Christmas in Las Vegas
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Christmas in Vegas? The thought of Sin City as a holiday destination never crossed my mind before I took a December visit to the city. Most see nothing more than a dry & dusty brown desert and man made casinos, but I found out that the city surprisingly offers a number of wonderfully festive displays & seasonal events.
Although I wouldn’t necessarily recommend running and booking a holiday vacation, these whimsical attractions simply are a nice bonus if you are already planning a trip around this time. I actually love visiting the city during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. There are so many special displays and shows and the vibe is extra festive and cheerful.
This week is pretty popular as many residents of surrounding states like California and Arizona decide to enjoy a little time off in the company of festive shows, buffets, and displays. We took several holiday trips here while living in Flagstaff as it is a really easy 4 hour drive.
Despite the hefty crowds & outrageous hotel prices during this period, the cooler temperatures, gorgeous casino holiday displays, and huge NYE party complete with fireworks and a closed-to-vehicles Strip (one of 2 times a year The Strip closes!), makes a visit especially attractive. In this guide, I highlight a few of my favorite holiday attractions to put on your bucket list.
Bellagio Gardens Christmas display
One of the most gorgeous and top rated holiday displays in the city is the famous Bellagio Gardens seasonal winter wonderland which has gained worldwide recognition. In fact, you have probably seen it featured on the Travel Channel at some point. Each season, the 14,000 square foot floral garden is transformed into a breathtaking winter wonderland. Not surprisingly, this exceptional display also draws exceptional crowds. So get here early in the morning to enjoy this work of art to yourself.
The center piece is a 42 foot tall Christmas tree with 7000 lights, which is surrounded by a variety of festive displays. Recent festive touches have included 14 foot toy soldiers, massive snow globes featuring holiday scenes, and polar bears made completely out of flowers (the mother being made out of 12,000 carnations!). Walking through the gardens this time of year is a magical experience that will have you reminiscing over childhood Christmases long ago. What I really love most are the thousands and thousands of colorful poinsettias which really add a colorful touch.
The Wynn Atrium Holiday Display
Although less busy and not as talked about, the gorgeous holiday display at The Wynn really is the hidden gem here that gives the Bellagio a run for their money. The gold and silver theme is absolutely enchanting. I love how they incorporated golden orange poinsettias instead of the traditional holiday red. I am mesmerized just strolling around – the golden theme is so incredible and classy.
One of the most amazing sights is a magical winter wonderland village in which a gold train carrying presents circles around – it’s so dazzling that it is hard to take your eyes off of it! I’ve really never seen a display so enchanting.
Over 30 beautifully decorated trees and golden poinsettias create an elegant holiday setting like no other on The Strip. It’s free and much less crowded than the Bellagio, so really there is no reason not to check it out if you happen to be in town! And of course, while you are here you will also get to see the amazing carousel and hot air balloon which are constructed solely from flowers. Together the 2 creations use over 110,000 flowers!).
While you are here, I recommend checking out one of the fabulous restaurants. The Wynn is home to some of the best restaurants on The Strip. Their buffet, hands down, offers both the best food and the best ambiance of any buffet on The Strip. Take a look at the eye catching decor in the dining room – this is not your ordinary buffet!
Holiday Lights at Ethel M. Chocolate Factory
It’s a bit of a drive (about 20 min or so from The Strip), although the impressive light display at Ethel M. Chocolate Factory in Henderson is well worth the detour. Not only is this wonderful holiday activity completely free (Update – admission is now a $1 but goes towards a local food bank), but it is also one of the top displays in the area. It’s a chance to get off The Strip and experience something new. It’s so busy this time of the year that sometimes you need a break.
I really love how beautiful all the desert plants look draped in lights – it’s definitely something out of the ordinary and it works.
While you are here you can also test out some chocolate, take a self guided tour of the factory (if you time your visit right, you will get to see chocolate being made right before your eyes!), and even reserve a seat for a tasting room experience (must reserve beforehand online). Visiting around the holidays is one of the best free things to do in the region. You can also pick up some cute holiday gift sets.
