LAKE Tahoe may be best known as the winter haven in North America. In fact, one of the Winter Olympics in previous times was held here. But the communities around Lake Tahoe are tourist spots in themselves especially right now that winter is still a few months away. Yet preparations for that season are already in full swing.

Consider the annual gay celebrations held every January here in South Lake Tahoe. Gays and lesbians all over North America converge in this place to do some snowboarding, skiing, drag racing and the most important thing they can do without – party all night till the wee hours of dawn into electronic and house music.

Some parties are even held on the lake itself at a yacht aptly called the Tahoe Queen. The Tahoe Queen is where the hottest party of the celebration is held while the yacht is cruising the lake even at night. So forget your inhibitions and drop down on literally everything during the festival nights and simply enjoy life for the moment. There is even a gathering called a charity wine walk

The organizers of the annual gay celebrations in South Lake Tahoe have already reserved the dates January 23 to 27. In those dates, expect hotels and motels around South Lake to be filled to the brim. So if you’re a member of the gay and lesbian community and you’re looking forward to be here during those days, then reserve early.

The gay and lesbian community is not that tight-lipped. In fact, many of them are as artistically talented as everybody else and so here during the annual gay celebrations, there are DJs, bartenders, comedians and other theater and performing artists converging here in South Lake Tahoe and have well…a gay life. They may even be inviting celebrities who have come out of the closet so to speak such as Elton John, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and renowned filmmaker Joel Schumacher. There will also be drag races. Nope, I don’t mean those stunning tricks like drifting across our thoroughfares. I mean they are sledding or snowboarding races while dressed in drag. There will also be cocktail parties featuring tequila and other spirits.

If skiing and other winter sports is not your thing, then have a game of golf in any golfing range overlooking Lake Tahoe. Yes, there are superb greens found here and all instructors and caddies in these golf resorts are PGA-certified. Or you may organize along with your gay friends a hiking trip in Lake Tahoe. Or maybe ride a bike or a horse perhaps. The possibilities are infinite. If you have a child in tow like a niece perhaps, then maybe it’s a good time to have a basic lesson in skiing. Just like with golfing ranges, there are also lots of South Lake Tahoe resorts which employ ski instructors in customized tutorials for people who want to learn skiing for the first time. Maybe you can even arrange for both you and your niece to have those basic skiing lessons. In two weeks time, you can definitely learn lots of things.