The snow came early to the Lake Tahoe basin and the resorts opened for skiing and boarding for Thanksgiving. So this might be the year for a Lake Tahoe holiday. The whole area looks like a postcard with glistening fir trees and blue bird skies most days. With a dozen mountain resorts ringing a lake that never freezes, it’s tops for families for the holidays. The winter holiday break is a top time to visit Lake Tahoe with a lot of activities at the resorts along with the quaint towns ringing Lake Tahoe. Here’s what to do in Lake Tahoe for the Holidays.
What to do in Lake Tahoe for the Holidays
With more than a dozen ski resorts within an hour’s drive, resorts host many activities and special events during the holiday-season for everyone.
Holiday Events at Palisades Tahoe
Formerly Squaw Valley, Palisades Tahoe is located at 1960 Squaw Valley Rd. in-between Tahoe City and Truckee.
Thanksgiving at Palisades Tahoe
For the 2022-2023 Ski Season, Palisades Tahoe opens on November 22, 2022.
Snow Tubing
Opening for the season on Thursday, November 24, with 55-minute session starting on the top of the hour.
Must be 40-inches tall to participate. One person per tube with adult and kid-sized tubes available. Located at the SnoAdventures area. Sessions are $42 on weekdays and $54 on weekends.
Tree Lighting and Santa Visit
Open the holiday season with a visit for Santa along with the lighting of the tree.
Located at the Village at Palisades Tahoe from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 25.
Base to Base Gondola Grand Opening
New for the 2022-2023 season, a 16-minute gondola ride will take passengers from the Alpine Lodge to the Village at Palisades Tahoe.
The Grand Opening event will be Saturday, December 17, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with free guided mountain tours, live music and a fireworks show. Free and open to all at both lodges .
Snowshoe Tour and Dinner
Take a guided snowshoe tour from the Last Chair Bar to Alpine Meadows mid-mountain chalet for four-course Bavarian-inspired meal, paired with wine. Held at the Chalet at Alpine on Saturday, December 17; Tuesday, December 20; Monday December 26; Monday, January 2; Wednesday January 4 and select dates through winter. Adults $125 and 21 and over only. Advance reservations required.
Disco Tubing at Palisades Tahoe
Tubing is fun and Disco Tubing is fab! Add LED lights, lasers and a live DJ and the SnoAdventures area comes alive after 5 p.m. Timed hourly admissions at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. with 55 minutes to tube for $63. Saturday, December 17, Monday, December 26 through Saturday, December 31. Advance online reservations required.
Must be 40-inches tall to participate. One person per tube with adult and kid-sized tubes available.
Great Basin Carolers
Enjoy traditional holiday songs from the Great Basin Carolers from Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Village at Palisades Tahoe. Free and open to all.
Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet
In a lavish buffet, enjoy locally sourced holiday favorites. One seating available at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 24. Adults are $90, kids (5 – 12) $29 with kids 4 and under free.
Sunset Happy Hour
This popular event celebrates the view from High Camp. Board the aerial tram for happy hour specials from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting Monday, December 26, to Wesnesday, December 28, Friday, December 30, Sunday, January 1 and Monday, January 2 along with select dates in winter. Adult admission is $21 and tram ticket and first beer or wine included.
Read More
Prep and Pack for Family Ski Trip
Summertime in Lake Tahoe
Top Things to do in Tahoe City
Winter Guide to Lake Tahoe
Holiday Events at Northstar California Mountain Resort
Northstar California’s alpine inspired village offers a charming backdrop to celebrate the holiday season. Located at 5001 Northstar Drive, in-between Tahoe City and Truckee.
Ice Skating
Opening for the season on December 3, bring your own skates and skate for free daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Skate rental is $20. Located in the Village.
NorthStar Friday Night DJ
From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the Village hums with music from a local DJ from November 18 till mid-April. Free and open to all.
NorthStar Winter Live Music Series
The Village is your destination for apres from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays with live music, fire pits around the ice rink. Every Saturday from November 26 until the end of March.
Holiday Movie Skate Night
Ice skate while watching a classic Holiday movie. Catch the show at the Village from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 24 and Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1.
