Summer transition to fall at South Lake Tahoe with events beginning Labor Day weekend

Before summer segues to fall, Tahoe South will celebrate a Labor Day last call: an amped-up holiday weekend of non-stop activities on and off the water including a food and wine festival, sternwheeler race, outdoor and showroom concerts and a fireworks extravaganza.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND
The Great Lake Tahoe Sternwheeler Race pits South Shore’s two Mississippi paddlewheelers, The Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II, in a four-mile race along the shoreline to determine the coveted Tahoe Cup and lake supremacy, Sept. 3. The 19th renewal of the spirited “battle of the paddle,” Korbel California Champagne continues a home-grown tradition for annual bragging rights. The M.S. Dixie II holds an 11-7 edge over The Tahoe Queen. Passengers can join the party aboard either boat for an only-at-Tahoe experience with memories, brunch, entertainment from McAvoy Lane and Darin Talbot and drink specials are available with $39 tickets. Christmas Cheer All Year will receive $5 from every ticket purchased. http://www.zephyrcove.com/play/cruises.aspx

Fine food, wine, music and art will be the order of the day at the second annual Sample the Sierra on Ski Run Boulevard, Sunday, Sept. 4, noon - 5 p.m. This market-to-table event features samples from Sierra Nevada chefs and restaurants – all created with local produce and paired with 15 regional wineries. The cooperative effort to increase awareness of the area’s bounty heritage, arts, culture and activities will showcase regional products and features live entertainment, local bands, storytellers and acoustic musicians. Admission is $25 for adults for food and wine tasting, or $5 to visit. http://samplethesierra.com.

Sunday evening features the Fireworks Extravaganza at 8:30, a 20-minute explosion of pyrotechnics over the Lake with unique patterns, colors, designs and shapes guaranteed to attract the oohs and aahs of kids and adults. Pyro Spectaculars provides one of the largest Labor Day displays in the West, based on volume of fireworks.The exhibition features a simultaneous musical broadcast on local radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490.Several beach locations, Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, M.S. Dixie II and Tahoe Queen offer ideal viewing for the show.

The party continues after the fireworks as MontBleu welcomes Thirty Seconds to Mars in its showroom at 9 p.m. This post-grunge, neo-prog band has developed an international following for its blend of guitar jams and introspective lyrics.

Heavenly Village Days, Sept. 2-4, includes an array of classic cars, hot rods, chrome, gondola rides, bike rentals and miniature golf. California Lodge at Heavenly Mountain Resort is hosting its massive annual tent sale with heavy values and deals on ski apparel, equipment and accessories, Saturday - Monday.

The Tahoe Queen is offering a special “Sample the Sierra Dinner Cruise”featuring wine from Lava Cap, Friday, Sept. 2, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. launching from Ski Run Marina.www.zephyrcove.com.

Viva Valhalla, a celebration of Tahoe's Latino culture, spices up the proceedings at Ski Run Blvd., Saturday, Sept. 3 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., with ethnic foods, music and plenty of hot salsa.

ENTERTAINMENT
The 2011 Harveys Outdoor Summer Concert Series continues on a high with Sammy Hagar & The Wabos, Sept. 10. The South Shore Room at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe fall line-up features War, Sept. 17; Average White Band, Sept. 24; Dave Mason, Oct. 8; Frank Sinatra Jr., Oct. 22; The Fab Four, Nov. 26. www.harrahslaketahoe.com.

The showroom entertainment/events line-up continues into the fall at MontBleu with Wolfgang Gartner, Sept. 18; MontBleu Golf Classic at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, Sept. 24; Ziggy Marley w/Trevor Hall, Sept. 25; Octoberfest, Oct. 1; Freaker’s Ball, Oct. 29 and Christopher Titus, Nov. 5. www.montbleuresort.com.

RIDES AND COMPETITIONS
The 9th annual Tour de Tahoe Bike Big Blue will have 1800 +, bicycling enthusiasts from all over the country circumnavigating the Lake, Sunday, Sept. 11. Tour de Tahoe Bike Big Blue is a fun ride not a race, but a tour and is fully supported offering spectacular scenery, fresh mountain air, rest stops with great food & beverage; and is staffed by volunteers from various organizations and professionally managed by experienced ride organizers. This year marks the second year participation of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as their National Team Fundraiser “Ride to Cure Diabetes." www.bikethewest.com/tourdetahoe.html

For ladies only, it’s all work at the Athleta Iron Girl Triathlon, Sunday, Sept. 18, with a 400 meter swim, 24 kilometer roundtrip bike from the casinos to Cave Rock, and a 5-kilometer run two laps around Stateline corridor and Lakeside Beach. For a list of training sessions organized by Barton Health, Lake Tahoe Community College and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority check out the Tri Training Clinics.

Run, walk, swim, paddle, peddle or golf during the Lake Tahoe Marathon, Sept. 22-25. All runs are point-to-point and scenic from start to finish. Both the half and full marathons border the west shore of Lake Tahoe and feature the challenging hills near Emerald Bay. The 10K, which begins at Inspiration Point above Emerald Bay, is 99 percent downhill and covers the most spectacular portion of the route. Complementing the traditional run is an Extreme Golf competition and a kayak-bike-marathon triathlon. Go to www.laketahoemarathon.com.

DINING EVENTS
Camp Richardson Resort hosts several affordable, educational and entertaining annual events and festivals in conjunction with the Tahoe Tallac Association and the U.S. Forest Service. The resort kicks-off the fall season, October 1-3, with the Kokanee Salmon Festival, where visitors can view the colorful Kokanee swimming up Taylor Creek near the resort. The Kokanee Salmon Run includes a Kids Fun Run, 5k, 10k and half marathon along the trails near Fallen Leaf Lake. For information about this and the Oktoberfest:www.camprichardson.com or (530) 542-6550.

The second annual Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, Oct. 2-9, offers pre-fixe three-course lunches and dinner menus for $20, $30 and $40 at more than 20 restaurants around the Lake. Participating South Shore restaurants include the Chart House, Edgewood Restaurant and Hard Rock Cafe Tahoe with more to be added.www.tahoerestaurantweek.com.

For real time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and what’s happening in Tahoe South, The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TahoeSouth, Twitter: www.twitter.com/SouthShoreTahoe, YouTube: www.youtube.com/LTVA and now the Tahoe South mobile app in the App Store. For information about Tahoe South, call 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or visit www.tahoesouth.com.