Oktoberfest and Camp Richardson

Every year, the Oktoberfest comes to South Lake Tahoe at the Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina.  A local’s favorite, this festival features great food, music, craft booths, pumpkin patch, hayrides through the woods and the famous German Beer and Wine Garden.   There will also be live music by the “Al Gruber Band” and a bouncy castle, face painting, a poker run and a costume contest for you and your dog.  And be sure to make your guess on the weight of the “Giant Pumpkin”, the closest guess gets to take it home!  The Oktoberfest will take place on October 2nd and 3rd this year.

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Fireworks Over Lake Tahoe

The South Shore Lake Tahoe Labor Day Weekend Fireworks Extravaganza explodes over Lake Tahoe on Sunday, September 5th featuring numerous patterns and a variety of lights, designs, and shapes.

Pyro Spectaculars, Inc. created the show along with Pyrodigital Consultants, and they call the show one of the largest in the West based on volume of fireworks.

The exhibition features a simultaneous musical broadcast that can be heard on local radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490.

The Labor Day pyrotechnic spectacular has become a popular annual attraction for thousands of visitors and locals. The show begins at approximately 8:30 p.m.

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A section of Victorian Square during the cook-off.

Are you ready for some of the country’s best ribs?  It’s here!  The Nugget Rib Cook-Off is back in Sparks for it’s annual festivities!  Starting on September 1st and ending on September 6th, attendance is free and they are open daily from 11 am to 9 pm (except Monday which will be open from 11 am to 5 pm).  Come and enjoy scrumptious ribs from 24 different cookers from as far away as New Jersey and Florida that have come to compete for the bragging rights of being the “Best in the West.” Along with addicting baby-back ribs, most cookers have brisket, pulled pork, hot links and beef ribs.  Among the rib-eating frenzy there will be a rib eating championship, craft vendors, a children’s zone (open every day of the event) and live music every night.  The bands performing are: Mumbo Gumbo, Del Castillo, Jack Ingram, Gin Blossoms, Asia and Buster Blue.  So if you love ribs and are going to be in the Reno/Tahoe area this week, you don’t want to miss this event!!

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Lake in the Sky Air Show at the Lake Tahoe Airport

This year marks the Lake Tahoe Air Show’s 21st anniversary. Join in the celebration at the biggest and best air show in the High Sierra! The Lake In The Sky Air Show at the Lake Tahoe Airport, in South Lake Tahoe, CA on Saturday, August 28th, 2010.  Be there at America’s High Altitude Air Show for all the action! You’ll see many of the country’s top aerobatic performers including living legends like Bill Cornick and Jon Melby. Plus you’ll see the amazing Spencer Suderman defying gravity in his famous Pitts.  You won’t want to miss the spectacular opening ceremonies Warbird ‘fly bys!’ And then get up close to several vintage Warbirds and military static display aircraft, including the Air Forces C-17 Globemaster, and the #1 rated fighter plane of WWII – the legendary P-51 Mustang. Plus many more Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corp aircraft on display.  Homebuilt, experimental, Highway Patrol, CALSTAR, CAP and other aircraft are also invited to participate. And our ever-popular Flying 5K Run is back.

The events begin bright and early at 8:00 am with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast (serving food until 11:00 am).  The opening ceremonies begin at 10:15 am, and the planes take flight at 11:00 am.  The closing ceremonies begin at 3:30pm.  From 7:00-9:00 am and 12:30-1:15 pm, children ages 8 – 17 can take a free airplane ride!  There will also be food booths and vendors, and a children’s area.

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A woman dressed in 1920's-style clothing for the Gatsby Festival.

Come take a step back in time to the 1920’s at the 25th Annual Great Gatsby Festival in Lake Tahoe.  Enjoy the Vintage Faire at the Pope Estate at the Tallac Historic Site (near Camp Richardson on Highway 89). There will be antiques, vintage clothes and accessories, live music, interactive historic house tours, a vintage auto show, multiple vintage vendors, food, ice cream, cotton candy, old time kid’s games, wandering musicians and jugglers, a raffle and sale of the annual Gatsby poster.  Past issues of the poster have become collector items; be sure to come early to get yours!  Costumed tour guides will also be interpreting the history of the estates.  The festival will take place August 14 & 15 from 10-4.  The event is staffed by volunteers, many dressed in Gatsby era costumes!

Sunday afternoon of each Gatsby Festival the Tahoe Heritage Foundation holds the annual Gatsby Tea.  Volunteers decorate and host tea tables and serve Gatsby era sweets and savories.  The highlight of the afternoon is the fashion show of vintage clothing; themes have ranged from “pack for a cruise” to “summer at the Lake” to “wedding trouseau.”  Tickets are $35 each or $350 for a table of up to ten guests and are sold through the Tahoe Heritage Foundation office; the event generally sells out early.  Call Joyce at (530) 544-7383 for reservations.

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A view of Marlette Lake from the Flume Trail

A beautiful, and strenuous, mountain bike trail is the Flume Trail.  Running between Spooner Summit and Incline Village, it takes you through some very picturesque sights.  After the first tough 4 miles (where you climb approx. 1,000 feet in elevation), it levels out and takes you around Marlette Lake, high cliffs above Lake Tahoe for some stunning views of the lake and Sand Harbor.  If needed, you can rent a mountain bike from Flume Trail Mountain Bike Rentals at the trail head at Spooner Summit.   All of their bike rentals include helmet, pump, spare tube, & water bottle.  To get back to your vehicle at Spooner Summit, they offer a shuttle service back from Incline Village at an additional cost.  A truly beautiful trail not to be missed!  (moderate to advanced riders only)

A view of Lake Tahoe from the Flume Trial

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Celebrity Golf at Edgewood

It’s that time of year again!  The American Century Championship is back for Edgewood’s annual celebrity golf.  The tournament started today, and runs through Sunday, July 18, 2010.  As usual, the list of celebrities (actors and sports personalities) is quite long.  Some of the celebrities include: Charles Barkley, Don Cheadle, John Elway, Dan Quayle, Ray Romano, Tony Romo… and the list goes on and on!  The event is open to the public; you can purchase tickets on-site, online or at either Raleys location in town.

I also happen to know that the well-known chef, Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives & Guy’s Big Bite on the Food Network and Minute To Win It on NBC), will be hob-knobbing around the course on Saturday.  Check out this clip from his surprise visit last year:

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Lake Tahoe cruises aboard the Tahoe Bleu Wave

If you’re looking to add a quiet sightseeing cruise to your Lake Tahoe vacation, the Tahoe Bleu Wave is a great way to get out on the lake and avoid the crowds (as often found on the larger ships).  Offering Emerald Bay lunch cruises, Emerald Bay sightseeing cruises and sunset dinner cruises, you can experience an up-close and personal experience with Lake Tahoe at different times of the day, with or without a meal.  The cruises range from 2 to 2.5 hours.  They also offer private charters and wedding cruises.

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Paddle Boarding in Lake Tahoe

If you looking for a different outdoor activity to add to your Tahoe vacation, a new activity is on the rise in the Lake Tahoe area — paddle boarding.  If you are not familiar with paddle boarding, picture a surfer standing on a board, with no waves, using a single paddle to move along in the water.  Paddle boarding is becoming quite popular on Lake Tahoe because of the crystal-clear, calm waters and weather; the ideal conditions for paddle boarding.  So popular, in fact, that local boat rental companies are now renting them out to the public, and there has just been the 2nd annual Lake Tahoe Paddle Festival here on the South Shore this past weekend.  It is a great activity the whole family can take part in and to do get out on the lake and do some sightseeing!