So, You Wanna Go to a Festival?

So, You Wanna Go to a Festival?
A TAH O E GU I D E TO M U S I C, A RT, CU LTU R E,
AN D ATH L E TI C FES TIVAL S I N TH E BAS I N AN D B E YO N D
WORDS BY ALLY GRAVINA | GRAPHIC BY LAUREN SHEARER
S
ummer in Tahoe is an especially busy time;
everyone seems to be working crazy hours trying
to stockpile cash, all while going on as many rad
adventures as humanly possible. I know, we would
all love to spend the summer free of rules and go to
as many festivals as we can but, unfortunately, we
are adults now and have to pick and choose.
Thankfully, we’re here to help … just follow the
yellow brick road of destiny, as outlined below,
and find your emerald city, or as we like to call it
… your perfect summer festival.
And, don’t worry if your road takes you to
a festival that is the same weekend as your
girlfriend’s, cousin’s, best friend’s wedding that
you didn’t even want to go to in the first place.
We’ve listed alternative, similar festivals, to fit into
your oh-so-busy summer schedule.
For more summer-event-goodness check out our
TAP calendar on p. 6.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
I love listening to live music but camping really messes up my hair.
I want to unplug, sleep in my tent all weekend,
and forget the last time I wore shoes.
How many miles does your ’92 Subaru have left in it?
I’m over the whole music festival thing, I want a different experience.
Would you rather go for a trail run or spend the afternoon in a museum?
Do you like to womp?
That thing will probably out
live me, there’s nothing I love
more than roadtrips with the
sunroof open.
What Subaru? I swap out my
car for my bike in the summer —
mainly to avoid that damn
West Shore traffic.
MUSIC IN THE
MOUNTAINS SUMMERFEST
$20–$100, Nevada City,
June 22–28
CONCERTS AT COMMONS
BEACH WEEKLY
Free, Tahoe City, weekly,
every Sunday, June 19–Sept. 4
Presenting their 35th annual summer
series, MIM is offering two weeks
of incredible music from names like
Don McLean and Judy Collins to
concerto performances and (their
words not ours), Seductive Serenades.
Other classical music events …
Celebrating their 11th anniversary, this
concert series brings local, regional,
and national performers to Tahoe City
every Sunday afternoon throughout
the summer. The afternoon welcomes
outside picnic and beverages but will
also have local food and drink vendors.
Other, hyper-local, weekly events …
• TOCCATA Summer MusicFest:
June 12–25
• Sierra Nevada World Music
Festival: June 17–18
• Truckee Thursdays:
Thursdays, June 9–Aug. 18
• Music on the Beach: Fridays,
Kings Beach, June 17–Sept. 2
You kidding? I fly to Miami
every year for Ultra.
EMISSIONS FESTIVAL
$205/4-day pass;
Belden, Calif., May 13–16
This festival, in its 8th year, sets out to
define bass culture and welcomes guest
to come together, deep in the forest, to
celebrate music, art, and life. Your guides
along this journey include names like
The Grouch, Minnestoa, STööKISOUND,
DJ QBERT, and more. While most
festivals are forced to shut down their
full stage sound as the night is just getting started, Emissions lets YOU decide
when you want the music to stop. Other
festival for you to get your bass on …
• The Untz Festival: June 2–4
I’ve been listening to Dylan
since the times were a-changing.
What the heck is womping?
Who do you look up to more,
Jah or Bob Dylan?
REGGAE ON THE RIVER
$250/4-day ticket,
Garberville, Calif., Aug. 4–7
This year’s festival features names
such as Sizzla Kalonji & The Fire House
Band, KRANIUM & Agent Sasco, Anthony
B, and Protoje & The Indiggnation Band
— all performing on the shores of the
south fork of the Eel River.
Other reggae festivals …
• Reggae in the Hills:
June 12–14
Names like Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Dr. Dog, The California Honeydrops,
and Greensky Bluegrass will be gracing the stage in Quincy this 4th of July Weekend.
Apart from epic music, this family-friendly weekend also features parades, movement
classes, a food drive, and pool. Other blues, rock, or bluegrass festivals …
• Strawberry Spring Music Festival: May 26–29 • Guitarfish Music Festival:
July 28–31 • Jerry Bash: Aug. 6 • Lost Sierra Hoedown: Sept. 22–25
OFFICIAL SPONSOR
OF GOOD TIMES!
Concerts at
Commons Beach
Tahoe City
Music on the Beach
Kings Beach
Truckee Thursdays
& Music in the Park
Truckee
Open Year Round
in Tahoe City
www.TahoeDaves.com
Tuesdays Bluesdays
Squaw Valley
(we’re not official sponsors
but we’re big fans)
590/600 N. LAKE BLVD., TAHOE CITY CA 96145 530-583-6415
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SUMMER LOVIN’ 2016
Papoose
Preschool
Each morning as we head to
Papoose, our children are
filled with excitement about
the day ahead, and the
adventures they will have!
