FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2025
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What’s New in Lake Tahoe Winter 2025/6
Seasonal events, new business openings, and more.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev., December 01, 2025 –– Winter in Lake Tahoe arrives with snow-dusted peaks, festive village lights, and a season full of alpine adventure. As the days grow colder, the region transforms into a winter playground where cozy lakeside towns, world-class ski resorts and community traditions create an unforgettable seasonal escape. From lively holiday celebrations and film festivals to new on-mountain experiences, visitors will find no shortage of ways to immerse in Tahoe’s winter magic. Here’s what’s new to the region this season.
BUSINESS & RESORT UPDATES (WINTER 2025–26)
- Diamond Peak’s 60th anniversary season
Diamond Peak is celebrating 60 years with retro-themed events and specials, including select $60 lift tickets and deals on lessons and rentals, plus new Google Street View tours of every run so guests can scout the mountain before they arrive. - Palisades Tahoe – major on- and off-mountain upgrades
Palisades Tahoe is rolling into the 2025–26 season with significant snowmaking investments (new automated fan guns, upgraded compressors and new pipe/valve systems), refreshed lift access gates for smoother loading, and expanded water capacity from rehabilitated wells to support a stronger early-season snowpack. - Mountaineer microtransit expands service
Mountaineer, the free on-demand shuttle serving Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, is increasing its fleet by 15% this winter and running Dec 6, 2025–Apr 19, 2026, making it easier for visitors to move around without a car. - Granlibakken Tahoe – new evening sledding sessions
Granlibakken is leaning into family-friendly snowplay with evening sledding added to its winter lineup, giving guests a festive way to end the day alongside its long-running beginner hill and intimate ski area. - Tahoe XC – new net-zero lodge & Glide Pass
Tahoe XC is building a new net-zero energy lodge (a first in the basin) and launching the Glide Pass, an on-site rental pass for classic and skate skis aimed at visitors who don’t want to travel with gear, while continuing free day passes for kids under 19 and adults 70+.
- Mt. Rose – Wildslide Tubing Center
Mt. Rose is unveiling the Wildslide Tahoe Tubing Center, a 20-lane, conveyor-served tubing park, plus additional snowmaking upgrades and expanded racing/events – all an easy drive from Incline Village and the North Shore. - Lagree Tahoe Fitness Studio – new wellness option in Incline Village
Lagree Tahoe Fitness Studio has opened at 930 Tahoe Blvd in Incline Village with daily classes, a party-style grand-opening and a focus on high-intensity, low-impact training tailored to skiers, snowboarders and mountain athletes. - Montesa, Cantina Moderna at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe has opened Montesa, a new slopeside cantina blending mountain energy with elevated Mexican street food. Guests can expect house-pressed heirloom masa tacos, bold regional flavors, and cocktails crafted with artisanal tequilas and mezcals — plus a signature brew created with Alibi Ale Works. Designed as a vibrant, high-energy stop for après ski, Montesa is open daily for lunch and dinner.
EVENTS: DECEMBER 2025
- Northern Lights Festival – Holiday Season in Incline Village & Crystal Bay
Through December 31, 2025 – Incline Village & Crystal Bay
A season-long celebration that spans November and December, featuring tree lightings, Sip & Shop evenings, holiday performances, Santa sightings, church services, and a New Year’s Eve celebration at Bowl Incline and Crystal Bay Casino, plus events at Hyatt Regency and Glasses Wine Bar. - 11th Annual Tahoe Film Fest
December 4–7, 2025 – Multiple venues around Lake Tahoe (Incline Cinema, Northstar Village Cinemas, Crystal Bay Casino)
The 11th Annual Tahoe Film Fest returns this December, bringing four days of independent, environmental and international films to screens across Tahoe City, Northstar and Crystal Bay. The festival highlights new premieres, documentaries and thoughtful stories — with all ticket proceeds benefiting UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), a leading research organization dedicated to studying, protecting and preserving Lake Tahoe’s clarity and ecosystem. - Annual Ski Season Kickoff Party December 5, 2025 – Alibi Ale Works Incline Public House (Incline Village). The annual Ski Season Kickoff Party returns on Friday, December 5, bringing a festive, family-friendly evening to Alibi Ale Works Incline Public House. Hosted by Village Ski Loft, Diamond Peak and Alibi Ale Works as part of the IVCBA Northern Lights Festival, the event invites guests to ring in winter with ugly sweaters, retro ski attire and holiday spirit. Expect lively games, karaoke, prizes, food and drinks for purchase, plus the release of this year’s Snowflake IPA. A raffle benefiting the Sierra Nevada Resiliency Fund rounds out the night.
