The Tuesday evening party featured live music, balloons, food & drink, large Snow Festival buttons, colorful beads, and plenty of people of all ages who turned out to support the annual effort to make March a big part of the winter season for businesses, locals, and visitors.

Over the years the Snow Festival has had fireworks, elephants, Mr. Lake Tahoe contests, Snow Queens, Old Man Winter, all kinds of music, feasts for many tastes as local restaurants, ski area events, and many season-coming-to-an-end parties. This year's plans promise more of the same with some new twists.

The 2006 Snow Festival has been dubbed the Mountain Marti Gras Winter Carnival to capture the spirit of the North Lake Tahoe tradition. There was an initial party in November; there will be one more party prior the opening ceremonies on March 3. For more information see: www.tahoesnowfestival.com