NORTH SHORE
Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance
The 43rd annual classic boat show brings polished works of nautical art to Tahoe’s West Shore. This year’s featured class is vroom-vroom vintage craft with powerful V12 engines. Stroll around the marina and savor the prettiness during show hours Aug. 7–8, and sign up early for Wooden Boat Week social events, meals and boat rides presented by Tahoe Yacht Club. Aug. 7–8, hours vary: Obexer’s Boat Company, 5300 W. Lake Blvd., Homewood, (775) 851-4444; laketahoeconcours.com.
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
Presentations at this gorgeous lakeside amphitheater alternate between the Bard’s young-lover tragedy “Romeo & Juliet” and long-running musical “The Fantasticks.” Performances by other groups fill in on Mondays. Food and beverages are available on-site, but sweaters and jackets are strictly BYO. Through Aug. 23: Sand Harbor State Park Amphitheater, 2005 Highway 28, Incline Village, (800) 747-4697; laketahoeshakespeare.com
Lake Tahoe SummerFest
A 40-member orchestra of musicians from some of the world’s greatest philharmonics enthralls audiences of all ages in a 500-seat acoustical tent. Also on the classical-music calendar this summer is the Lake Tahoe Music Festival (tahoemusic.org), showcasing a regional orchestra and guest artists playing in outdoor settings around the lake. Fridays–Sundays July 31–Aug. 16: Sierra Nevada College, 999 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, (775) 298-0245; tahoesummerfest.org
Autumn Food & Wine Festival
In 30 years, this festival has grown from a grass-roots event to the most prestigious food, wine, spirits and brew gathering in the Sierra. Bring your appetite and a thirsty palate to Northstar and partake of tastings, dinners and culinary competitions staged at venues all over the mountain. Hike and bike outings and family events are on the agenda, too. Sept. 11–13: Northstar California, 100 Northstar Drive, Truckee, (530) 581-6900; gotahoenorth.com
SOUTH SHORE
Concerts at Harvey’s Outdoor Arena
Harvey’s Summer Concert Series brings big names to a 7,000-seat outdoor venue close to the lake. Jackson Browne croons on Aug. 7, followed by Elton John on Aug. 8. Slightly Stoopid, Dierks Bentley and Sammy Hagar round out a summer ticket that ends with Dave Matthews Band playing a post-Labor Day gig. Various dates through Sept. 9: 555 Highway 50, Stateline , (800) 342-7724; caesars.com/harveys-tahoe/shows
Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series
Visitors without the bent for big-name entertainment can bike or hike to hear regional acts perform for free with Big Blue as a backdrop. The newly refurbished Lakeview Commons park is within walking distance of South Shore hotels and casinos, and musical genres range from ska and reggae to bluegrass and funk.Thursdays 4:30–8 p.m. through Aug. 27: Lakeview Commons, Highway 50 and Lakeview Ave., South Lake Tahoe, liveatlakeview.com
Hot Tahoe Cruisin’
Polish your ride and take part in this South Shore car show held the same week as the big and rumbling Hot August Nights affair over the hill in Reno. While they’re not affiliated, lots of participants and spectators will be going back and forth. Some 25 trophies will be awarded in various categories for spit-shined cars, trucks and even bikes. July 31–Aug. 9: Heavenly Village, 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe, (530) 541-7300; tahoesouth.com
Tour de Tahoe/Bike Big Blue
This 13th annual event is your chance to pedal 72 miles (or as far as you can make it) around the lake without worrying (too much) about traffic. Ride the whole way or cruise to North Shore on the Tahoe Queen and pick up the pack there. A mandatory safety clinic precedes a carbo-load dinner the day before. The after-ride pool party promises to be a blast. Sept. 12–13: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, (800) 565-2704; bikethewest.com/tour-de-tahoe
​More of Note: Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival, Aug. 14–16, King’s Beach State Park (tahoenalu.com) // Peaks & Paws dog festival, Squaw Valley, Aug. 22 (hstt.org) Sample the Sierra farm-to-fork festival, South Lake Tahoe, Sept. 6 (samplethesierra.com) // Trails & Vistas art hikes, Sept. 12 and 19 (trailsandvistas.org)
For more Tahoe coverage, pick up a copy of the August issue, on newsstands now.
