Every year, the Local Heroes Parade gives our community a chance to stop, look around, and recognize the extraordinary people who live among us. This year, we are proud to announce that the 2026 Grand Marshal is a man whose life of service spans continents, decades, and generations: Colonel Steven E. Price, United States Air Force, Retired.

Steve has called Tahoe home for over 40 years, eventually settling in Incline Village full-time in his retirement. During that time, he has woven himself into the fabric of this community as naturally as he once navigated the skies. 

A Life of Extraordinary Service

Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1940, Steven E. Price came of age in an era that asked everything of young Americans, and he answered without hesitation. After graduating from Hobart College in 1962 and earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, he went on to complete Air Force Navigation School in 1963, launching a military career that would span three decades and take him to the far corners of the world.

Over nine years of active flying duty, Steve logged an extraordinary 7,655 flight hours, including 1,056 hours of combat. He flew a remarkable range of aircraft, including the SA-16, C-54, C-124, C-141, EC-121R, and the massive C-5 Galaxy, from bases as varied as Goose Bay in Labrador, Canada; McChord AFB in Washington; Elmendorf AFB in Alaska; Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand; and Travis AFB in California.

In the Thick of It: Combat, Command, and Leadership

Steve’s career was defined not just by miles logged, but by the weight of the moments he flew through. His combat tour at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base from 1970 to 1971, serving with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing (known as the “Bat Cats”), placed him at the center of one of the most demanding chapters of the Vietnam War era.

His leadership trajectory was equally distinguished. He served as Base Commander at Rhein Main Air Base in Germany from 1981 to 1982, overseeing a critical hub of U.S. European operations. As a Principal Staff Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J-4), he played a direct role in the creation, approval, and establishment of USTRANSCOM, the United States Transportation Command, a logistical achievement that reshaped how the American military moves people and materiel around the globe. He later served as Vice Commander of the Keesler Training Center at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, shaping the next generation of Air Force professionals.

His assignments also took him through the highest levels of military planning and policy: Headquarters Military Airlift Command, U.S. European Command, the Air War College (where he graduated with distinction), the Pentagon’s J-4 directorate, and AFSOUTH.

Decorated for Valor

Colonel Price’s service earned him some of the United States military’s most respected honors, including:

• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and “V” for Valor
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals

The “V” device on his Air Medal is not a routine decoration. It is awarded specifically for acts of valor in direct combat, and it speaks to the courage Steve brought to the most dangerous moments of his career.

He retired from the Air Force in 1992 after thirty years of service.

Home in Incline Village

After a career that took him around the world, Steve and his wife Claire, married for 60 years, found their way to the shores of Lake Tahoe and never looked back. Steve has given back to this community with the same commitment he brought to his military career – continuing a life of service on a different, quieter scale: neighbor to neighbor, community to community. 

Join Us to Celebrate

On Friday, July 3, we invite the entire Incline Village community to come out, wave a flag, and cheer for a man who has spent his life in service to others. Colonel Steven E. Price is our 2026 Local Heroes Parade Grand Marshal, and there is no one more deserving of the honor.

Thank you, Steve, for your decades of sacrifice, your years as our neighbor, and your example of what it looks like to show up, every single time.

See you on the parade route.

Announced on FACEBOOK and on the Tahoe Fireworks Website

Tahoe Fireworks is honored to continue this beloved community tradition as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. While this year’s event will look a little different, the display will once again light up the North Shore on July 4th.

More details, including safety information, are provided below and HERE >

For generations, fireworks have been part of Independence Day celebrations in Incline Village and Crystal Bay. In honor of America’s 250th birthday, Tahoe Fireworks, a charitable nonprofit organization based in Incline Village, will present a professionally produced fireworks display on July 4, 2026, starting at 9:30 pm. The display is being made possible through the generosity of local donors and supporters committed to preserving this longstanding community tradition.

The fireworks display will be launched from Lake Tahoe east of Incline Beach. The launch platform will be located at approximately 39.232837, -119.941582. The display is expected to be visible from numerous locations throughout Incline Village, Crystal Bay, and the North Shore.

The event is being coordinated by licensed professionals and permitted through the appropriate local, regional, state, and federal agencies to help ensure a safe and responsible celebration. This announcement is intended to help residents and visitors plan ahead for the holiday weekend and enjoy the festivities safely and responsibly.

Safety & Community Information

To support the safe setup and operation of the fireworks platform, a buoy-marked safety zone will be established around the fireworks barge beginning July 1st and will remain in place through the morning of July 5th. 

All watercraft and flotation devices, including boats, personal watercraft, kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, sailboats, and other motorized or non-motorized vessels, must remain outside the marked safety zone at all times. During the fireworks display, the restricted area will be actively secured, and no person or vessel will be permitted to enter or cross the buoy line.

