Best Things to Do in Las Vegas in December 2025 + What to Pack + More

Visiting Vegas? These are the Las Vegas events in December you shouldn’t miss.

Visiting Las Vegas in December? These are the best things to do in Las Vegas this December.

To help you plan your time here, we’ve put together a monthly guide of all the happenings in December and organized them by date and category.

These are all December-only and events limited to a few months, but if you want things to do available year-round, check out our ultimate Vegas bucket list, bucket list experiences, top Las Vegas shows, and indoor activities.

Pin

This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: October 13, 2025

Weather in Las Vegas in December

• Average Temp in Las Vegas in December: high of 60° F, low of 27° F
• Rainfall: 0.5 inches
• Humidity: 46%

We love Las Vegas in December. Not only is the weather nice and cool (and even cold at times), which is perfect for outdoor adventures, but the holiday events make the city extra magical. We’ll cover some of the holiday events in this post, but be sure to check out our more detailed post here.

Early December is relatively quiet, but as you get closer to the holidays, it does get busier so hotel rates aren’t any lower.

VEGAS IN Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Pin

Top 5 Things to Do in December in Las Vegas

These are our top 5 we recommend this month

1. Bellagio Conservatory Winter Display (Nov 15, 2025 to Jan 3, 2026)
2. Ethel M Holiday Display (Nov-Dec)
3. Backstreet Boys, MSG Sphere (December 31, 2025)
4. Mariah Carey, Park MGM (December 2-13, 2025)
5. Bruno Mars, Park MGM (December 30-31, 2025)

More: 15 Best Places to Visit in December in USA

Holiday Things to Do in Las Vegas in December

December 6: Parade of Lights on Lake Mead, Lake Mead
December 6: Las Vegas Great Santa Run, Fremont Street Experience
December 31: Hard Rock Cafe – New Year’s Eve Party
December 31: New Year’s Eve Fireworks, The Strip
December 31: New Year’s Eve at Fremont Street Experience
December 31: New Year’s Eve at AREA 15

Here are more holiday events happening throughout December

• Bellagio Conservatory Winter Display (Nov 15, 2025 to Jan 3, 2026)
• Enchant Christmas, Las Vegas Ball Park & Resorts World (Through Dec 28, 2025)
• Ethel M Holiday Display (Through Jan 3, 2026)
• Glittering Lights, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nov 7, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026)
• Holiday Lights at the LINQ 
• Ice Skating at The Park, The Cosmopolitan (Through Jan)

Things to Do on Christmas Day

Unlike most cities, almost everything on the Strip is open on Christmas Day. That gives you a ton of choices for shops, casinos, bars, restaurants, buffets, and more. Here are our top 5 recommendations. Check out this post for food recommendations on Chirstmas Day.

• Bellagio Conservatory Winter Display 
• Ethel M Holiday Display 
• Holiday Lights at the LINQ 
• Enchant Christmas, Las Vegas Ball Park & Resorts World 
• Ice Skating at The Park, The Cosmopolitan 

Best Places to Celebrate New Years

• Fireworks will Launch from the Rooftops of:
  • ARIA Resort & Casino
  • Caesars Palace
  • MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
  • Planet Hollywood Resort & Casion
  • Resorts World Las Vegas
  • The STRAT Hotel
  • TI – Treasure Island
  • The Venetian
• Live Performance to Ring in the New Year
  • Backstreet Boys, MSG Sphere
  • Bruno Mars, Park MGM
  • Jelly Roll, The Cosmopolitan
  • Jennifer Lopez, Caesars Palace
  • John Fogerty, Planet Hollywood
  • Kings of Leon, The Venetian
• DJ Sets for the New Year TBA
• Other New Year Parties
  • AREA15 New Year’s Eve Experience
  • Legacy Club Light Up the Night at Circa
  • The Ice Rink’s Fireworks Viewing Part at The Cosmo
  • The Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay
  • Midnight in Munich at Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas

More: Your Essential Guide to Christmas in Las Vegas

Pin

Pin

Bonus: Museums of Illusions

Museum of Illusions is open year-round, but December is extra special. Inside the museum, you’ll find optical illusions, puzzles, photo ops, and more. During the month of December, they put up a bunch of Christmas decorations making the visit extra magical.

If you’re looking for gifts, they will also be selling Gift Cards only in December that can be used in 2025.

Museum of Illusions Coupon Code: Use code ADVENTURER15 for 15% off your tickets.

More: 17 Best Museums in Las Vegas + Local Tips

Pin

Pin

Pin

Comedy & More

• December 4-9: Rodney Carrington, MGM Grand
• December 5: Martin Amini, The Venetian
• December 6: Ron White, The Cosmopolitan
• December 10: Jeff Foxworthy, Planet Hollywood
• December 11-13: Steve Trevino, MGM Grand
• December 12: Wayne Brady, The Venetian
• December 13: Dane Cook, The Venetian
• December 20: Louis C.K., MGM Grand

