Last Minute New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Incline Village/Crystal Bay – Happy New Year!
December 31, 2025 | Kristin Derrin
Catch an Early Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Show at Mt. Rose End 2025 in style and get a jumpstart on 2026 with a day of skiing or snowboarding at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe, followed by a snowcat parade, torchlight parade, and fireworks celebration on the main side of the mountain. The snowcat parade begins at 4:45 PM, followed by the torchlight ski parade at 5:15 PM, and fireworks at 5:45 PM. It’s a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate the season and still have plenty of time for evening plans! More info: www.skirose.com
NYE DINNER EVENTS:
Sage Leaf Tahoe – Dinner and Live Music – make a reservation HERE >
Big Water Grille – 2 seatings: early seating for a relaxed dining experience with our special holiday menu. Late Seating for dinner plus dancing to ring in 2026 in true Tahoe style. Menu details and pricing are available at bigwatergrille.com. Reservations Required.
New Year’s Eve at Bowl Incline – An elegant, high-energy celebration where great food, live music, bowling, and champagne collide. Dress up, indulge in a lavish buffet and dessert bar, enjoy live music in the lounge, and toast to 2026 at midnight. This is not your average NYE!! Tickets may be sold out. Check HERE >
Gus’ BBQ and Gaviota is throwing North Lake Tahoe’s biggest New Year’s Eve party! They are packing both levels with THE music scene. 6 DJs will be playing sets all through the night and into the morning. A complimentary midnight champagne toast will be provided for all our guests who are here to ring in the New Year’s Eve during the ball drop! Both bars will be pouring all through the night with all of the Gaviota crew slinging drinks for you! Come join us before, during, or after the ball drop for dropping beats and killer drinks.
Northstar Resort – Start the day with a DJ in the Village at 11am! and then dance the night away in The Village at Northstar with live music and help us ring in the New Year during this super special 50th Anniversary winter season! Celebrations in The Village will take place from 5pm to 10pm. MORE INFO
However you choose to celebrate, Incline Village and Crystal Bay have something special planned for New Year’s Eve. From relaxed, family-friendly gatherings to high-energy live music, late-night parties, and memorable dining experiences, there are plenty of ways to welcome the year ahead. Ring in the New Year surrounded by Lake Tahoe’s winter beauty and the vibrant local atmosphere that makes our community so unique.
Here’s to a joyful, healthy, and memorable year ahead.
Happy New Year from Incline Village and Crystal Bay!
The crackle of snow underfoot, the sparkle of stars overhead and the laughter of friends ringing across the mountains – Tahoe in winter is about so much more than carving fresh turns.
While skiing and snowboarding might rule the slopes, some of the most magical moments happen away from the chairlifts. From nighttime neon tubing to chickadees landing on your mitten to sipping bubbly in glowing igloos, here’s your guide to unexpected Tahoe adventures that will keep you grinning long after the snow melts.
From tubing under neon lights to soaking in steaming hot springs, Tahoe in winter has a knack for surprise. Whether you’re chasing adrenaline, seeking romance, diving into culture or just indulging in s’mores by a fire pit, the magic of the season lies in the unexpected. So this year, go off the beaten track. Tahoe is waiting with a million ways to make your winter unforgettable.
Play Like a Kid Again
You don’t always have to race downhill on your own two feet. Nothing sparks pure childlike joy and guaranteed laughs like flying downhill on a tube or sled. Whether you are 7 or 70, snow play is Tahoe’s ultimate reminder that fun does not have an age limit.
Disco Tubing – Palisades Tahoe turns tubing into a party with neon lights, lasers and live DJs. Think nightclub meets snow hill.
Tube Tahoe – Fly down 500 feet of groomed tubing lanes with Mt. Tallac as your backdrop.
Sugar Rush Tubing at Sugar Bowl – Family-friendly fun on Donner Summit.
Donner Ski Ranch Tubing Hill – A low-key, laughter-filled hill where non-skiers feel right at home.
Tahoe Donner Snowplay – Summit tubing, sledding and even snow forts.
Truckee River Regional Park – A locals’ favorite with wide sledding hills.
Sledding North Tahoe Regional Park – Three levels of sledding hills and open snowy meadows are available for free, family-friendly winter fun. Bring your own sled.
Wonders in Nature
For moments that feel straight out of a snow globe, step into Tahoe’s wild side. Moonlit trails, sleigh bells and starlit feasts await. For the safest adventures, especially in winter, go with a guide.
