Contrary to popular misconception, Las Vegas puts on quite a show for the holidays — and not just New Year’s Eve. Christmas arrives with enough holiday cheer to go around for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who show up for it, including trees lit on every inch, ice-skating rinks overlooking the Strip, Santa villages, life-size gingerbread houses, winterfests, magical forests, carolers, and of course, spiked egg nog. Here’s a sampling of what’s on offer.
Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Dec 7 – Jan 4
24 hrs
Experience thousands of twinkling lights, snow flocked trees, more than 28,000 poinsettias, families of arctic animals, and a 42 foot Christmas tree.
Palazzo Waterfall Atrium & Gardens
Through Jan
24 hrs
The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium & Gardens is decked out with snow-covered trees, holiday lights, giant pine cones, and thousands of poinsettias.
Wynn’s Winter Wonderland
Throughout Dec
24 hrs
Journey through the Magic Wonderland display of six miniature wintery villages in the Atrium adjacent to the Main Registration.
Gingerbread House – Aria
Through Jan 6
This amazing Gingerbread House is located in the main lobby at the Aria. The Gingerbread House is 15 feet tall, 7 feet wide, and 12 feet deep, made of edible ingredients. Executive Pastry Chef Mathieu Lavallee and his highly talented crew spent three weeks constructing this masterpiece with peppermint tiles, giant sugar bears, gingerbread bricks, and more!
Holiday Magic at the LINQ Promenade
Dec 1-30
Join the fun as the LINQ Promenade is transformed this holiday season with all things Christmas. The Promenade will feature a 35-foot Christmas tree adorned with festive lights and ornaments, live entertainment, carolers, and holiday music. Snow is scheduled to fall by the LINQ Fountain Stage at 6 p.m, 7 p.m., 8 p.m. & 9 p.m. nightly.
Holiday Experience at The Park
Nov 29-Dec 31, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. with extended hours on select dates
Santa Dates, Dec 4-24
Enjoy a Wonderland of Lights this holiday season at The Park with 33 days of lights installations, food, and beverage offerings, photo ops with Santa, themed live entertainment, and ice skating
The Ice Rink at Cosmopolitan
Nov 20-Jan 5, closed New Year’s Eve
Hours vary
Each holiday season, the Boulevard Pool is transformed into a winter wonderland located high above the Las Vegas Strip. Enjoy skating, fire pits, warm cocktails, and light snow showers which occur every 30 minutes.
Little Winter
Little Winter at the Cosmopolitan is one of the most sophisticated video displays in the world. It features five storybook scenes that unfold from a daybreak ice fishing scene to a moonlit deep woods set. The project is centrally located in the hotel’s lobby.
Santa in the Shipwreck – Mandalay Bay
Dec 7-8, 14-15, 21-24
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
$25 Adults/$19 Children 4-12, 3 and under, free
Visit Santa with his sleigh every weekend in Dec at the Shark Reef Aquarium. With each paid admission, children 12 and under will receive a complimentary photograph with Santa and Santa Jaws.
Four Season’s Holiday Village
Nov 25-Dec 25
24 hrs
This year the popular Holiday Village will represent friendship. The Gingerbread Village will feature an Austin cityscape covered by a giant crystal clear dome surrounded by smaller domes that depict the skylines of five of Austin’s sister cities.
Forum Shops – Caesars Palace
Nov 15-Jan 5
Featuring a 40-foot tall fully decorated Christmas tree and eight-foot-tall Roman Centurion toy soldiers, an oversized laurel wreath, thousands of colorful lights and other decorations, and sets and backdrops serving as photo stations.
Holiday Hip Hop – Fashion Show Mall
Nov 29-Dec 24
10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Get into the holiday spirit with the dance crew of the acrobatic B-boys in their Holiday Hip Hop show at the Fashion Show Mall. Armed with a portable sound system and funky costumes, they’ll keep shoppers entertained throughout the day.
