Published October 30, 20264 min read

October 30, 2026 · Mountains

Lake Tahoe Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

Most of the dated holiday events we found are on the South Shore, around Heavenly Village and in the City of South Lake Tahoe. This page covers the events we could confirm on the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority’s, the city’s and Vail Resorts’ own pages, read on October 30, 2026. Where a 2026 detail is not published, we say so. Shortlist cabins and lake homes on Lake Tahoe rentals, then book on the property site. If you are choosing a shore, see North vs South Lake Tahoe, and for year-round ideas, things to do.

Quick answer

Heavenly Village lights its tree on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. It is free. After that, the tree is lit daily at 5:30 p.m. through Christmas. South Lake Tahoe’s Festival of Winter Lights is December 11–12, 2026. Heavenly and Northstar plan to open on November 20, weather permitting. The 2026 New Year’s Eve details for Heavenly Village were not posted when we checked.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, 2026.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027.

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Heavenly Village tree lighting and Heavenly Holidays

Tree lighting: the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority’s event page lists the lighting of the 65-foot tree at The Shops at Heavenly Village on Friday, November 27, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Daily lightings: after November 27, the tree is lit at 5:30 p.m. every day through Christmas, with Santa there.
Breakfast with Santa: the Heavenly Holidays page lists Saturdays December 5, 12 and 19, 2026. Tickets are $20 for kids and $30 for adults, and the page says tickets are limited.
Not posted yet: the same page says to check back for updated 2026 activities, so we do not list the rest of its December schedule here.

Festival of Winter Lights (City of South Lake Tahoe)

The City of South Lake Tahoe’s festival page says the 6th annual Festival of Winter Lights is December 11 and 12, 2026. The city calls its activities free and says the 2026 activity list and vendor list are coming soon. It also says parking is limited and suggests carpooling or a free Lake Link shuttle.

Planned ski opening days

Vail Resorts’ August 18, 2026 announcement lists planned opening dates of November 20 for Heavenly and Northstar and December 4 for Kirkwood. It says the dates can change with weather and conditions.

New Year’s Eve

The Visitors Authority’s New Year’s Eve page says to check back for updated 2026 details. The edition posted when we checked was for the 2025 celebration, which ended with fireworks and the Gondola Ball Drop at 9 p.m. We will add the 2026 times once they are posted.

What to confirm before you pay

The minimum stay and cancellation terms for your holiday nights.
Snow access: whether the driveway is plowed and steep, and whether the host asks for four-wheel drive or chains.
Whether the hot tub or fireplace in the photos works and is included in winter.
House rules and occupancy: Lake Tahoe rental tips. For gear, see the winter and ski packing list.

If one feature matters for a holiday stay, start with these Lake Tahoe pages; each lists only rentals whose own listing title or website mentions that feature: Lake Tahoe rentals with a hot tub (15), Lake Tahoe rentals with a pool (10), Lakefront rentals in Lake Tahoe (12), Lake Tahoe cabin rentals (16), Lake Tahoe rentals with a fireplace (9). Confirm the feature and the holiday minimum stay with the owner or manager in writing before you pay.

FAQ

When is the Heavenly Village tree lighting in 2026?

Friday, November 27, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. It is free. The tree is then lit daily at 5:30 p.m. through Christmas.

When is the Festival of Winter Lights in South Lake Tahoe?

December 11–12, 2026, per the City of South Lake Tahoe. The 2026 activity list was not posted when we checked.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

Start browsing stays

Sources

Visit Lake Tahoe (Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority) — Heavenly Village tree lighting (read October 30, 2026)
Visit Lake Tahoe — Heavenly Holidays (read October 30, 2026)
Visit Lake Tahoe — New Year’s Eve (read October 30, 2026)
City of South Lake Tahoe — Festival of Winter Lights (read October 30, 2026)
Vail Resorts — 2026/27 opening dates, August 18, 2026 (read October 30, 2026)

Things to do · Winter and ski packing · North vs South · Rental tips · New Year’s ski rental tips