Tahoe’s night sky to light up Fourth of July

“Lights on the Lake,” Lake Tahoe South Shore’s July 4th fireworks extravaganza, is one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations in the West with more than 100,000 onlookers. The event has received national media exposure.

Holiday weekend visitors can expect the fireworks show to explode into unusual and whimsical shapes such as jellyfish, stars, butterflies, and smiley faces around 9:45pm. This annual family tradition is choreographed to music and broadcast on local radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490. “Lights on the Lake” is sponsored by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

The fireworks are launched from offshore barges and can be seen from all corners of town. South Shore offers convenient access to viewing areas via public transportation, paved bike trails, and nearby park and walk venues.

Numerous vantage points include:

· South Lake Tahoe’s two paddle-wheelers, the Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II; both offer dining/viewing packages

· Nevada Beach State Park has a soft, sandy shoreline equipped with barbecues and picnic tables

· Regan and El Dorado beaches offer front row seating that fills up fast

· Bijou Community Park is set back from the shoreline and boasts many amenities such as a skate park, disc golf course, dog park, golf course, and playground to keep the whole family entertained while holding your ideal viewing spot

· The Tallac Historic Site, off Emerald Bay Road, has an east-view perspective with nearby Baldwin Beach and its picnic tables

· For the more adventurous, hike to the top of Mount Tallac for a bird’s eye view of the fireworks extravaganza, but don’t forget your headlamp for the trek back down

· A Fourth of July favorite is Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course’s 4th of July Celebration. This setting offers front-and-center viewing of Lights on the Lake from Edgewood’s private beach and an all-you-can-eat buffet.