Snowshoe Hike to Chickadee Ridge – Take an afternoon snowshoe hike to Chickadee Ridge near Incline Village, where tiny songbirds will land right in your hand. Be careful going it alone; it’s easy to get lost as the trails are not well-marked in winter. Take a good GPS app or system since cell service can be limited in the back country. Better yet, Snowshoe Tahoe offers guided sunset and full moon tours.
Winter Sleigh Rides – Cozy up under blankets as horses carry you through Lake Tahoe’s winter scenery. Tahoe Sleigh Ride tours depart from Stateline or Sand Harbor Visitors Center near Incline Village.
Full Moon Snowshoe Tours – Tahoe Adventure Company offers guided moonlight snowshoe tours in the pristine Tahoe wilderness among avalanche-safe high alpine terrain. They also offer sunset tours, star tours and champagne toasts – all guided on snowshoe.
Winter on the Lake – Boat tours don’t stop just because it’s cold outside. Bleu Wave Cruises runs Lake Tahoe cruises year-round – inhale the fresh lake air on the flybridge or party bow then warm up by the fireplace in the cozy bar and lounge.
Stargazing – Tahoe is renowned for its dark skies and for having up to 300 clear nights per year, making it an ideal destination for stargazing. You’ll find plenty of dark places to observe the sky on your own, but if you want to learn from a guide, check out Tahoe Adventure Company’s Snowshoe Star Tours or book a private adventure with Tahoe Star Tours.
Cave Rock Sunset Scramble – This short climb is still accessible in winter (if not too icy) and gives you sweeping views of the snow-dusted lake at golden hour.
Alternative Adventures
If mellow is not your speed, Tahoe delivers heart-pumping winter fun that will make you forget about chairlifts entirely.
Snow Biking
You don’t have to long for biking just because it’s winter. Head out to snow-covered trails on a fat-tire bike designed for winter biking. Ride fat-tire bikes across snowy meadows at Tahoe Donner or Mount Rose Meadows. Prefer horsepower? Try motorized snow bikes, aka Timbersleds, with Tahoe Snowbike Rental. Ski Bike rentals, lessons and gear delivery are available through Lake Tahoe Tours & Rentals.
Biathlon
Try your hand at the Olympic sport of Biathlon. Cross-country ski, then channel your inner Olympian at the shooting range for an exhilarating experience. Check this out at ASC Training Center or Tahoe Donner.
Snowmobiles
Take an exhilarating, adrenaline-packed adventure across snow-covered landscapes. Tahoe Family Adventures offers private and semiprivate tour on fleet of Polaris sleds, and guides will tailor your tour to your experience level. Coldstream Adventures in Truckee offers snowmobile thrills in Tahoe National Forest twice daily.
Snow Golf
Alpine’s 40th Annual Snow Golf Tournament returns on April 18. The only top-to-bottom snow golf course, this highly anticipated spring event is a unique way to spend a day on the slopes with friends and family. The ten-hole course starts at the top of Summit Express chair and meanders its way down the mountain with the last holes bringing competitors to The Chalet for a Caddyshack-themed after-party.
Dog Sledding
Here’s an exhilarating adventure you probably can’t have back home! You glide over snowy terrain pulled by a pack of friendly Alaskan huskies. Join Sierra Adventures on a mushing adventure with experienced guides.
Ice Fishing
Learn the ins and outs of ice fishing with an experienced guide and you might even catch dinner. Adventure Lake Tahoe offers half-day ice-fishing trips for all ages in South Lake Tahoe.
See Tahoe from the Sky
For the ultimate wow factor, look down on Tahoe’s snowy landscape from above.
Hang Gliding Tahoe – Soar over the Sierra in a powered hang-glider trike with an instructor. You’ll stay warm in special heated clothing, boots and gloves.
Tahoe Helicopters – Take off from South Lake Tahoe Airport for sweeping views of snow-capped peaks and frozen lakes.
Spectate a Winter Sport
For some of us, the best winter sports are those we can watch.
Tahoe Knight Monsters Hockey – These high-energy hockey games take place at the Tahoe Blue Events Center in Stateline from October through April.
Celebrate Film, Music, Culture and Community
Gather up, friends, and immerse yourself in mountain culture. From film festivals to speaker series to live music and more, the Tahoe region pulses with cultural offerings.
