The Best Labor Day and Fall Events in Lake Tahoe and Truckee

Even though Labor Day is the “unofficial” end of the summer season in Lake Tahoe and Truckee, some of the region’s best events happen over the three-day weekend and the remainder of September.

The 29th Annual Foam Fest is being held at Squaw Valley on Saturday, September 1 from 2-6 p.m. More than 25 local and regional craft breweries will be on hand pouring unlimited tastings. Live music comes courtesy of The California Honeydrops and Mojo Green. With their ticket purchase, participants are entered into a raffle to win a California Gold Pass, a fully-transferable, unlimited ski pass with access to 32 resorts. All proceeds from the Foam Fest go to Achieve Tahoe, an organization that works toward making physical and recreational activities inclusive and affordable to everyone.

On Sunday, September 2, the 30th Annual Alpen Wine Fest will be held in the Village at Squaw Valley. The event includes wine tasting, live music, and huge silent auction. Entry into the event is a donation to Can Do MS, a foundation providing wellness and education for people with Multiple Sclerosis. With a donation for your wine tasting ticket, attendees receive a crystal souvenir wine glass, tastings from over 40 vineyards and live music on the Events Plaza Stage from 2-5 p.m. with Beyond the Rails.

The following weekend, one the Lake Tahoe’s signature events happens at Northstar California. From September 7-9, the 33rd Annual Autumn Food & Wine Festival brings together renowned winemakers and some of the regions finest chefs for an intimate three-day weekend full of wine tastings, culinary seminars, gourmet marketplace and mountaintop dining. The event culminates with the Grand Tasting & Culinary Competition.

Oktoberfest comes to Squaw Valley on September 22 from 12-6 p.m. The event will transform the Village at Squaw Valley into a miniature Bavaria complete with authentic German beer and food, Bavarian music and the ever-popular Oktoberfest Games. All beer sales benefit the High Sierra Lacrosse Foundation.

On September 29, the Tahoe City Oktoberfest takes place on the shores of North Lake Tahoe at the Commons Beach from 12-5 p.m. Featuring craft beers from some of the region’s best microbreweries, delicious local food, Bavarian-themed games, a craft vendor village, live music and great raffle prizes.