When watching the fireworks at the lake this year, look beyond the booming blooms in the sky directly overhead and glance at the other side of the lake. Chances are you’ll be able to see the show at South Lake and Incline Village going off at the same time.
Truckee/Tahoe is the place to celebrate our country’s independence. With endless parades, festivals, parties, live music, and, of course, the big show after dusk, there’s so much to do over the Fourth of July. We went ahead and rounded up everything that’s happening over the weekend for you right here.
Fireworks
Kings Beach
Sunday July 3
Watch the show from the Kings Beach State Recreation Area or from your boat. There will also be a deck party celebration at the North Tahoe Event Center. 7 p.m., northtahoebusiness.org
Squaw Valley
Sunday July 3
Open for skiing all weekend, Squaw Valley will be going off over the Fourth. Watch from the mountain or at the Village at Squaw Valley. 9:15 p.m., squaw.com
Tahoe City
Monday July 4
Tahoe City is celebrating 65 years of fireworks at Commons Beach. 9:30 p.m., visittahoecity.org
Incline Village
Monday July 4
The fireworks culminate four days of festivities in Incline Village. 9:30 p.m., Incline Beach, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com
Truckee
Monday July 4
Hang out at the West End Beach at Donner Lake for Truckee’s town picnic and fireworks show. Dusk, tickets $6/advance, tdrpd.com
Festivities and Live Music
Star Spangled Street Dance
Thursday June 30
Live music by Jacked Up, fresh food, beverages, ‘Uncle Sam Relay,’ and more. 5 p.m., Hacienda de la Sierra Restaurant, Incline Village, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com
Patriotic Chalk Drawing Contest
Friday July 1
Let your children show their patriotic side with a bit of creativity and some chalk, 10 a.m., the Potlatch of Lake Tahoe, 930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com
Kings Beach Music on the Beach
Friday July 1
The Blues Monsters are kicking off the North Shore’s lakefront concert series. 6pm, Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kings Beach, northtahoebusiness.org
Fine Arts and Crafts Festival
July 1 to 3
Squaw Valley is hosting the second annual Fourth of July Fine Arts and Crafts festival, featuring 50 award-winning artists from throughout the West and a variety of artwork including photography, watercolors, oil paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Village at Squaw Valley, squaw.com, pacificfinearts.com
Community Picnic
Saturday July 2
Hosted by the Donner Summit Area Association, this picnic will include a barbecue lunch, games, a bounce house, and live music by the Mountain Belles and Jo Mama, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sugar Bowl’s Mt. Judah Lodge, Donner Summit, donnersummitareaassociation.org
Flag Raising and Pancake Breakfast
Saturday July 2
Boy Scouts Troop 37 will raise the American flag. Afterwards, eat some breakfast at the main firehouse in Incline Village. 8 a.m., 866 Oriole Way, Incline Village, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com
Family Day at the Lake
Saturday July 2
Join the North Tahoe Family Resource Center for a beach day to celebrate their 10th anniversary. 2 p.m., North Tahoe Events Center, Kings Beach, northtahoefrc.org
Truckee Running Festival
Saturday July 2
A fundraiser for the Truckee Trails Foundation, try a 5K or a 10K along the Legacy Trail, or a half marathon on the trails of Waddle Ranch..8 a.m., Riverview Park, Truckee, bigblueadventure.com
Baroque to Broadway
July 2 and 5
Part of the Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus’ Big Blue Summer MusicFest. Flutist Josue Casillas will be the featured guest. 7pm, tickets $25/general admission, Saturday July 2 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Incline Village, and Tuesday July 5 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Reno, toccatatahoe.com
Beerfest and Bluegrass Festival
Saturday July 2
