Lake Tahoe celebrates the holidays with celebrations, family-friendly festivals and more

’Tis the season for holiday merriment with family and friends at South Lake Tahoe to celebrate winter and the coming year with an array of favorite traditions, festivals, celebrations and new events.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVALS

The Heavenly Holidays will celebrate the town’s central gathering place with a month-long series of good tidings and cheer for kids young and old in the Heavenly Village including traditional favorites: Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23; Holiday Santa Paws & Yappy Hour, Dec. 2, Dec. 9; Heavenly Winter Early Movie Premiers, Dec. 14, 21; Santa Claus is Skiing to Town, Dec. 16; Heavenly Village Holiday Sip & Shop, Dec. 17; Village Ice Sculpture Contest, Dec. 26; Meet Your Favorite Characters, Dec. 26-30; Visit Lake Tahoe Ferris Wheel, Dec. 27-31; Holiday Face Painting, Dec. 27-31; Dec. 29-30; Visit Lake Tahoe Build-A-Bear, Dec. 27- 31 and Holiday Paint & Sip, Saturdays in December.

New this year with Heavenly Holidays includes Frosty Shoreline Snowshoe Experience with a lakefront snowshoe stroll along the beaches of Lake Tahoe at Beach Retreat and Lodge complete with cozy fire pits and specialty beverages on Fridays/Saturdays in December at 5 p.m., weather permitting. Champagne & Chocolate Sleigh Ride Tasting Experience s a 45-minute horse-drawn or carriage tour through the picturesque streets of South Lake Tahoe paired with complimentary champagne from Champagne & Chocolate Co. Fridays through Mondays in December. For all Heavenly Holidays details visit: https://visitlaketahoe.com/.

Winter Festival offers free admission for community events including choirs, jazz bands, Christmas tree lighting, and photos with Santa, complemented with arts/crafts, and food truck specialties for purchase. Organized by students at South Lake Tahoe High School, Winter Festival is Dec. 1-2 from 5-8 p.m., with events taking place on campus at the Student Union.

A Merry & Mulled Holiday Market complete with sipping from local/regional wineries and shopping with Tahoe/surrounding area vendors at the Coachman Hotel, located near the Heavenly Village, is Dec. 2 from 2-5 p.m.

The 3rd annual Festival of Winter Lights, Dec. 8-9 from 4-8 p.m., at the Lake Tahoe Museum, is the site for an outdoor style market event with free winter carriage rides, Santa’s house and kids activities, live performances, light displays, Christmas Fire Truck, hot drinks and food, plus shopping for Tahoe themed gifts from local vendors. In the spirit of holiday giving, attendees are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to drop off at the Toys for Tots booth.

Edgewood On Ice outdoor ice rink surrounded by pristine views of the resort and snow-capped mountains is open for guests as well as the public. Skate under the stars for and then enjoy outdoor firepits at the Bistro with a warm beverage. The magic continues throughout the winter season with the rink open daily from 4:30 – 10 p.m. as conditions allow.

NIGHTLIFE/ENTERTAINMENT

For a bit of holiday magic there’s the “Mystifying” and “Mind-Bending” Alex Ramon - Real Magic at Harveys Lake Tahoe, Tuesdays – Saturday, Nov. 21, 2023 – March. 2, 2024. Magic Fusion shows are available nightly at the Loft Theater in the Heavenly Village.

Casino entertainment at the South Shore Room at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room features The Struts, a British rock band known for their high-energy performances and retro-inspired sound, Dec. 1; Paul Cauthen, an American singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice and diverse musical style that encompasses elements of country, gospel, rock, and soul, Dec. 10; and Anuhea, multi-talented artist who blends reggae, pop, R&B, rap and country music into an eclectic style all her own, Dec. 15. Harrah’s Arcade will also offer Hot Coco and Arts and Crafts, Dec. 1-2 and Santa in the Arcade, Dec. 8-10.

The new Tahoe Blue Event Center welcomes Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Dec. 16, to convey the magic of the season with a Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts. The venue will also ring in the New Year with two-nights of Excision, Dec. 30-31. Originally from British Columbia, Excision has spent his career dedicated to the Bass Music scene, leading, and innovating in the creation of a massive, passionate Dubstep community, the genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the early 2000s. Within the last five years, Excision has launched multiple large-scale festival productions and headlined shows in the Thunderdome and The Coliseum

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS

Live music will take place on Heavenly Village’s Main Stage with multiple DJs and bands, Dec. 31 from 2 p.m. until 9:30. (Headliner TBA.) Heavenly Holidays reaches its zenith on New Year’s Eve with a gondola drop at 9 p.m. PT, coordinated with the midnight ball drop in New York City’s Time Square, accompanied with a fireworks show.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Peek Nightclub hosts an explosive pre-New Year's party with the Ying Yang Twins, an American hip hop duo, for night of music, lights, and champagne, Dec. 30.

To celebrate midnight Pacific Time, the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino (formerly Hard Rock Lake Tahoe) introduces free to the public, “Light Up The Night” with two DJs on the Alpine Union Balcony and a firework show to welcome 2024. Premium heated seating and a champagne toast are available for purchase.

Ring in 2024 under the stars with the scenic views of Lake Tahoe on the M.S. Dixie II at Zephyr Cove. Embark on the New Year's Eve cruise starting at 6:30 p.m. plated meal, countdown (eastern-time) with a champagne toast. Ticket availability is to be announced soon.

SKI AND RIDE SEASON

The 2023-2024 ski and ride season is underway ready to assume its position as the area’s No. 1 attraction through the holidays and into April. Heavenly Mountain Resort’s snowmaking teams have jumpstarted the season opening Nov. 21. Kirkwood is currently scheduled to open Friday, December 1, conditions permitting. Sierra-at-Tahoe is on-call and ready at a moment’s notice to get the wheels turning, anticipating a consecutive epic year of major powder.

CARLESS WINTER VACATIONS

Going car-free is entirely doable at Lake Tahoe. For a comprehensive guide to getting there and around, visit www.linkingtahoe.com. The app-based Lake Link www.tahoelakelink.com allows visitors and locals to request free rides in 9-12 passenger vans on the main thoroughfares from the Tahoe Blue Event Center/Nevada casinos to South Lake Tahoe, approximately three miles from the state line.

If driving, tourism officials recommend being prepared by continually monitoring road conditions. During snowfall, a fleet of city and state snow removal vehicles work throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin to keep the roads clear and safe for travel. Caltrans has current California road conditions at www.dot.ca.gov or 1-800-427-ROAD (7623) or 916-445-7623. For road conditions in Nevada, contact the Nevada Department of Transportation at http://nvroads.com or 877-687-6237.

For more information, events, promotions, packages, conditions explore Visit Lake Tahoe: www.VisitLakeTahoe.com. For winter driving tips visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/destination-update/. Visit Lake Tahoe offers timely updates and key travel information at “Know Before You Go” and Responsible Recreation.