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• Saturday, February 04, 2012

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A few of the balloons at Reno’s fabulous Balloon Race. Courtesy photo

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Summer Lovin'

Moonshine's Summer Festival Guide

We understand that summer months fill up fast with family vacations, weekend getaways, sports leagues, camps, weddings, plans for hikes, bikes, paddling, and our favorite activity: the summer festival. In our search for the best summer festivals in the region, we unearthed a wonderful fact: This much loved season is actually five months long! We found terrific events from May to September to pencil in when putting together your summer calendar. From full blown music fests to rocking rodeos, here is your guide to all things summer.

MAY

FURTHER FESTIVAL
May 29 and 30, Angels Camp

For fans of the Grateful Dead, the band plays on! Furthur, the band featuring former Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, headlines this festival at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, an old stomping ground for their original group. Furthur will play six sets over the two-day festival, performing not only classic songs but the most beloved albums from the Dead days in their entirety.

This festival is an absolute must-do for all Grateful Dead lovers, but Furthur isn’t the only reason to make the three-hour drive south. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be represented by Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, legendary musicians from Jefferson Airplane, who today comprise the blues-rock duo Hot Tuna. This is also your chance to catch Jackie Green, a singer/songwriter who is a Sierra native and a rising star. Other acts on the bill include Galactic, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Mark Karan and Jemimah Puddleduck, and the Mother Hips. Haven’t found the beat of your own drummer on the Tahoe summer festival scene? Take it Furthur!

Info: Tickets from $129, Calaveras County Fairgrounds, Angels Camp, CA,  mountain.aire.info@gmail.com, furthurfestival.com

Tahoe Bike Challenge
May 24 to June 5
The Tahoe bike to work, school, and play week, topped off with the Tahoe Bike Day Parade and festival at Ski Run Marina on June 5. Zephyr Cove, (775) 586-9566, tahoebike.org

Strawberry Spring Music Festival
May 27 to 31
Family festival with children’s activities and bluegrass, rock, and roots music. Tickets $65/day, $200/4-day, Yosemite, CA, strawberrymusic.com

Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee
May 28 to 31, Sacramento
Offering more than 450 sets of live music, not to mention an opening day parade and swing dance contest. Tickets $110/all events, $35/day, $20/Monday, Sacramento, (916) 372-5277, sacjazz.com

California Roots Music & Arts Festival
Saturday May 29
Celebrating California’s underground music scene, benefits Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Tickets start at $30, Monterey, CA, (925) 759-1389, cal-roots.com

Santa Cruz Blues Festival
May 29 and 30
The 18th edition features Ben Harper & Relentless7 on Saturday, then Buddy Guy on Sunday. Tickets $75/day, $140/weekend, Aptos, CA, santacruzbluesfestival.com

Sasquatch! Music Festival
May 29 to 31
Why drive to Washington? To see Vampire Weekend, Massive Attack, MGMT, and the hilarious Garfunkel and Oates of course. Tickets $70/day before May 23, camping pass $99, Quincy, WA, sasquatchfestival.com

JUNE

SAN FRANCISCO FREE FOLK FESTIVAL
June 12 and 13, San Francisco

This festival has something for everyone! That’s not a hyperbole; it’s plain fact. Take a look at this sampling: Swedish Polska, puppet shows, contra dancing, Gypsy jazz guitar, Lindy Hop swing dancing, crafts market, song swaps, and San Francisco folk legend Faith Petric, going strong at 95 years old. None of those appeal to you? That’s all right — we’re sure you’ll be able to find your niche among 100 dance and music workshops and 50 free concerts over these two days of musical madness. If you do make the trip to the big city, don’t forget your dancing shoes! Both evenings offer open dances (no partner required) with your choice of swing, contra, jigs, or salsa. The Folk Festival is 34 years old, and this year’s lineup won’t disappoint. Poor Man’s Whiskey, the Absynth Quintet, Barbara Dane with Johnny Harper, the Red Hot Chatchka’s, Jou Jou, and Shamalamacord will all grace the stage. This event began with the mission “to put songs on people’s lips instead of just their ears” so don’t miss your chance to sing and dance along!

