The Destination Spreads Holiday Cheer with Winter Festivities
LAS VEGAS – It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays as Las Vegas welcomes winter and embraces the spirit this season. With an abundance of sparkling lights, outdoor events and activities to choose from, Las Vegas shines as the ultimate destination for visitors looking to celebrate and spread holiday cheer.
For the eighth consecutive year, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas welcomed the return of The Ice Rink as Boulevard Pool transforms into a holiday spectacle high above the Las Vegas Strip. Visitors can enjoy roof-top ice skating on more than 4,200 square feet of real ice, roasting s’mores by the fire, light snow showers, adult renditions of seasonal culinary classics and breathtaking views surrounded by vibrant city lights.
Envisioned by the Bellagio Horticulture team, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will celebrate all things merry and bright with hundreds of plants and flowers in a glamourous winter holiday installation, on display starting Dec. 7. Also, a short walk away is the Bellagio Fountains, choreographed to holiday classics like “Santa Baby” and “Carol of the Bells” for the holidays.
Wynn Las Vegas is ringing in the season and celebrating the holidays with festive offerings throughout the resort. Transforming the main atrium into a winter wonderland, the showpiece of Wynn’s holiday décor is the intricately crafted whimsical villages inspired by the novel, Gulliver’s Travels. Guests can also indulge in the flavors of the season at popular events including the edible décor workshop for guests of all ages, the Annual Treat Trimming Party Dec. 14 and the Holiday Dim Sum Brunch at Wing Lei, Dec. 24 through Jan.1.
Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory will dazzle locals and visitors with its annual three-acres of cacti covered in more than one million holiday lights. Guests can stroll through the garden and experience the holiday display through Jan. 5, 2020.
Town Square Las Vegas will celebrate the holiday season and Santa’s arrival with a festive parade, tree lighting and “Snow in the Square” set to classic holiday tunes. The magical snow flurries and reservations to get a photo taken with the jolly man himself take place daily through Dec. 23.
Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall will commemorate the 25th anniversary of lighting up its festive winter display at Mystic Falls Park, featuring a Winter Wonderland theme and holiday-inspired laser light show. The seasonal décor features whimsical snowflakes leading guests through the property to Mystic Falls Park. Garland streams, wreath-adorned lampposts and snow-covered trees fill the atrium, with decorations offering guests a glimpse inside Santa’s workshop. A nine-minute laser light show is the centerpiece of the display, featuring a variety of classic holiday songs. The wintery experience will be available for visitors to enjoy through Jan. 1, 2020.
Fremont Street Experience will kick off the holidays during its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Downtown Las Vegas on Dec. 12, hosted by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman. The majestic, 50-foot tree will be wrapped in garland, decked with magnificent ornaments and shine brightly below the 12.5 million energy-efficient LED lights of the Viva Vision canopy. The celebration continues the first night of Hanukkah with the lighting of the 20-foot Grand Menorah on Dec. 22 and will remain on display throughout the eight-day Festival of Lights.
Celebrate the holidays in Downtown Summerlin with the debut of the annual holiday parade, the arrival of Santa Claus’ Chalet and the Rock Rink. The parade runs Friday and Saturday nights until Dec. 21, while Santa Claus’ Chalet features a festive environment for children and adults alike to whisper their holiday wishes to Santa through Dec. 24. Take a spin around the Rock Rink until Jan. 20, 2020.
Boogie on down to Fashion Show Las Vegas and catch the Holiday Trio Girls, as they play rock and hip-hop holiday tunes on their violins, the Holiday Hip Hop dance crew of acrobatic B-boys, HOLIDAY HARMONIES carolers that put a contemporary twist on classic holiday songs and the Holiday Glow Spectacular show full of festive songs, dances, Santa, snow falls and so much more. All performances are throughout the day every Monday through Saturday, Nov. 29 through Dec. 24.
Additionally, Glittering Lights at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway will return for its 19th season through Jan. 5, 2020. The dazzling array of festive lights and sounds feature more than three million LED lights that intertwine a 2.5-mile course through the track. Named one of the “Best places to see Christmas lights in the U.S.” by CNN Travel, Glittering Lights is one of Vegas’ most festive holiday traditions.
Festive and fun, the Tournament of Kings Holiday Show “’Twas the Knight” is back at Excalibur Hotel & Casino for select dates through Dec. 31. Join the Knights of the Roundtable, Merlin and the maidens when the 900-seat arena turns into a holiday wonderland – keep an eye out for snow.
Now through Dec. 30, The Mirage Hotel & Casino spreads the festive spirit with a holiday-themed performance by Terry Fator and his amazing cast. Terry Fator: The Voice of Entertainment presents A Very Terry Christmas 2, The Sequel adds new characters, comedy, songs, celebrity impersonations and ventriloquism as Fator and his cast of stars celebrate the holidays.
The award-winning cast of Legends in Concert, the longest-running show in Las Vegas at Tropicana Las Vegas, gets jolly with their annual holiday show now through Dec. 30. This year’s production is more spectacular than ever with dazzling tributes to Reba McEntire, Elvis Presley, and for the first time in Legends history, Mariah Carey and Bono.
Nevada Ballet Theatre will perform the iconic holiday piece, “The Nutcracker,” at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, Dec. 13 through 24. Choreographed by James Canfield, “The Nutcracker” is a magical journey through a larger than life world filled with waltzing flowers, nimble fairies and moonlit snow.
Santa in the Shipwreck swims back to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Dec. 7 and 8, 14 and 15, 21 – 24. Elves 12 and under will receive a complimentary photograph with Santa Claus and Santa Jaws. Before jumping on his sleigh, Santa will plunge into the Shipwreck waters to bid everyone farewell alongside his underwater friends.
Celebrate the holidays with a cherished Southern Nevada tradition – the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. The Magical Forest is a winter wonderland filled with sparkling lights, nightly entertainment, great food and endless holiday cheer. Celebrating its 29th season, the fun runs through Jan. 4, 2020.
In addition, Elf The Musical will perform at Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest now through Dec. 28 at no additional cost to parkgoers. Each show lasts approximately two hours and will start at 6 p.m. inside the gym at Opportunity Village’s West Oakey campus.
For more information on Las Vegas’ holiday magic, visit www.visitlasvegas.com
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ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center. With nearly 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 11.5 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.visitlasvegas.com.
