Fall for Tahoe South's Secret Season: Labor Day through October

As summer winds down, fall events in Tahoe South are ramping up. And the secret’s out: Fall in Tahoe South is one of the most idyllic times to visit with mild weather, off-season lodging rates, more beach space and numerous events starting Labor Day Weekend.

A special sing-along screening of Bohemian Rhapsody at the Harveys Outdoor Arena, Sept. 1, provides an opportunity to spend an evening under the stars with Freddie Mercury. The unreleased version will be preceded by a performance from the world’s only all-female tribute band to Queen, The Killer Queens. The family-friendly evening concludes with a dazzling Laser Light Spectacular.

The Midway Art & Music Festival at the Heavenly Village Labor Day Weekend is non-stop entertainment with carnival rides, art show, fortune teller, plein air and caricature artists, jugglers, face painter and a classic car show, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The village will showcase 14 regional artists performing bluegrass, funk, country and rock ‘n roll on two different stages, as well as the second annual 5k run.

ENTERTAINMENT

The weekly Live at Lakeview series concludes its free public concerts on the lake Thursday, Aug. 29 at Lakeview Commons with performances by J Ras + The Higher Elevation and Miki Rae with Taking Root.

A feel good time awaits during Remembering James – Tribute to the Godfather of Soul at the Valhalla Boathouse Theater, Aug. 30. This performance tells the story of James Brown’s monumental career, including how his involvement in the Civil Rights movement and with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shaped his work.

MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa will host Extreme Midget Wrestling, Aug. 31, at Blue Nightclub. Competitors will participate in an all-out Pro Wrestling War.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe welcomes hypnotist Terry Parrett for EnTRANCED: The Hypno-Reality Show at Vinyl, Aug. 30-31. For two nights this one of a kind show will make guests the “stars” of popular reality shows. Sound Waves Pool Parties include yoga, cabanas, poolside tapas, day beds, live music, DJs throughout Labor Day Weekend. Open to the public and hotel guests receive complimentary access.

Don’t blink or you’ll miss it: Masters of Illusions at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe disappears after Sept. 2. The cutting-edge and perplexing interactive magic leaves audiences baffled and amazed.

The Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena rounds out a season of headliner concerts with Dave Matthews Band, Sept. 6 and Duran Duran, Sept. 13.

MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa will host a variety of acts this fall: Dave Mason: The Feelin’ Alright Tour, Sept. 20; Boz Scaggs: Out of the Blues Tour, Sept. 21; Marc Broussard and Samantha Fish, Sept. 27; Skynnyn Lynnard and ZZ Tush, Sept. 29; Rob Schneider, Oct. 4; Clint Black: Still… Killin’ Time 30th Anniversary Tour, Oct. 5; St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Oct. 6.

FOOD & WINE

Celebrate the holiday weekend with a kick-off at the Wine Walk at the Heavenly Village, Aug. 29. A $20 donation to local charity Christmas Cheer merits pours of wines from Carson Road Wineries in various shops throughout the Village.

The 19th annual Thin Air Chili Cook Off at Kirkwood Mountain Resort includes a commemorative glass, a kit to taste the chilis, and a vote for the favorite, Aug. 31. Cash prizes are available for Crowd Favorite, Best Chili and Best Booth. There’s beer and wine tasting, live music, a kid’s zone, and face painting.

Summer’s End Winemaker Dinner features Tank Garage Winery and local chef Alexis Amity of Crave Lake Tahoe with a tasty four course meal to close out summer at Basecamp Hotel, Sept. 1. Winemaker Bertus Van Zyl will describe wine pairings for each course.

Live Violence Free’s Afternoon of Peace & Harmony, Sept. 7, is an annual fundraiser with live performances from local talent Mescalito, Nikki Costa and Sal’s Greenhouse as well as food, beer and wine with a silent auction at Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Concert Arena.

FALL FESTIVALS

Farm-to-fork festival Sample the Sierra turns 10 on Sept. 14 at the Bijou Community Park with more than 20 booths of paired food and drinks found only in the Sierra Nevada. A chef’s cooking challenge, live music and a festival marketplace of handmade goods will also be available.

The Fall Ale Fest and Wing Cook-Off at the Heavenly Village, Sept. 21, will continue the good times, brews and food well into September. Paint and sip, a corn hole tournament and a poker walk will also be part of the fun.

Oktoberfest at Camp Richardson celebrates its 25th anniversary, Oct. 5-6. This festival brings ethnic food and desserts complemented by authentic German beers and wines. The weekend includes live music, a climbing wall, pumpkin patch, bounce house and a bungee platform. Attendees can win gifts by competing in various contests: beer stein holding, yodeling and the costume competition. Entry and parking are free.

With the Kokanee salmon swimming upstream, locals and visitors celebrate the annual migration at the Fall Fish Fest, Oct. 5-6 at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. This two-day event will feature educational programs, a salmon feed, stream side programs, and Kokanee Trail Runs with 5k, 10k and half-marathon. Free admission and parking is available at the Visitor Center and historic Camp Richardson Resort.

The South Lake Tahoe Food and Wine Festival returns for its 10th year at Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe, Oct. 25-27, with numerous dining and tasting experiences, as well as a rare Tahoe performance by legendary performer Rick Springfield Oct. 26.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association’s 9th annual Rose to Toads tasks athletes with a 63-mile ride from Mount Rose to the famous Mr. Toad’s Wild Road in Meyers, Sept. 2. The route includes more than 8,000 feet of climbing and 10,000 feet of descents.

The 16th annual Tour de Tahoe has cyclists riding 72 miles around “Big Blue” with after-party, Sept. 8.

The 24th annual Tahoe Blue Vodka’s Lake Tahoe Marathon brings a 5k, 10k, half marathon, 16.6 miler, marathon, ultras and the famous triple marathon and triple half marathon trifecta (that’s three half marathons in three days), Oct. 11-13. This event is open to all ages.