It may not be a banner year for snowfall in our neck of the woods, but there’s still snow much fun happening as winter marches on! From Truckee to North Tahoe, the season to celebrate all-things snow-driven is just getting warmed up — and you’re looking at nearly two weeks of fun and games as winter marches on.
Truckee Winter Carnival
Following a decades-long hiatus, the Truckee Winter Carnival made its grand return last winter thanks to the Truckee-Donner Historical Society. The roots of the official carnival can be traced back to around 1909; however, the precursor to the carnival dates back to the winter of 1893/94, when prominent Truckee resident C.F. McGlashan — teacher, newspaper editor, lawyer, scientist, author, politician and historian of the Donner party tragedy, according to the TDHS — felt the town needed a major tourist attraction.
Located along the path of the First Transcontinental Railroad, Truckee became a popular stop. The palace, situated right in the heart of downtown, was made of chicken wire, which was repeatedly sprayed with water that would freeze, resulting in a wall of solid ice. Inside the palace was a skating rink and at one end, folks could toboggan down to the road below. In 1913, a new and bigger palace was built on the other side of the Truckee River. Only two years later, in 1915, the new palace burned down and was never rebuilt.
Yet, the Truckee Winter Carnival went on, offering attractions and events like horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sled racing, and skijoring — A sport where horses pull skiers behind them. It was a tremendous success but eventually came to an end, as many things did, during World War II — until the historical society decided to revive this beloved tradition in 2024. The party will continue this winter, with the carnival scheduled from Feb. 28 to March 2.
Revelers will have the opportunity to enjoy some throwbacks to popular events of the past like dog sled racing and skijoring, but there will also be plenty of new and exciting activities of the modern-day era. The festivities will kick off Friday, Feb. 28 with an old-timey-themed group photo, silent motion picture, and accompanying music.
Special guest Bill McGlashan, great-grandson of C.F. McGlashan, will open Saturday’s historic presentations and talk about the origins of the Truckee Winter Carnival.
The day will feature the Rodeo Rail Jam ski and snowboard competition, sponsored by Woodward Tahoe and Rocker Memorial Skateboard Park, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salty Gebhardt Amphitheater at Truckee Regional Park, as well as historic presentations on Truckee’s Winter Carnival and the railroad’s role in its success. The Hot Doggin’ After Party at the Community Arts Center, complete with food, drinks, and costume and hot dog eating contests starts at 5:30. On Sunday, head to the Truckee Rodeo Grounds for snow building and ice carving demonstrations, skijoring, sled dog demos, and snowboarding tricks with Olympian Andy Finch.
Note that some snow events are subject to change due to weather conditions. Find the full details and updates for the 2025 Truckee Winter Carnival online at tdrpd.org/carnival.
North Lake Tahoe Snowfest!
For over four decades, Snowfest has had snow-enthusiasts flocking to the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The largest winter mountain festival on the West Coast, this annual event celebrates the best of North Lake Tahoe by showcasing the relationships between the local community and the people who visit.
“Snowfest’s mission is to support and promote local nonprofit organizations through an event production in North Lake over a 12-day period. This encourages tourism as well as increases visitors’ awareness of local organizations in need,” said Snowfest! Board Member Cathy Cooper. “We provide the opportunity for both locals and visitors to enjoy life in the High Sierra while supporting our local nonprofits.”
This year’s Snowfest will feature nearly 50 different and unique events spread throughout the communities along the North Shore. From Feb. 26 through March 9, come enjoy the Tahoe City Street Fair, Kings Beach Parade, Gar Woods Annual Polar Bear Swim, AdventureSmith Alaskan Open Snow Golf Tournament, Tahoe City Dog Pull, Za’s 9th Annual Clam Bake, Bridgetender Fat Friday, milk jug curling, The Great Ski Race, snow sculpture contest at River Ranch Lodge, Pete ‘n’ Peters Bar Olympics, Sunnyside Luau, and more. And don’t miss North Tahoe’s only Fireworks Show with live music.
“Since becoming 501(c)(3), North Lake Tahoe Snowfest! event and associated partners have raised over $300,000 for local nonprofits and student organizations,” Cooper said. “As we continue to add more diverse events, we hosted fourth and fifth graders from Tahoe Lake [Elementary] that joined Snowfest for a survivor-like competition that encourages them to learn outdoor survival skills, intellectual challenges, while learning about the unique Tahoe environment.”
Snowfest was created in the early 1980s to help drive tourism in a time of year during which North Lake Tahoe saw fewer visitations. In 2024, an estimated 20,000-25,000 people attended Snowfest, supporting local nonprofits like North Tahoe PTO, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Tahoe Community Nursery School, High Fives Foundation, Achieve Tahoe, Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, Truckee Watershed Council, North Tahoe Firefighters Association, Shane McConkey Foundation, NT Boosters Club, NT Fire Auxiliary, Keep Tahoe True, Gateway Mountain Center, Chris Park Scholarship Fund, and many more.
Find full details and the complete schedule of events online at tahoesnowfest.org.
~ Juliana Demarest/Moonshine Ink
