HOTSPOT
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tahoe’s annual winter carnival, SnowFest!. Thirty years of pancake breakfasts, parades, fireworks, and parties. Three decades worth of local Snowfest queens eagerly selling raffle tickets. In 1981, SnowFest! began as a marketing ploy to encourage tourism during our spring skiing season. Over the years, the event has become more and more engrained into our community’s fabric until today, where SnowFest! is a true local tradition.
With tons of events hosted throughout the Truckee/Tahoe community, there is plenty to do during the 10-day celebration. We’ve outlined some of the major events below, but make sure to check out the complete calendar at tahoesnowfestival.com. ~ Julie Brown
Thursday March 3
Kickoff to SnowFest! 2011
Wet Woodys, appetizers, music, and raffle, 5pm, Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay, (530) 546-3366, garwoods.com
Friday March 4
Mamasake ‘Extreme Food Challenge’
Foods of the Northern Hemisphere, 4pm, Mamasake patio, Squaw Valley, (530) 584-0110, mamasake.com
SnowFest! Queen Coronation
Crowning of this year’s queen, 6pm, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Opening Night Ceremonies
Laser show, torchlight parade, fireworks, and after parties, 6:30pm, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Saturday March 5
North Tahoe Firefighter’s Association Pancake Breakfast
Pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice, 7am, tickets $8, $5/under 12, Tahoe City fire station, Tahoe City, (530) 583-6913
30th Anniversary Tahoe City SnowFest! Parade
A Tahoe City tradition, 11:30am, downtown Tahoe City
21st Annual Polar Bear Swim
Swimming race in Lake Tahoe, 2:30pm, $30/advanced entry fee, $35/day of entry, Gar Woods Grill & Pier, (530) 546-3366, garwoods.com
Sunday March 6
Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue’s Great Ski Race
30km Nordic race, 9am, $75 day of entry fee, Tahoe Cross Country Center, Tahoe City, thegreatskirace.com
Sunnyside’s Famous Luau
All-u-can-eat Hawaiian buffet and island drinks, 4pm, Sunnyside Resort, Tahoe City, (530) 583-7200, sunnysideresort.com
Monday March 7
TCPUD ‘Yukigassen’ Snowball Fight Contest
Battle it out with snowballs, 12pm, Ages 18-plus, $99/team, Rideout Community Center, West Shore, tahoecitypud.com
Jake’s Annual Mardi Gras Party
New Orleans theme party, 4:30pm, Jake’s On the Lake, Tahoe City, (530) 583-0188, jakestahoe.com
Tuesday March 8
Quicksilver Ta-Hoe-Nalu Stand Up Arctic Paddle Race
Two-mile stand up paddle race on Lake Tahoe, 10am, North Tahoe Beach, Kings Beach, jake@ta-hoenalu.com, ta-hoenalu.com
Cornice Cantina’s Sundeck Ski Race
One-piece ski suits and a non-ski hill race, 4pm, $10 entry, Cornice Cantina, Squaw Valley, (530) 452-4362
Homewood Pro Patrol and Taco Feed
Rival ski patrol teams race for a title, 4:30pm, Homewood Mountain Resort, skihomewood.com
Pete ‘N Peter’s Bar Game Olympics
Competition of pool, shuffle board, foosball, and dice, 7pm, $10 entry, Pete ‘N Peter’s, Tahoe City, (530) 583-2400
Wednesday March 9
Girls Night Out Bunco Bash
Fun night out with the girls, 6pm, $20 entry, North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, (530) 546-2481
Bark-a-Thon Karaoke Contest
The kings and queens of karaoke, 8:30pm, Blue Agave, Tahoe City, (530) 583-8113, tahoeblueagave.com
Thusday March 10
TCPUD Snowball Softball Tournament
Double-elimination snowball softball tourney, 6pm, $99/team, Conners Field, Tahoe City, tahoecitypud.com
Pete ‘N Peter’s Fastest Server Contest
Servers battle against each other through an obstacle course, 8pm, $10 entry, Pete ‘N Peter’s, Tahoe City, (530) 583-2400
Rosie’s Bingo Night
Choose your lucky numbers, 9pm, Rosie’s Café, Tahoe City, (530) 583-8504
Friday March 11
Bridgetender’s 4th Annual Rib Fest
BBQ’d ribs on the outside patio and bar, 4pm, Bridgetender Bar and Grill, Tahoe City, (530) 583-3342
Saturday March 12
North Tahoe PUD Pancake Breakfast
Pancakes, sausage, strawberries, coffee, milk, and OJ, 8:30am, $7/adults, $3/children, North Tahoe Events Center, Kings Beach, ntpud.org
Kings Beach Winter Celebration Parade
Closing weekend parade, 11:30am, Kings Beach main street, (530) 546-9000, northtahoebusiness.org
Caliente’s After-Parade Party and SnowFest! Queen Raffle
Chupacabras and post parade festivities, 12:30pm, Caliente, Kings Beach, (530) 546-1000, calientetahoe.com
Kidzone’s Bump and Jump Ski Party
Dancing, drinks, bar food, costume contest, silent and live auction, 7pm, $40/person, $65/couple, Truckee Airport, Truckee, kidzonemuseum.org
March Meltdown
Late-night celebration with DJs, 10pm, Lakeside Pizza, Tahoe City, (530) 583-2000, lakesidetahoecity.com
Sunday March 13
River Ranch’s Snow Sculpting Contest
Local businesses competing for the winning snow sculpture, 12pm, River Ranch Lodge, Alpine Meadows, (530) 583-4264, riverranchlodge.com
