Celebrity golf, star-studded concerts, adventure converge this summer at Tahoe South

A mountain of star-filled concerts, blockbuster festivals, heart-pounding athletic competitions, fireworks, and tee-to-green celebrity golf action are on-tap this summer at Tahoe South.

Tahoe South Favorites
American Century Championship: Sports and entertainment celebrities tee it up July 19-24 as the No. 1 celebrity golf tournament in the U.S., the American Century Championship, returns to Tahoe South for its 27th year bringing a star-studded line-up including the likes of Charles Barkley, Aaron Rogers, John Elway, Larry the Cable Guy, Ray Romano, and dozens of NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL Hall of Famers.

“Lights on the Lake” Fireworks:
Celebrated as one of the biggest and best July 4 fireworks shows in the nation, “Lights on the Lake” will light up the night with a spectacular sky rocket array of red, white and blue streams all synchronized to top rock/pop hits and patriotic favorites. The show has been prominently noted in travel publications and on NBC’s Today Show as one of the country’s best displays. Choice viewing spots are South Shore’s sandy beaches and aboard boats including the M.S. Dixie II and Tahoe Queen paddlewheelers or private vessels. The simultaneous music will be broadcast on local radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490. Labor Day Lake Tahoe will also bring the fireworks show over the holiday weekend on Sept. 4.

Wooden Boat Classic:
A signature event, the ninth Annual South Tahoe features dozens of vintage wooden boats on display at one of the largest gatherings of vessels in Northern California, July 29-30. This year’s event welcomes the Miss Notre Dame, which has been restored and will be on display. It is a replica of the 1939 Miss Notre Dame that carries with it a very historic racing pedigree and its original Duesenberg W-24 engine.

2016 Amgen Tour of California:
More than 350 men and women who represent the best cyclists from around the world will put their strength and muscle power to the test as they climb, descend and break away along steep and winding stretches of the Sierra at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, a multi-stage cycling competition with stages May 19 at Lake Tahoe. The men’s elite race begins in Lodi, Calif., and finishes at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. The women will also start/finish at Heavenly Mountain Resort on May 19.

America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride: Celebrating its 25th year, the ride is an epic 72-mile journey that circumnavigates Lake Tahoe in one day, June 5. Hosted by Bike the West and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, it offers spectacular scenery along with the necessities: food/water, restroom, and first aid stations for avid recreational bicyclists. Cycling action continues on the same route with the 14th Annual Tour de Tahoe – Bike Big Blue, a Ride to Cure Diabetes, as participants test their strength and physical endurance on Sept. 11.

Rock Tahoe Half Marathon: Long distance milers will lace up their running shoes and hit the road June 18 with the second annual Rock Tahoe Half Marathon. Presented by Epic Tahoe Adventures, the 13.1 mile course starts at Spooner Summit and drops over 1,000 feet as it winds its way down Highway 50 along the stunning east shore of Lake Tahoe to a finish line at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe. Other weekend activities include an Expo, Post-Race Party for runners and their guests and awards for the top male and female age group finishers.

Race the Lake of the Sky:
High-elevation adventure meets long boards for Race the Lake of the Sky, one of the nation’s biggest flat water Stand Up Paddle boarding events with the world’s best athletes, June 25-26. Known by enthusiasts as a “gathering of the tribes,” it brings the SUP community together for a weekend of paddling and competition with events such as the short course, long distance, team relay, grom (young racers), and SUP cross sprint course. The weekend event includes vendors, food booths and music at the El Dorado Beach amphitheater.

Tahoe Show:
The sixth annual Tahoe Show boasts hundreds of the best sculpted bodies as contestants vie for cash prizes at MontBleu Resort, Casino and Spa, Aug. 27. Known as the most beautiful show on the West Coast, the judged event is a qualifier for the National Bodybuilding Championship and features categories in bodybuilding, figure and physique, fitness and bikini.

The Lake Tahoe Marathon:
Combines inescapable natural beauty and hard-core fitness for the 21st annual event, Oct. 6-9. The weekend features multiple marathons with choices of 5K or 10k, half marathon, 18-milers, 144 milers around the lake or a four-day, 288 mile run. There’s a children’s run, plus swim and kayak competitions, and dozens of competitions to choose from.

Tahoe South rocks, rolls and swings
A summer lineup of legendary artists will grace the Harveys Outdoor Arena stage during the Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series. This year’s lineup will feature Slightly Stoopid with SOJA, The Grouch, Eligh, Zion I, July 2; An Evening with James Taylor, July 13; Sting and Peter Gabriel, July 15; Tim McGraw, July 23; Don Henley, July 24; Keith Urban, July 27 and July 29; and Steve Miller Band, Aug. 18. Additional acts will be announced with shows anticipated to sell out.

MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa showroom summer entertainment features Michael Franti and Spearhead, Aug. 19. More acts will be added visit www.montbleuresort.com for announcements.

FNCTN (pronounced “FUNCTION”) brings a solid lineup of the region’s best live DJs to play at Xhale Lounge on the first Friday of each month, entry is $10/person. The ongoing concert series will include more acts throughout the summer at popular venues.

Free live music throughout the summer is available every night of the week whether it’s Live at Lakeview, Heavenly Village, lakefront bars or popular restaurants. Live at Lakeview is a free weekly concert series every Thursday, June 30-Aug. 25 at Lakeview Commons. The amphitheater style seating offers breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe along with a variety of booths featuring local merchants, a beer garden, and food.

For Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe concerts visit hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com.

Festivals, arts, food and wine
The Valhalla Art, Music & Theatre Festival honors Tahoe’s heritage with a season filled with performances and comedy at the Boathouse Theater, outdoor concerts, festivals, and cultural events. Highlights include the 20th Anniversary Fundraiser - Lucky Baldwin Poker Promenada and Concert featuring pianist Radoslav Lorkovic, June 25; “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” June 30, July 1-3, 14-17, and 28-30; and A Tribute to the Music of Patsy Cline - Starring Joni Morris, July 13.

The Grand Lawn is the site of the annual Wa She Shu It Deh Native American Arts Festival, July 30-31. The free event is a cultural gathering that features traditional American Indian dancers and drummers, basket weaving displays, art and food.

The Roaring ’20s era comes alive during the annual Great Gatsby Living History Festival at the Tallac Historic Site with costumes, live music, interactive historic house tours, vintage auto rides, classic kid’s games, and food, Aug. 13-14 www.tahoeheritage.org.

Sample the Sierra, the seventh annual farm-to-fork festival, celebrates the pairings of Sierra Nevada wine makers, brewers and restaurants, with regionally grown fresh produce, plus entertainment, storytellers and acoustic music. This event offers regional products such as honey, jams, olive oil, and soaps along with pottery, painting, photography, and handmade crafts by regional artists, Sept. 17 at Bijou Community Park.