From up in the mountain and shore to shore, summer time is a great time to be in Lake Tahoe. Lounging lakeside, playing on the water, exploring the mountains, hiking, biking, paddleboarding and more are all part of summer in Lake Tahoe. Plus, there are all kinds of summer events like music festivals, dance performances, orchestra concerts, art festivals and so much more.
Starting in May and continuing throughout the summer, enjoy everything from human-powered sports to theatre, concerts, comedy shows and an assortment of festivities that benefit Lake Tahoe businesses and nonprofit organizations. Whether you’re a foodie, family, artist, athlete, dog or wine lover, there is something for you this summer in Lake Tahoe.
Check out our list of some can’t-miss summer events in Lake Tahoe.
LAKE TAHOE SUMMER EVENTS LINEUP
FREE WEEKLY MUSIC AND EVENTS | ALL SUMMER LONG, VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Lake Tahoe is home to an incredible lineup of free weekly events:
- Fridays, June 14 – Aug 30: Music on the Beach in Kings Beach, free live concerts and music starts 6 pm (Listen to our Spotify playlist to get in the mood)
- Sundays, June 16 – Sep 8: Concerts at Commons Beach, free live concerts and music goes from 4 pm – 7 pm
- Tuesdays: Bluesdays at The Village at Palisades Tahoe, beginning June 18
- Thursdays, June 20 – Aug 15: “Tunes on Tap” Sunset Concert Series at Alibi Ale Works’ Incline Public House, in partnership with Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTV)
- Mondays in August: Live at the Launch at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area
TAHOE MUSIC ALIVE | MAY 4 – NOV 8, VARIOUS VENUES
Held at some of the most beautiful venues and churches in Lake Tahoe, this concert series features world-class musicians in a wide variety of music, including Brazilian choro with improvisation, classical, jazz and more.
TAHOE CITY SOLSTICE FESTIVAL | JUNE 6-20, TAHOE CITY
To celebrate the kickoff of summer, this 10-day Solstice Festival will bring together artisan food and wine, acclaimed musicians and artists, and the celebrated shops, restaurants and galleries that reside in Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe City and on the West Shore.
TAHOE CITY FOOD & WINE CLASSIC | JUNE 8, 1-4 P.M., TAHOE CITY
Enjoy a lakeside stroll downtown while tasting delicious wines and beverages paired with scrumptious bites from acclaimed Lake Tahoe restaurants and caterers. The Classic is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Tahoe City Downtown Association.
BIG BLUE ADVENTURE TAIL WAGGER 5K | JUN 8, NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK
Bring your pups to this 2nd annual dog-friendly run at the scenic North Tahoe Regional Park. Humans are welcome too, so feel free to come and enjoy even if you don’t have a pup to bring.
TAHOE JOY FESTIVAL | JUNE 9, NOON-6 P.M., TAHOE CITY
Celebrate the local music and art community during the family-friendly Tahoe Joy Festival. During this free event, enjoy local favorites Dead Winter Carpenters, with local bands Matt Axton and Badmoon, Coburn Station, Vice Grip, Down the Rabbit Hole with performances by students from Tahoe Truckee School of Music, vendors, artists and food trucks. The festival benefits the Tahoe Truckee School of Music and the Tahoe City Downtown Association community programs.
CRYSTAL BAY CASINO CONCERTS | JUNE 9-NOV. 4, CRYSTAL BAY CLUB CROWN ROOM
Nearly every weekend there’s entertainment lined up at the Crystal Bay Casino. Allen Stone in his “Summer Headline Tour” with Proxima Parada will be there on June 9. Other acts scheduled to appear during the summer includes: Comedian Craig Shoemaker on July 5, Led Zeppelin all-female cover band Zepparella on July 6; Nerd Halen on July 12; ZZ Tush & Skynnyn Lynnyrd on July 20 and more.
