Watch the display of torches as they come down the hill. Best viewing will be at the Base of Squaw Valley at the KT-22 Deck area at the Village in Squaw Valley. Free

7 p.m. On-Mountain Firework’s presented by Coors. While you’ll be able to see the fireworks anywhere you can see the mountain, the best viewing area will be at the Base of Squaw Valley at the KT-22 Deck Area at the Village in Squaw Valley. Free

Saturday, February 28, 2015

7 a.m. – 11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast by the North Tahoe Firefighter’s Association – 222 Fairway Dive (New Tahoe City Fire Station), Tahoe City, CA $8/Adults, $5/Children 4- 12 , Under 3 years – free

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Paint the Bear Paint the Bear (Crafts) – North Tahoe Arts, Tahoe City, CA Free

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Parade Watching Party at Blue Agave, or Rosie’s Café, downtown Tahoe City, CA

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tahoe City SnowFest Parade – downtown Tahoe City, CA – Free

12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Pete ’n Peters Post Parade Party, downtown Tahoe City, CA

12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Mobility Rock Bank in the parking lot of Pete ’n Peters, part of the Post Parade Party, downtown Tahoe City, CA. The Mobility Rock Band is from Travis AFB, so come out and have some fun.

1 p.m.- 2 p.m. Stohlgren Brothers Ice Cream Eating Contest, New Tahoe City Fire Station at 222 Fairway Dr., Tahoe City, CA

2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. 26th Annual Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim, Gar Wood, Carnelian Bay, CA. Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. with swimmer check-in at 1:30 p.m. Race at 2:30 p.m. Cost to enter the race: $30/advance and $35/day of event. Must be 18+ or older to race. Call 530-546-3366 for more information or to register.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

9 a.m. 40th Annual Great Ski Race – Cancelled -This event has been cancelled due to our current Tahoe snow conditions – 40^th Annual Great Ski Race, which would have begun at the Tahoe XC Center in Tahoe City, CA and ended up in Truckee, CA. This has been the largest fund-raiser in the past for the Tahoe Search and Rescue organization, so don’t forget them on your donation list.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Arctic Paddle at the Wateman’s Landing in downtown Carnelian Bay at the public beach area.

11 a.m. – 1:30 SnowFest! Dawg Pull at the Tah0e City Golf Course – rain, shine, snow, or grass! Sign-up’s start at 11 a.m. and dogs of all breeds, size, and shapes are encouraged to pull the sled across snow (or grass). Cost is $10 per dog.

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Granlibakken’s Gone “Bonkers” Kids Ski Race – Ages 5-12 Entry fee $20, 2^st Annual Kids Ski Obstacle Course Competition at the Granlibakken Ski Resort, Tahoe City, CA. If there is no snow, they will have an alternate family fun event for all ages. Prices will be adjusted if there is no snow.

4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sunnyside’s Annual Luau – Sunnyside Resort, West Shore Lake Tahoe, 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.

Monday, March 2, 2015

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Za’s Clam Bake – Za’s, 395 North Lake Blvd., downtown Tahoe City, CA A traditional East Coast Clam Bake including clams, chicken, potatoes, and corn. $25/person

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Pete ‘N Peter’s Bar Game Olympics – Pete ‘N Peter’s, age 21+, $10 Entry Fee, downtown Tahoe City, CA, Sign up Early as space is limited 530-583-2400

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

1 p.m. – 7 p.m. 2014 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 High Fives Foundation

6 p.m. – 9 p.m. SnowFest! Bunco Bash – Girls Night Out North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, CA $25 on-line at www.ActivityTickets.com or cash only sales at Truckee Visitor Center, The Store in Tahoe City, Bar Bar Bar in Incline Village, or Rockwood Tree Service in Kings Beach. If there are any tickets left (this has been a sell-out event) $30 at the door, must be 21+ or older.

All proceeds go to the Tahoe Forest Cancer Center patient programs.