Film
Tahoe Film Fest – December 4 to 7 – For those who want to see more than ski films, this event showcases some of the best environmental-themed films of the year. Proceeds benefit Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
Tahoe Adventure Film Festival – January 10 – January’s can’t-miss showcase of adventure sports films takes place at Bally’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline.
Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema – More than a regular movie theater, this Tahoe City cinema offers rocking seats, comfy couches and a bar and shows Hollywood movies, special events, ski movies and more.
Speakers
Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series – December 12 to February 28 – Hear inspiring talks from athletes and explorers while raising funds for local nonprofits.
Music Festivals
Tahoe Live at Palisades – December 12 to 14 – A December music fest featuring EDM heavyweights like Zeds Dead Alison Wonderland and DJ Diesel (yes, Shaq!).
Lake Tahoe Winter Reggae Festival – February 15 & 16 – Two days full of live music with headliners Dirty Heads on Saturday and Rebelution on Sunday and a host of other reggae favorites at Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline.
Community
44th Annual North Lake Tahoe SnowFest! – February 28 to March 5 – 10 days, 50 events and a whole lot of mountain town fun! The North Lake Tahoe mountain communities celebrate winter and all things Tahoe with 10 days of parties, live music, outdoor adventures and family-friendly fun. Events are held in Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Olympic Valley, Truckee, Incline Village and Homewood. Look for street fairs, fireworks, parades, pancake breakfasts, polar plunges, brewfests, a snow golf tournament, snow sculptures, contests, fundraisers and so much more!
Warm Winter Wellness
Sometimes, the best way to spend a snowy day is by slowing down. Tahoe has plenty of ways to warm your body and soul.
Spas
Tahoe Forest Baths – Warm your bones in a Cedar Enzyme Detox Bath for a luxurious Japanese spa experience that’s only available at two places in North America, one of them in Stateline.
Stillwater Spa – Enjoy a meticulously curated menu of facial, massage and wellness services at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village.
Spa Edgewood – Luxuriate with Grounding Gemstone Massage, Warming CBD Massage, energy healing, scrubs, facials, the Oxygen Bar and so many more options.
Saunas
Clean, private, top-quality saunas come to you; they set up in 15 minutes and reach temperature within an hour. In South Lake, try Sierra Sauna Club. In North Lake, LostSauna is the one to call.
Hot Springs
Sierra Hot Springs (Sierra Valley) – Soak in steaming pools while snow falls around you. Day passes and evening soaks are available. Add massage or Watsu treatments before or after your soak.
Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center and Spa (Reno) – It’s worth the drive to Reno for soaks in the geothermal mineral waters. Pair a soak in the private baths with massage and other healing services.
1862 David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort and Spa (Genoa) – Warm up in the five natural hot springs pool and enjoy spa treatments too.
Indoor Adventures
As beautiful as Tahoe is, you can’t spend every minute outdoors! When you need to warm up, gather your group for a fun indoor activity.
Art & Craft
All Fired Up at The Hot Spot: Paint Your Own Pottery, Candle Making and More – All ages love the activities at All Fired Up, with locations in Tahoe City, South Lake Tahoe and Sparks.
Axe Throwing
Yosemite Axe Throwing – This indoor arena of timberland wood and axes is owned and operated by a real lumberjack.
Tahoe Axe and Darts – Love to throw things? Tahoe Axe and Darts offers fun for every skill level.
Alpenthrow – Truckee Tahoe Mobile Axe Throwing Let the fun come to you for parties and events.
Bowling
Bowl Incline – An Incline Village legend for 55 years, this go-to offers bowling, axe throwing, arcade games, billiards and more.
Tahoe Bowl – Since 1959, this South Lake Tahoe bowling alley has been the favorite for family fun and leagues.
Escape Rooms
Elevation Escape – Experience a high-energy escape room in Truckee.
Puzzle Room Tahoe – Challenge your brain and solve the puzzle with this engaging experience in Stateline.
Trapped in Tahoe – Try out interactive themed rooms where teams work together towards a common goal. This one’s in South Lake Tahoe.
Indoor Golf
Tipsy Putt Tahoe – Perfect for a date night, hanging with friends and group celebrations, Tipsy Putt in South Lake Tahoe has it all: mini golf, table-top golf, cornhole, hoops, arcade games, weekly events, a full sports bar, shareable apps, salads, kid food and tacos!
Lake Tahoe Golf Course – South Lake Tahoe’s course offers indoor simulators with world-class golf plus many other family-freindly games.
Iron & Wood – Indoor golf comes to Incline Village with the Trackman iO simulator featuring more than 300 courses.
