(This article may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Thank you!)
There’s no shortage of fun in Las Vegas any time of the year, and even more holly, jolly fun abounds during the holidays!
While visiting Las Vegas during the holiday season, you can enjoy a variety of entertainment options, from great venues and events to live Christmas shows. One of the most famous events in Las Vegas at Christmas time is the Glittering Lights drive-thru at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Grab your loved ones, head to Las Vegas, and prepare to fill your cup with Christmas cheer this holiday season. If you’re planning a winter vacation in Vegas, we’ve got you covered with our 2023 Las Vegas holiday activity guide!
16 Christmassy Things to Do in Las Vegas in 2023
If you’ll be in Las Vegas this holiday season, here are our 16 top Christmas-themed things to do while you’re here:
1. Glittering Lights
If you’re looking to be dazzled, you cannot miss the largest Christmas lights drive-thru in the state. Glittering Lights is located at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where you’ll find more than five million lights and170 lit-up trees. There’s even a living nativity scene along the 2.5 mile route.
A portion of each ticket sale goes to support local children’s charities in southern Nevada- so you can share in the Christmas cheer by helping a good cause.
Glittering Lights officially opens on November 9th, 2023, and runs from 4:45 pm to 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday nights. On Fridays and Saturdays, the show continues until 10 pm.
→ Get your tickets for Glittering Lights here
2. Aria’s Winter Wonderland Display (The North Star)
Note: This is last year’s display. We will update this when the 2023 display is live.
For some, nothing says Christmas quite like a display of sweet treats. Let your eyes go wide and your mouth water as you look at Aria’s Winter Wonderland. Every winter holiday season, it’s a new show made entirely of edible goodies!
This year, the holiday display is called The North Star at Aria. The star itself was created in collaboration with local artist Andrea Eppolito, but you’ll find the real holiday magic in the goodies displayed below the star.
At first glance, it looks like a standard Christmas display. Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll discover that ARIA’s pastry chefs have crafted each display element. You’ll find madeleines and cream puffs, and each tree’s flowers have been fashioned from rice paper. The gift boxes are hand-painted, and there are over 100 feet of sugar ribbons.
It took six pastry chefs over two months to create all of the goodies in the ARIA Christmas display.
The best part of it all? There is no entry fee! So even if you are not staying at the , it’s worth a trip to see this masterpiece that takes around 200 hours to complete. The display is open 24 hours a day in the hotel’s main lobby from the end of November until January 9th.
3. Bellagio Conservatory’s Winter & Holiday Display
Starting on December 1st and continuing throughout the entire Christmas season, the Bellagio goes all out to create the most stunning Christmas display possible- even the Grinch’s heart will fill to overflowing!
This must-see Christmas and winter delight in the Bellagio Conservatory has all the classic staples, including a 42-foot live Christmas tree and a huge snow globe. You’ll also find penguins, a ten-foot train made from thousands of red and white roses, and playful polar bears made from white carnations.
If this wintry wonderland still leaves you wanting more, head over to the Bellagio Fountains to see the choreographed water dance along to classic holiday songs.
You can find the seasonal Bellagio Conservatory schedule right here.
4. The Cosmopolitan: The Ice Rink
The Ice Rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has it all for the perfect evening of classic winter fun. Enjoy the rooftop ice rink, hot adult beverages, fire pits, and traditional holiday magic.
There are over 4000 square feet of real ice for skating on while gentle snowflakes cascade around you throughout the night. If you don’t want to skate all evening, you can head to the fire pits to roast smores and watch your favorite holiday movies.
The fun doesn’t have to stop there, either!
Ice Rink Hours at The Cosmopolitan
The hours at Cosmopolitan’s ice rink are as follows:
- December 2 – December 15: 4 – 11 PM (Weekdays) 12 – 11 PM (Saturday & Sunday)
- December 18 – January 2: 12 PM – 11 PM (Every day of the week)
- December 24th & 25th: 12 PM – Midnight
Entrance to the area around the rink is free, and ice skate rentals run between $20 and $30.
5. Ethel M Chocolate Factory Cactus Garden Christmas Lights
What’s more Christmassy in the desert than a garden full of cacti dressed up in their holiday finest? You’ll find a three-acre cactus garden covered in glittery Christmas delight at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory.
With half a million lights, animatronic reindeer, and more covering this outdoor desert garden, there’s no shortage of things to see. You can even explore and learn about more than 300 types of cacti, including spotted aloe and Texas prickly pears.
