June 15, 2008
Lake Tahoe Summer Events
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—Farmers markets - Because of the warm, dry temperatures, the El Dorado County Certified Farmers Market season is opening at least a week earlier than in other years as some produce such as bing cherries, zucchini and peaches is three weeks early in the ripening process.
"This could be one of the best years ever," said Markets Manager Jim Coalwell, who grows peaches in the Placerville area.
The fruit-stand event has featured vendors selling fruit, vegetables, kettle corn, coffee, sauces, homemade soaps, gourmet cheese, olive oil and peanut brittle.
The markets start tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continue every Tuesday until October at the American Legion Hall parking lot off Highway 50.
—Valhalla Renaissance Faire - Brush up on your best Elizabethan accent and pull out that old English costume as the Ren Faire, as it's called, returns for the first two weekends in June to the Camp Richardson Resort.
Music and shows will be featured on three stages, with activities planned for all ages. Craftsmen and artisans will display their wares and drinks will be served all around. Two child-friendly days are scheduled Wednesdays and Thursdays at the resort.
The Ren Faire, which attracted more than 8,000 visitors last year according to the Highway 89 resort, runs June 2, 3, 9 and 10. For more information, go to www.valhallafaire.com.
—America's Most Beautiful Ride – For two-wheelers, this is the way to do the lake because, as cyclists will tell you, there's strength in numbers. The 72-mile ride with other route options offers a feast for the eyes in scenery and plenty of grub to get a rider through it. The fun ride starts and finishes at the Horizon Casino on June 3. Information: www.bikethewest.com.
—Highway 50 Wagon Train – This event stages a re-enactment of the historic "Great Western Migration," complete with a "cowboy campfire" at Zephyr Cove Resort in the first two days that features music, poetry and a barbecue of the time.
Details of the wagon train, which is set for June 2 through 10, can be obtained at www.hwy50wagontrain.com.
—Opening Day Lake Tahoe – A multi-faceted party on June 16 and 17 that kicks off the summer features an entire lineup of activities over the weekend, including a "Blue Avenue" Block Party along Highway 50. Two stages with live music highlight the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Northern Nevada State Finals, motocross jumping, a Mardi Gras-type boat parade, Harley and other hot rod displays, food and music.
The Great Sternwheeler Race brings out the two paddlewheelers – the Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II, for a friendly competition (as they're owned by the same company), with sometimes unexpected twists and turns.
Also on the weekend, the popular sport of orienteering has met its match with the Geocaching High-Tech Treasure Hunt – a large-scale treasure hunt with more than 50 prizes such as rounds of golf, dinners, overnight accommodations, outdoor activities and area attractions.
Last year, a slew of families and couples participated, testing their GPS-reading skills.
Visit www.bluelaketahoe.com for more information.
—Lights on the Lake - Billed as the largest pyrotechnic show in the West by Americas Online's City Guide and the American Pyrotechnics Association, the Fourth of July fire-dancing show headlines summer's biggest holiday. The display is synchronized to music broadcast over local radio KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490.
—Lake Tahoe Festival of Fine Arts – The Tahoe Arts Project headliner event brings out a multitude of artists and their works, ranging from photography and ceramics to watercolor and glass.
The event, which benefits the arts programs of local schools and others recipients, is scheduled for July 7 and 8 at the South Tahoe Middle School off Highway 50. Visit www.tahoeartsproject.org for details.
—American Century Championship – The nationally televised event draws more than 75 celebrity, professional athletes and entertainers to the South Shore, including: Michael Jordan, John Elway and Charles Barkley. Last year, cycling great and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong joined the lineup with much fanfare.
The event scheduled from July 10 through 15 invites them to compete for a $600,000 purse at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Interested parties may get more information from www.tahoecelebritygolf.com.
—Relay for Life – The South Shore's first American Cancer Society-sponsored fundraiser last year more than doubled the local organizer's goal and turned out to be a moving tribute to those surviving and lost to cancer.
The event set for Kahle Community Park on July 28 and 29 features teams walking through the night to raise money to fight the disease.
—Lake Tahoe Air Fest – The aerial displays make up one of the South Shore's longest running events. Stunt pilots and sky divers take to the skies of the Lake Tahoe Airport Aug. 25.
On the ground, aviation displays, field events and entertainment will be on hand, along with a 5-kilometer kids fun run and Kiwanis pancake breakfast.
—Labor Day Lake Tahoe – The Fourth of July show isn't the only event that lights up the sky. Another pyro display can be seen on Sept. 3.
—Harveys Summer Outdoor Concert Series – The musical acts of the summer feature the big names of country, jazz, hip-hop, and rhythm and blues. Bands and solo performers such as Earth Wind & Fire, Incubus, Fergie, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Diana Krall with Chris Botti, Beyonce and Toby Keith will take the stage through the summer months.
MontBleu Resort Casino will also bring Jewel's melodic tunes and the rock styles of Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
Tags: Lake Tahoe
in the backcountry Lake Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe. Backcountry, park and halfpipe.
