Winter Season Highlights

November 21–23 Valhalla Holiday Faire
(530) 541-4975 | www.valhallatahoe.com
The Grand Hall is decked with boughs of holly, lights and a Christmas tree at South Lake Tahoe’s Valhalla Estate during this 13th annual celebration. Vendors hawk holiday wares like photography, hand-knit scarves and hats, blown-glass gifts and elaborate Santa Claus dolls. Enjoy hot mulled wine and cookies while listening to performances by local school choirs.

November 30–December 31 Festival of Lights
(530) 583-6985 | www.squaw.com
The hanging of the lights celebration signals the start of the holiday season at Squaw Valley USA. Shopping specials, caroling and visits from Santa help spread the cheer; Kris Kringle and his elves also hit the slopes the days before Christmas. Don’t miss an annual tradition on Christmas Eve when the Squaw Valley Ski School illuminates the mountain with a torchlight parade.

December 2, 9, 16 Noel Nights
1-800-GO-NORTH | www.northstarattahoe.com
Visit the Village at Northstar from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday evenings leading up to Christmas for freshly roasted s’mores, hot chocolate, ice skating and holiday caroling ’round the ice rink. Stores will host shopping specials, and Santa will be available for pre-Christmas photo ops.

December 13, January 17 Tahoe Adventure Film Festival
(530) 318-1688 | www.laketahoefilmfestival.com
Taking in a Tahoe Adventure Film Festival flick is the closest most of us will ever get to
hucking off a cliff. From BASE jumping to extreme skiing to surfing, these films are guaranteed to elevate your heart rate. The action starts at MontBleu on December 13 at 6:30 p.m.; go-go and break dancers get the crowds moving before the films even roll. The festival continues January 17 at Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort. Both casinos offer post-screening parties.

February 7–April 11 Last Tracks Wine Tasting
(775) 832-1177 | www.diamondpeak.com
Diamond Peak again hosts its popular Last Tracks Wine Tasting every Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Guests take the day’s last chair to the Snowflake Lodge for wine, appetizers and sunset views, then finish out the evening by skiing or snowboarding down a freshly groomed blue run. Tickets are $32.

February 27–March 5 Nissan Tram Face
(530) 583-6985 | www.freerideworldtour.com
The steep, rocky lines of Squaw Valley’s notorious and off-limits Tram Face finally open to the world’stop skiers and boarders. The competition marks the only North American stop of the 2009 Freeride World Tour; music, parties and festivities will be ongoing throughout the week.

February 27–March 8 SnowFest!
(530) 583-7167 | www.tahoesnowfestival.com
An eccentric, extravagant homage to those fine, fluffy flakes, the North Shore once again celebrates SnowFest! Don’t miss Jimmy Heuga’s Vertical Express for MS at Squaw, the Polar Bear Swim at Gar Woods, the dog pull at the Tahoe City Golf Course, the wacky parade in downtown Tahoe City or the many parties and happy hours at local restaurants, bars and casinos.

March 1 The Great Ski Race
(530) 583-5475 | www.thegreatskirace.com
Drawing over 1,000 racers annually, the Great Ski Race pits Nordic competitors in a 30 kilometer skinny-ski sprint from the start line at Tahoe Cross Country in Tahoe City to Truckee’s Cottonwood Restaurant. Beyond fun-filled pit stops, decked-out cheerleaders and music and dancing at the finish line, skiers can feel good that the proceeds of this annual athletic outing benefit the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team.

March 6–8, 9–13 Special Olympics
(925) 944-8801 | www.celebritywinterfest.com
(209) 258-6000 | www.kirkwood.com
The games begin at Heavenly with the AT&T Celebrity Winterfest, which pairs a corporate team with a celebrity and a Special Olympian to raise money for the Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada, held again at Kirkwood for the 12th consecutive year. A torchlight parade kicks off Kirkwood’s week of events, which, last year, hosted over 175 athletes competing in alpine and crosscountry skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.

March 16–22 North American Freeskiing Championships
(209) 258-6000 | www.kirkwood.com
Freeskiing elite from around the globe descend on Kirkwood for a week of adrenaline-filled events. From cliff drops to crashes, spectators will stay engaged in both the men’s and women’s competitions, watching as these incredible athletes rip down Kirkwood’s legendary Cirque terrain.

April 4 Gunbarrel 25
1-800-HEAVENLY | www.skiheavenly.com
A contest of strength, skill and a little insanity, this annual race challenges participants to complete 25 laps down Heavenly’s long, bumpy double-black-diamond run. Top skiers in each category win the coveted belt buckle, and all contestants who finish receive a pin. After the competition, event host and champion freeskier Glen Plake passes out the awards.