Snowfest! Events
It’s that time of year! Every spring since 1982, North Lake Tahoe comes alive with 10 fun-filled days and nights, jam packed with events and activities for all ages. This year, the annual favorites will be back, along with a host of great new ones! Around North Tahoe’s vibrant lakeside neighborhoods, there’s something for everyone. Participate in special events, parades, races, parties, concerts, theater; and of course, there’s plenty of wining and dining to be had at North Lake Tahoe’s fine restaurants and lively establishments. Here is a list of all Snowfest! events for 2018. We hope everyone enjoys the events they attend.
Thursday, March 1
Kick off to SnowFest Party & Queen Coronation
5:00-10:00pm; Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay
Enjoy Gar Woods hosted Wet Woodys, wine, beer and heavy appetizers from 5:00-8:00pm, as well as live music with Groove Foundry as Snowfest kicks off the 37th annual community event!
Friday, March 2
Tahoe City Fireworks
7:30 – 7:45pm; Commons Beach, Tahoe City
Fireworks will light up the night sky to kick off SnowFest! at Tahoe City Commons Beach. Fireworks are sponsored by the Monte Foundation and community members with an after party at Pete ‘n Peters.
Saturday, March 3
North Tahoe Firefighters Pancake Breakfast
7:00 – 11:00am; Tahoe Fire Station #51, Tahoe City
Help support the North Tahoe Firefighters Association Annual pancake breakfast. Hot pancakes and sausages, served with fruit, milk, coffee, and OJ. Cooked and served by your local firefighters. All ages! Adults $8 / Children 4-12 $5 / 3 & under FREE.
Paint the Snowman
11:00am – 2:00pm; North Tahoe Arts, Tahoe City
North Tahoe Arts invites children of all ages to stop by the North
Lake Tahoe Arts Center after the SnowFest! Parade in Tahoe City, to paint a wooden snowman. Refreshments will be provided.
Tahoe City SnowFest! Parade
11:30am – 12:30pm; Downtown Tahoe City, CA
Come to town early and enjoy the Pancake Breakfast so you get a place to park! This fun, eclectic, mountain town feeling parade has something for everyone! From clowns, dogs, kids, and snow machines to “Johnny B” as the Grand Marshal for 2018 The 37th Annual SnowFest! Parade is definitely a fun, and rowdy day in Tahoe City.
TCNS Winter Party & Fundraiser
12:30 – 3:00pm; Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City
Come by the Boatworks Mall after the parade to support the Tahoe Community Nursery School. Beer, live music, silent auction, raffle, and fun.
Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim
2:30 – 3:30pm; Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay
SnowFest’s “coolest” event for 30 years running! Each year, hundreds of spectators line the pier and deck at Gar Woods to watch hardy souls brave the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe. Participants swim approx. 250 yards in 39 degree, bone-chilling waters before returning to Gar Woods Bar to “minimize the pain.” Free appetizers will be provided following the event and everyone is encouraged to stick around for the hugely popular raffle after the swim. “Warmups” @ 11:30 and Race @ 2:30; 1st Prize = $150 2nd Prize = $100 3rd Prize = $50 Male and Female Categories.
Sunday, March 4
Fat Cat Hot Wing Eating Contest
3:00 – 5:00pm, Fat Cat Bar & Grill, Tahoe City
Fat Cat & Keep Squaw True are partnering to bring you some HEAT! Think you can handle it? Contestants eat wings tossed in our super hot sauce. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. This is a Tahoe bragging rights production!
Sunnyside’s Annual Pig Roast
4:00 – 8:30pm; Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge, Tahoe City
Smoked heirloom pig, slow-roasted over local wood, and served with traditional Hawaiian provisions. Sunnyside will have $7 Mai Tais, Blue Hawaiians, and Lava Flows. Don’t forget to sign up for the Hula Pie Eating Contest & Hula Hoop contest! Wear your Hawaiian shirt and bring your Aloha spirit!
Wednesday, March 7
Truckee River Winery Wine & Ice Competition
11:00am – 7:00pm; Truckee River Winery Tasting Room, Truckee
Truckee River Winery’s 8th annual Ice Carving Competition, dedicated to Chris Banovich! Come to Tahoe’s local winery and watch talented local professionals transform large blocks of ice into works of art while listening to the amazing stylings of DJ Chango all while enjoying some winter fun. Proceeds will benefit the Truckee River Watershed Council. All ages welcome! $10.00 cover includes souvenir wine glass, mardi gras beads, as well as a donation.
Thursday, March 8
Willard’s Apres Ski
4:00 – 6:00pm; Willard’s Sport Shop, Tahoe City
Do Apres Ski the right way — with snacks, beverages, and great deals throughout the store!
Friday, March 9
Bridgetender’s 10th Annual Ribfest
5:00 – 9:00pm; Bridgetender, Tahoe City, CA
An outdoor extravaganza of BBQ’d Ribs takes place on the outside patio & bar of the BT. Please join the BT for a fun night of smoked ribs, cocktails, and laughs. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Chris Parks Scholarship Fund.
Saturday, March 10
NTPUD Pancake Breakfast
8:30am – 10:30am; North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach
Start your SnowFest! celebration day in Kings Beach with delicious pancakes prepared by North Tahoe Public Utility District staff and volunteers, and served with sausage and fresh strawberries, coffee, milk and orange juice. All proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast go to benefit North Tahoe Public Utility District’s Friends of the Park Fund which will go to help fund park improvements and amenities!
Kings Beach SnowFest! Parade
11:30am – 12:30pm; Downtown Kings Beach
The Kings Beach SnowFest! Parade brings joy to downtown Kings Beach! North Tahoe Business Association hosts this annual fun-filled event featuring entertaining entries from 30-40 local community and non-profit organizations and businesses. Spectators are invited to watch the parade which travels east along highway 28 in downtown KB and are encouraged to spend the day in Kings Beach for abundant, SnowFest activities and events followed by Get S’more Saturdays at 3pm! Free to watch, all ages welcome!
Sunday, March 11
River Ranch Snow Sculpture Contest
12:00 – 3:00pm; River Ranch Lodge, Tahoe City
This is a competition against other teams for prizes…and they come up with some wacky, and innovative ideas for this one. Registration @ 11:30, sculpting begins at 12:00. Join the River Ranch Lodge in the 29th Annual Snow Sculpture contest. Teams will create a sculpture of their choosing. Teams must sign up in advance at River Ranch or events@riverranchlodge.com. Registration fees are $10.00 per person and includes a meal and a beer. Prizes awarded to all teams with grand prize for 1st place.
Tahoe Donner Iditarun
12:00 – 1:00pm; Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area, Truckee
Dogs of all sizes are timed pulling a weighted sled down a chute against the clock with prizes awarded! This is a great spectating event from the track side or on the Lodge deck. Event sign ups start at noon, and the race begins at 1 pm. Food & Drinks are available for purchase at The Lodge, so join in all the fun with the whole family! Raffle proceeds to benefit the Tahoe Truckee Humane Society
For more information on Snowfest! visit their website.