-F. Radar
Truckee’s Premier Summer
Camp for 3-5 year olds!
• Daily Forest Hikes
• Eco-Healthy Child Care
• Nevada County
5-Star Quality Rating
• Local, Organic Snacks
• Weekly Art &
Science Themes
Call now to reserve
your days/week of Camp.
Limited availability
(July 11 - August 26)
With my daily line-up of mountain biking to hiking to paddle boarding
I think I’m ready for a dose of culture.
Are you more likely to hike the
Tahoe Rim Trail or meet your
buddy at the end for a beer?
Is your babysitter spending the summer finding herself in Europe?
Jah makes me the most irie.
HIGH SIERRA MUSIC FESTIVAL
$265.75/4-day pass, Quincy, June 30–July 3
Alberto Zornetta/
bigstockphoto.com
I love hiking so much I
sleep in my Danner boots.
-
(530) 550-7506 | papoosepreschool.com
YOUR COMPLETE SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE
The Rim Trail
has been on
my bucket list
since I moved
here from
Vermont 10
years ago.
ALPENGLOW
MOUNTAIN
FESTIVAL,
SUMMER
EDITION
Free,
Tahoe City,
June 18–26
Twice a year
Alpenglow
Sports puts on
Lake Tahoe’s
premier mountain festival,
in which they
offer free clinics,
focused around
everything you
love about Tahoe
in the summer.
Other events that
will make you
sweat, or maybe
pass out …
• Tough
Mudder:
June 11 & 12
• Adventure
Sports Week:
June 17–26
• Wanderlust
Squaw Valley:
July 14–17
• Tahoe Trail
100: July 16
Anastasia_vish/
bigstockphoto.com
Yup, it’s just us and the kids
all day everyday.
My child has four legs, is furry,
and goes everywhere with me.
TRUCKEE TAHOE AIRSHOW
AND FAMILY FESTIVAL
Free, Truckee, July 9am–4pm
THUNDERBIRD THURSDAYS
By invitation to members only,
Incline Village, weekly, every
Thursday, from July–Sept.
I’m the one at
the finish line
with a cooler.
INT’L
CAMEL &
OSTRICH
RACES
$15/Saturday
standing
room only,
Virginia City,
Sept. 9–11
Camels can
run, in short
bursts, as fast as
40 mph. Don’t
believe it? Come
see for yourself
at the 57th
annual camel
races.
Other events
where you can
watch other
people sweat …
• Reno
Rodeo:
June 16–25
• Truckee
Rodeo:
Aug. 27–28
BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOONSHINE INK
This year’s festival is specifically oriented
around family with a theme of Space,
Science, and Beyond. The event features
an airshow, STEM expo, family festival,
and free rides in a military aircraft.
Other family friendly events …
• Kokanee Salmon Festival:
Date TBD
Every Thursday, throughout the course
of the summer, the Thunderbird Lodge
is hosting Thunderbird Thursdays, in
which donors of certain levels can
enjoy the beautiful grounds — on which
Captain George Whittell Jr. kept his
elephant and lion — with their pets while
enjoying hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine.
Other dog friendly events …
Nope, she’s around and trying to
make as much money as possible
before starting UNR in the fall.
How do you spend your
Sunday night?
Throwing pottery.
• Peaks and Paws — Aug. 27
MADE IN TAHOE
Free, Olympic Valley, May 28 & 29
Don’t miss the chance to catch names
like Big Truck, Tahoe Flow Arts Studio,
and Moonshine Ink (ahem) at this weekend celebrating all things local, complete
with live music and food vendors.
Other arts and culture events …
Writing
sonnets.
LAKE TAHOE
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
$15–$89, Incline Village,
July 8–Aug. 21
The only venue better to watch
Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors
would be the Globe Theatre circa 1595.
Come enjoy this play, along with others,
on Lake Tahoe’s magnificent East Shore.
Other performance-based events …
• Reno Celtic Celebration:
Oct. 1 & 2
michaeljung/
bigstockphoto.com
Sipping wine
and prepping
meals for the
week.
• Truckee Roundhouse Maker
Show: Sunday, June 12
• Truckee Open Art Studio Tour:
July 15–17 & 22–24
SAMPLE THE SIERRA
$40/full tasting ticket, Bijou Park, South Lake Tahoe, Sept. 17
The event brings together local chefs/restaurants with neighboring growers/producers to turn out
scrumptious samples craftily paired with the appropriate wine or brew. The festival marketplace
includes locally made goods such as jam, soap, honey, and olive oil along with specialty products
created right here in the county, such as fine art, jewelry, and crafts. Other food and wine festivals
…
• Truckee Brew Fest: June 11 • Autumn Food and Wine: Sept. 9–11
SUMMER LOVIN’ 2016
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