Winter Parq at the Linq Promenade
Winter Parq at the Linq Promenade is a festive month long celebration featuring nightly snowfall, a High Roller light show, and a free holiday themed show. The Linq Promenade is one of many dining, shopping, & entertainment complexes along The Strip. There are lots of shops and restaurants to enjoy – I recommend Hah House A Go Go (I love their veggie hash bowls).
And of course, if you want to spend a few bucks you can enjoy fabulous views of The Strip via the High Roller. At 550 feet, it stands as the world’s tallest observation wheel. The Promenade is one of the best areas to stroll around as it is less stuffy than the indoor malls & it is not overly congested. The 30 foot tall Christmas tree & various festivities give it that special touch this time of year.
The Venetian & Palazzo holiday displays
Although not as extravagant as the displays found at The Bellagio and The Wynn, these 2 resorts are still worth a walk through. The beautiful setup includes giant ornaments, golden snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, reindeer displays, a beautiful Love Sculpture by artist Laura Kimpton and 1000’s of gorgeous plants including traditional poinsettias. It’s simple, but nicely done. I love taking my pic by the famous Love sculpture.
A few other holiday activities to check out if you have extra time.
Ice skating at The Cosmopolitan
More and more warm weather destinations have been setting up ice rinks as part of their winter lineup of, giving both locals and tourists the unique opportunity to enjoy a timeless activity not typically available in these warmer areas. Although quite a different experience in a desert setting, ice skating on The Strip is a real blast with such amazing high energy surroundings. The added benefit of not completely freezing your butt off (be aware night temps are much colder than you would expect with temps often dropping into the 40’s!) makes this activity even more attractive.
If you are craving more of a traditional winter recreational experience, you are in luck as it snows every half hour! You can even roast S’mores by the fire and order specialty holiday drinks! Ice skating at the Cosmopolitan is an exhilarating winter experience in Vegas and a definite add to your Vegas bucket list if you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks.
Special holiday buffets
Most of the mid-upper end resorts offer special holiday buffet menus as well as the week leading up to New Year’s. Although the pricing is a bit higher than normal, the food selection is a bit more extravagant as well. I recommend The Wynn, Caesars Place, and the Aria for the high quality food, beautiful settings, & interesting selection. Just seeing this pic of the mini dessert offerings at the Wynn makes me want to plan another trip.
Motor Speedway Glittering Lights
This drive thru light show is one of the biggest holiday events in the state, featuring millions of colorful lights and displays. Be aware – it’s quite pricey. My advice: check out the freebies first, then save the Motor Speedway as an extra backup. I am personally not a fan of drive-thru shows – big waste of money in my opinion.
Special Holiday shows
Along with the regular lineup of shows, you will also get to choose amongst a number of special holiday productions. Recent show highlights include: A Very Terry Christmas (featuring Terry Fator, winner of America’s Got Talent), the Nevada Ballet’s The Nutcracker, the annual Legends in Concert holiday show, and many more. I saw the Terry Fator show because I was a big fan of his season of America’s Got Talent (it was actually the only season I watched in entirety). Great show, but I would have enjoyed a bit more ventriloquism over singing.
Bellagio fountains with holiday music
Around the holidays, the dancing fountains of the Bellagio move in tune to classic holiday favorites. A wonderful show is made even more wonderful with the addition of classic favorites. The normal playlist resumes right after the 25th, so get here the week before to enjoy this festive special touch.
NYE Parties
Sin City offers a NYE party like no other in the country. In this 24/7 party city, it’s hard to imagine an even bigger celebration, however, NYE on The Strip is just that. Along with this being one of only 2 days that The Strip is closed to vehicle traffic (the other being the fantastic Rock N’ Roll Marathon), there is also a massive fireworks show along with a never ending lineup of special parties and nightclub events to attend. It’s basically New Year’s every day thanks to the beautiful Swarovski Starburst in this pic which comes alive with a spirted show from 9 to midnight every night.