The best part is that admission into this cacti wonderland is just $2! The lights are on from November 3rd until Decemer 31st from 5 pm to 10 pm, so stop in to see this unique Christmas light show.
Oh, and by the way, Santa is on hand nightly for pictures!
RELATED: Ethel M Christmas Lights: A Must-See Attraction (Photo Gallery)
6. Christmas at Mystic Falls Park
Mystic Falls Park is an indoor nature park at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall. Year-round you can stroll along the pathways listening to the sound of birds and enjoying the huge waterfall and laser light and animatronic show.
At Christmas time, however, Mystic Falls transforms into a winter wonderland complete with Santa and snow! The holiday decorations are beautiful to behold, and a visit to Mystic Falls at Christmas has become a tradition for many families, mine included!
Mystic Falls is decked out for Christmas starting November 22nd and runs through December 23rd. Laser light show times are every hour between 2 pm & 10 pm.
Even better than the show itself, snow starts falling at every performance’s end! Mystic Falls is entirely free to enjoy, and so are the visits with Santa Claus.
7. Enchant Christmas
Are you looking for something more unique than a standard light show? Check out Enchant Christmas at the Vegas Ballpark to enter a shimmering light adventure.
Santa’s missing a reindeer, and it’s up to you to enter the stunning light maze to help find him! This world of adventure features over 4 million lights, creating an immersive, breathtaking walkthrough story maze.
Aside from the maze, you can enjoy the charming village with ice skating, dining, live entertainment, and local artisans selling wares for your holiday shopping list! There’s even a play place for children. While visiting, you might see Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves!
Enchant Christmas in Las Vegas takes place at the Las Vegas Ballpark, and runs from November 24th – December 31st. Tickets are $34 for adults and $25 for ages 3 – 17. Infants under three are free.
8. Holidays at The LINQ Promenade and The Flamingo
If you’re looking for an easy-to-access winter wonderland at the center of the Las Vegas Strip, look no further than the Flamingo and LINQ Promenade.
These spots do it up holiday style with sparkling trees and classic Holly Jolly fun. At Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat, you’ll see tons of pink decorations and a giant snow globe. You can also chill out at the firepits with seasonal drinks at the Flamingo Bar.
At the LINQ Promenade, dozens of storefronts offer special holiday discounts and tasty treats like Candy Cane Cheesecake!
The best thing about these two side-by-side holiday adventures is that both are free to visit!
9. Blitzen’s Antler Attic
From December 2nd through the 23rd, help Mrs. Claus and the reindeer decorate ornaments to save Christmas at Blitzen’s Antler Attic.
At this pop-up bar, you’ll choose an ornament to paint. Someone will lead you to your table, where you’ll find an assortment of paints and brushes. While at the table, you can order any of their delicious co*cktails and snacks to enjoy while painting!
After painting, you’ll let your ornament dry while you enjoy the rest of Blitzen’s Antler Attic. There’s a complimentary arcade for you to play in, or you can enjoy another yummy co*cktail at the Antler Attic lounge. There’s even a winter wonderland to walk through.
If you don’t want to miss this fun pop-up experience, book a ticket ahead of time!
10. Magical Forest at Opportunity Village
There’s a little something magical for everyone at Magical Forest. You can visit Santa, ride the enchanted carousel, board their iconic train to view the lights and sites, or do holiday shopping!
If you’re brave enough, you can even try racing down the 50-foot Avalanche Slide with your family or friends. If thrills aren’t your thing, just walking around the beautifully lit village is enough to take your breath away!
The best part of Magical Forest is that every single dollar spent there goes towards supporting services and programs for 3,000 people with disabilities at Opportunity Village. While you’re warming yourself with a delicious cup of hot cocoa, you’re also warming your heart by helping others.
The holiday fun runs:
- November 24th – 26th
- November 30th – December 3rd
- December 7th – 10th
- December 14th – 31st
The hours are:
- 5:30PM – 9PM (Sunday to Thursday)
- 5:30PM – 9:30PM (Friday and Saturday)
- Closed on Christmas Day
Fun Fact: The Magical Forest was originally started by a local family in their backyard many years ago. It became so popular that it grew into the annual event at Opportunity Village.
11. Bad Elf Pop-Up Bar
Step into a winter wonderland of festive fun at the Bad Elf Pop-Up Bar, nestled in the heart of the Shady Grove Lounge at Silverton Casino, Las Vegas! This isn’t just any holiday bar; it’s a magical escape where every corner twinkles with the spirit of the season.