TAHOE CITY ART BY THE LAKE | JUNE 14 – JULY 16 & AUG 18 – AUG 20, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., BOATWORKS MALL, TAHOE CITY
Set on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, the 14th annual Tahoe City Art by the Lake gives visitors an opportunity to meet with more than 30 artisans showcasing a wide variety of arts and crafts, including photography, oil paintings, ceramics, jewelry and more. The event area offers a stunning view of Lake Tahoe.
BROKEN ARROW SKYRACE | JUNE 21-23, PALISADES TAHOE, OLYMPIC VALLEY
The three-day racing event consists of eight iconic distances (plus a kids’ race) that showcase the beauty of Lake Tahoe. Designed in the vein of the classic European Skyraces, the Broken Arrow Skyrace represents a unique style of mountain running characterized by off-trail climbing on steep terrain. This unique combination of rugged and scenic terrain attracts trail runners from around the world.
LAKE TAHOE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | JUNE 28-AUG 5, SAND HARBOR BEACH
The festival’s 2024 season is headlined by productions of Shakespeare’s comedic battle of the sexes, The Merry Wives of Windsor, a musical celebration of a country legend with Always … Patsy Cline, and Young Shakespeare’s entertaining adaptation of another Shakespearean play. In addition, the festival’s Showcase Series will feature performances by orchestras, tribute bands, and more from Jun 28 – Aug 5. This stunning venue is a favorite among visitors and locals alike.
TAHOE CITY 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS | JULY 4, VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Starting at noon, DJs will get the party started. Wherever you’re watching from, you can catch all the music on 101.5FM or via the Truckee Tahoe Radio app. The night sky will be lit up at the Tahoe City Drone Show with 300 drones and an incredible high-tech display. You can view the show from multiple restaurants, boats, Bristlecone and Skylandia.
CLASSICAL TAHOE | JULY 9 – AUG. 17, INCLINE VILLAGE
Lake Tahoe gathers every summer to hear America’s leading classical musicians on the Sierra Nevada University campus. The Ricardi Pavilion is the outdoor site of this 16-concert series featuring orchestra, jazz and chamber music. Children will love the Family Concert and Music Maker’s Faire, held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on July 28, with proceeds benefiting the festival’s educational programs.
THE LIFETIME TAHOE TRAIL 100 MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE | JULY 18-20, NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA
This 2-loop, 50-kilometer course gives mountain bikers the run of the Sierra Nevada with gorgeous views of Lake Tahoe. Rocky summits, thick pine forests and rich mountain air will be yours to enjoy on your 50K or 100K race.
LAKE TAHOE DANCE FESTIVAL | JULY 23-26, VARIOUS VENUES
A highlight of summer in Tahoe City has become the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, known for bringing first-rate artists from around the world. The 11th annual outdoor dance festival is a presentation of the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective and offers main-stage performances, audience participation demonstrations, meet-the-artist talks and more.
GAMBLER’S RUN MUSIC FESTIVAL | JULY 25-28, CRYSTAL BAY CLUB CROWN ROOM
Fancy a unique blend of music, mountains and gaming? Fifteen bands are scheduled to perform at Crystal Bay Casino’s four-day festival. Move to the tunes of artists such as Samantha Fish, The Wood Brothers, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Jackie Greene with Karl Denson heading the lineup.
LIVE AT THE LAUNCH | AUG 5 – 27, TAHOE VISTA RECREATION AREA
This free music series is featured every Monday in August at the Tahoe Vista Recreation Area. Groove to local Lake Tahoe artists including Rogue Coyote (8/5), Truth Cartel (8/12), Jeff Jones (8/19) and Pickled Over (8/26).
BIG BLUEGRASS BENEFIT CONCERT 2024 | AUG 2, SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK
Dance the night away to professional bluegrass bands at this prime spot overlooking Lake Tahoe. Food vendors, beer and wine will be available for purchase. The concert benefits Sugar Pine Point State Park and Lake Tahoe State Parks.
