It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Las Vegas with shows, attractions and more
Whether you’re embracing the ubiquitous return of glowing trees, peppermint-flavored everything and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” there is no stopping the holiday season. It set in this week as Thanksgiving gently passed, and already some Las Vegas shows and attractions have flipped the switch and made merry. Here’s a collection of local activities and entertainment to consider when you’re planning to celebrate the season.
Holiday Cactus Garden Lights
The 29th annual Holiday Cactus Garden Lights display at Ethel M Chocolates in Henderson has been entertaining visitors for almost the entire month of November and continues to shine through Jan. 1. Don’t forget to take your picture with Santa and enjoy some of the best hot chocolate (obviously) in Southern Nevada. It’s open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Cost: $1
Glittering Lights
It’s the 22nd year for this fantastic drive-thru holiday experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile course with more than five million lights and 600 displays. You simply haven’t done Vegas Christmas right until you’ve visited this classic. The fun is ready and waiting through Jan. 8. It’s open 4:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Cost: $39 per car
Enchant Las Vegas
The stunning Christmas display, promenade and activity-filled experience that enchanted locals last year at the Las Vegas Ballpark is back at that Downtown Summerlin venue this year starting on Nov. 25 with enhanced programming, but it has already opened a second location on the Strip at Resorts World Las Vegas as well. Do you have enough holiday cheer to see both versions? Hours vary.
Cost: $44 for adults; $23 for children at Resort World; $33 for adults; $20 for children at Las Vegas Ballpark
Christmas in Hell
This musical comedy launched earlier this month at Notoriety Live in downtown Las Vegas’ Neonopolis complex and continues Thursdays through Sundays through the end of the year. If you’re looking for an irreverent alternative to cliché Christmas classics, this might be your stocking stuffer.
Cost: Tickets start at $55
The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle
Lighthouse Immersive, the company behind the successful “Immersive Van Gogh” exhibit, launched this new experience last weekend at Lighthouse Artspace at the Shops at Crystals. The family-friendly, 30-minute experience weaves Tchaikovsky’s classic music and ballet with projection mapping and other technologies to create a unique new way to celebrate. It’s open daily 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Tickets from $31
Tournament of Kings: ’Twas the Knight
The iconic dinner show and horseback jousting spectacular at Excalibur transforms into a winter wonderland from Nov. 23 through Dec. 25, bringing festive costumes, music and snowfall to the medieval arena. Shows are at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Tickets from $71.87
Snow Carnival Holiday Forest
International Special Attractions Ltd. brings this unique experience to the M Resort through Jan. 8. A flurry of 350 tons of real snow will be blanketing a candy cane forest, snow slide and play area, creating something you’ve never seen in the desert before. Hours vary.
Cost: $36.99 adults; $29.99 children
Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland
Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall brings back its annual wintry display at its Mystic Falls Park, featuring festive décor, more than 26,000 lights and a holiday laser show, through Jan. 1. Shows are 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday-thursday; and 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday-sunday.
Cost: Free
A Very Terry Christmas
Singer and ventriloquist Terry Fator adds all the holiday spice to his headlining show at New York-new York’s Liberty Loft with this special production running at 7:30 p.m. today through Dec. 27. Fator will be performing your favorite tunes of the season and introducing some fun new twists along the way.
Cost: Tickets from $34.99
Manilow: A Very Barry Christmas
The Westgate International Theater resident headliner presents a special holiday performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 1-3 and 8-10. How will he fit his many beloved hits into a show also packed with musical Christmas cheer? Listen for yourself.
Cost: Tickets from $54.99
The Nutcracker
The Nevada Ballet Theatre presentation of “The Nutcracker” at Reynolds Hall at the Smith Center opens Dec. 9 and once again includes select performances with a full orchestra. Make this joyful Las Vegas tradition part of your holiday itinerary.
Cost: Tickets from $35.95