Spending the holidays in Las Vegas? Don’t miss these festive things to do.
Skipping our regular blog schedule this week, but wanted to leave you some tips if you happen to be spending Christmas in Las Vegas! Before we headed to visit family in Atlanta, we hunted down the best events and best Christmas displays in Las Vegas.
You best prepare yourself, because the Strip will be insanely busy on Christmas day since everything is open. Restaurants will be packed and buffets will be double the price. While there is a lot to see and do, here’s what we thought would be worth your while (plus a more comprehensive list below).
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Last Updated: November 24, 2025
9+ Ways to Have the Perfect CHristmas in Las Vegas
1. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens →
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
Dates: November 15, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Hours: 24/7
They have the best Christmas displays of any Vegas hotels. Best of all it’s open 24/7 and it’s free.
We checked out many of the other hotels, and they just don’t do Christmas displays like Bellagio does. Also, the Fountains of Bellagio is now set to some Christmas classics perfect for the holiday season.
See More: Christmas at the Bellagio Over the Years
2. Visit a Holiday Themed Bar
3000 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
Every year there’s a new holiday themed bar that pops up along with some that have been around for years. Here’s a list of them for you to check out:
- Aspen Ski Lodge Experience and Winter Wonderland at Rouge Room, Red Rock Casino (Nov 28 – Dec 28, 2025)
- Bad Elf at Shady Grove Lounge, Silverton (Nov 20-Dec 28, 2025)
- A Christmas Parlor at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, Mandalay Bay (opens Nov 26, 2025)
- Deck the Halls at Doberman, Doberman Drawing Room (through Dec 28, 2025)
- Holly Jolly Christmas Bar, The Mint (Nov 19-Dec 28, 2025)
- Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar at On the Record, Park MGM (Nov 28 – Dec 3, 2025)
- Miracle on Easy’s Street at Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, ARIA (Dec 15-31, 2025)
- The Sand Dol-la-la-la-lar Lounge (through Dec 31, 2025)
- Santa’s Saloon, Palms Casino (Dec 3-28, 2025)
- The Ski Lodge, The Cosmopolitan
- ‘Tis the Season at The Chandelier, The Cosmopolitan (Nov 28 – Dec 28, 2025)
- Wax Rabbit at Durango Casino (Dec 1-27, 2025)
- Winter Wonderland Coquito at Casa Playa, Wynn (Dec 1-31, 2025)
See More: How to Find the Speakeasy Hidden Inside the Mob Museum
3. Ice Skate in the Desert →
3708 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
There are a few places to ice skate in Las Vegas during the holidays. The photo below is from the Cosmopolitan Ice Skating Rink, which we think is the most picturesque. Here are the ice rinks you can check out:
- Cosmopolitan Ice Skating Rink (closed for 2025)
- Enchant at the Las Vegas Ballpark (November 22 – December 29, 2025)
- Oasis Ice Rink at Fontainebleau (November 24 – December 20, 2025)
- Rock Rink in Downtown Summerlin (November 7, 2025 – January 19, 2026)
See More: our Guide to Ice Skating at the Cosmopolitan
4. Winter at the Terrace, Green Valley Ranch
2300 Paseo Verde Pkwy, Henderson, 89052, map
Dates: November 28 – December 28, 2025
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 4-9 PM, Friday to Saturday 4-11 PM
The Winter at the Terrace outdoor pop up lounge at Green Valley Ranch is where you can enjoy holiday-themed cocktails and food inside an igloo or at a fire pit.
Note: Walk-ins are welcome, but they recommend reservations since they get booked up quickly. They are already booked through the end of December. The Igloos have a food and beverage minimum and may be reserved in two-hour blocks.
See More: 7 Best Things to Do at Green Valley Resort Las Vegas
5. Glittering Lights Las Vegas Motor Speedway
7000 Las Vegas Blvd N, 89115, map
Dates: Nov 7, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
Hours: Sun-Thurs 5-9 PM, Fri, Sats, Holidays 5-10 PM
Tickets: $39+ per vehicle
This drive through holiday lights display is one of the largest in the country and by far the largest one we’ve driven through. This year, they are celebrating 25 years with 6 million lights and a 3-mile drive. Check out our Reel here.
A portion of your ticket goes towards children charities in Southern Nevada and Goodwill, and if you buy any concessions, it helps support Boy Scouts.
See More: 17 Best Places to Spend Christmas in USA
6. Ethel M Chocolate’s Annual Holiday Cactus Garden Lights →
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
Dates: November 6, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Tickets: $3 (it goes to support Help of Southern Nevada and Three Square)
The Ethel M Chocolate Factory is one of our favorite spots to visit in Vegas at Christmas. Their Botanical Cactus Garden is decked out in Christmas lights.
Santa will be there daily from 5 PM to 1 hour before closing through 12/23/25. Santa will not be there after 12/23. Line cut-off will be at 9PM.
See the regular factory tour we took here.
