Spring or Summer: Why June is the Perfect Time to Visit Lake Tahoe

By: Ryn Muat

June in Lake Tahoe is a particularly wonderful time to experience the lake and its surrounding areas as the vibrant colors of spring continue to pop on high elevation trails, and the lake warms to the perfect temperature to swim in, paddle on, or boat around. By June, trails and campgrounds have all opened and summer entertainment begins heating up. Book that extra day early because you’re going to want as much time to explore as you can get!

Hit the Trails

Two women hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail
Find your trail in South Lake Tahoe. Photo by Heavenly Mountain.

Whether by foot or by bike, there are miles of trails to explore on your next trip to South Tahoe. The 165-mile hike around the Tahoe Rim Trail is the ultimate Tahoe hiking experience and offers stunning views of the entire lake. For those that prefer to be on two wheels, the Flume Trail boasts amazing panoramas of the lake and surrounding mountains without getting too technical.

Nevada State Fair – Mills Park in Carson City – June 13-16, 2024.

Ferris wheel and carnival games at the Nevada State Fair
NV State Fair | Photo courtesy of Visit Carson City

Nevada State Fair returns to Carson City, Nevada’s great capital. Four fun filled days of entertainment, carnival rides, culture, music and so much more. June 13-16th, the Nevada State Fair is proud to celebrate our great State of Nevada. Come on out and enjoy our beautiful June weather with a full day of activities at Mills Park.

Thursday June 13th: 1pm – 10pm
Friday June 14th: 11am – 10pm
Saturday June 15th: 11am – 10pm
Sunday June 16th: 11am – 10pm

Free to the public – no entry fees. Nevada State Fair is an outdoor event.

*Dogs are allowed on leash only.
*Entering and/ or leaving the venue with alcohol is not permitted.

More info: www.NevadaStateFair.org

The Nevada State Fair was originally founded in 1874 and had been Nevada’s longest-running event. The Board of Directors for the Nevada State Fair met on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 and decided to close, ending a 136-year run (1874-2010). In August of 2013, a completely new Nevada state non-profit company was formed to continue the legacy. With collaborative efforts from both state and private sectors, the Nevada State Fair is welcomed back and is pleased to be held in Carson City.

Free Events

Tahoe Bike Month

Mountain Bike Tahoe sunset

Tahoe Bike Month. Gather your friends, family, and coworkers for a month-long celebration of biking in Tahoe. Together with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition is celebrating 18 years of Bike Month starting June 1st with loads of activities planned.

Attractions

Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series

A band plays in the Heavenly Village

Heavenly Village starts its Summer Concert Series on Thursday, May 5, with a special preview of the summer excitement to come with Mariachi Cazadores for Cinco de Mayo. The official series kicks off on Memorial Day Weekend and runs through Labor Day Weekend.

All genres of music will be featured, with most shows on Fridays and Saturdays, holiday Sundays and the week of the 4th of July holiday, and American Century Championship Golf.

The free shows in this series are held on the stage between the Fire and Ice and Gunbarrel Tavern restaurants from 5:45 p.m to 9:15 p.m.

The Village is located at 1001 Heavenly Village Way surrounding the Marriott resorts and gondola. The parking garage is $5 after 5:00 pm. Except holidays.

The events, which last through Labor Day, are held every Friday and Saturday (with a Sunday/Monday bonus over holidays) and showcase the talents of both regional and national musicians.

Apart from being Lake Tahoe’s largest free summer concert series, what also sets the Heavenly Village events apart from other seasonal entertainment is its family-friendly environment.

Concerts are held either between Gunbarrel Tavern and Fire + Ice or in front of Azul Latin Kitchen. Each show begins at 5:45 p.m.

Annual Hwy 50 Wagon Train, June 1 – 8, 2024

Horse Drawn Wagon and Cowboy

Ride in Celebration of California and Nevada’s ONLY BI-STATE HISTORIC EVENT!!
Wagon Train itinerary

Riding for only a day or for the whole trip, the wonders of this great land are truly appreciated as one travels down the road at an average speed of three miles per hour! Evening campfires, storytelling, and low key entertainment round out the experience. Families are welcome!

As early as the 1840’s, a trickle of humanity began the arduous journey toward the great Pacific and the freedom they foresaw in settling there. In 1849, the cry of “Gold” from the foothills of the California territory rocked the world! Leaving property and families behind, men traveled West.

In the early 1850’s, one of the major land routes to California, traversing what we now know as Echo Summit and the Highway 50 corridor, became known as the “Roaring Road”. Travel was so heavy; oftentimes, wagon trains were forced to wait for days to have their turn on the road.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the “Gold Rush”, a Wagon Train was formed to travel west from Lake Tahoe to Placerville (Old Hangtown) along Highway 50. This “one-time” event was so popular that it resumed in 1951, and has made its annual trek each year since that time.

