OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – If you’re looking for a true Tahoe experience, the heart and soul of Tahoe’s beloved community will be celebrating all weekend long on May 23 and May 24 at The Village at Palisades Tahoe. From local artisans, organizations, businesses and entertainers to mouthwatering food and drinks, all crafted by Tahoe locals, the Made in Tahoe Spring Festival is a cherished tradition marking the start of another beautiful season in the basin. 

As one of the biggest, free and family-friendly events in Tahoe, the Made in Tahoe Spring Festival boasts over 100 local vendors spread out across the charming and enchanting grounds of The Village at Palisades Tahoe, where goers can indulge in offerings ranging from hand-made jewelry, art, apparel, pottery, animal essentials, woodworks, and so much more. 

“It is big, but it’s so much bigger than the size and the number of vendors,” said Caroline Ross, Executive Director of Palisades Village Neighborhood Company, the master community association and management entity overseeing The Village at Palisades Tahoe. “This event boosts economic vitality. People can come to the event, celebrate and invest directly into our community.” 

The event has become a staple for businesses and the Tahoe community as a whole since its inception in 2014. Following COVID-19, the Village at Palisades Tahoe holds another Made in Tahoe event which takes place in October. 

“In order to participate, you have to be local. You have to create, design, produce, live in the Tahoe community, and that extends to Truckee and South Lake,” said Ross. 

The event aims to give vendors an opportunity to collaborate, get to know each other, generate business outside of the event and to create ideas. “A lot of our vendors have become close friends from doing the event. It’s pretty great,” Ross said. “We always encourage vendors to create something new and to curate their offerings based on the seasons, which is exciting. The event feels a bit different each year and each time people come.”

As important as it is to the vendors, the attendee experience is also highly thought out. Keeping folks entertained shouldn’t be difficult with three different performance locations, two of them being musical stages offering a number of different genres. There will be new bands performing at Made in Tahoe for the first time, creating a platform of visibility for up and coming artists. Returning performers will be Wild Ginger, Indigo Grey, and Down the Rabbit Hole. 

The third location, the Community Stage, will focus on performance art, making for an incredible highlight to the event.

“If there was a ‘not-to-miss’ experience, it would be to catch one of Moonlight Movement’s aerial performances,” Ross said. “We also have students from both InnerRhythms and Truckee Dance Factory performing.” 

Children from as young as six years old to seniors in high school utilize the Made in Tahoe stage to show off their impressive dance skills. Additionally, Mr. D’s DJ services will be pumping out tunes throughout the day.

When it comes to food, the event has you covered as some of the best food vendors in the basin will be offering their delicious fares including Little Truckee Ice Creamery, Ta-Hot Donuts, Mountain Provisions, Tahoe Pops, MOGROG Rotisserie, Morelos Tacos, Slice of Switzerland, Super Swirl, EATS Cooking Co., and The Sliceshack. 

There will be two bars featuring wine from Truckee River Winery, Tahoe Blue Vodka-made mules and local beers. Proceeds from the bars benefit the Tahoe Food Hub. 

All of The Village’s brick-and-mortar restaurants and shops will be open for attendees to enjoy. “They are all very much ‘Made in Tahoe’ because they’re here living and breathing this village 365 days a year,” Ross said. Shops include Leffler Leather Goods, Alice’s Mountain Market, Estelle Sports, KTees Logo Wear, and more. 

The event starts at 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. Partnering with the Lake Tahoe Bike Coalition and the North Tahoe Chamber, the event will provide free bike valet in the Tram Roundabout. TART and TART Connect microtransit services can also be used to get to The Village at Palisades Tahoe. 

In partnership with the North Tahoe Community Alliance, North Tahoe Chamber TOT-TBID Dollars At Work, their mission is centered on reinvesting tourism revenue into the community, contributing to the region’s vitality, enhancing economic health and environmental stewardship. “We couldn’t do it without them,” added Ross. 

The festival will provide the perfect close-out to Palisades Tahoe’s skiing season as their operations end at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 24.

“We’re stoked to welcome the Made in Tahoe Spring Festival back to Palisades Tahoe for closing weekend,” Patrick Lacey, Palisades Tahoe Public Relations Manager told the Tribune. “There’s no better way to celebrate another incredible season than by bringing together the local businesses, artists, musicians, and community members that make Tahoe such a special place. It’s the perfect kickoff to summer in the mountains.”

To see the Made in Tahoe Spring Festival full list of vendors, entertainment schedule, or operation updates, go to palisadestahoe.com.

The Village at Palisades Tahoe is located at 1750 Village East Rd in Olympic Valley, Calif.