Vegas is home to some of the most iconic holiday attractions, resort lobby transformations and light shows, making it an ideal destination to celebrate and discover the wonders and magic of the holidays. Here are a handful of fun and unique holiday experiences that you can enjoy in Vegas this season.
AREA15 Immersive Holiday Showing
AREA15 is bringing back a unique viewing experience of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas for a second year. Held from Thursday, Nov. 24 to Thursday, Dec. 29 at The Portal, the experience features floor-to-ceiling projection mapping of the classic holiday movie in a 360-degree room, immersive light and sound, and a curated cocktail menu. Get tickets here.
ARIA Resort & Casino Starry Holiday Display
ARIA Resort & Casino’s winter wonderland display of starry scenery and breathtaking imagery takes guests on a magical journey throughout the resort now until Monday, Jan. 9. Dubbed “The North Star,” the festive display includes a towering 28-foot North Star in the center of the resort lobby, larger-than-life crystal shards, flocked trees and a starry night of celestial starbursts above.
Circa Resort & Casino Ugly Sweater Party at Legacy Club
Visitors are invited to don their most unsightly sweaters at Circa Resort & Casino’s rooftop Legacy Club lounge during its Ugly Sweater Party on Friday, December 16. The festive celebration includes an ugly sweater contest, themed cocktails, holiday cookies, live music and photo-worthy views from the 60th floor of the downtown resort.
Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Enjoy a display of over 5 million holiday lights without leaving your car at Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The drive-through spectacle runs through Sunday, January 8 with a portion of each ticket benefitting Speedway Children’s Charities.
Holiday Cactus Garden Charity Event at Ethel M Chocolates
Longtime tradition, Holiday Cactus Garden, returns for its 29th annual year at Ethel M Chocolates through Sunday, January 1. The experience features millions of sparkling lights across three acres of desert landscaping, sweet treats, hot chocolate and visits from Santa. In the spirit of giving, each entrance fee collected will be donated to local charities Help of Southern Nevada and Three Square Food Bank.
Ice Skating at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Ice Rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Boulevard Pool is back now through January 2, giving visitors the festive opportunity to ice skate on more than 4,200 square feet of real ice. The space also features opportunities to roast s’mores at fire pits and enjoy seasonal cocktails, classic holiday films on its marquee and breathtaking rooftop views surrounded by vibrant city lights.
Immersive Nutcracker Exhibit at The Shops at Crystals
The Shops at Crystals presents Immersive Nutcracker, a multisensory exhibit of the classic Christmas tale, now through Friday, December 30. The 30-minute experience brings the holiday story to life with immersive projections set to the familiar music of Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky that span over 500,000 cubic feet, special effects and more. Purchase tickets here.
Outdoor Shopping Holiday Festivities at The District at Green Valley Ranch
The District at Green Valley Ranch has been decked out with décor, special photo opportunities and festive art installations. The open-air shopping center also presents a Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 18 featuring live entertainment, dreidels, gelt and crafts for the little ones.
The M Resort Spa & Casino’s Snow Carnival Holiday Forest
Watch the gentle flurry of snowflakes fall from The M Resort Spa & Casino at the resort’s Snow Carnival Holiday Forest now through Sunday, Jan. 8 The family-friendly experience features real snow and is complete with winter treats and drinks, a “mini-Matterhorn” slide ride and more.
The Sand Dollar Las Vegas Holiday Experiences
Iconic dive bar The Sand Dollar Las Vegas brings the holiday cheer to both locations now through Saturday, December 31 with the return of Miracle on Spring Mountain at The Sand Dollar Lounge and the introduction of Sippin’ Santa On Main at The Sand Dollar Downtown. The fully immersive, nostalgic holiday experiences are complete with themed cocktails and nearly $100,000 in over-the-top holiday displays.