Waking up before dawn, savoring the rich aromas of coffee boiling, bacon frying, mingled with the clanking of harness, the soft knickers of horses being readied for the day, and the murmurs of the wranglers going about their duties draw one back into a lifetime of excitement and anticipation.

Tying into this event, join the Lake Tahoe Historical Society for the 3rd annual Western Days on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum complex. Entry and activities are free.

There will be tours of the museum, the 1930s log cabin, a peek into the 1860s Toll House, children’s hands-on activities, horse-drawn carriage rides, craft vendors, music by the Cash Only Band and Whiskey Wolves, and western entertainment and storytelling by David and Gayle Woodruff.

Chow down on BBQ and refresh Your thirst with a hard (or soft) beverage, and Much, Much MORE!

Find Your Beach

A family of four enjoy a day at the beach with their boat
A family of four at Baldwin Beach. Photo by Rachid Dahnoun.

Each beach around South Lake Tahoe offers something a little unique, including different ways to catch some rays: beaches on the western side of the lake see more early morning sun, and those on the east side are ideal for catching the sunset. Some, like Kiva Beach and Nevada Beach, are dog friendly. Others, like Emerald Bay State Park, offer boat camping and you-can’t-find-anywhere-else views of Fannette Island and the Vikingsholm Estate. And if you’re looking for something more exhilarating, like access to boating and parasailing, you’ll find that, too.

DeCelle Memorial Lake Tahoe Relay

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, runners will once again run counter-clockwise around Lake Tahoe in the 59th annual DeCelle Memorial Lake Tahoe Relay. Considered to be the oldest relay race in the country, the Lake Tahoe Relay began as a New Year’s gag by a group of college runners in 1959, grew into a tribute to a beloved son, and has evolved over decades as a family’s labor of love. With altitudes up to 6,500 ft. on the 72-mile course around scenic Lake Tahoe, this race is as fun as it is challenging.

The Lake Tahoe Relay teams have 7 people, each running approximately 8 to 12 miles. All runners will have the same team number pinned on the front of their shirts. The course closes at 8:00 p.m. Runners will be asked to leave after 8:00 p.m. for their own safety.

In addition to the team run we also offer:

(1) person 72-mile ultra-marathon circling beautiful Lake Tahoe. The event will start at 5:00 am at the start-finish line of the Lake Tahoe Relay. Competitors will have 15 hours to complete the course and must be done by 8 pm.

(2) person 72-mile relay. Each member will run 36 miles alternating legs as needed based on team dynamics. The event will start at 5 am, and teams will have 15 hours to complete the race.

This non-profit event is a labor of love and a memorial to Robert DeCelle Jr and Sr, beloved father and brother. All proceeds have gone to High School and Youth running programs within California and Nevada. All of the timers, workers, and the band are DeCelle family members or close friends.

Registration is available online. For more information, contact Sean at runtahoe@outlook.com

Heavenly Village Brewfest

Heavenly Brewfest Flyer

Saturday, June 15, 2024, 1:00-5:00 pm, 7th Annual Brewfest at the Heavenly Village Lake Tahoe. Presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Jeremy Gilpin JFG Investments. Tickets

This awesome event will include:

  • Beer, 15 Breweries
  • Spirits
  • Kombucha
  • Soda Tasting
  • Live Music
  • Corn Hole
  • Paint & Sip
  • Age 21 and over – includes wrist band and a commemorative glass
  • $40 donation. Will sell out quickly!
  • A portion of the proceeds go to Christmas Cheer

For tickets and more info, click here!!

Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular Show at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular Flyer

Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. 8:00 pm, Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the South Shore Room inside Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Ticketmaster.com

Paramount’s Laser Spectacular, the smash hit multi-media laser and light show featuring the original master recordings of Pink Floyd. In 1986, the Laser Spectacular was produced for the very first time in San Antonio, Texas. Producer Steve Monistere managed to turn the show into a worldwide, must see event!

Rock Tahoe Half Marathon

Run. Rock. Recover. Rock Tahoe Half Marathon on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Lake Tahoe’s premier running event takes runners along Lake Tahoe and finishes at the Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino. Runners receive a medal at the finish, live music and a pool party. If you haven’t secured a spot yet for this event, register today.

RUN in beautiful Lake Tahoe!
ROCK your way through some awesome weekend events!
RECOVER poolside with live music at the post-race pool party!

The Rock Tahoe Half Marathon starts at Spooner Summit and drops over 1,000ft as it winds its way down Highway 50 along the stunning East Shore of Lake Tahoe to the finish line and post-race pool party at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe!

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