Sample the Sierra Food and Wine Festival returning to South Lake Tahoe

Tickets on Sale for Tahoe’s Premier Food & Wine Festival Set for Sept. 6

South Lake Tahoe’s beloved food and wine tradition returns this fall as Sample the Sierra, the premier Food & Wine Festival of South Lake Tahoe, takes place Saturday, September 6 at Bijou Community Park. The event will offer an afternoon of tastings, live entertainment, and community connection. Celebrated as the region’s largest gathering of chefs, brewers, winemakers, distillers, and local artisans, this signature festival continues to be a highlight for both locals and visitors eager to explore the best culinary talent in the Tahoe region.

This year’s festival will feature more than 15 food vendors, 25 beverage partners, and over 25 artisans, giving guests the chance to chat with chefs, swap tasting notes with brewers, sip handcrafted spirits with local distillers, and discover new favorite wines. Whether you’re a longtime fan or attending for the first time, Sample the Sierra promises a day filled with flavor, creativity, and community spirit.

Sample the Sierra has always been more than a food and wine festival—it’s a celebration of the region’s culture, flavor, and community spirit. This year, the event carries extra meaning. Due to a significant funding cut to the Tahoe Chamber, the festival’s future was uncertain. Thanks to the unwavering support from sponsors, participating vendors, and dedicated volunteers, Sample the Sierra is not only still happening—it’s shaping up to be one of its most vibrant years yet.

The South Shore Tourism Improvement District returns as Presenting Sponsor, joined by Lead Sponsor Camelot Party Rentals, whose contributions are vital to the festival’s infrastructure and guest experience. Key partners include Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty as the Wine Glass Sponsor; Tahoe Cruises as the Plate Sponsor; Nomadix as the Napkin Sponsor—providing sustainable keepsake mini towels for each guest; and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority as the Festival Bag Sponsor.

Additional sponsors such as South Tahoe Refuse and Folsom Times also stepped forward to ensure every attendee receives a commemorative festival bag containing a branded tasting glass, a compostable plate, and their Nomadix tiny towel. These thoughtful touches not only reduce waste but also enhance the tasting experience and reflect the community’s commitment to sustainability.

A Tasting Lineup to Get Excited About
This year’s food vendors include Art of Gelato; Bruschetta; California Conservation Corp; Castle Rock Creamery; Cuppa Tahoe; Fox & Hound Smokehouse Grill & Bar; Frankie’s Tahoe (formally, Cakes by Grace); Grandma Stags Pretzels; Juice It Up!; MacDuff’s Pub; Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe; Poor Red’s Bar-B-Q; Snowie; Sombreros; South Lake Brewing Co.; Tahoe Pops; The Idle Hour; The Landing Resort & Spa; The Libation Lodge Kitchen and Taproom; The Sliceshack; and Toulouse.

Beverage offerings will be provided by Andis Wines/Painted Fields; Cold Water Brewery & Grill; Crystal Basin Cellars; Cuppa Tahoe; Dust Bowl Brewing Co.; E16 Wine Company; Element 79 Vineyards; Hinterhaus Distilling; Juice It Up!; Lava Cap Winery; Lost Sierra Wine Co.; Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe; Medeiros Family Wines; Myka Estates; Paddle House Brews; Perch Wine Co.; Sidellis Lake Tahoe; Skinner Vineyards; South Lake Brewing Co.; Starfield Vineyards; Stateline Restaurant & Brewery; Tahoe Blue Vodka; Terra Amata Vineyards; The Cork & More; The Landing Resort & Spa; The Libation Lodge Kitchen & Taproom; and West Peak Sparkling Spirits.
Tickets are on sale now at samplethesierra.com. Pricing is $65 for food and alcohol sampling, $45 for food and non-alcohol sampling, and free admission for kids under 9. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy live music by The Imposters while soaking in the late-summer air. The festival runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and provides easy, family-friendly access to nearby attractions like the Bijou Skate Park and Bike Park. A complimentary bike valet will be offered by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to reduce parking congestion, and attendees are encouraged to use Lake Link for car-free arrival. Designated parking areas for the festival will be marked with signage for convenience.

The festival’s tasting experience is carefully designed so that each food vendor is paired with a regional beverage partner, creating combinations that highlight and complement one another’s flavors. Guests will find everything from BBQ to vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, artisan desserts including cookies, cupcakes, and gelato, plus a wide range of sips from local wineries, craft breweries, and distilleries to non-alcoholic beverages for all ages..

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