Last Thursday, March 20th, marked the spring equinox, officially bringing an end to winter. Does that mean your ski and snowboard season is over? Absolutely not! The days are longer, the crowds have shrunk, and the winter storms have given way to sunshine and warm temperatures. If you haven’t taken a trip to the California High Sierra this year, now is the time! The Sierra Nevada are home to some of the best spring skiing on the planet and amazing outdoor events. It’s time for High Sierra spring festivals.
Alpine Lodge Music Series
Spring ‘dual days” are king in North Lake Tahoe. From spring skiing to outdoor festivals, the activities are endless. Enjoy bluegrass, brews, and brisk mountain air? Want to do some spring skiing AND hear a bit of music? Come enjoy FREE live music in the village at Palisades Tahoe with music-filled weekends at Palisades Tahoe and Alpine running from March through the end of April. Talented musicians take center stage not only at Palisades Tahoe, but all-around North Lake Tahoe. It’s a spring experience filled with great skiing and exceptional FREE live music.
Spring is Loaded with Fun on the Southern Shore of Tahoe
Spring means Sun, Snow, & Good Times on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe. Throughout March and April, you’ll find a smorgasbord of events like the Gunbarrel 25. Taking place on Heavenly’s legendary mogul run “The Face”, it’s set for March 22nd. This long-time tradition challenges participants to lap the run 25 times in one day! And just a few weeks later, it’s Pond Skimming time. More of an “après” person? No problem. There’s fun to be had right next to the slopes like the Subaru Winterfest at Sierra-at-Tahoe on March 15th & 16th. This one-of-a-kind music and mountain lifestyle tour invites everyone to bask in their love of adventure and all things winter! And let’s not forget to celebrate Mother Nature on April 19th at the South Tahoe Earth Day Festival. Be sure to see the full schedule of events going down all over town.
Owens Lake Bird Festival & Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
Love nature? Join Friends of the Inyo and their partners over the weekend of April 11th for the annual Owens Lake Bird Festival in Lone Pine, CA. This festival celebrates migrating shorebirds as they move between hemispheres. More a film buff? The five-day Mammoth Lakes Film Festival showcases 50 films that will unlock your creative mind and get you thinking bigger than ever before.
Mariposa Butterfly Festival
Along with migrating birds and blooming wildflowers, there’s another beloved spring tradition taking flight—butterflies! Each year, on the first weekend in May, the town of Mariposa—Spanish for “butterfly”—celebrates its namesake with the Mariposa Butterfly Festival. Thanks to the hard work of local school children and the community, thousands of butterflies are raised and then released in a spectacular display of color and wonder. But that’s just the beginning! The festival also features an old-fashioned parade, a petting zoo, a Jurassic dinosaur tour, and tons of other family-friendly activities.
New this year is the magical Fairy Village & Tea Party, where you can meet forest fairies, snap photos in an enchanted woodland, and even build your own fairy house. Tickets for the tea parties can be purchased on-site in the Fairy Village.
Yosemite & Woodcarving
If you want to take in Mother Nature’s cascading fireworks as in the roar of waterfalls in Yosemite, a visit in spring is in order. This is waterfall season! Check for any reservation requirements if you want to visit. The beauty doesn’t stop there though. Take a day trip through the foothills surrounding Yosemite to immerse yourself in the blooming of wildflowers as far as the eye can see. Then marvel at the intricate craftsmanship at the Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous happening from April 6th – 12th. This event showcases artistic talent of the region and even gives you an opportunity to learn how it’s done. After all, Oakhurst is known as “The Carved Bear Capital of the World.”
Train A Frog To Jump Its Way To History
Out of the legends of the High Sierra, one that still catches the imagination of visitors to this day is Mark Twain. And it all started with his story of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” which happened in the town of Angels Camp. In honor of the story that launched Mark Twain’s career, the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee is held annually on the 3rd weekend of May. Across its four days, you’ll find classic fair events such as a rodeo, carnival rides, livestock competitions, and of course the event’s star of the show, the frog-jumping contest.
Pond Skims Anyone?
Nothing evokes springtime more in the High Sierra than a pond skim. A way to celebrate a great winter of skiing. An opportunity to dress up in funky costumes and attempt to cross a chilly pond of water. First up is the Kirkwood Slush Cup on April 6th where the old tradition has been renewed. Then on April 12th, Heavenly Mountain it will hold their Pond Skimming Championships at the base of World Cup near the California Lodge. Last but not least on May 3rd is the grand poobah of pond skims that all other resorts envy and attempt to emulate – the Cushing Crossing at Palisades Tahoe. Every year, they gather a celebrity judging panel and amazing emcees for this spectacle. No matter which one you go to, expect big spills and laughable thrills that you don’t want to miss.
Spring means your opportunities for a multi-sport day of adventure & fun in the California High Sierra are boundless. Start the day on the slopes followed by a warm bike ride & finish it off with any one of these amazing High Sierra spring festivals. How’s that for well-rounded awesomeness?
Author: Alex Silgalis
Alex founded Local Freshies® in 2014 to be the #1 website providing the “local scoop” on where to eat, drink & play in mountain towns throughout North America. When he’s not writing and executing marketing strategies for small businesses & agencies, he’s in search of the deepest snow in the winter and tackiest dirt in the summer.
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