Dory & Cool Water play at the Beacon restaurant at Camp Richardson on the South Shore starting at 7pm New Year’s Eve.

In spring 2011, local mountain guide Adrian Ballinger became the first person to summit three 8,000-meter peaks within a three-week period.

Ballinger summitted Mount Everest (29,029 feet) twice in two weeks, first while fixing ropes to the summit with an elite group of the world’s strongest sherpa, and then again while guiding a group of climbers to the top of the world’s largest peak.

Alpenglow Sports’ third installment of the annual Winter Film Series is Ballinger’s tales of his Himalayan adventure.

The event is Jan. 12 at 7pm at Sawtooth Ridge Cafe in Tahoe City.

With one week left in the season, Adrian, Phurba and Tashi again left basecamp to guide and summit Lhotse (27,940 feet), Mount Everest’s neighbor and the fourth highest mountain in the world.

From deep within the Himalaya, this story is one for the climbing history books.

The free event will be a night of photography, video, and stories from the roof of the world.

Call Alpenglow Sports at (530) 583.6917 with questions.

June 23 at noon the cadets from the Lake Tahoe Fire Academy graduate.

The event is in the Duke Theatre at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

Sugar Bowl Resort has partnered with KidZone Museum to host four children’s terrain park competitions this season.

The first competition is Jan. 8 from 11am-noon in the Caboose Terrain Park. The competitions teach kids terrain park safety, and introduce them to a safe but competitive skiing/riding atmosphere, ultimately having fun while competing for great prizes.

Competition entry fee is $15 and participants receive half price lift tickets and a free barbecue voucher. Prizes for winners include Dynastar skis, a Flow snowboard, a Giro helmet, jackets from M3 and Vans and other prizes.

Registration for all competitions begins at 9am in the Judah Lodge. All kids 12 and under are welcome to compete and must wear a helmet.

Other competition dates are Feb. 12, March 18 and April 15.

More information on these events is posted online.

Lake Tahoe author David Antonucci presents an illustrated talk on his newest book on Lake Tahoe, “Fairest Picture: Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe” on Jan. 18 at 6pm as part of the Explore Tahoe Winter Speaker Series.

The event is at Explore Tahoe: An Urban Trailhead located at 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

A $5 donation is requested. A $5 flat rate fee is offered in the Heavenly Village Parking Garage after 4pm.

For more information, contact Explore Tahoe at (530) 542.4637.

Tahoe local Jenn Mendonca will share the details of her recent journey deep into the mountains of China’s Sichuan Province to visit a secluded panda sanctuary with her daughter.

Join members of the South Lake Tahoe branch of the American Association of University Women for this heartwarming glimpse into the lives of these rare and endangered animals on Jan. 14 at 10am in the Aspen Room at Lake Tahoe Community College. This event is open to the public.

An optional continental brunch will be available for a small donation and an RSVP is requested.

For more information, call Candy Kelly at (530) 541.2799 or email Christy Slocum at slocumsrus@msn.com.

And if you can’t attend the event, you can relive Lake Tahoe News’ experience with pandas from earlier this year.

During the winter of 1960 athletes from around the world came to Lake Tahoe to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. The biathlon and cross country (XC) events of the V111 Winter Olympics were held in what is now Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. A portion of the marked XC trails takes you on a loop through the heart of the men’s events where you travel with the spirit of the games on the trails of the biathlon and men’s events. This historic venue will come alive with the Olympic spirit as the public is invited to join us for a week of special events celebrating the Olympic Heritage.

Nordic Olympic Trails fundraiser is Jan. 11 from 6-8pm. West Shore Café will be the place to be for a spirited evening of great food, lively music and fun all for a worthy cause: supporting local efforts to maintain the free interpretive Nordic ski trails at Sugar Pine Point State Park.

The evening will feature a meet and greet with past Olympians, live local music, ski and historic Olympic memorabilia from 1960, a silent auction, and surprise special presentations.

H’orderves and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. No host bar. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door and are available at the North Lake Chamber Visitor Center in Tahoe City, Gatekeepers Museum, Granlibakken Resort and West Shore Sports.

For more information, call (530) 583.3074.

During the winter of 1960 athletes from around the world came to Lake Tahoe to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. The biathlon and cross country (XC) events of the V111 Winter Olympics were held in what is now Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. A portion of the marked XC trails takes you on a loop through the heart of the men’s events where you travel with the spirit of the games on the trails of the biathlon and men’s events. This historic venue will come alive with the Olympic spirit as the public is invited to join us for a week of special events celebrating the Olympic Heritage.

Olympic Heritage Celebration Opening Ceremonies is Jan. 8 from 2:30-3:30pm.

Join past Olympians and local dignitaries as we commemorate the official start of the Olympic Heritage Celebration events with the lighting of an Olympic caldron. The ceremony will take place in front of a quarter scale replica of the Tower of Nations that stood at the entrance of Squaw Valley to welcome visitors to the 1960 Winter Olympic Games.

This free event will be near the campground entrance of Sugar Pine Point State Park.

Hot cider and cookies will be provided.

During the winter of 1960 athletes from around the world came to Lake Tahoe to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. The biathlon and cross country (XC) events of the V111 Winter Olympics were held in what is now Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. A portion of the marked XC trails takes you on a loop through the heart of the men’s events where you travel with the spirit of the games on the trails of the biathlon and men’s events. This historic venue will come alive with the Olympic spirit as the public is invited to join us for a week of special events celebrating the Olympic Heritage.

On Jan. 8 and Jan. 15 from noon-2pm Dave Antonucci, author of “A Snowballs Chance: The Story of the 1960 Winter Olympics”, will lead Nordic skiers on a interpretive tour of the Olympic ski trails located at Sugar Pine Point State Park.

This intermediate level 10-kilometer tour will take you to Olympic Meadows, the site of the biathlon range with stops along the way where you will learn of about Tahoe’s fascinating snow heritage.

This event is free and parking is $8.

Wear layered clothing, bring water, energy snack and be prepared for changing weather conditions.

During the winter of 1960 athletes from around the world came to Lake Tahoe to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. The biathlon and cross country (XC) events of the V111 Winter Olympics were held in what is now Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. A portion of the marked XC trails takes you on a loop through the heart of the men’s events where you travel with the spirit of the games on the trails of the biathlon and men’s events. This historic venue will come alive with the Olympic spirit as the public is invited to join us for a week of special events celebrating the Olympic Heritage.

Jan. 7 at 6:30pm California State Park rangers will be leading Full Moon snowshoe hikes along Tahoe’s magical West Shore at Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park throughout the winter months.

Tours begin on the lake side of the park (Day Use Area) and explore the natural and cultural history around the Hellman-Ehrman estate.

For those new to snowshoeing, there will be a beginner’s clinic at 6:30pm.

The first group starts promptly at 7pm with other groups, as needed, starting in 10 minute intervals. The hikes last approximately 1½ hours and costs $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The cost includes event parking and snowshoe rentals, if needed.

All proceeds from the tours go to the Sierra State Parks Foundation.

Space is limited and reservations are required through our State Park partner, West Shore Sports at (530) 525.9920. Wear warm, layered clothing, waterproof shoes and bring a flashlight.