Every year, thousands of locals and visitors enjoy a Las Vegas Christmas. There are so many Las Vegas Christmas events and experiences to enjoy, both off and on The Strip, that it is no wonder that Vegas is a top holiday destination.
The weather in Las Vegas during the holiday season is quite chilly, and I have visited on a couple occassions when it has snowed! So bundle up and enjoy some our favorite Christmas Events in Las Vegas for 2023.
Las Vegas Christmas Events in 2023 Off the Strip
Enchant Christmas
Enchant Christmas is in its second year in Las Vegas this Christmas season. It will be open November 24 – December 31, 2023. It will be located at the Las Vegas Ballpark.
These type of immersive holiday light experiences are popping up all over the country and we are all in!
There is a new Santa’s Timepiece Light Maze (perfect for great Instagram photos), an ice skating trail, meet and greets with Santa, A Children’s Play Place, and plenty of gourmet holiday treats to enjoy. This is a popular Las Vegas Christmas attraction, so purchase your tickets in advance.
Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Glittering Lights is a drive-through holiday light experience on 2.5-mile course at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway running November 9, 2023 through January 7, 2024 from 4:45-9pm (Monday through Thursday) and 4:45-10pm on weekends.
There are over five million twinkling lights, 600 animated displays, nearly 200 lights trees, and even a live nativity to enjoy. Drive in your own vehicle or purchase a ticket for the Santa Tram and skip the lines and view them from an open-air vehicle.
Best of all, a portion of your admission fee goes to help fund over 50 children’s charities around Southern Nevada. As a matter of fact, the money raised makes up a large portion of these charities’ annual donations.
You can purchase your tickets in advance, and even buy a Fastpass if you want to skip the line. This is an extremely popular Las Vegas Christmas attraction with over 250,000 visitors annually.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory Holiday Cactus Garden
Only in Las vegas will you find a chocolate factory that also has an impressive cactus garden!
From November 3 – December 31, 2023, The Ethel M Chocolate Factory Cactus Garden will be decked out with 500,000 lights, animated figures, and other holiday decor. This is the 30th year this annual events has taken place.
Wandering through the gardens costs only $1 per person, so come for the chocolate and stay for the barrel cactus, yuccas, and prickly pears covered in lights. Just remember to look but don’t touch- ouch! Don’t forget to keep your eyes out for Santa. Bring a toy and non-perishable food to donate.
The lights are on from 5 to 10pm every night. You can pre-order hot chocolate, cookies, and cupcakes to enjoy while you visit.
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Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops always get in the holiday spirit and it is no different at the Las Vegas location near the Silverton Casino.
You can get a free photo with Santa, November 5 – December 24, 2022. Be sure to make your free reservation online before you go.
There are also holiday crafts for the kids to enjoy. During your visit, families can mail their letter to Santa and receive free giveaways while supplies last. There is also a toy shop where kids can point out all the things they want for Christmas.
Of course, kids always love checking out the aqauriums and wildlife displays inside the store. If you visit on a weekend in December, be sure to stop by the Silverton Casino to check out the Underwater Scuba Santa from 12 – 1:15pm or 2 – 3:15pm.
Magical Forest at Opportunity Village
Another wildly popular Las Vegas Christmas event that is now in its 30th year is the Magical Forest. Over three million lights sparkle on hundreds of trees.
There will be an Avalanche Slide, carousel, a train, escape rooms, games, mini golf, and plenty of food, drink, and photo ops including pictures with Santa.
All the money raised at the Magical Forest goes towards programs at Opportunity Village wich help over 3,000 people with disabilites. This year’s event runs on evenings November 24 – December 31, 2023.
Tickets can be purchased online.
Summerlin Rock Rink
ice skating rink returns for another year November 10, 2023 – January 15, 2024. It is a festive open-air ice skating scene with a 40-foot Christmas tree next to the rink and plenty of lights overhead.
There is also a holiday train that circles the rink and plenty of festive holiday music to keep spirits jolly.
Summerlin Holiday Parade
Why should a parade last just one day? Downtown Summerlin’s Holiday Parade runs Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30pm from November 17 – December 16, 2023.
The show is performed by local kids from various local high schools, dance teams, and theater troupes and includes floats, characters, dancers and so much more! All shows are free and open to the general public. The parade takes place on Park Centre Drive.
Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland at Sam’s Town
Sam’s Town has long been a favorite casino among locals and their Mystic Falls Park is always a crowd pleaser but come the holiday season, it gets even better!