Residents and visitors should also expect increased activity on Lake Tahoe and heavier traffic throughout Incline Village and Crystal Bay during the holiday weekend. Community members are encouraged to plan ahead, use caution on local roads and waterways, and make appropriate arrangements for pets or others who may be sensitive to fireworks.

Those looking to make the most of the holiday weekend are encouraged to visit the IVGID and IVCBA websites for information on community events, recreation opportunities, and additional Fourth of July activities taking place throughout Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where should we watch from?

A. No centralized gathering area is being promoted for this event. Residents and visitors may be able to enjoy the fireworks from various vantage points throughout Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

Q. Is this an official IVGID event?

A. No. The event is being coordinated independently and is not an official IVGID-sponsored event.

As with all previous fireworks displays enjoyed by the community, funding for the fireworks program has historically come from private donations and sponsorships rather than taxpayer dollars. The 2026 celebration continues that tradition through the generosity of individuals and supporters who wish to make this special event possible.

Q: Will there be future public fireworks celebrations?

A: At this time, organizers are focused on safely and successfully executing the 2026 celebration. Future community fireworks discussions would occur separately and could involve broader community, operational, funding, and permitting considerations.

Q. Is this permitted?

A. Yes. The event is being coordinated with licensed fireworks professionals and permitted through the appropriate agencies.

Q. Can people donate?

A. Community members interested in supporting the fireworks program and related cleanup efforts are invited to contribute through our website. Donations of any amount are appreciated and help support both the celebration itself and the stewardship efforts that follow. 

Q: Who is managing the fireworks program?

A: The fireworks program is being coordinated by Tahoe Fireworks, Inc., a local nonprofit organization supported by a board of community members and volunteers dedicated to helping continue the tradition of Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

The nonprofit works in coordination with licensed pyrotechnic professionals, permitting agencies, community partners, and supporting donors to help ensure the event is professionally managed and responsibly executed.

Donate Now

Submitted by the NLTFPD

Just a friendly reminder that North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District’s annual Community Pancake Breakfast is happening next Friday, July 3, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Station 11, located at 875 Tanager Street in Incline Village.

Join us for a free breakfast featuring:
🥞 Pancakes
🌭 Sausage
🍓 Fresh Fruit
☕ Hot Coffee

There’s no better way to start the holiday weekend than with pancakes, friends, and community spirit.

A special thank you to Tahoe Community Foundation along with our generous sponsors and community partners, whose support helps make this event possible and keeps it free for our community.

We hope you will stop by, grab a bite to eat, and celebrate with us. We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday, July 3 | 8:30–11:00 a.m. | Parade begins at 10 a.m.

The Local Heroes Parade returns this Friday, July 3, and organizers are asking the community for a little patience to keep everyone safe along the route.

Road closures

Village Boulevard will be closed to through traffic from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.

The parade route – Southwood Boulevard to Oriole Way to Incline Way to Country Club Drive –  will see road closures throughout the area from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.

What to expect

The area will be busy, so drivers and pedestrians should stay alert. The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Pancake Breakfast, at 975 Tanager Street, begins at 8:00 a.m. and typically draws a large crowd.

Cars and floats will stage near Southwood Boulevard and Oriole Way. Walkers and kids will gather a short distance down the route for bike decorating, and the Kids Bike Parade will assemble at the IVGID Administration Building on Southwood to lead the procession.

After the parade

The parade ends at the Village Green, where the community is invited to continue the celebration at the Local Heroes Community Fair and IVGID BBQ.

A few hours of detours aren’t always convenient, but we thank you for your patience and for sharing the road so our community can come together, cheer on our local heroes, and make memories this Fourth of July. See you on the route!

For the full Local Heroes 4th of July Celebration schedule and details, visit IVCBA.org.

Susie Scoops and Village Toys bring a brand-new, build-your-own keepsake to the Village Green on July 3rd, right after the parade.

There’s a new face on the fair circuit this year, and it’s a soft one. Susie Scoops/Village Toys bring the Build A Tahoe Bear Commemorative Edition to the 2026 Local Heroes Community Fair, and it might just be the cuddliest way yet to celebrate America’s 250th right here in Incline Village.

Here’s how it works: kids of all ages stuff and name their very own Tahoe Black Bear. We call him Benjamin – but he’s going home with you, so feel free to give him a name of your own. For $25, you get Benjamin, all the stuffing, and a commemorative 1776–2026 America 250 Lake Tahoe T-shirt to take home with him.

It’s a keepsake built for the moment: a hometown bear, a commemorative shirt, and a memory of the day Incline Village turned out to celebrate 250 years of America together.

Find Benjamin At:

2026 Local Heroes Community Fair

Friday, July 3 • 11 AM–2 PM • Village Green

After the Local Heroes Parade, stop by the Susie Scoops / Village Toys booth and build your new best friend.

Susie Scoops also brings you the annual Ice Cream Eating Contest at 1 PM – don’t miss your chance to compete or just cheer from the sidelines.

Full event details & schedule: ivcba.org