More: 101 Things to Do in Las Vegas Bucket List

Pin

Conventions + Events in Las Vegas in May

• December 1-5: Amazon Web Services – re:Invent 2025, The Venetian
• December 2-4: KPMG International-Annual Accounting & Financial Reporting Symposium 2025, Caesars Palace
• December 3-5: MJBizCon 2025, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 3-6: Literacy Research Association (LRA) 75th Annual Conference 2025, Planet Hollywood
• December 4-13: Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation – Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 7-9: Live Design International – LDI Show 2025, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 7-11: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting, Mandalay Bay
• December 9-10: 2025 Engaging with Aging Conference, Durango Casino
• December 9-11: Annual American Projects & Portfolio Leadership Summit, Westgate
• December 9-12: Northwest Anesthesia Seminars – 2025 Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, The Venetian
• December 10-12: MPACE Annual Conference 2025, Park MGM
• December 11-14: American Association of Medical Review Officers (AAMRO)-Conference 2025, Paris
• December 16-18: Colorado River Water Users Association – 2025 Annual Conference, Caesars Palace
• December 18-19: Engaging Meetings – 2025 Summit, The Venetian

Pin

Sports

• December 2: Vegas Golden Knights v Chicago Blackhawks, T-Mobile Arena
• December 4-13: National Finals Rodeo, Thomas & Mack Center
• December 6: UFC 323, T-Mobile Arena
• December 7: Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos, Allegiant Stadium
• December 17: Vegas Golden Knights v New Jersey Devils, T-Mobile Arena
• December 23: Vegas Golden Knights v San Jose Sharks, T-Mobile Arena
• December 27: Vegas Golden Knights v Colorado Avalanche, T-Mobile Arena
• December 28: Las Vegas Raiders vs New York Giants, Allegiant Stadium
• December 29: Vegas Golden Knights v Minnesota Wild, T-Mobile Arena
• December 31: Vegas Golden Knights v Nashville Predators, T-Mobile Arena
• December 31: Las Vegas Bowl, Allegiant Stadium

More: 15 Unique Bucket List Worthy Experiences in Las Vegas

What to Eat in Las Vegas in December

Whether you’re looking for fruits and vegetables at the farmer’s market or you want to eat farm to table, this is what you will find in season in Las Vegas (zone 9a).

• Fruits in season – pomegranates
• Vegetables in season – beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, radish, salad greens, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, winter squash

More: 49 Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas

Pin

The Best Farm to Table Restaurants in Las Vegas

Here are some of the best farm-to-table restaurants in Las Vegas to check out:

• Sparrow + Wolf, Chinatown (New American, 💰💰💰)
• Honey Salt, Westside (New American, 💰💰)
• Carson Kitchen, Downtown (New American, 💰💰)
• CRAFTkitchen, Anthem (New American, 💰💰)
• The Black Sheep, Southwest (New American / Vietnamese, 💰💰)
• Yardbird, The Strip (Southern / New American, 💰💰)
• True Food Kitchen, The Strip (Vegan / New American, 💰💰)

Tips for Visiting Las Vegas in December

• Want to avoid crowds? Weekdays and early mornings, in general, are quieter than nights and weekends.
• Pack layers – it will get cool at night, and AC is always pumping indoors. I keep a light jacket in the car year-round.
• Don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, or any other gear for sun protection if you’re doing outdoor activities. We don’t plan on being back in Red Rock until October for hiking and November for climbing.
• Visiting on a budget? These are the top 25 free things to do in Las Vegas.
• Buy tickets early to popular shows and events. They sell out quickly!
• Save money on last-minute tickets at Tix4Vegas booths at Bally’s Grand Bazaar Shops, Showcase Mall, and Casino Royale if you’re flexible with shows (most likely not the popular ones). Tickets on Demand has permanently closed.
• Read all the fine print before you go. Some shows have limitations on what you can bring in (for instance, no large bags).
• Stay on the Strip if you want a quintessential touristy Vegas experience. Here are the top things to do on the Las Vegas Strip.
• Stay in Downtown Vegas if you want to hang out with locals in East Fremont. Here are the top things to do in Downtown Las Vegas (DTLV)
• Arrive early at the shows/events. Casinos can be a maze to navigate. In addition, it usually takes longer than you think to get from one spot on the strip to another.

Pin

What to Wear in Vegas in December

It’s cold in December, but if you’re in the sun, it can still be warm, so layers are key.

• Bring layers – layers are essential for visiting Las Vegas. As the temperatures get hot outside, they crank up AC inside. These are our favorite travel jackets.
• Dressy clothes – pack them if you plan on clubbing or eating at nicer restaurants. You will see a mix of tourists in casinos dressed both up and down.
• Shoes – If you’re going out at night, you’ll probably bring heels or dress shoes, but make sure you bring a pair of comfortable travel shoes. The casinos are massive, and you walk a lot to get from place to place.

Looking for what to wear to the airport? These are our ideal airport outfits and in-flight essentials.

Best Places to Stay in Las Vegas

Is December the Best Time to Visit Las Vegas?

If you’re mostly going to be indoors on the Strip, visit any time of the year since the temperature won’t matter.

For outdoor activities like hiking and climbing, you should visit between November and March. But if you’re here for the pool parties and lake life, this is the time!

VEGAS IN Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

More Resources

• Your Essential Guide to the Best Las Vegas Escape Rooms
• 15 Romantic Things to do for Couples in Las Vegas
• 5 Things You Can’t Miss at AREA15
• LINQ Promenade – Your Ultimate Guide On What to Do
• Your Complete Guide to Fergusons Downtown

Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later

Pin

Pin