Indoor Climbing
Blue Granite Climbing Gym – Whether you’re a beginner or expert enthusiast, this full-scale rock-climbing gym in South Lake Tahoe has all the challenges you need.
High Altitude Fitness – With gyms in Incline Village and Truckee, High Altitude Fitness is a community staple for empowering climbers of all abilities.
Winter Dining with a Twist
Dine in an Igloo – Fumo Café, Eatery and Bar in Incline Village offers lovely winter dinners in a cozy igloo.
Snowshoe Chalet Dinner – Embark on a guided snowshoe tour (or walk atop a packed groomer) to a mid-mountain four-course dinner at the Chalet at Alpine at Palisades Tahoe.
Twilight Snowshoe Tour at Northstar – Slow down and enjoy the peaceful setting of the Sierra Nevada during Northstar’s guided evening snowshoe tours.
Dinner and Last Tracks – At Diamond Peak Ski Resort’s Snowflake Lodge, Last Tracks participants take the last chairlift, savor wine or craft beer with delectable appetizers, and then ski down a freshly groomed run at sunset.
Blind Flight Fridays – Taste a curated flight of mystery wines – no labels, just aromas, flavors and your palate leading the way. Held at Tahoe Wine Collective in Tahoe City, the event is perfect for all levels of wine drinkers.
Winter Wonderland Paired Tastings – Savor a curated tasting at Truckee Family Wines in Truckee, expertly paired to complement the fireside treats.
Cocoa in the Cabin – On December 13, bundle up and head to North Tahoe Regional Park for hot cocoa, music, snowman building and a winter social.
About the Author Priya Hutner
Priya Hutner is a writer, teacher and private chef. She is the owner of The Seasoned Sage catering company and co-founder of the Tahoe Literary Festival and Truckee Literary Crawl. She writes about arts and entertainment, books, food culture and the environment. Her work has been featured in The Tahoe Guide, Moonshine Ink and Muse Magazine. Priya facilitates writing, breath meditation and self-discovery workshops. Her memoir, Chasing Nirvana, A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss and Liberation will be available for preorder in August. She lives in Truckee. Visit her online at priyahutner.com.
The Local Lens – Incline Village is aglow with holiday lighting!
December 17, 2025 | Linda Offerdahl
Take your family and visitors this holiday season for a tour through town to see the lights. Starting with the tree bathed in red lights at the entrance to Lake Shore, continue on Highway 28 through the Gateway Roundabout. Keep your eyes open to see the beautiful tree decorated at the corner with Village Ski Loft.
Throughout the commercial area you will see more lights, particularly trunks wrapped with lights. High Sierra Gardens is always a highlight. So is the Clock Tower plaza, where Rainbow Printing has its office. Many businesses have lights… don’t miss Lakeshore Realty and Canopy (on Southwood).
For the first time, Incline Village Community Hospital has lights. Thank you, Louis Ward and Karli Bunnell. Neighborhoods not to be missed: Mill Creek and the famous Jennifer Street Parade of Lights Christmas Show at 972 Jennifer.
To donate to commercial lighting throughout town, please support Northern Lights with a gift at the Incline Tahoe Foundation.
The high school’s ‘We The People team ‘took second place and is heading to the state competition.
The elementary school’s Makers Space is competing at the state level too.
The Weekly Snapshot is taking a holiday next Wednesday so that staff can enjoy time with family and friends. Enjoy your holidays. Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow!
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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot! If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help!JOIN HERE
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Announces 2025 Festive Holiday Programming
December 15, 2025 | Member Submitted
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, an award-winning year-round resort nestled in the stunning natural beauty of North Lake Tahoe’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, announces its 2025 Festive holiday program. This year’s seasonal schedule features an expanded collection of wellness-focused events, family-friendly activities, and festive dining experiences designed to create memorable holiday moments for every guest.
“The holiday season is about creating special moments with the people who matter the most,” said Andrew De Lapp, Resort Manager at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, “Our Festive experience is designed so every guest, from toddlers to grandparents, can find something memorable to enjoy during their stay.”
From December 19 through January 4, 2026, the resort will offer an immersive lineup of celebrations and experiences set against the serene alpine backdrop of Lake Tahoe. Guests can welcome the New Year with several wellness-focused offerings, including the “Apres in the Pines” guided forest walk paired with hot toddy-making experience, and the “Reiki & Restore” session which blends gentle yoga practices with the healing energy of reiki.