- Tahoe Live 2025
December 12–14, 2025 – The Village at Palisades Tahoe
Expanded to a three-day winter music festival, Tahoe Live brings headliners like Zeds Dead, Alison Wonderland, DJ Diesel, Porter Robinson, San Holo, Jessica Audiffred and Peekaboo to a mountainside stage in Olympic Valley, pairing skiing and riding with après-friendly night shows in the Village. - KT Bass Bar Music Series
December 12, 2025–March 28, 2026 – KT-22 Base Bar, Palisades Tahoe.
A season-long après series with free DJ sets and live performances at the KT Bass Bar, creating a lively outdoor party scene at the base of KT-22 on key weekends and holidays throughout ski season. - Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series – 20th Anniversary Kickoff
December 5, 2025 – Olympic Village Events Center, Palisades Tahoe.
The 20th Annual Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series, presented by North Tahoe Chamber, kicks off in early December with Emily Harrington, with additional nights running through winter. Each show is free, features world-class mountain athletes and benefits local nonprofits such as Truckee Dirt Union and Tahoe Waterman Association. - Holiday dining & on-mountain celebrations
- Christmas Eve Dinner – Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley): festive multi-course dinner at the resort.
- Christmas Buffet Dinner – Granlibakken Tahoe (Tahoe City): traditional buffet with all the trimmings in a classic alpine setting.
- New Year’s Eve celebrations in Lake Tahoe including fireworks and torchlight events at Mt. Rose and NYE dinners and parties at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Bowl Incline and Crystal Bay Casino as part of Northern Lights.
- Ongoing December family activities
- S’more O’Clock at Northstar – early-evening s’mores roasting in the Village on select nights.
- Disco Tubing at Palisades Tahoe – tubing sessions with music and lights (primarily post-Christmas through New Year’s).
JANUARY 2026
- Guided Snowshoe Tours – Tahoe Adventure Company
January (multiple dates) – Lake Tahoe trails Tahoe Adventure Company hosts daytime, sunset and full-moon snowshoe tours throughout January, offering guided experiences with views over the lake, plus natural history interpretation and stargazing on select evenings. - Ongoing Winter Activities at Local Resorts
- Granlibakken evening sledding sessions running through the core winter period.
- Northstar & Palisades Tahoe continuing festive après in their villages, including live music, ice skating, s’mores and family-friendly programming aligned with peak winter weekends.
FEBRUARY 2026
- Valentine’s Day Sunset Snowshoe with Champagne & Dessert – Tahoe Adventure Company
February 14, 2026 – Lake Tahoe Romantic guided snowshoe tour timed with sunset, ending with Champagne and dessert in the snow, ideal for couples or friends looking for a memorable Valentine’s experience. - SNOWFEST 2026
February 26 – March 8 2026 – North Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City, Kings Beach and surrounding communities) While the bulk of SnowFest runs into early March, festivities kick off in late February with a party at GarWoods, followed by events such as parades, fireworks, a polar bear swim, bar-top auctions and family activities across Tahoe City, Kings Beach and nearby towns.
ABOUT LAKE TAHOE TRAVEL
Lake Tahoe Travel represents 12 towns across California and Nevada and is operated jointly by the North Tahoe Community Alliance and Travel North Tahoe Nevada. It showcases two dozen beaches, 11 downhill ski resorts, 10 cross-country ski areas, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and vibrant communities filled with local artisans and shops. The region is easily accessible — approximately 45 minutes from Reno‐Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport, and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport.
To learn more about Lake Tahoe Travel’s sustainable tourism and recreation initiatives, visit laketahoetravel.com/sustainable-travel. Visitor information centers are located in Tahoe City, Incline Village, and Kings Beach, and additional resources can be found at LakeTahoeTravel.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
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