It's Christmas Time In The Las Vegas Desert
Enjoy Christmas Las Vegas Style
Christmas time in the Las Vegas desert comes with mild temperatures and it rarely snows here unless you create it. Our holiday decor is dazzling and brilliant in a city that's already a glittering host of neon lights.
Just like your hometown, the winter displays start appearing about Thanksgiving. Sin City hosts some of the most spectacular displays in the world. This city not only looks like Christmas it sounds like it!
One of our most beloved attractions are the Bellagio Fountains. Seen anytime of year they are a brilliant example of master craftsmanship. Accompanied by Christmas music this water display is truly amazing and magical. Locals enjoy events for the holidays outside the city found in places like the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Opportunity Village, Ethel M Chocolate Factory, and The Springs Preserve Cactus Gardens. They all throw light shows to match the decor on the resort corridor.
I recommend visiting during December because it's a quiet time in our city. The town will be yours to explore with a light crowd. Our tourism season gets into full gear for the New Year's crowd but until then the city is almost a ghost town. It's kind of eerie. I call it the Christmas coma as most of us are close to hibernating status. Most of our crowd would rather spend this time with their families so the city is not very busy. The room rates and specials are crazy at this time of year. But be aware many of our shows are on hiatus so you may find a lot of dark showrooms, but there is still plenty to see and do.
Enjoy this preview of what you might expect to find if you were to visit us in December.
Images: M Burgess unless otherwise indicated
Bellagio's Famed Fountain - Amazing Water Displays
The Bellagio Fountains
Bellagio Fountains Holiday Time - We Need A Little Christmas
The wonder of the Bellagio Fountains are mesmerizing year round. Add to that some of the best loved Christmas Songs and you have a Holiday experience that is hard to forget. This video features the tune, We All Need A Little Christmas as the fountains play along in fine fashion. These dancing waters step along to the music and spray in patterns designed to delight the viewer. In some instances the waters are propelled by an air cannon that can shoot streams of liquid hundreds of feet into the air. Prepare to be mist-i-fied!
Bellagio Fountain Schedules:
Mon thru Fri
3 pm to 7 pm - every half hour
7 pm to 12 am. - every 15 mins.
Sat & Holidays
12 pm to 7 pm - every half hour
7 pm to 12 am every 15 mins.
Sunday's show starts at 11 am and runs every 15 mins. till 11 pm
Enjoy!!
Schedule courtesy Bellagio Link: http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/fountains-of-bellagio.aspx
The Venetian Christmas Tree
The Venetian Christmas Tree - Bubble LED Christmas Tree
This bubble Christmas Tree at the Venetian Hotel and Casino is a neat example of what Las Vegas presents for Holiday enjoyment. It is a remarkable piece of work. I watched them put it together the first year it appeared and I was truly enchanted. By day it looks like a bubble tree. The bulbs are huge, glass light bulbs with LED display filaments in them.
The video is an amazing documentary on this beautiful Christmas Tree! In Vegas we go all out for any occasion and this just another example of Vegas' Style. Film from the 2011 Event Christmas In Venice. It is displayed again this year for the Winter In Venice - A Gift Of The Venetian for the 2012 Holiday season.
Schedule of Events:
Holiday In Venice A Gift Of The Venetian: November 18th to January 6th
Skating RInk: Open Daily 11 am to 11 pm
General Admission: $14.95
Grazie Members & Locals: $9.95
Holiday Parade:
Nightly: 6 pm to 8 pm
Lights Of Venice
Nightly: 6 pm to 8 pm
Schedule from The Venetian Website: http://www.venetian.com/
Bull Riding In Vegas
Rodeo Season!
Christmas time is rodeo time here in Las Vegas. The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and the NFR (National Finals Rodeos) are both held here around holiday time. The beginning of December brings our Cowboy Christmas out. You will find many casino employees dressed in western gear and cowboy boots.
This image is the statue that greets you as you enter Caesar's Palace. In whimsical style they place the western gear on Caesar as the rodeo takes over the city.
In the tradition of old Helldorado, these cowboys transform our city back to the old wild west with their dress and their sweet, cowboy manners.
Nations Finals Rodeo
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 2012 - Video Clips From NFR 2012
The National Finals Rodeo takes place here in LV after the Calgary Stampede is completed. This event proves who is the best of the best. The rodeo is held at our college campus in the Thomas And Mack Center.
The action in a rodeo ring is fun and exciting. The men and women of rodeo take on challenges such as barrel racing, calf roping, and bronc busting. The event most anticipated is the bull riding. Rodeo is one of my favorite sports where man (or woman) faces the challenge against nature's machines namely horses and bulls and the timing clock.
