Film Festival
Make new family memories, forge fonder bonds and learn how to have fun all over again in Tahoe this autumn at any of the many captivating festivals and entertaining activities offered. No matter what side of the Lake you end up on, there are exciting ways for families to whoop it up.
Look for our Halloween roundup of events for kids and adults in our Oct. 9 edition.
Cool Car Cruizen Fridays
Fridays through Oct. | Shops at Heavenly | South Lake Tahoe
All cool vehicles welcome. Open to all cars, trucks, and motorcycles from 5 to 8 p.m. | goodsamsaferide.com
Cool September Car Days
Sept. 13-15 | Shops at Heavenly | South Lake Tahoe
Car, truck and M/C show with cash and prizes awarded, 25 trophies and poker walk. Open to all cars, trucks and motorcycles. | goodsamsaferide.com
Trail Fest
Sept. 14 | The Hangar | South Lake Tahoe
Spend the afternoon with Tahoe Rim Trail Association at The Hangar Taproom and Bar from 4 to 8 p.m. This fundraiser allows participants to interact with volunteers and staff, playing games and drinking beer. Admission is free. | tahoerimtrail.org
Read the 2024 Tahoe Music, Events & Festival Fall Guide
Family Faire
Sept. 21 | Alibi Ale Works Incline Public House
his family-friendly fundraiser for Diamond Peak Ski team offers something for everyone. Enjoy food, drinks, aerial performances, face painting, balloon twisting, lawn games, a photo booth, ice-cream truck and silent auction. | dpsef.org
“Beyond the Fantasy”
Sept. 27 | Community Arts Center | Truckee
Sept. 28 | Olympic Valley Event Center | Olympic Valley
Oct. 17 | Greater Nevada Field | Reno, Nev.
Teton Gravity Research celebrates its 29th annual film with a night of awe-dropping cinematography, mind-blowing lines and the infectious energy of the skiing and snowboarding community. Witness athletes as they transform improbable mental images into breathtaking feats of athleticism and creativity. | tetongravity.co
Family Farm Festival
Sept. 28 | KidZone Museum | Truckee
KidZone Museum hosts the Family Farm Festival with face painting, art and crafts, a petting zoo, bulb planting, bilingual singalongs and play in the museum. | kidzonemuseum.org
Family Fun Day
Sept. 28 | The Hanger | South Lake Tahoe
The CASA El Dorado Family Fun Day features games, food and more at The Hangar from 12 to 4 p.m. Free. | RSVP eventbrite.com
Railroad Days
Sept. 28 | Portola
Western Pacific Railroad Museum and Lost Sierra hosts Railroad Days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music, kids’ fun zone, food and beverages; railroad costume contest, caboose train rides and free admission to the railroad museum | portolarailroaddays.com
Fire Fest
Sept. 28 | TBA
This Lake Tahoe Basin interagency extravaganza is hosted by local fire agencies. Learn about wildfire preparedness and safety. Details TBA. | facebook.com/tahoercd
Tahoe Bear Fest
Sept. 28 | Spooner Lake State Park | East Shore
The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team and Nevada Division of State Parks host the first Tahoe Bear Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This bear-focused, family-friendly event will feature informative sessions on bears, activities, demonstrations, bear-themed booths, education and more. | parks.nv.gov
Lake Tahoe Documentary Film Festival
Oct. 4-6 | Tahoe Blue Event Center | South Lake Tahoe
This adventure-packed documentary film fest will spotlight stories that light up the soul. Filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences can connect through screenings, discussions, workshops and parties. Get an all-access pass or buy individual tickets. | ltdff.com
Liar’s Cruise
Oct. 5 | Lake Tahoe
Celebrate autumn with a cruise on Lake Tahoe. Enjoy stories, a feast of never-ending hors d’oeuvres and bottomless bubbly while traveling along Tahoe’s West Shore on the “Tahoe Gal.” Benefits Sierra State Parks Foundation. | sierrastateparks.org
Reunion & Fro scholarship benefit
Oct. 5 | River Ranch | Alpine Meadows
Sq**w Valley/Palisades Tahoe former employees and past and present friends can meet at The SV/PT ‘80s Resort Reunion to celebrate the resort’s 75th anniversary and fundraise for the Robert Frohlich Memorial Scholarship. | Tickets palisades-press.com/80s-reunion
Party in the Sky
Oct. 13 | Sky Tavern | Incline Village, Nev.
