As days get colder and nights grow longer, the Tahoe Sierra becomes a winter wonderland of joyous festivities for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for local artisan fairs, classic holiday traditions or world-class performing arts, here’s a roundup of some of the best seasonal events in the region.
Northern Lights Tahoe
Until Dec. 25 | Incline Village & Crystal Bay, Nev.
Northern Lights Tahoe is a community-powered celebration of heartwarming merriment for all ages. Festivities kick off with the annual Pray for Snow Party at Diamond Peak Resort on Nov. 17, followed by the Tahoe Film Fest from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, Sip and Shop between Dec. 2 and 16, Candy Cane Lane, brunch with Santa and more. Schedule ivcba.org/northern-lights-tahoe
Holly Arts
Until Jan. 2 | North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City & Kings Beach
North Tahoe Arts hosts Holly Arts to the Artisan Shop in Tahoe City and North Tahoe Art Center in Kings Beach. This holiday fair offers festive shopping with locally crafted artisan gifts. Admission is free. There will be an opening reception at the Artisan Shop on Dec. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. | northtahoearts.org
Snow Waltz Christmas Tour
Nov. 16 | Tahoe Blue Event Center | Stateline, Nev.
By combining her love of classical music with EDM and hip-hop, Lindsey Stirling became a pop crossover sensation known for her uncanny ability to perform intricately choreographed dances while playing the violin at the same time. Showtime at 8 p.m. | tahoeblueeventcenter.com
Post your holiday events free at YourTahoeGuide.com/events
Soroptishop Holiday Artisan Faire
Nov. 16 | Community Recreation Center | Truckee
Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner hosts its 20th annual Holiday Artisan Faire from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. featuring more than 60 vendors of local artwork, jewelry, pottery, clothes, herbals, hand-blown glass and more. Tickets at e.givesmart.com/events/ykt. | sitd.info
Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting
Nov. 17 | downtown Truckee
Enjoy hot cocoa, festive holiday lights, a visit from Saint Nick and Christmas trees decorated by more than 600 local elementary students from 4:15 and 6 p.m. The traditional Bud Fish Tree will be lit at 5:20 p.m. | historictruckee.com
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr.: The Musical
Nov. 17-18 | Community Arts Center | Truckee
This free presentation of a one-hour musical adaptation of the beloved television special is filled with holiday hits like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” and features Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Misfit Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Artic explorer Yukon Cornelius and Rudolph. Showtimes are 7 p.m. of Nov. 17 and 1 p.m. on Nov. 18. | truckeecommunitytheater.com
Valhalla Holiday Faire
Nov. 17-19 | Valhalla Tahoe | South Lake Tahoe
Valhalla’s 28th annual Holiday Faire brings together more than 30 vendors with handmade crafts. The Faire open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. | valhallatahoe.com
Turkey Trot
Nov. 23 | City Park | Loyalton
Holiday fun run starts at 9 a.m. | sierraccountrychamber.com
Heavenly Village Christmas Tree Lighting
Nov. 24 | The Shops at Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
Join the annual Heavenly Village Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. as a 65-foot tree goes electric along with live music by Kristen Brown. Santa will be there, too. | theshopsatheavenly.com
Magical Memories
Nov. 24-Dec. | Everline Resort | Olympic Valley
Magical Memories holiday celebrations kick off at Everline Resort with horse-drawn sleigh rides, pictures with Santa, ice skating performance, live music and Grand Tree lighting and fireworks on Nov. 24. More events TBA. | everlineresortandspa.com
Community Art Faire
Nov. 24-25 | Graeagle Fire Hall
This two-day faire from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. features holiday vendors. | graeagle.com
Heavenly Holidays Family Festival
Nov. 24-Dec. 31 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
Heavenly Holidays Family Festival runs through New Year’s Eve with daily tree lighting, an ice sculpture contest, face painting, breakfast with Santa, meet your favorite Disney Characters, fireworks, Santa ski day, Paint & Sip, Winter Filmstream Festival and A Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Celebration. | theshopsatheavenly.com
Blairsden Holiday Market
Nov. 25 | Blairsden Garden Center
