Lake Tahoe is a wonderful year-round vacation destination, especially for those who love the outdoors! However, you may not realize that there is lots of fun to be had off the slopes and out of the water as well. All year long, Lake Tahoe hosts festivals that bring life into the town for both locals and tourists. No matter what you are interested in, Lake Tahoe is sure to have a festival for you! Below is our Lake Tahoe guide and list of top annual festivals in Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
Most cities have a Shakespeare in the park type event during the summer, but Lake Tahoe takes theirs to the next level! From July 8th through August 27th, Sand Harbor State Park becomes the centerpiece of culture in Lake Tahoe. Throughout the festival dates are performances from the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sierra Nevada Ballet. The headliner of the festival is the double-feature performance of a Shakespeare play, which changes annually. This is a must-see event for anyone who loves Shakespeare!
Heavenly Village Midway, Art, & Music Festival
The Heavenly Village Festival is the go-to event in Lake Tahoe for Labor Day weekend! Enjoy all kinds of family friendly fun, including midway games, a car show, and more. The vibe here is that of a traditional carnival, even down to the full-size Ferris wheel. Each day of the festival features great live music from local bands beginning at 1pm and going well into the evening. You won’t want to be anywhere else in Lake Tahoe for Labor Day!
Oktoberfest at Lake Tahoe
You can’t have a fall festival without an Oktoberfest! This celebration of all things German is celebrating its 23rd year at Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina. The highlight of the festival is the beer and wine garden, of course, but there are also activities for the whole family. Bring the family dog along for the dog costume contest, and enjoy polka music, craft booths, and face painting. Best of all, parking and entry and completely free at this event. Wear your lederhosen and be ready to have fun!
SnowGlobe Music Festival
The ultimate celebration of all things Lake Tahoe, the SnowGlobe Music Festival combines great music with amazing skiing conditions and tops it off with the ultimate New Year’s Eve party! Enjoy world-class music to go along with the world-class skiing of Lake Tahoe. This three-day festival ends with a New Year’s Eve dance party! The festival is open to all ages, with children 10 and under receiving free admission. You won’t want to miss this one of a kind festival!
Wanderlust at Squaw Valley
A yearly gathering of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers and artists. All coming together at the world-famous ski-resort, Squaw Valley. Find your own passion through this annual event. Going down in the month of July, experience Wanderlust for yourself!
Autumn Food and Wine Festival
Treat yourself to three full days of learning how to cook food and sip win like a pro. At the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, you will experience the location’s premier event filled with cooking seminars and demonstrations along with culinary competitions and wine tastings. The event will be hosted September 8-10th. Purchase your tickets today!
Summer-Long Events
Throughout the summertime, in Truckee, California there are plenty of ongoing events and attractions. Enjoy music in the park every Wednesday in Kings Beach and Tahoe City. For other ongoing attractions throughout the entire year make sure to stay tuned for more information in our Lake Tahoe guides to come!