Info: Free, noon to 11 p.m. both days, Presidio Middle School, 450 30th Avenue at Geary Street, San Francisco, sffolkfest.org
 

Renaissance Faire
June 5 to 6, and 12 to 13
Seven acres of continuous entertainment on four stages featuring jousting and sword fighting, artisans, and children’s games. Tickets $18/adults, $13/seniors/milit-ary/teens, $8/kids, free/under six, Camp Richardson, South Lake Tahoe, (415) 354-1773, valhallafaire.com

Heart and Solstice Festival
June 16 to 20
The kick off to summer in Tahoe City — classic car show, farmer’s market, paddle fest, Burton Trail Run, and more. Tickets by event, Tahoe City, (530) 583-3348, visittahoecity.com/SummerSolstice.aspx

Tour De Nez
June 17 to 19
The biggest little cycling event in the world, with one of the top professional bicycling stage races in the country finishing at Northstar on June 19. Northstar, (775) 287-3599, tourdenez.org

35th Anniversary Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival
June 17 to 20
Four days of bluegrass and old-time music for the whole family at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Kids under 15 free with adult, day tickets from $30/adult, $13/teen; 4-day ticket $140/adult, $65/teen; 3-day Ticket $110/adult, $50/teen, Grass Valley, (530) 272-7553, fathersdayfestival.com

Reno Rodeo
June 17 to 26
The “wildest, richest rodeo in the West.” Join over 140,000 fans as they hoot and holler at this 10-day professional rodeo. Tickets from $10, Reno, (775) 329-3877, renorodeo.com

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
June 18 to 20
Camping and music festival
featuring the best in reggae and world music. The festival typically has more than 30 reggae and world beat bands performing each year, and 2010 will be no exception.  Tickets $145/full festival, $55/Friday and Sunday, $65/Saturday, Booneville, CA, info@snwmf.com, snwmf.com­

Concours d’Elegance
June 18 to 20
Boat exhibition and contest with 13 classes of antique and classic wooden boats and a new class for fiberglass entries. Tickets $100/VIP Preview Day, $30/two-days, $25/one-day, ticket prices increase by $5 after May 15, Tahoe City, (530) 581-4700, laketahoeconcours.com

The Big Bounce Festival
June 18 to 21
Tahoe-based Champagne & Bacon presents festival featuring Dubtribe Sound System, Beats Antique, DJ Vadim, and many more. Tickets $100/early bird, $130/weekend, $150/gate, $50/parking pass, Belden Town, CA, bigbounceatbelden.com

BBQ Brews and Blues Festival
June 25 to 26
Sample the best in BBQ and microbrews, and wash it down with two stages worth of blues music featuring Delta Wires, Chris Cain, and more. Free, Reno, (800) 879-8879, eldoradoreno.com

Lake Tahoe Paddle Festival
June 25 to 27
Solstice celebration of human-powered watercraft, with stand-up paddleboard races and workshops, South Lake Tahoe, (530) 318-2704, laketahoepaddlefestival.com

Truckee Chili Cookoff
Sunday June 27
Truckee Sunrise Rotary Club presents the second annual cookoff, featuring chili tasting and non-stop entertainment. Starting at 100 a.m. Tickets $10/adults, free/kids, Truckee Regional Park, info@truckeechilicookoff.org, truckeechilicookoff.org

     

JULY

Lake Tahoe Music Festival
July 22 to August 9, Truckee

This festival’s slogan is “You Have to Be Here to Feel It.” Founded in 1982, the festival is not only a concert series, but a vehicle to raise money for aspiring young musicians through education and the newly formed Orchestra Academy. Festival highlights for 2010 include Natalie Cole, adbacadabra, Michael McDonald, and America, along with performances by the nation’s 36 top college music students following a 10-day intensive residency program. The mission of the festival is to present diverse and quality musical experiences in the classic tradition from Bach to blues and beyond, and to create educational and performance opportunities for aspiring young musicians. The evenings promise breathtaking settings at venues ranging from Northstar to Old Greenwood, Tahoe Donner, and West End Beach at Donner Lake, as well as great music, food, and fun. Volunteers are always needed.

