Best Things to Do in Las Vegas in December 2026 + 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.

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Last Updated: October 13, 2026

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

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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 14, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027)
2. Ethel M Holiday Display (Nov-Dec)
3. Backstreet Boys, The Sphere (Dec 26-31)
4. Olivia Rodrigo: The Unraveled Tour, T-Mobile Arena (December 19-20)
5. Matt Rife: Stay Golden World Tour, Park MGM (December 4)

More: 15 Best Places to Visit in December in USA

Holiday Things to Do in Las Vegas in December

December 5: Parade of Lights on Lake Mead, Lake Mead
December 5: Las Vegas Great Santa Run, Fremont Street Experience
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 14, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027)
• Enchant Christmas, Las Vegas Ball Park & Resorts World (Through Dec 27, 2026)
• Ethel M Holiday Display (Through Jan 3, 2027)
• Glittering Lights, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027)
• 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, The Sphere
  • Alex Warren, Caesars
• 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 Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay
  • Midnight in Munich at Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas

More: Your Essential Guide to Christmas in Las Vegas

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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.

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

More: 17 Best Museums in Las Vegas + Local Tips

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Comedy & More

• December 4: Matt Rife: Stay Golden World Tour, Park MGM
• December 5: Ron White, The Cosmopolitan
• December 26-27: Max Amini, Wynn

More: 101 Things to Do in Las Vegas Bucket List

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Conventions + Events in Las Vegas in May

• November 30 – December 4: Amazon Web Services – re:Invent 2026, Mandalay Bay
• December 1-11: Identity & Access Management Summit 2026, Caesars
• December 3-12: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation – Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 4-6: Pokemon Las Vegas Regional Championships 2027, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 6-8: Live Design International – LDI Show 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 9-10: Irrigation Association Expo 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 9-10: National Ground Water Association (NGWA) Expo & Annual Meeting 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• December 9-11: Colorado River Water Users Association – 2026 Annual Conference, Caesars Palace
• December 10-12: World IBJFF Jiu Jitsu No-Gi Championships 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center

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Sports

• December 3: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs Utah Mammoth, T-Mobile Arena
• December 4-13: National Finals Rodeo, Thomas & Mack Center
• December 5: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs Winnipeg Jets, T-Mobile Arena
• December 13: Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Charges, Allegiant Stadium
• December 16: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks, T-Mobile Arena
• December 18: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs New York Islanders, T-Mobile Arena
• December 20: Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos, Allegiant Stadium
• December 21: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs Carolina Hurricanes, T-Mobile Arena
• December 27: Las Vegas Raiders vs Tennessee Titans, Allegiant Stadium
• December 31: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs , T-Mobile Arena

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

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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.

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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

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