KINGS BECH, Calif. — SnowFest!, a 10-day carnival and one of the region's most popular annual family celebrations is scheduled for March 4-13, at a variety of venues throughout North Lake Tahoe.

The annual favorites are back, along with expanded special events, including the Opening Night Ceremonies, Laser Show, Torchlight Parade and Fireworks; Mamasake Extreme Food Challenge for those with a strong stomach; 21st Annual Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim in Tahoe's frigid waters; SnowFest! Parades in Tahoe City and Kings Beach; Sunnyside Luau; the Great Ski Race, an annual cross country adventure; Kings Beach Ice Castle and Lighting Contest; Wacky Winter Human Bowling with snow saucers and inflatable pins; Tahoe City Golf Course's Dog Pull; the Dragon Snow Palace; Dummy Downhill at Diamond Peak in Incline Village; the highly creative and 23rd Annual Snow Sculpture Contest at Tahoe City's River Ranch Lodge; Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe; and the third Annual Ta-Hoe Nalu Arctic Standup Paddleboard Race.

For information about SnowFest and a complete list of events, visit the organization's website at www.tahoesnowfestival.com.