Featuring the Get Down Boys, the Earl Brothers, and Dead Winter Carpenters, along with beer tasting from more than 30 Northern California and Northern Nevada breweries. 2 to 7:30 p.m., tickets $38, the Village at Northstar, northstarattahoe.com
Ski Alpine Meadows
July 2 to 4
Alpine Meadows is open for skiing, snowboarding, and slopeside parties from noon to 4 p.m. all weekend. Live music by the Alternates on July 2, Monophonics on July 3, and Tracorum on July 4. Tickets $25/with 4th of July Facebook Fan Quest challenge, $40/advance, $50/day of, 2011/12 season passes recognized, skialpine.com
Ski Squaw Valley
July 2 to 4
Squaw Valley is hosting a weekend of pool parties, barbecues, live music, an arts and crafts festival, and of course skiing for Independence Day. Tickets $49, 2011/12 season passes recognized, squaw.com
U.S. Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing
Sunday July 3
Taking off from the Moffett Airfield, this aircraft will be flying over Incline Village with parachute jumpers. 1 p.m., Incline Beach, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com
Serene Lakes Fourth of July Party
Sunday July 3
Patriotic parade, flea market, chili cook-off, barbecue, and sailboat races. 9 a.m., Lot 1, slpoa.com
Commons Beach Concerts
Sunday July 3
Tahoe City’s lakefront concert series features the Mark Sexton Band this week. 6 p.m., Commons Beach, Tahoe City, visittahoecity.org
Cushing Crossing and Big Head Todd
Sunday July 3
Ski Squaw Valley in the morning, stop by Cushing Pond to watch Squaw’s infamous pond-skimming event, Lake Cushing Crossing, and then wrap the day off with a free concert by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Fireworks will cap the day off. 7:30 p.m., Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Truckee Bike Sprint Challenge
Monday July 4
Who will claim the unclaimed King of the Mousehole jersey? Cyclists will start in 15 to 20 second intervals and race down a one-mile course. 9:30 a.m., Truckee, truckee.com
Truckee Firecracker Mile
Monday July 4
This is a one-mile, gradual fun run that is suitable for all ages. Run starts outside U.S. Bank and travels on Donner Pass Road to downtown Truckee. Friendly dogs are welcome on a leash. 10 a.m., tickets $15/adults, $10/juniors, Truckee, (530) 426-3313, truckeefunrun.com
Run to the Beach
Monday July 4
Choose a 5K or 10K and run from the North Tahoe Regional Park to Kings Beach. 8 a.m., North Tahoe Regional Park, bigblueadventure.com
Tahoe Fire Cracker Trail Trek
Monday July 4
Choose between a 5K run or walk and a one-mile walk kids race at Incline Middle School. Proceeds benefit the Incline High School cross-country team. Registration 7 a.m., start 8 a.m., Incline Village, tahoefirecrackertrailtrek.com
Ski Sugar Bowl
Monday July 4
Passholders will have the rare opportunity to ski Sugar Bowl on July 4 and enjoy a holiday barbecue, the Disney chair will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., barbecue will follow in the afternoon, sugarbowl.com
Kids Bike Parade
Monday July 4
Kids can decorate their bikes, razor scooter, dog, or themselves and then participate in the Independence Day Kid’s Bike Parade. 12 to 3 p.m., the Village at Northstar, northstarattahoe.com
Parades
America the Beautiful Community Parade
Saturday July 2
Featuring more than 50 community floats, this annual parade will start at the intersection of Northwood and Highway 28 and travel down to the Village Green on Incline Way. 10 a.m., Incline Village, redwhiteandtahoeblue.com
Patriotic Pooch Parade
Saturday July 2
The Pet Network Humane Society is sponsoring a mutt strut in conjunction with the Red, White, and Tahoe Blue community parade in Incline Village. After the parade, come to the Village Green with your patriotic dog for a dress-up contest, community fair, and barbecue. Mutt strut 9 a.m., doggie dress-up 1:45 p.m., $15/mutt strut, $10/doggie dress-up, Incline Village, petnetwork.org
Truckee Fourth of July Parade
Monday July 4
Enjoy an old-fashioned hometown parade on Donner Pass Road, ending up in historic downtown Truckee. 10 a.m., Truckee, truckee.com
