There’s something about a giant Christmas tree lighting up against the Sierra Nevada mountains that makes the holiday season feel official. In South Lake Tahoe, that moment is coming back Thanksgiving weekend, when Heavenly Village brings its annual holiday celebration back to the South Shore.
The free tree lighting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, at The Shops at Heavenly Village, where a 65-foot Christmas tree will be illuminated as part of the kickoff to the 15th annual Heavenly Holidays season.
The evening will include live entertainment, with Mark Mackay scheduled to perform. California State Sen. Alexandra Duarte and El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf will serve as special hosts and help lead the countdown to the lighting.
The tree is hand-selected each year by Dreu Murin and Kenny Curtzwiler of Tahoe Ski Bum, continuing a tradition that has become a centerpiece of the area's holiday season.
"There's nothing quite like watching thousands of people come together as we illuminate a 65-foot Christmas tree against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains," said Murin, a spokesperson for Heavenly Village and producer of the event. "It's more than a tree lighting, it's about creating memories, celebrating our community and giving families another reason to make Lake Tahoe part of their holiday traditions."
This year's celebration comes as organizers work to keep the Heavenly Holidays tradition going despite reduced funding and participation from the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and Nevada-side partners. The holiday programming has been scaled back, according to the announcement, but Heavenly Village says it remains committed to hosting events that bring visitors to the region and support local businesses.
Gary Casteel, president and CEO of Trans Sierra Investments and The Shops at Heavenly Village, said the events help make the village a gathering place for families while supporting the broader South Shore economy.
The celebration is sponsored exclusively by the South Lake Tahoe Tourism Improvement District, with support from the city of South Lake Tahoe.
The event is free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the village's holiday atmosphere before the tree lighting begins.
