Tahoe Donner Arts + Culture

From towering peaks and crystalline lakes to meandering creeks and historic main streets, the spectacular surroundings of the Tahoe Truckee area bring together a diverse community of artists, creatives, adventurers and explorers who delight in sharing what shapes and inspires them. As members, your engagement continues to inform the association on how best to serve you, including feedback about growing a vibrant arts and culture scene that celebrates the richness within Tahoe Donner.

With events like the annual Summer Concert on the Green, additional music and speaker series, film festivals, performance art and more throughout the year, Tahoe Donner staff are proud to deliver a wide variety of arts, entertainment and mountain culture opportunities.

Stay up to date on all the latest arts and culture news in and around Tahoe Donner with the following list of upcoming events to help you get excited and plan ahead. Learn more below.

10th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival – On Tour Comes to Tahoe Donner May 2

Join Mountain Area Preservation (MAP) for the 10th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival – On Tour, coming to Truckee, CA, for two nights in May. Get wild with MAP and award-winning, inspiring films May 1-2 at two different locations, with two dynamic events for 2026!

Mark your calendars for both nights – Friday, May 1, from 5:30 to 8:30PM at Alibi Aleworks located in Historic Downtown Truckee, and Saturday, May 2, from 5:30-8:30PM at Alder Creek Adventure Center in Tahoe Donner.

Both nights will feature live entertainment, a raffle with giveaways, food and libations from our amazing venue hosts and the community. MAP will also launch a silent auction the week of the event to support MAP’s mission-driven environmental advocacy.

Learn more about MAP’s family-friendly signature event online at mountainareapreservation.org/wsff.

SEE DETAILS

Trails & Vistas Art Hikes Aug. 22-23

Tahoe Donner is thrilled to host Trails & Vistas’ 2026 Art Hikes Aug. 22-23, with stunning performance art installations gracing the landscape along a 2.2-mile loop beginning at the Alder Creek Adventure Center (ACAC) and continuing along Whoop It Up trail.

The art of incorporating distant scenery, like mountains, trees and lakes, to make an intimate space feel larger and more integrated with its surroundings, is called “borrowed landscape,” or shakkei (借景), in Japanese. This technique uses elements like strategically placed openings or framing devices to “capture” the background view, making it an essential, living part of the landscape’s aesthetic. Trails & Vistas’ Artistic Director, Nancy Tieken Lopez, is collaborating with over fifty artists this summer, and will create a seamless blend of human-created art elements with the natural world beyond to connect to nature, connect to culture, and to connect to people and place.

The 2.2-mile Art Hike trail will be choreographed to awaken senses with dance, music, and visual art along a trail that traverses through towering aspen groves, with lush fields of golden mule’s ears and towering Jeffrey pines. Hikers will be invited to build community and a sense of mindfulness with profound gratitude and awe toward nature and the arts. All hikes are half-day on the mountain to be present and absorb the natural environment through the arts.

Read an interview with Trails & Vistas founder Nancy Lopez here.

SPECIALTY ART HIKES
Trails & Vistas offers Specialty Art Hikes including:

• Mindfulness Hikes for adults at 9AM tour on both Aug 22 and 23.
• Family and Friends at 11:20AM tour on both Aug 22 and 23 for a relaxed pace filled with playfulness for families of all ages. This is a great hike for multi-generational families to enjoy art in nature together.
• Leisure Hikes at 11:40AM for a more relaxed pace designed for slower hikers.

When: Aug. 22 + 23
Where: Alder Creek Adventure Center
Who: All ages
Tickets: HERE

Truckee PRIDE at Alder Creek Adventure Center

More information coming soon!

Summer Live Music Series

Enjoy weekly live music from Truckee Tahoe’s most popular musicians and bands at two outdoor locations in Tahoe Donner throughout the summer season.

Grooves by the Greens
Tuesdays | July 7-Aug. 25

Get into the groove of summertime in the Sierras with live music, fresh air and fairway views every Tuesday evening from 6-8PM at the The Lodge Pavilion. Enjoy outdoor dining, full bar service and a laidback community vibe with Grooves by the Green live music series.

Music by the Meadow
Saturdays | July 11 – Sept. 5

It’s bare feet and great bands every Saturday evening from 5-7PM on the lawn at Northwoods Clubhouse, featuring popular local musicians and magical meadow views. Enjoy all your favorite menu items from Pizza on the Hill, beer, wine and a nearby playground and lively outdoor setting perfect for an evening out with family and friends.

15^th Annual Fall Festival

Fall Festival is Truckee’s premier family-friendly autumn celebration and one of Tahoe Donner’s largest community events! Fall Festival is a favorite for all ages, featuring a full day of harvest-themed events, activities, local artisan vendors and more!

Past Events

TDXC Winter Speaker Series
The TDXC Winter Speaker Series features a variety of community members passionate about adventure, exploration, mountain culture and more. From professional athletes and winter gear technicians to environmentalists and first responders, these talks are designed to be welcoming, engaging and full of Tahoe stoke and camaraderie.
SEE DETAILS

Kids Enrichment Series
This winter, it’s all about the kids on Saturdays at Pizza on the Hill, featuring a brand-new free Kids Enrichment Series designed just for our youngest community members. Join us for a rotating mix of music classes, art activities and kid-friendly yoga. This complimentary program will be offered every Saturday at 5:30PM and gives children a chance to explore creativity, movement and mindfulness.
SEE DETAILS