See More: Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens
7. Enchant Christmas Las Vegas
1650 S Pavilion Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89135, map
Dates / Hours: November 22 – December 29, 2025
Tickets: $35+ for adults
Enchant Christmas is back at the Las Vegas Ballpark this year. It’s part Christmas light maze, part ice skating rink, and part Christmas market. This year, they’ve added a tubing slide, which was a lot of fun, and a nutcracker theme in the maze.
See More: Best Things to Do in December in Las Vegas
8. Magical Forest at Opportunity Village
6300 W Oakey Blvd, 89146, map
Dates: Nov 28-30, Dec 4-7, Dec 11-24, Dec 26-31
Hours: Sun-Thurs 5:30-9 PM, Fri-Sat 5:30-9:30 PM
Tickets: $25 (deals on multiple tickets)
The Magical Forest has been around for over 30 years and become a local favorite. Visit with Santa, ride the slide or carousel, get bites to eat at the food trucks, or take a ride on the Forest Express Passenger Train. Tickets include all of the rides, and every dollar spent at the Magical Forest goes towards programs and services for people with disabilities at Opportunity Village.
See More: 25 Best Las Vegas Photo Spots with Tips from a Local
9. Santa in the Shipwreck at Shark Reef Aquarium
3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89119, map
Dates: December 20-24, 2025
Tickets: $29-36 Adults, $24-31 Children
Make your visit to the Shark Reef Aquarium memorable by visiting during the holidays. Children under 12 will receive a complimentary photo with Santa Claus and may even spot Janta Jaws. Stick around until 4 PM, when Santa puts on a SCUBA suit and swims with the sharks.
Bonus: Meet Krampus at Universal Horrors Unleashed
3051 S Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89102, map
Dates: Select Dates from November 15, 2025 to January 3, 2026
Tickets: Prices start at $69
This may not be your typical Santa visit, but if you’re looking for a unique spot to visit during the holidays, head over to Universal Horrors Unleashed for their Krampus & Kin event. Besides exploring the four haunted houses that they have, you will get a chance to meet and take photos with the Krampus, Icelandic troll Grýla, and Kallikantzaroi Greek goblins. They will also have festive food and drinks available.
Closed This Year
Snow Tubing at the Winter Parq at the Linq Promenade
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
There are decorations, music, carolers, and snowfall every half hour making it the perfect backdrop for Vegas at Christmas. Also, right behind the High Roller is now a 30 ft tall hill made of real snow for tubing (Cost: $5 a ride or $20 for an all-day pass)
Every hour, there’s a holiday light show and snow at the fountain stage.
Note: This year, we didn’t see any tubing, but we did see Christmas decor and a tree along the promenade.
See More: The LINQ Promenade Guide – What to Eat, See, and Do
Snow Carnival at M Resort
420 S Rampart Blvd #240, 89145, map
This is a brand new event this year in Las Vegas and is great if you have young kids. There is a train ride, slow snow tube ride, an area to throw snow balls, build snow men, and mini slide, and a large tubing slide. You’ll also find drink and food vendors, and photo opps with falling snow.
All the attractions are geared towards young kids, but it’s a great place to take them to play with snow right here in the city.
Blitzen’s Antler Attic
420 S Rampart Blvd #240, 89145, map
This pop-up bar is super fun! As you enter, they guide you through the space and you pick an ornament out. You are then set up at a table where you paint, order drinks, and enjoy snacks. When you’re done, there are plenty of spaces to lounge, an arcade area, and more. It’s a great activity for friends or date night.
Santa’s Experience
410 S Rampart Blvd, 89145, map
If you’re looking for a spot with tons of photo ops, check out Santa’s Experience at Tivoli Village. You get a chance to walk through over two dozen photo spots and you even end with a photo with Santa.
Map of CHristmas Attractions in Las Vegas
More Christmas Trees and Christmas Lights
Las Vegas at Christmas wouldn’t be complete without hunting down the biggest, prettiest Christmas trees.
- City of Henderson WinterFest
- Holiday at The Park
- Fashion Show Mall
- Flamingo Holiday Festival – The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat will transform into a pink winter wonderland
- The LINQ Promenade – Tree Lighting TBA
- Lake Las Vegas Hometown Holidays
- Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland – Tons of decor, laser light show, and snow
- New York New York Christmas Tree (the ribbon tree pictured below)
- The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and Gardens Display
- Tivoli Village
- Holidays at Town Square – has a beautiful 45 ft Christmas tree, a chance to take photos with Santa, and a play area for kids. Plus, it’s your rare chance to see snow in Vegas.
- Venetian Christmas Tree – 65 foot tall with 50,000 lights is in the center of Doge’s Palace plaza. The Grand Canal Shoppes also has decorations you can check out.
