10 Things to do in December at Lake Tahoe
By: Sam Pinsky
Even though 2024 is almost behind us, there is still time to slow down and take it all in here in the Sierra Nevada mountains. With rockin’ concerts, scenic trails, and local ski areas open, there’s no better place to enjoy the holidays than December at Lake Tahoe.
1. Light Up Some Smiles in the Heavenly Village
The 65-foot tall Christmas tree in the Heavenly Village will light up Tahoe’s south shore every day at 5:30 pm. With a smorgasbord of restaurants and shops nearby, you and your family will surely find something special to bring home, or something delicious for supper.
2. Get a Jump Start on the 2024/2025 Ski Season
Heavenly Mountain Resort is scheduled to open Friday, November 22, 2024, and Kirkwood Mountain Resort, is expected to open Friday, December 6, 2024. Sierra-at-Tahoe, recently added to the Ikon pass, is scheduled to open Friday, November 29, 2024 as well. Storms permitting, December will be a lovely time to come for snow!
Learn more about what to expect at Tahoe ski resorts this year.
3. Do Some Figure Eights at an Ice Rink
The ice skating rinks in the Heavenly Village, Edgewood Tahoe Resort and the South Tahoe Ice Arena will be ready and waiting for you to lutz and loop to your heart’s (or ankle’s) content. December is all about family fun, so be sure to bring the little ones!
4. Catch a Magic Show
Magic Fusion is a perfect blend of intimate magic and comedy that the whole family can enjoy. Eat dinner, watch a show, and enjoy world-class magicians from around the world. Visiting on a budget? Buy one adult ticket and get one children’s ticket for free on Sundays at 4:30 pm.
Looking for an unforgettable magic experience? Magic After Dark is an irresistible window into the edgy, sophisticated, and sometimes sick mind of award-winning magician-comedian, Robert Hall. This 75-85 minute journey of unique magic, hilarious comedy, and adult mind games is reserved for everyone 18 and up.
5. Meet Your Favorite Characters
Have you always wanted to meet Ana, Elsa, or Olaf from Frozen? How about Woody and Buzz from Toy Story? Don’t miss your chance to make memories and snap some photos with characters from Snow White, Paw Patrol, and more. You might catch a few characters on skates at the ice rink, with more roaming the Heavenly Village to meet you. This event runs from 3:00 to 7:00 pm every Saturday in December and runs Daily from December 26 through 30.
6. Take a Ride Around the Ferris Wheel in the Heavenly Village
Enjoy spectacular views of the most wonderful time of the year high up in the mountains on the Giant Ferris wheel at the base of the Heavenly Gondola from December 26 through 31. The photo opportunities can only be matched by the memories. Admission is only $5 per person.
7. Find Yourself on Santa’s “Nice List” Over Breakfast
If you’re worried that all you are getting for Christmas this year is a lump of coal, there is still time to smooth things over with the big guy in red over a hearty breakfast at Fire and Ice Restaurant.
8. Ring in the New Year, Tahoe Style!
Enjoy a rockin’ New Year’s Eve lineup from 2:00 pm – 9:30 pm at Heavenly Resort, with a range of acts to be announced. Don’t miss the gondola ball drop and fireworks!
Après Ski NYE! will be the ultimate snowcapped exclamation point for 2024 as it winds down and the excitement ramps up for this extraordinary event combining the best in electronic music, winter sports, and vibrant nightlife.
9. Shine On at the Festival of Winter Lights
This December 13 & 14, enjoy this free market-style event with live music, light displays, hot drinks and food, Santa’s house, winter carriage rides, local vendors, and more at the Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum. Come from 4:00 to 8:00, and in the spirit of holiday giving, bring a new unwrapped toy to drop at the Toys for Tots booth. This free event will be held at the museum parking lot at 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
10. Opal Ultra Lounge & Peek Nightclub
If you’re looking for a late night, loud music, and a lovely club atmosphere, you should head to Opal Nightclub inside Bally’s casino. Open on weekend nights, this is the place to go when it’s late, and you simply need to dance it all out. VIP tables are available for whichever special event you have in mind. Also, Peek Nightclub inside Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is back with an incredible lineup of DJs.
Bonus: Lovely Weather for a Sleigh Ride
Embark on a nostalgic sleigh ride in the snow as the jingling of bells fills the air. Sleigh rides through the alpine scenery are truly unforgettable, with powerful draft horses pulling ornately decorated sleighs through snow-covered fields and past pine-filled forests near Lake Tahoe.
Winter in Tahoe