Local artisans provide all your gifting needs this holiday season from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | blairsdengardencenter.com
Graeagle Shop Local Shop Small
Nov. 25 | Graeagle locations
The Graeagle Merchants host Shop Local and Shop Small in Graeagle to celebrate small businesses. | graeagle.com
Light Up the Night
Nov. 25 | The Lodge Restaurant & Pub | Tahoe Donner | Truckee
Tahoe Donner’s free annual tree lighting ceremony goes from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with choir performance, hot cocoa, cider, wine and beer, and a special visit from the North Pole. | tahoedonner.com
Shop Small Tahoe City
Nov. 25-Dec. 2 | downtown Tahoe City
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 25 with Small Business Week starting Dec 2. Look for deals and promotions throughout town. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., followed by a family-friendly reception at Boatworks Mall from 5:30 to 7. | visittahoecity.org
Holiday Tree Lane
Nov. 25-Dec. 16 | South Shore venues
Local businesses and agencies are invited to decorate and sponsor a 6-foot, pre-lit, artificial tree to raise funds for a cause of their choice. Enter to win the trees by purchasing raffle tickets between Nov. 25 and Dec. 16. | tahoechamber.org/holidaytreelane
Holiday Market
Nov. 25-Dec. 23 (select dates) | South Lake Brewing
Shop for holiday gifts from a variety of local vendors from noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Different vendors at each event. | facebook.com/southlakebrewingcompany
Holiday Choir Concert
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 | Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church | Incline Village, Nev.
North Tahoe Community Choir directed by Donna Axton performs a special holiday concert capped by John Rutter’s “Magnificat.” Showtimes at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 1. | North Tahoe Community Choir on Facebook
Holiday Tree Lighting
Dec. 1 | North Tahoe Event Center | Kings Beach
This festive event includes food, crafts, hot cocoa and music from 5 to 7 p.m. | northtahoeparks.com
Glenshire Holiday Open Studios
Dec. 1-3 | Glenshire locations
This self-organized holiday shopping event at home studios of potters Brad Henry and Barbara Glynn Prodaniuk, jewelers Krista Tranquilla and LillaBoo Designs, Quench Botanica body products, LoveMert textiles and Eva Nichols watercolors. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., depending on the artist. Studio maps at kristatranquilla.com
A Christmas Story: The Musical
Dec. 1-10 | Community Arts Center | Truckee
This musical is set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Hohman, Ind. A PG-rated script follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for a Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle starring a multi-generational, local cast. Showtimes vary. | truckeecommunitytheater.com
Festive Fridays
Dec. 1, 8, 15 | Downtown Truckee
Festive Fridays means free downtown parking and special events from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 is the Great Gift Card Giveaway, Dec. 8 is Polar Express Pajama Party and Dec. 15 is Date Night Sip & Shop. | historictruckee.com
Holiday Maker’s Market
Dec. 2 | Tahoe Backyard | Kings Beach
Join the 3rd annual Holiday Maker’s Market from 3 to 7 p.m. and featuring local artists, makers, bakers and vendors alongside lively music, delicious food, cold beer and more. | tahoebackyard.com
Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting
Dec. 2 | Downtown Graeagle
The annual Graeagle Holiday Festival returns for free, old-fashioned charm including visits to the little red shops, caroling, pictures with Santa and a trolley ride through town. | graeagle.com
Christmas on Main Street
Dec. 2-3 | Loyalton venues
Enjoy a weekend of Christmas Cheer starting on Dec. 2 with the Christmas Craft Faire from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Light Parade at 4:30 p.m. and Christmas Tree lighting at 5 along with rides on the fire truck. On Dec. 3, enjoy the Christmas Market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Santa will be make visits on both days. | Christmas on Main Street on Facebook
Santa Trains
Dec. 2, 8-9, 15-16 | Western Pacific Railroad Museum | Portola
All aboard the festive, lighted Santa Trains from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy free homemade cookies, hot cider, coffee and hot chocolate with Santa and Mrs. Claus. | wplives.org
Student Ensemble Concert
Dec. 6 | Incline High School | Incline Village, Nev.