New this year, the resort introduces unique sound-based wellness sessions, including “Trumpet Meditation,” which uses the instrument’s resonant tones to support mindfulness and relaxation, and the “Yin & Sound Bath” featuring Tibetan and crystal singing bowls.
The Festive program will also include a selection of seasonal activities such as afternoon tea, fireside sips with handcrafted holiday cocktails, and creative workshops including the “Burns & Brews” class where guests can create custom wood-burned art while enjoying a local beer.
Families can look forward to a variety of holiday-themed traditions including “Storytime with Mrs. Claus,” pajama movie nights, cookie decorating, ornament and snow globe making classes, and additional hands-on crafts designed for all ages.
Leading into New Year’s Eve, the resort will offer a special holiday dining experience, bingo, and a celebratory countdown at Cutthroat’s Saloon to welcome 2026.
For more information or to book a holiday getaway to Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, please visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com, or call (775) 832-1234.
About Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino
Situated among the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the award-winning Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers a premier destination based in the nature-infused setting of North Lake Tahoe. The resort is home to an on-site Adventure program offering daily guided activities to help guests explore the Tahoe outdoors with everything from group hikes and archery classes to meditation sessions. Guests can enjoy premium amenities such as a year-round heated lagoon-style pool, two hot tubs, and a 25,000 square-foot Grand Lodge Casino. The resort also boasts the 20,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa featuring a variety of relaxing massages, facials and body treatments as well as state-of-the-art touchless therapies including the Cryobuilt Cryochamber, “Pearl” a revolutionary float orb, and the “Harmony” bioacoustic mat. The property showcases premier dining opportunities at the brand-new Osteria Sierra offering elevated Italian cuisine, pub-style fare at Cutthroat’s Saloon, and grab-and-go selections at Tahoe Provisions. Additional culinary delights include afternoon tea service on the weekends and a selection world-class pastries created by the resort’s renowned team of pastry chefs. Recognized for excellence, the resort has garnered numerous awards including Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards, and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Awards.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, at 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV, 89451.Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, at 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV, 89451. For more information, visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com or follow the resort on Facebook or Instagram.
About Hyatt Regency hotels
The Hyatt Regency brand is a global collection of hotels and resorts found in more than 200 locations in over 40 countries around the world. The depth and breadth of this diverse portfolio, from expansive resorts to urban city centers, is a testament to the brand’s evolutionary spirit. For more than 50 years, the Hyatt Regency brand has championed fresh perspectives and enriching experiences, while its forward-thinking philosophy provides guests with inviting spaces that bring people together and foster a spirit of community. As a hospitality original, Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts are founded on openness—our colleagues consistently serve with open minds and open hearts to deliver unforgettable celebrations, effortless relaxation and notable culinary experiences alongside expert meetings and technology-enabled collaboration. The brand prides itself on an everlasting reputation for insightful care—one that welcomes all people across all countries and cultures, generation after generation. For more information, please visit hyatt.com
Shopping Local this Saturday’s Jingle & Mingle is a great time to do some retail therapy and run into friends and neighbors you don’t see every week. The stores are decorated, there is holiday cheer to enjoy, and lots of great gift ideas. For a little Village, we certainly have a lot of different centers!
Here’s my strategy:
Start with Raleys Incline Center, along the boardwalk with Forever Rox, and see if you can’t find something you like and can afford with their (unheard of!)20% discount. Stop next at Mountain Hardware…so much more than hammers and nails. They sell outdoor sports clothing, holiday décor, and more. Save The Potlatch for last because you won’t want to leave or miss their EXTRA specials, because it is also Customer Appreciation Day. And don’t miss Tahoe WARF and their Holiday Gift Wrapping Fundraiser at Gus’ BBQ.
Now it’s time to hop across the street (using the crosswalk!) to Luxe Nails for nails, wine, and treats. By now, you might need a different kind of relief from all that retail therapy. Go visit Incline Acupuncture for a free balancing auricular acupuncture from 11-3 with Pam.
Susie Scoops and Village Toys are next. You are probably feeling guilty (like me) for passing by those Toys for Tots barrels without dropping off a gift. I will be stopping there before Saturday to buy a birthday gift, a good reason to shop there all year long.