Holiday Glow at The Stage at the Fashion Show Mall
Every Weekend, Nov 29-30 and Dec 1-24
Enjoy 14 days of fun-filled performances through dance, song, Santa, snow-fall and much more! Performances include four daily shows, noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.
Fremont Street Experience
Free Admission
Enjoy the holiday-themed light show on the overhead canopy that stretches across a 1,500-foot long screen.
Breakfast With Santa – Downtown Container Park
Dec 7 & 14
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
$15-$35
Enjoy breakfast with Santa Claus! Have your photo taken with Santa, make your own chocolate, decorate holiday cookies, and take home a special ornament.
2019 Christmas Strip Cruise – Ho, Ho Hot Rods Take 2
Las Vegas Strip
Dec 21
8 p.m.-11 p.m.
Get out your Hot Rods and Christmas decorations and spread some holiday cheer on the Las Vegas Strip! The cruise down the strip begins at Harley Davidson by the ‘Welcome Las Vegas Sign’ and will end at the parking lot across from Pawn Stars or somewhere at the end of the srtip.
Cowboy Christmas – Convention Center
Dec 5-14,
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Free
If you’re looking for the newest, greatest gifts in Cowboy Christmas, then this is the place to be. Hundred of vendors with the latest unique gifts for family and friends are on display. And don’t miss out on your favorite cowboy stars as they make surprise appearances and sign autographs.
Miracle on Spring Mountain – Sand Dollar
Nov 25-Dec 31
4 p.m.-4 a.m., closed Nov 28 & Dec 25
The Sand Dollar Lounge will transform into a Winter Wonderland with Christmas lights, tinsel, a soundtrack of Christmas music, and most importantly, holiday drinks including a Snowball Old Fashion. The bar takeover is part of the international pop-up project that turns bars around the world into Christmas Cocktail Lounges each winter.
Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland – Sam’s Town
Nov 27-Jan 1
24 hours; Laser Light Show, 2 p.m, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., & 10 p.m. daily
During the Holiday Season, Mystic Falls transforms into a Winter Wonderland with festive garland streams, snow-covered lampposts, and more than 50 glimmering trees adorned in lights. Watch snow fall from above as light images and shooting water dance to holiday music.
Children can visit Cowboy Santa Nov 27-Dec 23, from noon to 4 p.m. on Thurs & Fri, and noon to 8:30 p.m. on Sat & Sun.
Scuba Santa – Silverton Aquarium
Sat & Sun in Dec, noon-1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Watch Santa Claus dressed up in scuba gear submerged in Silverton’s aquarium swimming with sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish.
Holidays at Town Square
Nov 16-Dec 23
Get ready for holiday cheer throughout Town Square. Children and families are invited to experience the 45-foot Christmas Tree and snow in the Square Show. Reservations are required for photos with Santa, Nov 17-Dec 23.
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops
Nov 16-Dec 24
Get a free 4×6 photo with Santa and a free craft. Children can have tons of fun with all the activities going on throughout the wonderland.
Horse & Carriage Rides – Tivoli Village
Nov 29-Dec 20
Complimentary Horse & Carriage rides are back every Fri starting Nov 29th. The Horse & Carriage rides are free and first come first serve. A $1 donation or more is requested to send back to the American Cancer Society.
Downtown Summerlin
Rock Rink
Nov 15- Jan 20
Hours vary
Rock Rink at Downtown Summerlin provides a fun and festive recreational activity for the whole family throughout the holiday season. Located near the Pavilion on The Lawn.
Santa’s Chalet
Nov 15- Dec 24
Santa’s Chalet is located in Macy’s Promenade creating a festive environment for children and adults. Photo packages start at $29.99. Santa offers photos with pets on Tues through Dec 17 between 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Holiday Parade
Nov 15-Dec 21, Fri and Sat, 6 p.m.
The holiday parade includes floats, snowflake princesses and princes, dancers, toy soldiers, nutcrackers, drummers, dancers, characters throughout the streets of Downtown, and festive music.