Imagine being surrounded by a dazzling array of holiday decorations – string lights that dance like stars, presents wrapped in shimmering paper, oversized ornaments that sparkle, and a merry troop of elves swinging from the ceiling.
Decked out in vibrant red and green, it’s a kitschy Christmas paradise complete with snow-draped trees, playful elves, and even Santa with his reindeer reigning supreme on the roof.
But the real star of the show? The Bad Elf Pop-Up Bar’s special holiday co*cktail menu is a merry mix of festive flavors that will have your taste buds caroling with joy. And for those who love a good challenge, the Bad Elf Experience is a must-try. It’s a puzzle hunt like no other, where you can unravel four festive puzzles while sipping on delightful holiday co*cktails.
Open daily from November 4 to January 1, from 5 pm to 11 pm
If you’re looking for a night of laughs in Vegas, you must see a Terry Fator show. Terry Fator is a triple threat- stand-up comedian, ventriloquist, and singer. In 2023, he’s bringing back his Christmas-themed live show, “A Very Terry Christmas.”
The show celebrates the joy of the holidays by showcasing Terry’s unique talents. These talents are brought to life by his puppet friends with their celebrity impersonations of classic songs like “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas.” You’ll even learn about Terry’s new holiday idea, “Juana,” which is sure to make you laugh.
Terry’s Christmas show run from November 24th to December 30th.
13. Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den Speakeasy
The Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den Speakeasy is a hidden gem that’s open all year round, but the decor changes seasonally. During Christmas, they deck the halls and pull out all the stops at this secret speakeasy.
Entrance to the speakeasy is hidden at Resorts World behind a shelf at Ms. Meows Mamak’s stall. You won’t need a password to get in. You just have to find the right place.
The speakeasy opens at 4:30 pm (3 pm on Fridays and Saturdays) and closes at 4 am, but plan to go earlier during the evening if you don’t want to wait long to get a seat.
If you’re looking for a chill place to enjoy Christmas decorations with unique, delicious co*cktails, this is the place for you. It also makes for a great first stop on your Christmas in Vegas nighttime journey!
14. Catch an All Motown Show
This all-female show features the duch*esses of Motown singing all of Motown’s greatest hits, including The Jackson 5, the Marvelettes, The Temptations, and more. This fantastic 75-minute show is also kid-friendly!
During the All Motown holiday season, you can expect to find favorite Christmas songs sung by the duch*esses in holiday-themed costumes.
Don’t miss out on the amazing performances of these talented women!
15. Dine at Tournament of Kings: “Twas the Knight” Dinner Theatre
“Tournament of Kings” is the longest-running dinner show on the Strip in Vegas. This Christmas season will see the return of their famous holiday show: “Tournament of Kings: Twas the Knight.”
You’ll get to enjoy all the entertainment that medieval times can offer, plus a delicious three-course meal. The holiday menu will include Cornish Game Hen, fresh corn on the cob, roasted sweet potatoes, a soft baked dinner roll, and a hand-decorated Christmas cookie. Talk about eating like a king!
Twas the Knight runs from November 22nd to December 25th.
16. The Immersive Nutcracker Experience
The same producers of the critically acclaimed Van Gogh Exhibit are taking center stage again for Christmas. While visiting the Immersive Nutcracker Experience, you’ll see the classic story of the Nutcracker reimagined and brought to life before your eyes on a majestic scale.
Breathtaking projections with stunning special effects fill this 500,000 cubic feet holiday experience!
The display runs from November 19th until December 30th, so be sure to book your tickets because you will not want to miss out on this event!
Read More:
- Bellagio Conservatory Christmas (Photo Gallery)
- What is Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas?
- 21+ Reasons To Visit Las Vegas in December
- National Finals Rodeo (NFR) Las Vegas
Christmas in Las Vegas – Wrap Up
Whether you’re looking for something to do with the family, going out with friends, or on a romantic getaway with your significant other, you’ll find something for you in Las Vegas during the holidays.
Check out great Christmas light displays that will knock your stockings off, enjoy famous holiday-themed live shows, or get in the holly jolly spirit by eating tasty treats, icing skating, or painting ornaments.
We hope that our list of 16 Christmassy things to do in Las Vegas has helped you chart a course for your best holiday vacation!
🎄Which holiday attractions and activities do you recommend in Las Vegas? Tell us in the comment section below. 🎅