For Schedules see: http://www.thomasandmack.com/
The Light Display at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Holiday Drive-Through Spectacular LVMS - Our NASCAR Track
The Holiday Drive-Through Spectacular on this track are dazzling and truly fitting to the City of Lights, Las Vegas. Enjoy our version of a sleigh ride complete with Christmas Carols!
Driving around the city and taking in the city lights is a regular attraction in the city but it is also a great activity at Christmas time in our suburban areas (no we don't all live in hotels near the strip lol). Lights decorate and adorn homes throughout the valley.
The 2012 Schedule:
Open Nov 16, 2012 to Jan 6 2013
Mon to Thurs 5:30 pm to 9 pm $15 Per Car
Fri to Sun 5:30 pm to 10 pm $20 per car (This charge also applies to Holidays)
For More Information See: LVMS site: http://www.lvms.com/
Ethyl M Chocolate Factor
Ethel M Chocolate Factory - Cactus Garden In Lights
Located on the east side of the valley, Ethel M's Chocolate Factory is a luscious treat. From the chocolate processing factory itself and sampling of chocolate goodies to the Holiday adorned Cactus garden, Ethel M's Chocolate Factory is a family friendly place. A word of warning, however, watch out for the cactus, they are pretty but they do bite!
Store Hours: Mon. - Sun. 8:30am to 6:00pm
Holiday Hours (11/14 - 12/30): 8:30am to 10:00pm
Thanksgiving Day: 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Christmas Eve: 8:30am to 8:00pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Factory Tours and Cactus Garden is Free and Open to the Public
Monday - Thursday 8:30am to 4:30 pm
For current hours of operation see: http://www.ethelm.com/store_locator/default.aspx
Opportunity Village Magical Forest
Opportunity Village's - Video Tour Of The Magical Forest
Opportunity Village is a non-profit business dedicated to helping the less fortunate, disabled, and mentally challenged folks in our area. Open for the season is the Magical Forest decorated with charming figurines from the Holiday. Proceeds from the ticket sales benefit men and women with learning disabilities.
General Hours Of Operation:
Sun to Thurs: 5:30 pm to 9 pm
Fri and Sat: 5:30 pm to 10 pm
Tickets:
$7.75 Children ($14.25 with rides)
$9.75 Adults ($16.25 with rides)
For the current schedule and pricing see: http://www.opportunityvillage.org/magical_forest.php
Video - Snow In Vegas!! - Yes, It Does Snow In Vegas
Every so often we get a little bit of snow falling here in Sin City. 2011 was the last time it snowed in Las Vegas. It does not stick very long or get very deep but its a novel experience when it does snow in Las Vegas!
Yes, It Does Snow In Las Vegas
Mount Charleston For Snow Games - Holiday Family Fun Near Las Vegas
While you are here in Las Vegas, visit our mountain peak, Mt. Charleston and take in some wintery sports. Mt. Charleston is only 35 minutes from the city. Snowboard or inner tube down snowy slopes or ski if you like! Wind down and warm up with some Mt. Charleston Coffee (contains alcohol - 21 and older) or a nice cup of hot cocoa served at the Mt Charleston Lodge!
Driving Directions:
Take the I-15 north to the 1-95 exit (Reno). Proceed a few minutes to the Mount Charleston Exit on your left and enjoy the scenery!
About half-way up the mountain you will find the Mt. Charleston Inn where you may find a room with a great view. Further up at the end of the road is the Mt. Charleston Lodge. It has been a favorite meeting place for many years. The scenery is breath taking from here!
Visit Mt. Charleston
That's great, but what about the music?
Elvis - Christmas Album
The Best Travel Deals For Las Vegas
Get The Best Rates At Christmas Time!
Las Vegas is always a great destination and its extremely affordable around Christmas Time. There are great hotel and travel deals all over the board. The hotels offer many great bargains and the room prices are very affordable. Start planning a family vacation for Vegas at Christmas Time. Wheel and deal the savings in Sin City this Holiday Season. With hotel room prices slashed until the New Year's Crowd comes in, Vegas is a great, inexpensive get away in winter. Enjoy many perks as you party on in Vegas Style!
Check out your favorite hotels and bring your family in for some quiet time in our fair city. Enjoy the festivities as Vegas adorns herself in Holiday Glamour and gets a much needed rest for the up coming convention season.
Vegas would be your city if you were to visit us for a new holiday tradition! With flight and hotel specials it would be a great way to see this city on a low budget. This town is very quiet at Christmas time and you would almost have the Strip Corridor to yourself.
That's a small illusion, though. Our New Year's event is huge and the city fills up bursting to the seams for the New Year's Celebration. Last year the estimated visitor count was over 315,000 people!
If you want the best advice on what to do in Las Vegas for the Holidays ask one of the locals!
Happy Holidays!