Tahoe businesses light up the night
A multitude of businesses participated in the inaugural Light up South Lake Tahoe event on Thanksgiving weekend.
While this was the launch date for businesses to turn on holiday lights, more keep coming on.
Tahoe Standup Paddle is in the holiday spirit. Photo/Provided
While an official contest was not planned, South Tahoe Standup Paddle (3115 Harrison Ave.) received the Best Participation and Most Enthusiastic award from city staff.
Festivities concluded at the Y with the annual tree lighting and a visit from Santa.
The city website was unclear as to where the fire truck was going to start. Then whoever called into Lake Tahoe TV mixed up the words conclude and commence. The city didn’t return three phone calls to clarify the starting point.
I called Lake Tahoe TV to ask them and they couldn’t tell me where the event started either. The event wasn’t on the chamber calender. The Reno news said it would start at Stateline.
I had friends come up from Sacramento for the event. I wanted to be in on the first one. We settled at a table on McP’s upstairs deck. None of the business at Stateline or Marriott participated. The Snow blower and the fire truck looked like a two car parade. I felt relieved they didn’t break down.
Neither Harvey’s nor Harrahs had Christmas trees on their roofs. Harvey’s sign on the roof was black and Harrah’s “A” was dark. No decorations to speak of on Harrah’s Harvey’s HWY 50 frontage.
Couldn’t help but think maybe it would be for the best if they closed the street and tried to cook some chili.
I knew this was to take place on Highway 50 and figuring it would start somewhere near Stateline my Sister and I drove to that area. When I got to Stateline I turned left to turnaround and go back down 50 and saw the fire trucks and snowplow with their decorative lights on. It was really cool—we got to be the fourth car in line behind the decorated trucks and enjoyed honking my horn when they honked and waving at people on the side of the road. Every time I checked my rearview mirror there was quite a long procession of vehicles slowly following and headed down to the Y.
I thought this was a really sweet community-spirited event and certainly was worth the trip, especially after seeing all the little kids’ faces when they got to see those very large decorated City vehicles up close after they’d parked, seeing the huge lighted tree, and of course seeing Santa Claus. I hope the City does this again next year at which time I plan to put battery powered decorative lights on my car and really get into the spirit!
Spouse of 4-mer-usmc
This is a subject many may know I am all about! Year after year most of us at the Lake seem entheused to see a community celebrate the holidays by decorating homes and businesses with lights. Our community tree should resemble the one at the Y that Mr. O’Rourke got started. I thought icicle white lights on EVERY branch would make a huge statement for all the community to watch come to life at the special event. Yes the paddle board shop did it right! Who can drive past it and not look over? That is why we just erected our biggest tree ever outside Sessions for people to enjoy! It took six hours and lots of good balance to keep from falling off the building! Please at least drive by it once this year? I have commented yearly as to the decline of effort the casinos offer for the season. We all remember how it used to be, as do thousands of visitors.It is a mater of fact that people from here or elsewhere appreciate those businesses that get off their behinds and string some cost effective LED lights. The city tried a good program but did not implement it correctly. You needed a volunteer group to go door to door asking businesses to participate. A few ads helped but it takes way more entheusiasm to make it work. How about a real contest with cash and prizes, to showcase the ones that care, and reward them for making out city look inviting to all? Now that there is power to the new street lamps, re light the trees along 50 by the campground as before? Sessions always goes all out and I am personally encouraging if not “hounding” fellow businesses like Mac Duffs, the Tahoe Bowl as well as every CORPORATE store like Cardinale , Les Schwab, DIY, Petco,Taco Bell, and our newest big name store TJ MAX. If you sell lights , put them on your building , right? Best wishes and praying for a great holiday / winter season to everyone!
Phil Blowney, owner of Sessions, has put up a fabulous tree on the roof of his biz for as long as I can remember. Thank you for all of your efforts to brighten our community during the holidays. I always look forward to your decorations and appreciate all of your effort!!!!!!
Phil Blowney:
I’m with you!
Spouse of 4-mer-usmc