Christmas at the Ranch – McKee Ranch Foundation
Nov 23-Dec 24, Fri-Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Christmas at the Ranch is back and better than ever. With a $20 donation or more for the whole family, enjoy a pony or horse ride, and access to all the Holiday Play areas. There will also be Christmas Trees for sale, Playground Area, Christmas Decor, Photo Ops with La La Photography, and Hay and Train Rides.
Cowabunga Bay Christmas Town
Nov 29-Dec 31
Sun-Thurs, 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
$20 GA
Cowabunga Bay Christmas Town features the Polar Express train ride that tours the town, Jingle Bell Sledding Hill with real snow, Blitzen’s Bounce House Bonanza with Christmas bounce houses and obstacle course, Rudolph’s Save Christmas (Paintball) Shoot Out, Frosty’s Snow Ball Fun, Tiny Tim’s Train Ride, and the Christmas Cottage where you’ll find Santa every night until Christmas.
Las Vegas Christmas Town – Wet ‘n’ Wild
Nov 29-Dec 31
$20
Las Vegas Christmas Town features one-of-a-kind entertainment and attractions with over three million lights, a skating rink, 40-foot Christmas Tree, Polar Express train ride, 100-foot sledding hill, photos with Santa, paintball zone, and much more.
Holiday Cactus Garden – Ethel M Chocolate Factory
Nov 5-Jan 5
Dusk-10 p.m., Christmas & New Year’s Eve until 8 p.m., closed Christmas Day
Experience the Holiday Cactus Garden with over a half a million twinkling lights, Christmas lights, chocolate houses, and sculptures, and demonstrations of Ethel M chocolate creations.
Magical Forest – Opportunity Village
Nov 29-Jan 4
Opens nightly at 5:30 p.m. closed Christmas Day
$15 all ages 4 and older
Celebrate the holidays with the cherished tradition of the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village! The Magical Forest is a Winter Wonderland filled with millions of twinkling lights, nightly entertainment, and delicious food. Ride the Forest Express passenger train, take a spin on the Carousel, and visit with Santa.
Springs Preserve Holiday Express
Dec 6-8, 13-15, & 20-23, 11 a.m.-7:15 p.m.
$10 members/$12 non-members
Take a train ride to Santa’s Magical Village and enjoy the festive activities which include photos with Santa, holiday crafts, cookie decorating, holiday stories, a nutcracker display and more.
City of Henderson WinterFest
Dec 13-14
Tree Lighting Ceremony: Dec 13, 6 p.m.
Festival: Dec 13, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Dec 14, noon-5 p.m.
Evening Light Parade: Dec 14, 5 p.m.
This year’s WinterFest includes a variety of family-friendly activities, including the official tree lighting ceremony, Santa, craft and food vendors, live entertainment, and the Evening Light Parade.
Glittering Lights – Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Nov 8-Jan 5
5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Glittering Lights is Nevada’s largest holiday drive-through light show with millions of twinkling lights along a 2.5-mile course. Enjoy custom twinkling lights, never-before-seen lights, and some old favorites.
Holiday Train Rides at Nevada Southern Railway
The Pajama Train
Nov 29-30, Dec 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, & 22-23
Departs 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.
$30/$35/$45
Each pajama train includes visits from Santa, storytelling, and hot chocolate and cookies.
The Santa Train
Dec 7-8, 14-15, & 21-22
10 a.m.-3 p.m. with six departures
$10
Enjoy a train ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus! This holiday train ride features a toy train exhibit, Santa’s sleigh for photos, a North Pole mailbox, and a depot gift store.
Lake Mead Parade of Lights
Dec 7
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
At sundown, all boaters come together to celebrate the Holiday season for the 43rd Annual Parade of Lights on Lake Mead. Open to the public, the best viewing area is Boulder Beach.
Wow, great job on this article. Very thorough and complete.
Great list!! Another event to add would be the Clark County Heritage Holidays on December 13 and 14 from 5-8 pm. More information on their web site
https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/parks/Pages/clark-county-museum.aspx