Opening Day on the Lake

Memorial Day marks the kick off of the summer season in Tahoe, and the West Shore Association hosts a weekend full of events to commemorate the start of the boating season with Opening Day on the Lake from May 27 to 31.

This five-day extravaganza features everything from barbecues and deck opening parties to museum and historic site tours, open houses and the much-anticipated Sea Plane Splash In, an event enjoyed from the beach or on your boat. For details, visit www.tahoewestshoreassoc.com.

May 27: Tonight features the kick off of the Tahoe Maritime Museum’s lecture series featuring a presentation on sea planes and the significance on Lake Tahoe history with Lou Reinkens and fellow aviation enthusiasts at 5 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults and free for children under 12. Call (530) 525-9253.

May 28: The day kicks off with the annual West Shore Clean up from 8 a.m. to noon starting from the Homewood North Lodge, followed by a Deck Opening Party at Sunnyside Resort from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a live band and raffle from 2 to 6 p.m. Chamber’s Landing hosts its annual Pier Opening Party from 5 p.m. to closing. Both restaurants offer options to pull your boat up for a bite to eat or a drink, with limited space at Sunnyside.

May 29-31: Tahoma Meadows Bed & Breakfast hosts a reservation-only breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. each day. Call (530) 525-1553.

Everyone can enjoy tours of the Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point State Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at Vikingsholm Castle at Emerald Bay State Park from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. JMA/Homewood Mountain Resort hosts an Open House at the Preview Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. And, the Tahoe Maritime Museum hosts a guided tour at 2 p.m. free with admission for $5 or free for members and kids under 12 on Saturday and Sunday.

Obexer’s General Store hosts a Grand Opening Barbecue from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and the Bridgetender hosts its Patio Opening Party at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

May 30: Sunnyside starts the day with a Standup Paddleboard Relay Race at 9 a.m. to benefit Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships. Register at 8 a.m. for $25 per person or $10 for kids under 12.

Swiss Lakewood hosts a Wine Dinner featuring wines from John and Lane Giguiere from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Call (530) 525-5211 for reservations.

May 31: The Pre Splash-In Breakfast is from 7 to 10 a.m. at Obexer’s General Store, followed by a reservation-only breakfast at Tahoma Meadows B&B from 8 to 10 a.m. Call (530) 525-1553. Rideout Community Center hosts an Open House from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be a free Standup Paddleboarding demo from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at Obexer’s Marina, with the Mike Brown Seaplane Splash-In from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by the Fly-In Barbecue at Obexer’s General Store from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Fly By Finale is from 1 to 1:30 p.m. from Obexer’s.

Opening Day on the Lake

Summer officially begins Memorial Day weekend with four days of festivities on the West Shore during the 3rd Annual Opening Day at the Lake. Deck opening parities, swing bands, historic tours, parties, barbecues and the Seaplane Splash-In are among the many festivities scheduled.

Opening Day is a great way to celebrate the start of summer and to enjoy the many wonderful activities the West Shore has to offer. You can also download or pick up a Passport for a chance to win many great prizes.
Take your Passport to participating locations and get at least 15 stamps to be entered in the raffle for lodging at Granlibakken or Chaney House, Jet Ski rental, $200 savings bond, Sunnyside Resort dinner for two, Tahoe House gift certificate, lift tickets to Homewood Mountain Resort, wine basket, bike rentals and more.

Download a Passport at http://www.tahoewestshoreassoc.com/ or visit any of the locations with Opening Day events.

The best part is that many of these celebrations are accessible by boat. So get a group of friends and family together and head out on the lake for Opening Day.

Friday, May 22
Start the day and the weekend by lending a hand at the annual West Shore Cleanup. Signup at 8 a.m. at Homewood Mountain Resort, then hit the neighborhoods to clean up.

Afterwards, head to Sunnyside for its Deck Opening Party. A great place for lunch and dinner, the party starts at 11:30 a.m. with a live band and raffle from 3 to 7 p.m. (Check out Barbara Keck’s wine column, It’s Grape, featuring Sunnyside’s wines in this issue.) Sunnyside offers three buoys for tie-ups and boaters may dock on the pier, with all spots on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s also a buoy taxi service and a dingy for guest use.
Rideout Community Center is hosting an Open House and Bingo Party from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 23
The popular guided tours at Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point State Park and Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay State Park start for the season. Tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ehrman Mansion and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vikingsholm Castle. There’s a public pier at Sugar Pine you can tie up to and you can land your vessel at the beach next to Vikingsholm (just stay off Fannette Island, its closed until June 15 for nesting birds).

West Shore Café is hosting Jazz on the Deck starting at 11:30 a.m. and Bridgetender has its Patio Opening Party starting at 4 p.m. West Shore Café offers 25 buoys for its guests with complimentary boat valet service.
Finish the evening with the Swing Dance at 8 p.m. at Granlibakken Resort. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple.

Sunday, May 24
Tahoe Maritime Museum, one of the lake’s gems, is holding a First Anniversary Party from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with kids activities, guided tour at 2 p.m., store discounts and a commemorative item while supplies last. Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.

Sugar Pine Point State Park debuts its newest exhibit featuring historic memorabilia from the 1960 Winter VIII Olympic Games held in Tahoma and Olympic Valley. The dedication is at 11:30 p.m. in the Pine Lodge Barn and Coach House on the lake side of the park. The exhibit will feature racer’s and official’s clothing, Olympic credentials, publications, race course markers, photographs and more.

Tours also will be offered at Vikingsholm Castle from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at Ehrman Mansion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday, May 25
Today’s when the Seaplane land on-masse at Obexer’s Marina in Homewood. The Mike Brown Seaplane Splash-In is loads of fun whether you’re on land or on the water. The Splash-In is scheduled at 10 a.m. and many of the planes pull into the beach for spectators to get an up-close view. This is also a great time for wooden boat cruising, so keep your eyes open for those beauties.

A barbecue will follow at Obexer’s from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the Fly-By Finale from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Guided tours will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ehrman Mansion, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vikingsholm and at 2 p.m. at the Maritime Museum.