Party in the Sky is an event for the family. Enjoy food trucks, biking, vendors, a youth pump track, zip line, raffles, music and much more. | skytavern.org
Classic Car Show & Old Car Giveaway
Oct. 13-15 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
South Shore-based nonprofit Good Sam Safe Ride presents this event, free for both participants and attendees. True to its name, the event is an appreciation of old, classic automobiles. | goodsamsaferide.com
Big Truck Day
Oct. 19 | Town Corporation Yard | Truckee
Kids of any age will enjoy a hands-on, up-close day with heavy equipment. Meet Smokey Bear and visit Humane Society/Town of Truckee Animal Shelter. Big Trucks will be on display along with the CHP helicopter. | tdrpd.org
Harvest Festival
Oct. 19 | Tahoe City Community Center
Join Tahoe City Public Utility District at the Tahoe City Community Center for the return of our special fall event offering carnival style games, rock wall, bounce houses, hay rides and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | tcpud.org
Meyers Mountain Fall Festival
Oct. 19-20 | Tahoe Paradise Park | Meyers
Enjoy live performances by Mescalito and Broken Compass Bluegrass. Fill up on food and drinks from local food vendors, grab a candy apple or a pumpkin cookie while exploring the vendor village. Discover unique creations at the artisan craft booths and let the kids’ creativity run wild in the dedicated kid’s craft area and pumpkin patch. | meyersmtnmarket.org
“Calm Beneath Castles”
Oct. 25 | Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema | Tahoe City
“Calm Beneath Castles” is an awe-inspiring ski movie that delves into the heart, soul and mind of skiers driven by an insatiable thirst for adventure and discovery. It explores the essence of finding solace in nature and being one with the mountains. Following the world’s best skiers to breathtaking locations, it captures their quirks, instincts and passion as they prepare and take on the mountain. | matchstickpro.com
Warren Miller Film Tour
Nov. 1 | Olympic Valley Event Center | Olympic Valley
Nov. 2 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev.
Nov. 3 | Bally’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.
With a diverse roster of filmmakers and athletes, the 2024 Warren Miller feature film boasts a lineup featuring 10 all-new segments. The film will take fans to powder stashes and chutes around the world, from Canada, Colorado, California and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria and New Jersey. | warrenmiller.com
Mountain Harvest Fair
Nov. 16 | Sierra City Community Hall
Celebrate fall with a luncheon and holiday crafts fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | sierracountychamber.com
Holiday Tree Lighting
Nov. 29 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
The Shops at Heavenly Village invite everyone to celebrate the lighting of the 65-foot, tall-cut Christmas tree. Tree lightings are daily at 5:30 p.m. with Santa after Nov. 29. | theshopsatheavenly.com
Tahoe Film Fest
Dec. 5-8 | Area venues | North Lake Tahoe
This annual environmental film festival will present an important section of new and exciting productions from the U.S. and Latin America that have been screened in various festivals throughout the world. | tahoefilmfest.com
Downtown Bud Fish Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration
TBA | downtown Truckee
Come together with the rest of the community to light the giant Christmas tree. The festivities commence with elementary-school children decorating the Christmas trees lining Donner Pass Road. Enjoy a visit from Santa, the lighting of the tree in the Train Depot Courtyard and hot chocolate and cookies. | truckeerotary.org
Holiday Festival
Dec. 7 | downtown Graeagle
All events are free at this old-fashioned Christmas festival and tree lighting. Visit the little red shops, listen to carolers, enjoy refreshments, take a photo op with Santa and ride through town in a decorated Christmas-themed trolly. | graeagle.com
Santa Trains
Dec. 7-21 | Western Pacific Railroad Museum | Portola
Enjoy a magical trip aboard the Santa Train, covered in lights and decorations. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and have complimentary cookies, hot chocolate, cider and coffee. Bring three cans of perishable food for admission discount. | wplives.org
Festival of Winter Lights
Dec. 13-14 | City of South Lake Tahoe
Join the City of South Lake Tahoe for an enchanting outdoor holiday market of local vendors. Take a photo with Santa, embark on a winter carriage ride and bask in the festive lights. | cityofslt.us
