Skipping our regular blog schedule this week, but wanted to leave you some tips if you happen to be spending Christmas in Vegas! Before we headed to Atlanta, we hunted down the 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.
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Last Updated: October 9, 2019. First Published: December 23, 2014
5 Ways to Have the Perfect Christmas in Las Vegas
1. Cosmopolitan Ice Skating Rink
3708 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
Ice skate while overlooking the Las Vegas strip. It now features a new experience of snow showers.
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
Dates: Dec 7 to Jan 4, 2020
Hours: 24/7
They have the best Christmas displays! 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.
3. Ethel M Chocolates Botanical Cactus Garden
2 Cactus Garden Dr, Henderson, 89014, map
Dates: Nov 5 to Jan 5, 2020
Hours: Dusk to 10 pm, until 8 pm on Dec 24 and Dec 31, Closed Christmas Day
The Ethel M Chocolate Factory decked out their Botanical Cactus Garden in Christmas lights and you can see them from 5pm to 10 pm. It’s always free admission, and you can see the regular factory tour we took here. Santa even shows up from 5pm-9pm.
4. Christmas Tree at the Venetian
3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
This 65 foot tall Christmas Tree with 50,000 lights is in the center of Doge’s Palace plaza.
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
Dates: Dec 1 – 30, 2019 (Holiday Show)
Hours: Mon – Wed 6 pm – 9 pm, Thurs – Sun 6 pm – 9 pm. Snow is scheduled to fall by The LINQ Fountain Stage at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly
There are decorations, music, carolers, and snow fall every half hour. 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.
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More Christmas Activities in Las Vegas
If time permits, you can also check out:
- A Very Terry Christmas (Nov 23 – Dec 25, 2019)
- City of Henderson WinterFest 2019 (Dec 13 – Dec 14, 2019) Tree Lighting is at 6 pm on Dec 13.
- Cowabunga Bay Christmas Town (Nov 29 – Dec 31, 2019)
- Glittering Lights Christmas Display at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nov 8 – Jan 5, 2020)
- Holiday Hip Hop at Fashion Show Mall (Nov 29 – Dec 24, 2019)
- Holiday at The Park (Nov 29 – Dec 31, 2019, 5 pm – 10 pm. Santa is there from Dec 1 – Dec 24)
- Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland (Nov 21 – Jan 1, 2020)
- Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest (Nov 29 – Jan 4, 2020)
- The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and Gardens Display
- Santa in the Shipwreck at the Shark Reef Aquarium on the weekends (Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 21-24, 2019, 10 am – 4 pm)
- Silverton Aquarium’s Scuba Santa (weekends in Dec)
- Tournament of Kings Holiday Dinner Show (Nov 21 – Dec 27)
- Winter’s Village at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Casino
- Wynn’s Winter Wonderland (December, 2019)
We’ll be flying back Christmas Eve and spending Christmas in Las Vegas, but we’re not quite sure what we’ll be doing yet. We can’t decide between going ice skating and tubing, or curling up in bed and watching Christmas movies all day. Both sound like perfectly suitable choices.
Essential Tips
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What to Pack for Your __
Best Places to Stay
- Waldorf Astoria, The Strip (luxury)
- The Venetian, The Strip (luxury)
- NoMad Las Vegas (mid-range)
- Hooters Casino (budget)
More Resources
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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, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both 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.
Karina
9 Oct 2019Isn’t Las Vegas considered as one of the most expensive state in the USA? The list is very helpful for a first time traveler, I’m on a research of what I could do in my 20 days to USA next year. :)
Esther JuLee
10 Oct 2019We live in Las Vegas and as a local it’s actually quite cheap in comparison other bigger cities like NYC, LA, & San Francisco. But if you’re staying on the Strip and only do certain touristy activities, it can be pricier but that’s like any other city with a touristy area. You can still find affordable things to do on the Strip too though! :)
Allison
23 Aug 2019Thanks for the info. Planning Christmas in Vegas this year.
Esther JuLee
14 Oct 2019How fun! Hope you enjoy your Christmas in Vegas this year, Allison. :)