- © 2021 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Las Vegas never does anything that isn't bright and over-the-top, so you know when Sin City does the Holidays it's going to be LIT. Here's just a sampling of the decorations, exhibits, activities, and holiday cheer that Vegas is serving in 2020.
ARIA Resort & Casino is lighting up the holidays with its “Winter Wonderland” lobby display. Created by the ARIA pastry team and on display through Tuesday, January 5, this year’s centerpiece is a custom-designed 15-foot-tall Sugar Palace, made from all edible ingredients. The sweet stunner showcases seven types of sugar work techniques in the 1,000 pressed sugar bricks, snowflakes coated in crystal sugar, blown-sugar swans and blown and pulled flowers, among other sugary pieces. In addition to the palace, oversized hand-carved ornaments, including carousel horses, ballerinas, snowflakes, swans and trains, hang from the ceiling.
Envisioned by the Bellagio horticulture team, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will celebrate all things merry and bright with thousands of plants and flowers with its glamourous winter holiday installation, “Hopefully Holidays.” Take in the beautiful Snow Queen and her majestic carriage pulled by four white horses, a fireplace setting with elves prepping for holidays, a family of polar bears and, of course, the 42-foot-tall, adorned Christmas tree on display early December. Also, a short walk away is the Bellagio Fountains, choreographed to holiday classics like “Sleigh Ride” and “Carol of the Bells” for the holidays.
Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory dazzles 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 Sunday, January 3. Due to limited capacity and safety concerns, there is a timed entry process.
Additionally, Glittering Lights at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway returns to celebrate its 20th season through Sunday, January 10. The dazzling array of festive lights and sounds feature more than five million LED lights that intertwine a 2.5-mile course around 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.
For the ninth holiday season, 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 at socially distanced fire pits, adult renditions of seasonal cocktails, classic holiday films and breathtaking views surrounded by vibrant city lights.
Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa is celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with Merry Crimson, a festive indoor and outdoor poolside lounge and terrace with an extravagant display of over-the-top holiday décor, including a candy cane swing and fireplace. The pop-up holiday bar is perfect for those looking to jingle and mingle in a comfortable and spacious lounge seating inside, or outdoors at private cabanas or by fire pits perfect for making s’mores. Celebrate now through Monday, January 3. Don’t miss the nearly five-foot-tall and nine-foot-long gingerbread replica of the resort in the middle of the casino floor.
Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall once again lights up its festive winter display at Mystic Falls Park, a time-honored tradition that does back to 1994. The seasonal décor in the indoor atrium features plush, animated teddy bears that can be seen playing, dancing and decorating the park. An 18-foot tree decorated in red and gold, garland-wrapped lampposts, streamers, wreaths fill the atrium, embellished with hundreds of lights, ornaments and red holiday bows. Families can drop off their letters for Santa in Santa’s mailbox located under the gazebo. The wintery experience will be available for visitors to enjoy through Friday, January 1. Experience the park’s new holiday décor and more than 26,000 points of light from home by tuning into the attraction’s live webcam.
AREA15, the new immersive entertainment, event and art complex in Las Vegas, has transformed their outdoor event space, A-Lot into Wanderland, promising weird, wonderful surprises for the holidays. Step inside the illuminated tree-lined village filled with extraterrestrial surprises, including a festive path of igloos with Insta-worthy holiday vignettes, pop-up retailers the heart of Wanderland – Balanceville – a 30-foot intergalactic art sleigh illuminated by hundreds of twinkling lights. Add to the outdoor Wanderland experience and step inside the Portal, the 360-degree projection mapped room, to experience Holiday 360: The Dream Before, a 30-minute light and sound exhibition. The ticketed experience runs through Sunday, January 3 and includes access to the igloo stroll, a printed and digital photo from the art car sleigh, and a cup of hot chocolate.
Tropicana Las Vegas is celebrating with a first-ever Holiday in Paradise outside in the Tropicana Plaza. Holiday in Paradise showcases a festival of lights now through January 3rd, featuring more than 25,000 lights covering the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard. Guests will step foot through a lighted archway welcoming them to a 20-foot Christmas tree flanked by large lighted gift boxes and surrounded by a tropical forest of 25 lighted palm and Christmas trees. The free holiday experience also includes a 10-foot tall live poinsettia photo wall, holiday music playing throughout the plaza and on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 3 PM, the iconic hotel will offer a holiday pop-up bar inside the outdoor Tropicana kiosk serving winter-themed and traditional cocktails, beers, as well as hot cocoa.
Rail Explorers, the outdoor-adventure attraction featuring pedal-powered rail bikes in Boulder City, celebrates the season with festive, holiday-themed tours. Guests booking evening tours through Thursday, December 31 will be greeted by the Rail Explorer Elves and receive cookies, candy canes, hot chocolate and/or hot apple cider. Day and evening tour times are available and schedules vary by day; check the website for times.
Holiday magic returns to The LINQ Promenade as it transforms into a modern winter wonderland with festive décor, family fun and a sparkling holiday light show on High Roller, one of the world’s tallest observation wheel. Guests are invited to enjoy an array of dining, socially distant activities and distinctive retailers throughout the open-air district. Complimentary parking and discounted tickets for High Roller Observation Wheel and FLY LINQ Zipline are also available for Nevada residents seeking a festive place to enjoy holiday-season ambience in an open-air environment.