OK, now you’ve warmed up for the big time…on to the party at Christmas Tree Village. Here’s a bit of Incline history: Back in the day of Chamber mixers, this was THE happening place along the entire North Shore. Every shop had homemade cookies and was decorated to the hilt. This center still has those kind of vibes, but it’s a daytime event. So…Tahoe Gifting is the happening place, complete with a DJ and apps from Paxtons. If you don’t know who Paxton’s is, notice the name change at Austin’s the next time you go there. If you simply MUST make a handmade gift, this is the day to get introduced to The Cut, a dedicated space for workshops and creating! I am hoping Karma has their Christmas karaoke so I can sing Jingle Bells as loud as I want…But I will need liquid refreshment first from Crosby’s. After my healthy juice from Thania’s? This is the ONLY day of the year I have an espresso chocolate martini. They are SO GOOD! I don’t want to miss anyone else at Christmas Tree Village, so I am going to walk the whole boardwalk, stopping at Village Pet Thrift, Happy Tiers, and Mofo’s for some complimentary pizza offerings before I leave Christmas Tree Village.
Village Center is next. Start with the upper center and Wyld Peony (pick up a specialty wreath!). I hope you saved a few dollars for the thrift stores…all 3 of them in Village Center! You’re almost done for the day, so why not top it off at Grocery Outlet with a wine tasting of VERY affordable wines and pick up something for dinner.
But if you really want to shop til you drop, then please make one last stop: Iron & Wood in Country Club Center. By now, you’re loose enough to swing that club in their indoor center. Here’s your chance to buy that gift for the hardest guy on your list. A session or three to work on his/her golf swing this winter.
I hope I didn’t leave anyone out! Hopefully, your route to and from the centers will bring you by the Visitor Center for Tahoe-logo’d gifts and to see the holiday lights firsthand at Lakeshore Realty across from Incline Beach.
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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot! If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help!JOIN HERE
Highlights From IVCBA’s Northern Lights Community Celebration
December 10, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in Mike’s Monday Member Report – 12/08/2025
This year’s celebration was a huge success! Moving the event into the Prim Library proved to be a fantastic choice, drawing a wonderful crowd and creating an inviting atmosphere. Attendees enjoyed a surprise flash mob, and Santa made a memorable entrance aboard a North Lake Tahoe Fire engine—thank you to the fire district for stepping in when his sleigh broke down!
We were thrilled to welcome nearly 40 organizations and an incredible number of Giving Trees. Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to this year’s Giving Tree winners. We’re already looking forward to next year!
Join Us for Jingle & Mingle: A Community Shopping Day
December 9, 2025 | Kristin Derrin
Saturday, December 13 • Incline Village & Crystal Bay
The holiday season in Incline Village and Crystal Bay is a time when our community comes together to support local businesses, reconnect with neighbors, and celebrate the unique character of our mountain town. This year’s Northern Lights Jingle & Mingle shopping day on Saturday, December 13, invites everyone to experience that spirit firsthand.
Local shops and restaurants will be offering promotions, tastings, giveaways, and festive experiences throughout the day. It’s the perfect opportunity to find holiday gifts, enjoy local food and drinks, and support the businesses that make our community thrive.
Tahoe Gifting Co: Join Tahoe Gifting Co. and Inside Incline for Jingle & Mingle on December 13 from 11 am to 3 pm! Enjoy DJ Hardy’s music, festive tastings, ornament-making, laser-engraving specials, and local spirits. A free community celebration at The Cut, bringing neighbors together for holiday fun, creativity, and seasonal cheer in Incline Village.
Crosby’s Tavern & Grill: Crosby’s is going all out for Jingle & Mingle with an exclusive lineup of holiday drink deals, special appetizers, and festive treats. Guests can enjoy $7 Cosmos and Pom-Tinis, $5 Mammoth Double Nut Brown Ale drafts, $8 holiday sippers, and a Belaire Gold Brut split with French fries for $20. Select bottles of wine are also half price and more! Plus, Crosby’s will be offering Mrs. Claus’ complimentary Christmas cookies to add a festive finishing touch.
Village Pet Foundation: Village Pet Foundation will be serving champagne and treats.
Karma: Christmas Karaoke
Happy Tiers: Spend $12 or more and get free hot cocoa.
Mofo’s: Pizza Specials
RALEY’S INCLINE CENTER
Mountain Hardware & Sports: Take advantage of their holiday promotion: donate $1 for a chance to draw a 10%, 20%, or 50% off coupon for your entire purchase. Shoppers are also entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card.
The Potlatch: Offering 10% off storewide, a complimentary gift with purchases over $100, and free gift wrapping. A great destination for jewelry, home décor, and Tahoe-themed gifts.
