3 Lake Tahoe Festivals Not to Miss

With summer upon us in Lake Tahoe, the opportunity to enjoy outdoor live music and entertainment is ramping up.

From classical theater on an outdoor stage with Lake Tahoe as the backdrop to fresh-air concerts that showcase world-class musicians, Lake Tahoe is a premier location for enjoying outdoor events. From July to September, there is no shortage of opportunities to gather with friends and loved ones to enjoy the splendor of mountain air, fantastic scenery and top-notch entertainment. To make sure you don't miss the best of the best, I wanted to highlight three upcoming festivals. Continue on to learn about a trio of festivities that will make you glad summer is here!

Bluegrass & Beyond Festival 

Friday, July 22

Coming to South Lake Tahoe on Friday, July 22 is the ever-popular music and arts gala known as Bluegrass and Beyond Festival. This special gathering is a culmination of bluegrass, jams, jazz and mountain music. The stage will be filled with musicians that will make you stop in your tracks. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has put together as showstopper line-up featuring Phil Lesh & Friends, Leftover Salmon, Dirtwire, The Lil Smokies, Dead Winter Carpenters, Groove Session, Tim Snider & Wolfgang Timber, Achilles Wheel, Boot Juice and Bison. Phil Lesh, the legendary founding member of the Grateful Dead, will perform with a soon-to-be-announced, star-studded line up of friends. The arena is as magnificent as the musicians, with a beautiful 30,000 square feet of grass lawn, shade structures and shade sails. There will be a vendor village offering arts, crafts, clothing and festival merchandise as well as a live artist paint wall and nourishment to keep your energy up. This is an all-ages event that is perfect for anyone who enjoys the sounds of banjos, flat-top guitars, fiddles, mandolins and good old-fashioned jams. It is asked that anyone younger than 13 years old be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets for adults range in price from $99 to $179. Tickets cost $10 for children ages 4 to 12 and are free for ages 3 and younger.

Bass Camp Festival V

Saturday, July 23

To finish the weekend off right, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is taking the fun a step further with Bass Camp Festival on Saturday, July 23. Shifting from bluegrass to electronic dance music, Bass Camp Festival is considered the place to be by all who appreciate globally celebrated electronic music. Now in its fifth year, this is truly a sanctuary for electronic music fanatics. With music on three stages, this year's event brings to the forefront headliner SLANDER as well as renowned performers including Adventure Club, Flux Pavilion, KJ Sawka, Wolfgang Gartner, Jack Beats, Cam Girl, Liquid Todd, Esper and Fluencee. There will also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Elephant Heart, a mind-expanding performance with Jason Evigan (winner of a Grammy for his work with Rüfüs Du Sol) and his wife. In total there are 40 artists performing in a setting that includes chill-out grass fields, artistic shade areas, a vendor village and an interactive artist paint wall. The show starts at 3 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. General admission tickets range in price from $59 to $99. VIP tickets, including a separate entrance into the arena, two private viewing areas next to the stage, VIP bathrooms, private bars, special appetizers and exclusive access into the Hard Rock's outdoor pool party, available for $179. This is an all-ages event.

Shakespeare Festival

Through August 21

Where can you enjoy culture and good scenery all wrapped up into one marvelous package? Partake in the Shakespeare Festival to enjoy the feeling of artistic sophistication set in the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Tahoe. The Shakespeare Festival is now in its 50th year of bringing quality theater to the area. Situated at Sand Harbor, the backdrop is like nothing else offered in the world, with fine sandy beaches, stunning lake views and a night sky filled with a million stars. The showings run seven nights a week through August 22. The lineup includes two mega-hit productions. The first is Shakespeare's supreme battle of wills and wit, Much Ado About Nothing, in which scorching insults find a way of defending house and honor. The second is the super-fun, feel-good musical, Mamma Mia! set in the Greek Isles, where we follow an enchanting tale of love, laughter, family and friendship. The productions will be offered in rotation Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. In addition to classic theater, there will be other entertainment options, including:

• Showcase Series Lineup Reno Philharmonic: Blockbuster Broadway at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 11
• The eighth annual Prim Jazz Night: Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 18
• Sierra Nevada Ballet: “Swan Lake,” at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 25
• Reno Jazz Orchestra: Hotter Than July: The Music of Stevie Wonder & Tina Turner at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 1
• Reno Philharmonic: John Denver’s Greatest Hits at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 8
• Queen Nation: A Tribute to the Music of Queen at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 15
• Reno Jazz Orchestra: Diane Schuur & Ernie Watts at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 22

To make the experience even better, Shakespeare's Kitchen will offer al fresco dining. Patrons are also allowed to bring their own food and drink for picnicking. Tickets range in price from $20 for upper and side gallery youth tickets to $400 for waited table service for four people. There are discounts for purchasing tickets for both plays.

Be sure to check out other events happening around Lake Tahoe on our Daytime and Nightlife pages.