Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Holiday activities brighten Las Vegas Valley
Winter wonderlands abound around town
READY or not, the holiday season is upon us. And, even though this year will be different from years past, festive activities are still planned to try to help bring some cheer to the Las Vegas Valley. Here are a few that have opened, or are opening soon, with websites listed so you can check out the planned safety protocols and make reservations if required.
Area15
Wanderland is open 4-10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 2-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 3 at 3215 S. Rancho Drive. The outdoor holiday experience features Balanceville, a 30-foot intergalactic art sleigh lit with hundreds of lights, a tree-lined village with extraterrestrial surprises, a festive path of igloos with Instagram-worthy holiday vignettes, pop-up retailers and more. Ticket prices vary. “Holiday 360: The Dream Before,” a 30-minute light and sound exhibition, is located in Area15’s Portal and is available as a bundle. area15.com/events/wanderland
Aria
The resort’s Winter Wonderland lobby display surrounds a lifesize Sugar Palace created by pasty chef Mathieu Lavallee and his team. Guests will be able to buy festive treats from Aria’s pastry team at the palace throughout the holiday season. The lobby display also features a glittering winter forest with custom-designed trees, oversize ornaments and a 17-foot Christmas tree decorated with 500 crystals. aria.mgmresorts.com
Bellagio
The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens’ “Hopeful Holidays” winter display features a Snow Queen, a family of polar bears, a 42-foot Christmas tree and more. Viewing will be available 24 hours daily through mid-January. Admission is free. bellagio.com
Christmas Fantasy Forest
Hours are 1-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20 at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road. The event features decorated trees, photos and visits with Santa at the Ranch House. Face masks and social distancing will be required. 702-229-5463; lasvegasnevada.gov/residents/events
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Ice Rink at Boulevard Pool is open 3-11 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon-11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. From Dec. 18 to Jan. 3, hours will be noon11 p.m. daily. Holiday hours are noon-midnight Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (closed New Year’s Eve). All-day skating is $30. Mondays through Thursdays skating access is $20 for locals, military with ID and hotel guests. Admission to the winter wonderland surrounding the rink is free. Date Skate Mondays and Tuesdays will feature classic holiday films through Dec. 29. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/ice-rink
Downtown Summerlin
The Rock Rink offers ice skating near the 40-foot glittering tree on the Lawn at Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive. Hours vary and reservations are required. Skate rentals start at $16. Holiday train rides share the same operating hours as the Rock Rink. Rides are $4. Downtown Summerlin also features a 30-foot tree in the Dining Arroyo and the Lane of Lights selfie location near H&M and Hollister. The Tinseltone Carolers will perform 5-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19. Through Dec.
22, letters to Santa Claus can be dropped off at the red mailbox in his Chalet on Festival Plaza Drive. On Dec. 14, Jewish Nevada and the JCC will also host a one-night livestream Hanukkah celebration featuring the lighting of the menorah, live entertainment and more. summerlin.com
Ethel M Chocolate’s Holiday Cactus Garden
Reservation slots to visit the 3-acre cactus garden are booked for the season. A post on Ethel M Chocolate’s website says the public can check back for any cancellations. In addition, the public is welcome to stop by as a walk-in to see if someone didn’t show up for a reserved slot time. The factory store at 2 Cactus Garden Drive is offering Sweets with Santa on select days and times outside at the factory store’s pavilion. The event features a twopiece chocolate tasting, a chocolatedipped cookie, hot chocolate and a photo with Santa; $25. ethelm.com
Glittering Lights
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is decorated with more than 3 million LED lights on a 2.5-mile course at 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. The attraction will open at 4:45 p.m. from Dec. 19 to Dec. 27. Vehicles are $25$35, and a fast pass is $55 on select dates. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, and Goodwill of Southern Nevada offers a $5 discount entry voucher with a donation of clothing or household items. The Santa Selfie Station will be available on select nights through Dec. 23, and
includes caroling, the opportunity to take a selfie with Santa and entry through the Fast Pass lane, $75. glitteringlightslasvegas.com
‘Holly Jolly on Fremont’
Commonwealth, 525 E. Fremont St., and Park on Fremont, 506 Fremont St., bring holiday cheer to downtown Las Vegas with over-thetop decorations, holiday-themed cocktails, live music and more, through Dec. 31. Commonwealth will feature seasonal cocktails, a DJ spinning on its Winter Wonderland Rooftop, and a pianist playing holiday classics at the Laundry Room. Park on Fremont is Santa’s Workshop with a festive food and drink menu. Reservations are encouraged. hollyjollydtlv.com
Lake Las Vegas
Lake Lights Vegas features light displays, meet-and-greets with Santa and holiday music in a drive-thru experience through Jan. 1. Lake Las Vegas Parkway has become Candy Cane Lane with more than 202,000 lights on display daily starting at sundown. On Fridays, visitors can drop off Christmas lists in the North Pole Direct Mailbox, enjoy a free and safe Santa selfie and more, 6-9 p.m. at Christmas Circle at the Lake Las Vegas Sports Club, 101 Via Vin Santo, Henderson. Reservations are required. The mailbox will also be available noon-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 24 at the Christmas Circle, and socially distanced visits with Santa Claus will be 6-9 p.m. Fridays through Dec. 18. Visitors are encouraged to bring new and unwrapped toys to donate to Toys for Tots. lakelasvegas.com/lights
Las Vegas Festival of Lights
Open 5:30-10:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 9 at Craig Ranch Regional Park, 628 W. Craig Road, North Las Vegas. Features rides, games, snowfalls nightly, photos with Santa and more. Reservations are required. Tickets are $15 (games and rides are not included); ages 3 and younger are free. Ticket packages are available. vegasfestivaloflights.com
Red Rock Resort
Merry Crimson, the indooroutdoor pop-up holiday bar, will feature seasonal specialty cocktails,
a DJ, fire pits, private cabanas, beverage specials and more, through Jan. 3. Hours will be 5-11 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For reservations, call 707-797-7877. redrockresort.com/eat-and-drink/ merry-crimson
‘Santa’s Wonderland’
Bass Pro Shops offers a contactless free visit with Santa and holiday craft activity kits to take home (while supplies last) at 8200 Dean Martin Drive. Hours vary. Advance reservations are required. For details, visit basspro.com/santa.
Shark Reef
Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium will feature Diving Santa in the venue’s Shipwreck area from Dec. 21 to 24. Ticket prices vary. mandalaybay.com
Tivoli Village
Santa Baby, a holiday pop-up bar, will feature holiday-themed cocktails, music and Christmas festivities for ages 21 and older from 6 p.m.-midnight daily through Dec. 23. The experience will be in the center of Tivoli Village on the first floor at 420 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 130. Guests under 21 will be admitted on Mondays only. Admission is $5.50. Ticket time slots are for one hour and should be purchased in advance. Walk-ins are welcome if there is availability, and group bookings also are available. vegas.santa-baby.com
Town Square
Snow in the Square starts at 7 p.m. daily through Dec. 23, with additional 8 p.m. shows Fridays through Sundays. Photos with Santa will be available daily by appointment through Dec. 24 at 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Online registration is required at townsquaresanta.com. mytownsquarelasvegas.com
Wynn Las Vegas
Holiday decor and intricately crafted mini winter villages inspired by “Gulliver’s Travels” are on display in the resort’s main atrium. The resort also features more than 8,000 poinsettias, decorated holiday trees and oversized wreaths. wynnlasvegas.com