Info: Ticket prices and locations vary. (530) 583-3101, tahoemusic.org

Artown
All July
With over 400 events by 100 performers, there is something for everyone at Artown. Tickets depend on event, Reno, renoisartown.com

High Sierra Music Festival
July 1 to 4
Celebrating 20 years, HSMF welcomes Ozomatli, the Black Crowes, Blitzen Trapper, and more along with play workshops, vendors, and jam sessions. Tickets $195/four days until June 29, $50/kids 5 to 12, FestivALL and parking passes also available, Quincy, CA, highsierramusic.com

Red, White, and Tahoe Blue Festival
July 2 to 4
Everything patriotic from chalk drawing contests, rubber ducky races, dunk tanks, and parades. Non-food events free, North Lake Tahoe, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com

Fillmore Jazz Festival
July 3 and 4
More jazz than you can handle, with swing dancing contests and lessons, this is the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast. San Francisco, fillmorejazzfestival.com

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
July 9 to Aug. 22
Celebrating 38 seasons. This year enjoy “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” and live music. Tickets start $22/midweek gallery seating, $27/weekend gallery seating, and go up to $72/midweek premium and $77/weekend premium, many ticketing levels available, Sand Harbor, (775) 298-0175, laketahoeshakespeare.com

Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival
July 16 to 18
Concerts, adult and youth guitar competitions, lectures, master classes, private lessons, and more. Tickets $99/full festival until May 15, $129/full festival after May 15, Cal-Neva Resort, Crystal Bay, sierraguitar.host22.com

Squaw Art, Wine and Music Festival
July 17 and 18
Not only will there be fine wine, art, and music but a Soaring Kites and Music Festival for kiddies at High Camp Saturday, where kids can see professionals fly kites, build their own kite, and listen to music by Terrapin Road. Tickets $25/adults/day, Squaw Valley USA, (530) 583-6985, squaw.com

Annual Mystic Garden Party
July 21 to 26
A gathering featuring live music, visionary art, an eco village, drum temple, an ecstatic dance camp, and much more. Tickets $100/three day pass, $120/four day pass, $135/five day pass, Corning, CA, mysticgardenparty.com

Sierra Storytelling Festival
July 23 to 25
Celebrating 25 years, this festival and its storytellers regale you with tales from African, Asian, Jewish, and Native American traditions alongside folk tales. Tickets $80/adults all events, $40/kids all events, $65/NCSCC members/seniors/students, North Columbia Schoolhouse, Downieville, CA, (530) 265-2826, sierrastorytellingfestival.com

Truckee Rodeo
July 24 and 25
Everything you could ask for in a championship pro rodeo in the small town of Truckee. Tickets TBA, McIver Arena next to Regional Park, Truckee, (208) 735-0462, truckeerodeo.or

Wa She Shu It Deh Native American Arts Festival
July 24 and 25
Dancing and drumming performances alongside a basket weaving competition with over 14 categories. Free, Camp Richardson Area, South Lake Tahoe, (775) 265-4191, travelnevada.com

Wanderlust Yoga & Music Festival
July 29 to Aug. 1
There might not be music at the Gold Coast this year, but there is an on-site farmers market, wine tastings, Moby, Pretty Lights, and world- class yoga instructors. Tickets $420/Sage four day pass, $340/Seeker three day pass, $140/Pilgrim one day pass (weekend price, $90/Thursday, $125/Friday), $29.50/ Daytripper one day music only, Squaw Valley USA, wanderlustfestival.com


AUGUST

9TH ANNUAL BREWS, JAZZ & FUNK FEST
August 14 and 15, Squaw Valley

Not only will New Belgium, Deschutes, and Lagunitas breweries be pouring their delicious frothy libations, but your ears will be serenaded by the funky tunes of the Pimps of Joytime, Garaj Mahal, and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. At press time, the full lineup of bands and breweries was unavailable, but this sneak peak ensures this festival is a must-see as summer winds down a bit. The concert is open to all ages and visitors can listen to continuous live music from 2 to 8 p.m. on two stages while sampling the offerings of what will hopefully be more than 20 breweries, including some hard-to-find micro and macro brews. As if we couldn’t love this more, the event will benefit the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.