LAKE TAHOE REGGAE FESTIVAL | AUG 3-4, PALISADES TAHOE, OLYMPIC VALLEY
Enjoy a dozen-plus band performances and more at the 7th annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival. Among the scheduled bands are Rebelution, Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds, Pepper, J Boog and more. Kids 3 and under are free.
50TH ANNUAL LAKE TAHOE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE | AUG 9-10, HOMEWOOD
Widely regarded as North America’s premier wooden boat show, Concours d’Elegance will feature the world’s best antique and classic utility boats from various manufacturers. The event benefits the Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation to help preserve the environment and history of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
BREWS, JAZZ AND FUNK FEST | AUG. 17, 3-10 P.M., THE VILLAGE AT PALISADES TAHOE, OLYMPIC VALLEY
Come sip on a wide array of tasty beers from more than 10 different breweries and enjoy an incredible lineup of music on multiple stages from ALO, Monophonics and Sal’s Greenhouse. All proceeds from the event benefit the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.
LABOR DAY DRONE SHOW | AUG 30, KINGS BEACH STATE PARK
Music will begin at 6:30pm and the drone show will begin at 9pm. Matt Axton & the Badmoon Boys will be playing to close out the Music of the Beach Series. Watch as the North Tahoe Business Association (NTBA) lights up Lake Tahoe’s skies with an impressive 300-drone light show.
TAHOE CITY OKTOBERFEST | SEPT 21, 12 P.M.-5 P.M., GATEKEEPERS MUSEUM
A free, family-friendly event, Tahoe City Oktoberfest will feature live music, commemorative beer glasses with beer tickets for everyone 21 and up and Bavarian-themed food trucks on site. There will also be face painting for the kids and an art tent where they can paint their own pumpkins.
OKTOBERFEST | SEPT 28, 11 A.M.-5 P.M., THE VILLAGE AT PALISADES TAHOE, OLYMPIC VALLEY
This fun celebration of beer, music, dance and food returns on Sept. 28. The traditional Oktoberfest event features authentic German beer and Bavarian music and dance, as well as games and live entertainment. Authentic brats and pretzels, European desserts and pastries, and root beer floats for the kids make this an excellent event for all ages.
For more information about Lake Tahoe events and festivals, visit www.gotahoenorth.com/events.
REMINDER: TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY
Summer is always busy, so before heading off to any of Lake Tahoe’s summer events, we encourage you to be mindful of the people and environment around you. Our tips for responsible travel this summer include:
- Consider also renting a bike or bringing your own. Many events have special bike parking.
- Ensure you are adhering to posted signage and parked legally during attendance.
- Utilize public transportation like TART to get from your lodging property to the event grounds. TART Connect hosts special extended summer hours starting June 30th.
- Respect the environment by disposing of any trash in trash receptacles.
- Pack responsibly by bringing a hat, sunscreen and a reusable water bottle.
- Check weather conditions before you go – while the summer is usually sunny, calm mornings often give way to windy afternoons.
- Sign up for county and state alerts for the latest on travel advisories, including potential wildfire activity.
- Be “Bear Aware” by removing any food from your car.
- Be fire-safe by following proper burning guidelines. Additionally, fireworks are prohibited in the Tahoe Basin.
For more information on how to travel responsibly in Lake Tahoe, see our Know Before You Go page.
ENJOY YOUR STAY
In town for any one of Lake Tahoe‘s unique summer events? Make Lake Tahoe’s wide open spaces feel like yours. If you‘d like to maximize your vacation days, add weekdays to your trip to take advantage of greater availability for lodging, tours, meals and more.
Speaking of beauty, Lake Tahoe is surrounded by the majestic granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Although there’s plenty to do near or in Lake Tahoe – fishing, water skiing, kayaking and sunbathing on the beach, to name a few – the mountains during the summer beckon those who enjoy bike riding, hiking and zip lining. There are hundreds of miles of trails for you to explore. You can use this helpful guide to explore all your summer activity options.
Let us help you plan your summer stay and make the most of your time here while ensuring a safe, enjoyable adventure.