Forever Rox: 20% off jewelry.
Azzaras: Half off glass of wine when you mention Jingle & Mingle.
INCLINE PLAZA
Incline Acupuncture: Free balancing auricular acupuncture from 11-3.
Luxe Nails: Wine and treats.
VILLAGE CENTER
Grocery Outlet: Mini Wine sale all weekend long and Wine Tasting from 1-4.
Pet Network Thrift Shop: Sale: 25% storewide and 50% off pin tags. Refreshments and Beverages. Raffle ticket for every $10 purchased for a $50 gift card to the thrift.
Wyld Peony: Adult beverages and snacks, specialty wreaths.
STARBUCKS PLAZA
Susie Scoops & Village Toys
These two neighboring family favorites make a perfect combined stop:
Susie Scoops: Purchase a Susie Scoops Gift Card valued at $25 or more & receive a FREE Kid’s Scoop! Plus, the first 25 customers will receive a FREE Susie Scoops Insulated Tote! Plus, the first 25 customers will receive a FREE Susie Scoops Insulated Tote!
Village Toys: Tiered discounts—15% off purchases over $100, 20% off over $200, and 30% off over $300—plus a reusable shopping bag with purchase.
Together, they offer fun, treats, and gifts for all ages.
OTHER SPECIALS AROUND TOWN
Iron & Wood: Stop by to experience the golf simulator discounts. Gift card promo and clothing discounts.
Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort and Spa: Join for High Tea – Osteria prix-fixe menu
Lakeshore Realty: Hot chocolate and letter-making supplies to write a letter to Santa, as well as a box for Santa letters.
Welcome Center: 20% all merchandise in the Incline Village Welcome Center
Make a Day of It
Stroll through Incline Village, visit your favorite shops, try something new, and take advantage of specials available only during this event. Whether you’re shopping for gifts, sampling treats, or enjoying the festive atmosphere, Jingle & Mingle is a wonderful way to celebrate the season.
Our small businesses support community events, local programs, and the overall character of our town. Jingle & Mingle is an opportunity for residents to show their appreciation and help these businesses continue to thrive.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 13, and join us for a festive day of shopping, dining, and celebrating the best of our community.
“The Nutcracker” ballet has been a global holiday classic for decades, with its music ringing of Christmas.. For the past six years, the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective has performed this magical ballet with a Tahoe twist on the weekend before Christmas. The production features a cast of local children with professional dancers in the lead roles.
This season, Incline’s Lily Bonner, a 6th grader at Lake Tahoe School, will dance the role of Clara, the young girl who dreams that her toy Nutcracker comes alive and becomes a prince. Lily has studied ballet since the age of 9 and has been dancing with the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective in Incline Village and Tahoe City for the past three years. After auditions in late September, Lily found out that she had been cast in this coveted role. “I felt super excited, and when I found out, my stomach jumped, and I wanted to start rehearsing immediately. I was so excited.”
Lily rehearses six days a week, and other student dancers from around the Tahoe Basin have had weekly rehearsals since the beginning of October. Rehearsals take place after regular ballet classes and continue through the performances on December 19-21. Other dancers from Incline Village include Silas Lefrancois as Lily’s on-stage brother, Fritz, Blake Brockman, Sofia Sacci, Rose Davison, Grace Hughes, Harry Hughes, Emilia Cruz, Aspen Conway, Allison and Charlotte Meyer, Miya Lefrancois, and Calixta Cordoba Sosa.
New York City Ballet’s Indiana Woodward will travel to Tahoe for the third year to dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Boston Ballet’s Lawrence Rines Munro will dance as her Cavalier.
In 2023 and 2024, a generous grant from the Tahoe Community Foundation, formerly known as Parasol, funded delightful new costumes and updates to the sets and technical equipment which greatly elevated the presentation. The sets were designed to evoke the historic Tahoe Tavern in the 1920s and the Land of the Sweets, where Hot Chocolate, Marzipan, and Christmas Cookies dance across the stage.
Christin Hanna, Founder and Executive and Artistic Director of the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective, trains and rehearses the 51 young dancers in the cast, many of whom have been dancing in her Tahoe City and Incline studios for years. Part of the tradition of this ballet is that dancers can measure their success in both artistry and technique as they grow up dancing new and more challenging roles. This year, Romi Broglio and Miriam Kallmes, high school students and senior members of the LTDC Company are dancing the soloist roles of Snow Queen and Dew Drop. In the Tahoe production’s 2019 premiere, both girls began performing the roles of little mice. Hanna says, “When I look at our youngest ones in their party scene dresses, I know that in a blink of an eye, they’ll be teenagers in lead roles. It’s the perfect example of hard work and discipline paying off.”