- Winter’s Village at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Casino
- Wynn’s Winter Wonderland (December)
See More: 15+ Best Things to Do at the Venetian Las Vegas
More Christmas Events in Las Vegas
- Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center
- Downtown Summerlin Rock Rink
- Grand Canyon – a great spot to explore to stay outdoors
- Las Vegas Santa Run – December 6, 2025
- Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest
- Red Rock Canyon – nothing special for the holidays, but the weather is perfect for exploring!
- Santa in the Shipwreck at the Shark Reef Aquarium on the weekends
- Springs Preserve Holiday Express
More Christmas Shows in Las Vegas
- Barry Manilow A Very Barry Christmas, Westgate (Dec 4, 6, 11-13, 2025)
- FANTASY 12 Days of FANTASY, Luxor (Dec 14-25, 2025)
- Leona Lewis A Starry Night, The Venetian (through Jan 3, 2026)
- Lindsey Stirling, The Venetian (Dec 12-13, 2025)
- Magic Mike Live: Holiday Remix, Sahara (Nov 25, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026)
- Mariah Carey Christamastime in Las Vegas, Park MGM (Nov 26 – Dec 13, 2025)
- Smith Center Shows (Melody Sweets, The Las Vegas Philharmonic, Clint Holmes, The Nutcracker, etc)
- Tournament of Kings Holiday Dinner Show
See More: Las Vegas Shows You Can’t Miss
Where to Take Santa Pictures in Las Vegas
- Boulder City Santa Express
- Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden – book ahead of time
- Fashion Show Mall
- Galleria Mall
- Silverton Aquarium’s Scuba Santa (weekends in Dec)
- Shark Reef Aquarium
- Town Square
Where to Eat in las Vegas on Christmas
Finding a spot to eat on Christmas Day in Las Vegas isn’t too difficult. A lot of restaurants are still open. Keep in mind that prices may be higher and some places will have special menus. A lot of spots are also short on staff, so have patience, and it’s always a good idea to make reservations. Here are some options to check out. We haven’t eaten at a lot of these spots but did make notes next to the ones we did.
- Bacchanal Buffet, Caesars Palace (Buffets, 💰💰💰💰)
- Barry’s Downtown Prime, Circa (Steakhouses, 💰💰💰💰) – one of the best steakhouses in town
- Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres, The Venetian (Steakhouse, 💰💰💰💰) – one of our favorite restaurants for steak and try the cotton candy foie gras
- Blossom, ARIA (Chinese, 💰💰💰)
- Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca, Green Valley Ranch (Italian, 💰💰)
- Bugsy & Meyer’s, Flamingo (Steahouses, 💰💰💰)
- Carmine’s Italian Restaurant, Caesars Palace (Italian, 💰💰💰)
- Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Paris (French, 💰💰💰)
- Giada, The Cromwell (Italian, 💰💰💰) – we went years ago and thought it was just okay
- Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar, The LINQ (American, 💰💰)
- Hell’s Kitchen, Caesars Palace (American, 💰💰💰)
- Hofbrauhaus, Off Strip (German, 💰💰)
- Jardin, Wynn (American, 💰💰)
- Jing, Summerlin (Asian Fusion, 💰💰💰)
- La Strega, Summerlin – one of our go-to Italian spots in town (Italian, 💰💰💰)
- Mercato Della Pescheria, The Venetian – good food and great views of St. Mark’s Square (Italian, 💰💰💰)
- Nobu, Caesars Palace (Japanese, 💰💰💰💰)
- Restaurant Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace – one of the best prix-fixe meals we’ve had in Vegas (French, 💰💰💰💰)
- Suhisamba, The Venetian (Asian Fushion, 💰💰💰)
- Sushi Roku, Caesars Palace (Japanese, 💰💰💰)
See More: 49 Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas
Christmas Neighborhoods in Las Vegas
Sometimes the best way to celebrate the holidays is to see how our neighbors celebrate and decorate their homes. Here are some of the best houses and neighborhoods to check out in Las Vegas.
- 2975 Maverick St, 89108, map
- 5219 Masters Ave, 89142, map
- 8313 Clear Falls St, 89085, map
- 730 Bollons Island, Henderson, NV 89002, map – Golden Knights House
- 1054 Desert Olive Ct, Henderson, NV 89002, map
- 8408 Hirsch Mountain Dr, 89131, map
- Spruce Hill Court, 89148, map – 5 houses synced to music
- Wavering Pine Drive, 89143, map
- 4601 Gonzales Drive, 89130, map – huge display set up in their garage
- 742 Triple Crown St, Henderson, NV 89015, map
- 3018 Scenic Valley Way, Henderson, NV 89052, map
- 2410 High Vista Drive, Henderson, NV 89014, map
- 862 Teal Ave, 89123, map
Let us know if you know of any other notable houses or if you visit any of these spots and they are no longer there.
Best Places to Stay
Planning Checklist
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Download these helpful language apps.
- Find a great deal on Las Vegas hotels.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Book a tour for your visit.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Buy a Las Vegas travel guide.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
- Save money on attractions with Go City.
How will you be spending your Christmas in Las Vegas?
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
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