Come Visit . . . And Bring the Dog
Pure excitement is exuding from every fur... Read Article
It’s Christmas time in Lake Tahoe -- one of the most splendid times of year in the area as it really brings out all of the positives of this beautiful place. The serene mountains draped in white. The chairlifts spinning bringing skiers and snowboarders to a plethora of fun. And an entire basin filled with exciting activities to do.
Here’s some of the fun to be had over Christmas and Hannukkah and into the New Year’s celebration.
Heavenly Holidays
A two week festival that begins on Thursday, December 22, Heavenly Mountain Resort hosts one of the best ways to enjoy this special time of year with their Heavenly Holidays. The celebration entails many different winter wonderland aspects including ice sculptors, carolers and a gigantic interactive snow globe that is the stage for photos with Santa. There will be other entertaining events as well including an outdoor concert, the 9 p.m. Gondola Ball Drop and a jaw-dropping fireworks show. There are events every day, so be sure to check the website to learn more.
Toccata Symphony -- Handel Messiah
The Village at Squaw Valley is offering an elegant evening of holiday appreciation with their Toccata Symphony -- Handel Messiah. A night not to be missed, the evening will be filled with symphony orchestra and chorus masterpieces presenting a grand performance of Georg Frederick Handel’s, Messiah. The talent of the singers and musicians gives a special life to this incredible 1742 holiday classic. The show is on Friday, December 23, at 5 p.m. Tickets are $65 for adults and $30 for children 12 and younger.
Christmas Torchlight Parade
You can’t celebrate Christmas in Lake Tahoe without attending Granlibakken Tahoe’s Christmas Torchlight Parade. Bringing our special Olympic heritage into the mix, the route for the torchlight parade will follow the 1932 Olympians of yesteryear. Locals and visitors are encouraged to participate. There will be hot chocolate, mulled cider, s’mores and photos with Santa following the extravaganza of light. The parade is on Saturday, December 24, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Twilight Snowshoe Tour
Northstar California Resort is offering a wonderful way to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the natural landscape with their Twilight Snowshoe Tour. This fun outing is a meandering of appreciation through pine-tree forests. The pace will be leisurely to help take in all the splendor that surrounds. The experience will be enhanced with time around a roaring fire pit enjoying live acoustic guitar under the starry sky. There will also be s’mores and hot chocolate available. Dogs are allowed to join in on the fun if on leash. The journey lasts for two to two and a half hours. Meet at the Cross Country Ski, Telemark and Snowshoe Center at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 24. Tickets cost between $38 and $56.
New Year’s Eve Celebrations
There are a ton of different happenings for bringing in the New Year on Saturday, December 31. Here are a few events to help you think about your options a bit ahead of time as buying tickets prior is encouraged. Homewood Mountain Resort offers a fun family event with champagne, an East Coast ball drop, torchlight parade, music and a ton of deals on food and drinks. The activities go from 3 to 10 p.m., and entrance is free. Heavenly is also putting on quite the party with their celebration that boasts an outdoor concert, the Gondola Ball Drop I previously mentioned and the huge fireworks display. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. This is another free event for the entire family. If your New Year’s Celebration would like a little more substance to it than just drinking, then check out Jake’s on the Lake awesome celebration. The party starts off with an amazing three-course dinner and then is followed with a hopping dance floor. The celebration begins at 5 p.m. Be sure to call ahead of time to make your reservation. Maybe one of the biggest ways to celebrate is with Montbleu New Year’s 2017 Celebration. If you are ready to party like there’s no tomorrow, then this is your best bet. There are three parties in one, including access to the Opal Ultra Lounge, Blu Nightclug and the main affair located on the newly remodeled Convention Center. You'll groove to impressive DJs and gogo dancers, and the people watching will amaze you! Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $75 or $80 if purchased on New Year’s Eve.
This is just a small sample of all the fun that can be had in Lake Tahoe. Please visit our day and evening event pages to find out what else is happening.
About the Author Shanie Matthews
A longtime Lake Tahoe local, Shanie is a freelance writer, Vinyasa Flow yoga teacher and positivity warrior. A true lover of the the gorgeous Tahoe region, she connects with the serenity of the mountains via skiing, biking and backpacking. She also believes in the gift of yoga and its way of allowing one to become his or her true best self, a passion she shares with the world with her online yoga studio.