Incline High School students perform a free winter concert in the school theater at 6:30 p.m. | washoeschools.net/inclinehs
Holiday Block Party
Dec. 7 | Truckee Tahoe Airport | Truckee
This local holiday market features artisans and makers from Truckee Roundhouse, farmers from Tahoe Food Hub beverages, members Sierra Community House, the Mogrog food truck, live music and lots of fun activities from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. | truckeeroundhouse.org
Festival of Winter Lights
Dec. 8-9 | Area venues | South Lake Tahoe
The 3rd annual Festival of Winter Lights will include an outdoor holiday market, “Holiday in History” exhibit at Lake Tahoe History Museum, winter carriage rides, Santa’s house, a Christmas Fire Engine, the Trail of Lights, live music, caroling, dance performances, food trucks and kids activities from 4 to 8 p.m. both days. | cityofslt.us
InnerRhythms Winter Showcase
Dec. 9 | Truckee High School Auditorium | Truckee
InnerRhythms presents “A Holiday Mashup” dance performance with showtimes at 2 and 5:30 p.m. | innerrhythms.org
“Messiah” Holiday Concert
Dec. 9-23 | Area venues
Maestro James Rawie leads TOCCATO-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus in Handel’s
“Messiah” and other seasonal favorites. Dec. 9 in Truckee, Dec. 10 in Gardnerville, Nev., Dec. 15 in Incline Village, Nev., Dec. 17 in South Lake Tahoe and Dec. 23 in Reno, Nev. | toccatatahoe.org
“Tahoe Nutcracker”
Dec. 15-17 | North Tahoe High School | Tahoe City
Lake Tahoe Dance Collective presents a holiday classic set in the ballroom of Tahoe Tavern in 1919 starring professional guest artists, community members and local dancers of all ages. Showtimes at 7 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. | laketahoedancecollective.org
Winter Wonders
Dec. 15-31 | The Village at Northstar | Truckee
Formerly known as Noel Nights, Winter Wonders is a magical time where the Village at Northstar to life with live music, ice skating, s’mores under the starry Sierra sky and family activities to celebrate the holidays. | northstarcalifornia.com
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Dec. 16 | Tahoe Blue Event Center | Stateline, Nev.
Feel the magic with a whimsically brilliant Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts featuring a world-renowned cast of sleight-of-hand jugglers, fun-loving skippers, breath-catching acrobatics and much more. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. | tahoeblueeventcenter.com
“Glad Tidings” Holiday Concert
Dec. 16-17 | Truckee High School Auditorium | Truckee
Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus presents a holiday concert at 7 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 17. | truckeechorus.org
Winter Concert
Dec. 19 | Truckee High School Auditorium | Truckee
Students at Truckee High School perform a holiday concert at 6 p.m. | ttusd.org
Winter Concert
Dec. 20 | North Tahoe High School Auditorium | Tahoe City
Students at North Tahoe High and Middle School perform a holiday concert at 6 p.m. | ttusd.org
Tahoe Flow Arts Holiday Bazaar
Dec. 23 | Tahoe Flow Arts & Fitness | Tahoe Vista
Join for a day of community movement and shopping while checking out the newly expanded studio. Meet the teachers, see a demo class and enjoy exclusive deals. Vendor market opens at 3 p.m. followed by live performances, music and dancing at 6 p.m. | tahoeflow.com
Christmas Pageant and Candlelight Service
Dec. 24 | Olympic Valley Chapel | Olympic Valley
At this popular event that draws many families, children are offered a role in the Christmas pageant as they come in the door with ready-to-go costumes from Mary and Joseph to camels and kings. Starts at 5:30. | olympicvalleychapel.org
Find more holiday events in our Christmas edition out Dec. 13 and at yourtahoeguide.com/events.
