Made in Tahoe, the annual celebration of all things local, returns Memorial Weekend for its seventh year of showcasing our community’s talent to the public. Area artists, performers, entrepreneurs, and businesses — many of which appear year after year — will set up shop in The Village at Squaw Valley.
There will be various forms of entertainment, such as musicians, an inclusive yoga session, and a flow arts workshop, while an array of vendors highlight locally created products ranging from jewelry to pottery, hand-stitched linens to ornate wood work, and much more. Even designer tracksuit superstars sweatsedo will have a presence at this year’s festival.
Kristina Sullivan’s Eko Kreations, handcrafted products made from sustainable hemp and organic cotton linens will be returning for the sixth year. With her business rooted in creating sustainable products, Kristina and her husband lead an eco-friendly lifestyle to the core, living in a tiny house about 40 miles outside of Truckee. Over the years, she’s found the Truckee/Tahoe area to be overwhelmingly supportive of handmade, sustainable goods and that the event itself strives to bolster new artists.
“Made in Tahoe has sponsor spots for local vendors who are first starting out, so you can apply for a spot if you’re new as a business. It’s a big expense when you’re just starting out,” said Kristina, whose own first appearance at the event was made possible by a sponsorship, which covers the cost of the vendor space. “I like to come back to events that are so good and supportive — they put in so much great work and marketing to make it worthwhile to the business vendors.”
Ben Martin, a music teacher at the nonprofit Tahoe Truckee School of Music, has participated in Made in Tahoe for four years. “It gives our students the opportunity to play in front of not only a large crowd, but an unfamiliar crowd,” he said. “The students in the bands meet every week at our school and they have a rehearsal, and they do this throughout the whole school year.”
Ben believes the main draw to Made in Tahoe is that everyone involved — the performers, craftsmen, dancers, and musicians — are all truly local, diverse, and talented.
“I honestly would not have become a full-time artist without our community,” said Alanna Hughes, whose Alanna Hughes Pottery has participated in the event for five years. “People here have always had my back, encouraging me in every way. When I first moved to Truckee over 23 years ago, the population was just over 4,000, now it’s over 14,000. I used to sling pottery out of my Toyota trunk while waiting tables at the Cottonwood Restaurant.”
Alanna prepares for the event by intentionally creating pieces that embody the Sierra Nevada in the colors, patterns, and glazes she chooses to use. “The event is Tahoe driven, so my thoughts are the lake and the mountains,” she said.
Moonshine Ink will have our own booth May 25 and 26 at Made in Tahoe. Stop by, say hello, and test your newspaper-tossing skills during this premier celebration of art, music, dance, and entrepreneurship.
Info: Free, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., squawalpine.com/events-things-do/made-tahoe-festival