Info: Beers $4; Entry fee $5. Squaw Valley USA, squaw.com/9th-annual-brews-jazz-funk-fest

Mammoth Lakes Bluesapalooza & Festival of Beers
Aug. 6 to 8
Sip on samples from 60 microbreweries while listening to Los Lonely Boys and Dave Mason. Tickets $99/three day, $85/two day, $37/ Friday only, $60/Saturday only, Mammoth Lakes, CA, (888) 99-BREWS, mammothbluesbrewsfest.com

Northern California Blues Festival
Saturday Aug. 7
Volker Strifler, Dennis Jones, Zac Harmon, and more are packed into this one day. Tickets $25/adv, $30/door, $5/kids, $60/VIP, Auburn Regional Park, Auburn, norcalbluesfest.com

Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival
Aug. 13 to 15
Presented by the Nevada Bluegrass Association, driving bluegrass, sweet gospel harmonies, and old-time music. Family friendly. Tickets $15/adults, $3/kids, Bowers Mansion, Washoe County, 19 miles south of Reno, bowersbluegrassfestival.org

Outside Lands
Aug. 14 and 15
Last years lineup included Pearl Jam, Modest Mouse, Dave Matthews Band, and much more. Lineup released June 1, advanced tickets on sale June 1, San Francisco, sfouotsidelands.com 

Burning Man
Aug. 30 to Sept. 6
Escape Tahoe for the ultimate city in the playa. This years theme is Metropolis. Tickets $300, (415) T0-FLAME, burningman.com

SEPTEMBER

THE GREAT RENO BALLOON RACE
September 10 and 11, Reno

The desert will bloom with all the colors of the rainbow in September, as the Great Reno Balloon Race sends 100 balloons into the air over Northern Nevada. This free event began in 1982 with 20 balloons, and has become one of the signature events for the Reno area, drawing more than 150,000 spectators each year.

Why should you be one of them? There is something for everyone, with a program packed from the pre-dawn hours — from the 5 a.m. Glow Show where lit balloons guide the early-bird spectators to the World’s Largest Pajama Party at the showgrounds on Saturday morning to a Balloons & Tunes Wine Walk ($20 per person) in Reno on Saturday night.
New this year is the very first wedding at the Great Balloon Race. A complete wedding package — including a balloon race post-ceremony — valued at $50,000 is being auctioned off, with bidding starting at $25,000. The lucky couple will be married during the balloon festival Saturday, September 11. We’re not full of hot air, we promise — this is a great event!

Info: Free, Rancho San Rafael Park, 1595 North Sierra Street, Reno, (775) 826-1181, renoballoon.com

Strawberry Fall Music Festival
Sept. 2 to 6
Family festival with children’s activities and bluegrass, rock, and roots music. Tickets $65/day, $200/four-day, Yosemite, CA, strawberrymusic.com

Alpen Wine Festival at Squaw
Sunday Sept. 5
For $40, wine connoisseurs can toast each other with vintages from more than 40 Northern California vineyards, served in a Spiegelau crystal souvenir wine glass, or peruse the silent auction room for great deals on wine and art. Live music is free. 2 to 5 p.m., the Village at Squaw Valley, (530) 583-6985, squaw.com
 
51st International Camel Races
Sept. 10 to 12
Riders on camels, emus, and ostriches compete on a 300-foot course; family festival with specialty acts, parades, and costumes. Tickets $10/adults, Silverland Camel Arena, 100 North East Street, Virginia City, NV, (775) 847-4386, visitvirginiacity.com

Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival
Sept. 10 to 12
A celebration of food and wine, complete with grape stomp, wine walks, cooking demonstrations, plein air art show, live music, kids’ activities, and more. The Village at Northstar, (530) 562-1010, northstarattahoe.com

Trails and Vistas
Sept. 11 and 12
The theme of this year’s event is “If Dreams Were Clouds,” and nine artistic events along a three-mile hike at Squaw Valley will bring this to life for the audience. Tickets on sale July 1, Squaw Valley, (530) 563-6557, trailsandvistas.org

Truckee Renaissance Faire
Sept. 18 and 19
Performers and artisans from an age gone by; privateers’ scavenger hunt for all ages. Tickets $10/adults, $5/seniors/kids, Truckee, truckeerenfaire.org