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Best Things to Do in Las Vegas in December 2023 + 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 listbucket list experiencestop Las Vegas shows, and indoor activities.

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Last Updated: December 24, 2023

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 11, 2023 to Jan 6, 2024)
  2. Ethel M Holiday Display (Nov 3 – Dec 31, 2023)
  3. Cosmopolitan Ice Rink (Dec 2, 2023-Jan 1, 2024)
  4. David Blaine, Wynn (Dec 29-31, 2023)
  5. Bruno Mars, Park MGM (Dec 22-23, 28-31, 2023)

More: 15 Best Places to Visit in December in USA

Holiday Things to DO in Las Vegas in December

December 2: Parade of Lights on Lake Mead, Lake Mead
December 2: 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

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.

Best Places to Celebrate New Years

More: Your Essential Guide to Christmas in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Shows December 2023

More: 9 Las Vegas Shows You Can’t Miss

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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:

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

Planning Checklist

Do any of these things to do in Vegas in December interest you? Let us know if we missed anything! If you’re holding an event and would like to be added, please email us at hello [at] localadventurer.com.

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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.

Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.

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