Tahoe Film Fest
Showing Dear Rider: the Jake Burton Story at 6 p.m. at the Village Stage. Free and open to all.
Noel Nights
On the Fridays and Saturdays from December 9 through Christmas, head to the Village for live music, Santa sitings and ice skating. Fun starts at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free and open to all.
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Details to come
Holiday Events at Mt Rose Ski Tahoe
A locals favorite for the large range of terrain, Mt Rose Ski Tahoe offers a signature event for the holiday season. Ring in the season with some Santa Cheer.
Come dressed in a full Santa suit, or anything Christmas related, to ski or snowboard in unison down the mountain. Kick off the holiday season on Saturday, December 10.
Celebrate an early New Years Eve at Mt. Rose. See the Snow Cat Parade at 5 p.m. then there’s the kids torchlight parade at 5 p.m. finishing up with fireworks at 5:45 p.m.
Mt Rose Ski Tahoe is located at 22222 Mt Rose Highway between Reno and Incline Village.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort
Another favorite among local families is Diamond Peak Ski Resort with interchangeable lift tickets for parents and kids under 6 ski free.
To celebrate the season, Santa will be visiting on December 24 and December 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take a picture with Santa and then see his moves on the slopes.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort is located at 1210 Ski Way in Incline Village on the north shore.
Granlibakken Tahoe
Granlibakken Tahoe is a intimate resort on the western shore and minutes from Tahoe City. Offering a secluded property rich in Tahoe history and it hosted the 1932 Olympic ski jumps trails.
Saturday, December 24 is the annual Torchlight Parade at 5 p.m. free and open to all.
Sunday, December 25 is the Christmas Buffet starting at 6 p.m. Adults are $45 and $29 for kids 12 and under.
Located at 725 Granlibakken Rd. in Tahoe City.
Read about Lake Tahoe
Mt Rose Ski Tahoe Family Review
Diamond Peak Review for Families
Skiing and Sledding at Granlibakken Tahoe
Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe, California
Sleigh Rides at Sand Harbor State Park
A holiday tradition since the 1960s, take a one-hour horse-drawn sleigh ride through the postcard perfect scenery at Sand Harbor State Park on the north shore with Borges Sleigh Rides.
Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday from November until March and daily through Christmas Break from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Adults are $50 kids 2 to 10 are $20. Located at 2005 Nevada Highway 28, outside of Incline Village. State park admission required.
Lake Tahoe Snow Mobile Tours
Celebrate the beauty of nature with a snowmobile tour through the pristine forests surrounding Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe Snowmobile Tours arranges 2-hour groups and private tours through Lake Tahoe’s national forests at Brockaway summit.
Lake Tahoe Snowmobile Tours is located on Highway 267 Brockway Summit in Tahoe Vista. Must be 16-years-old to drive and 5-years-old to participate. Reservations recommended and clothing available for rent. Tours depart every day in December at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. prices start at $230.
Tahoe City
Located along the western shore of Lake Tahoe, it’s a hub of activity.
Tahoe City Winter Sports Park
Take the kids ice skating at Tahoe City Winter Sports Park. Also find a small sled hill great for toddlers along with groomed snowshoeing and cross country ski trails (dependent on snow).
It’s open every day in December and advance reservations required. Located at 251 N. Lake Blvd.
Free Sledding at Lake Tahoe
Capture the nostalgic charm of finding a perfect sled hill in the largest national forest outside of Alaska. Find hills for everyone from bunny-suited toddlers to dare-devil teens. Best of all it’s free.
Tahoe Rim Trail Head
Find off-highway parking and a year-round restroom. Located in Tahoe Meadows, a year-round outdoor destination about seven miles from Mt. Rose Ski Resort. It’s just pass the Mt. Rose Summit on the Mt. Rose Highway (Hwy 431) on the way to Incline Village.
Spooner Summit
With off-highway parking and a steep hill, this area attracts a crowd quick during school holidays and weekends. Find parking in front of the sledding hill and along the short access road off the highway but no restrooms. Located just pass Spooner Summit on U.S. Highway 50 at the turnoff for Nevada Highway 28.
Disclosure
Consideration for brands mentioned. This post contains affiliate links.
Comments are closed.