9 p.m. 12 midnight Rosie’s Bingo Night – Rosie’s Café, downtown Tahoe City, CA Cost $5/per card to play at the door, and you can play more than one card! Great prizes!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

5:30 p.m. –7:30 p.m. Meet the Squaw Rescue Dogs (4-legged Heros) – North Lake Tahoe Visitors Center, 100 North Lake Blvd., “Y” at Tahoe City, CA

5;30 p.m. SnowFest! 2015 Skills & Prowess Test at Blue Agave – downtown Tahoe City, CA If field hockey football passing, and basket ball are in your skill-set this contest is for you. If not, fun to watch! Cost: ? Proceeds to benefit the Tahoe City Downtown 4th of July Fireworks event.

Friday, March 6, 2015

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Bridgetender’s 7^th Annual Rib Fest, Bridgetender, across Fanny Bridge, Tahoe City, CA Cost: There is a fee based upon what you order, and part of that fee goes to benefit a local group. This is a sell-out with a line out the door, so get there early!

Saturday, March 7, 2015

7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Diamond Peak Uphill Downhill Dash – Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Ski Way, Incline Village, Nevada, There is a $10/per person fee. For more information www.DiamondPeak.com/events

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) Pancake Breakfast – North Lake Tahoe Event Center, downtown Kings Beach, CA $8 Adults, $3 Children 4-11, under 3 Free. All proceeds benefit the “Dog Day in the Park” and “Friends of the Park”.

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Dress up your Dog Contest – North Tahoe Events Center, downtown Kings Beach, CA There is a fee per entry

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SnowFest! Kings Beach Parade, downtown Kings Beach, CA The parade will move east along Hwy 28 in downtown Kings Beach!

12 noon – 7 p.m. Kids Ski Team Fundraiser Willards Sport Shop – 170 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA Food, fun drinks, sale, raffle benefiting the Kids Ski Teams

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Snow What? Snow sculpting Contest – Kings Beach Library, Kings Beach, CA

4 p.m. – 8 p.m. TEA Winter Expo – Diamond Peak Ski Resort , 1210 Ski Way , Incline Village, NV

6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Squaw presents LUNAFEST Film, Food, & Wine, Olympic Village Lodge, 1901 Chamonix Place, Olympic Village, CA Age: 21+ or older, $35/Advance $45/door benefits Girls on the Run-Sierras and Brest Cancer Fund.

7 p.m. – 12 midnight Kings Beach “After 8” SnowFest Mardis Gras Masquerade at the North Tahoe Event Center – 8318 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, CA 18+ age $20/adult Proceeds benefit “Friends of the Park”.

7 p.m. Queen Raffle Drawing at the SnowFest Mardis Gras Masquerade – Come out and find out who the lucky winners were from the SnowFest! Queen Raffles.

7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. SnowFest! Cocktail BINGO – Community Art Center – 10046 Church Street, Truckee, CA This is a Truckee Downtown Merchants Association Event and all ages are welcome. $10/BINGO ticket for the first two cards, and then $5 for each additional BINGO card.

Sunday, March 9, 2015

12 noon – 5 p.m. Tahoe Donner Ididarun – Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area – 11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee, CA – Event sign-ups start at 12 noon and the race starts at 1 p.m. Raffle proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Tahoe-Truckee – all ages are welcome – 4 different dog categories – $20/entry

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. River Ranch Annual Snow, or Sand Sculpture Contest, River Ranch, Hwy 89 South at the entrance to Alpine Meadows, CA BBQ an DJ on the patio. Judging will take place at 3 p.m. Raffle to benefit the Disabled Sports USA Far West group.

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Fine and Funky Fashion Show, Jake’s on the Lake, Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City, CA for more information www.ShopFinenFunky.com

Get ready to have a lot of fun regardless of the weather conditions. SnowFest! only happens once a year, and this is one of my favorite events that happens here in the greater Lake Tahoe area! Have some fun, make some memories, come to Lake Tahoe!

To check for updates, or more information on events check out the SnowFest! 2014 schedule here, or better yet plan to be here in Lake Tahoe and have some winter fun!

See you at some of the SnowFest! 2015, North Lake Tahoe, California 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! 2015, North Lake Tahoe, California