Mystic Falls Park’s Winter Wonderland display is a holiday laser show with more than 26,000 points of light.
Classic holiday songs, including Let It Snow, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman play during the nine-minute show which runs on the hour from 2-10pm November 24, 2023 through January 1, 2024.
Rockin Christmas at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson
New for 2023 at M Resort is Rockin Christmas, an audio-visual experience featuring millions of colorful LED lights and hundreds of moving displays in a mile-long rocking musical experience. This event claims to be the world’s largest animated drive-through light show.
This attraction takes place evenings from November 17 – December 31, 2023. Advance reservations are required and tickets are priced per vehicle.
Pawliday Lights and Roaring Nights at Lion Habitat Ranch
Remember when MGM Grand had lions in the lobby? Ever wonder what happened to them? Turns out they ended up at Lion Habitat Ranch in Henderson and you can visit this nonprofit sanctuary to see them and other animals.
This year the Ranch is hosting its first holiday lights event on December 22 and 23, 2023 from 5pm – 7pm. This will give you a chance to see the animals with dazzling holiday lights. In addition to the lions they also have a giraffe, parrots, emus, ostriches, and tortoises.
All of their general admission amenities will be available including giraffe feeds, lion feeds, Ozzie the giraffe painting sessions. The lions will be receiving holiday themed enrichment during this time which will be fun to watch. Book your ticket online ($30 for adults) and kids under $14 are free with paid adult!
Las Vegas Christmas Events and Attractions on The Strip
The Ice Rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
For the 10th year, the roof top of The Cosmopolitan will have an outdoor ice rink! The Boulevard Pool is iced over and the ice skating can’t be beat!
There will also be fire pits for roasting s’mores, food and drink (including seasonal cocktails for mom and dad), the occasional “snowfall”, and even holiday movies playing the background.
The ice rink is open December 1-25, 2023. Hours vary. All-day skating access (including skate rentals) is $20 for locals, military, and first responders (Monday through Thursday). It is $30 for everyone else. Snow showers happen every 30 minutes during select times throughout the season.
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Winter Wonderland at the LINQ Promenade
The LINQ Promenade is already a wildly popular attraction on the Las Vegas Strip, thans to the 550-feet tall High Roller observation wheel.
But during the holiday season, the Promenade is transformed into a winter wonderland with festive lights and decor and a sparkling holiday light show on the High Roller.
featuring more than 2,000 LED lights synchronized to popular holiday music during the nightly “Lights at The LINQ” show.
Showtime: The show runs every hour on the half hour from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
Aria Resort’s Giant Gingerbread House
In what has quickly become a holiday tradition, the Aria Resort & Casino will be once again be creating a giant gingergbread house display. It will be on display in the main lobby through thr first week in January.
Expect it to be massive in size (think 15 feet high and seven feet wide!) and made from an obscene amount of sugar. More than 400lbs of gingerbread goes into this heavenly creation as does 200lbs of icing and a thousand pounds of candy!
If looking at the gingerbread masterpiece makes you crave something sweet, you will be happy to know sweet treats and warm beverages will be on sale onsite.
Bellagio Conservatory and Fountains Holiday Displays
Every year we all look forward to the Bellagio going all out with their impressive and beautiful holiday display inside the Bellagio Conservatory.
Highlights include a 40-foot tree, polar bears made from carnations, a train and penguins both made from red and white roses, and a massive snow globe.
The entire scene is truly a work of art and each year it changes. The holiday display will be availabel for viewing from December 2 – January 7, 2024. The Conservatory is open 24 hours a day.
Don’t forget to make time to watch the Bellagio Fountains put on a choreographed water show to the tune of your favorite holiday songs. The holiday water shows play December through the first weekend in January. I think it is most magical to experience it in the evening.
Take a Trip to the North Pole at Fashion Show Las Vegas
Get your holiday shopping done and take in the holiday scene at Road Trip to the North Pole at Fashion Show Las Vegas. There will be spot to take retro holiday photos in the Great Hall November 24 – December 24, 2023.
There will also be pictures with Santa near Neiman Marcus and Holiday Glow Live, a high-fashion musical showcase featuring your favorite holiday characters.
A Very Terry Christmas at New York New York Hotel and Casino
Another family-friendly show playing on The Strip this holiday season is A Very Terry Christmas at the New York New York November 24 through December 30, 2023.
Terry Fator is a well known for winning America’s Got Talent with his family-friendly comedy and ventriloquism. Popular puppets like Winston, the Impersonating Turtle and several other favorites will make appearances. Children must be at least 5 or older to enter the theater.
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