Performances take place in the theater at North Tahoe High School on Friday, December 19th at 7pm and Saturday and Sunday, December 20th and 21st at 3pm. Tickets start at $30, with a limited number of “Pay What You Can” tickets available, at www.laketahoedancecollective.org
Maestro James Rawie proudly announces the 21st annual production of HANDEL’s MESSIAH now presented by Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. The series includes performances in five distinct locations. The Reno-Tahoe-Gardnerville and South Lake Tahoe communities continue enjoying this wonderful holiday MESSIAH tradition.
Messiah was first performed in Dublin, Ireland on March 23, 1742 and was conducted by its composer, George Frederic Handel. It continues to be a masterpiece that has left audiences in awe for 279 years. Tahoe Philharmonic’s production is a celebration of the holidays and includes not only favorite selections from Messiah Parts One and Three, but also seasonal carols that the audience will be most welcome to join in singing.
Joining the Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus for this production are Anne Davidson, Anna Helwing and Debbie Sessions, sopranos; Lorelei vanPeborgh and Michele Izor, mezzo; Michael Lloyd, tenor; and Stuart Duke, baritone. TahoePhil Chamber Orchestra features Cliff Richardson as concertmaster; Katie Cardoza and Nick Haines as continuo; with Joshua Dunlap and Cortez Montalbo on Baroque trumpets. All performances will be conducted by Maestro James Rawie, TahoePhil’s Founder and Executive Artistic Director.
Tickets are available online at www.tickettailor.com/events/tahoephilharmonic or at the door 30 minutes prior to each concert. General admission is $30 adults; preferred seating is $40 and $15 for youth/students and Premium seating is $50 adults/$25 youth. Seniors enjoy a $5 discount in all seating areas. All students under 23 (with ID) are free.
WHERE and WHEN
Saturday. Dec. 13.. 6:30pm RENO: St Luke’s Lutheran Church • 3835 Lakeside Dr
Sunday. Dec. 14.. 3:00pm RENO: St Rose of Lima Church •100 Bishop Manogue Dr
Friday. Dec. 19.. 6:30pm INCLINE: St. Francis Catholic Church- 701 Mt. Rose Hwy
Experience the Magic at the Northern Lights Holiday Celebration
December 3, 2025 | Julie Malkin-Manning
Get ready to immerse yourself in the festive spirit! The annual Northern Lights Holiday Celebration is this Saturday, December 6, from 2-5:15 PM, and it promises a day filled with joy, community, and unforgettable moments. This cherished tradition brings us all together to kick off the holiday season in the most wonderful way.
Give the Gift of Joy with Toys for Tots
One of the most meaningful parts of our celebration is the opportunity to support Toys for Tots. You can help bring a smile to a child’s face by donating a new, unused toy at the collection station.
Want to make your donation even easier? You can pre-purchase toys at Village Toys, or at the event, as they are offering a special discount for all items intended for the drive. Additionally, Susie Scoops will be donating 50% of the proceeds from kids’ ice cream scoops to purchase more toys. It’s a wonderful way to teach the joy of giving while enjoying a sweet treat.
Giving Tree Forest
At the center of it all is the Giving Tree Forest; a magical display of more than 30 trees decorated by local nonprofits, service clubs, and community groups. Each tree tells a story about the organization’s mission and how you can help; whether through a donation, volunteering, or simply spreading the word.
Guests can vote for their favorite tree!
Capture Holiday Memories
What’s a holiday event without a picture with Santa? Bring your cameras and your biggest smiles for a special photo opportunity with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Santa Stop. They will arrive via NLTFPD Fire Engine at 2:15PM. It’s the perfect chance to tell them your holiday wishes and create letter to Santa to place in Santa’s Mailbox, which IVGID’s elves will send to the North Pole.
You’ll also find other fantastic photo ops throughout the event. Be on the lookout for Diamond Peak’s mascot, Penguin Pete, Daisy Trails Preschool’s Gingerbread house and representatives from the Washoe County Sheriff’s office who will be joining in the festive fun.
Community Organizations
It wouldn’t be a celebration without games and crafts. Organizations from all over the region are hosting tables with interactive activities for kids and adults alike, including an elf scavenger hunt and holiday card making stations.
