Christmas in Vegas

Ahh, Las Vegas, Christmas time is here! I’ve been making my list, and checking it twice, and have spared no thought to being naughty or nice…

Las Vegas is rightly known for its lights and elaborate displays, but come Christmas time, the casinos deck the halls with even more lights to usher in the holiday season. If you’re here during this magical time, then jump right into my sleigh and let me escort you around town.

Santa and Sin City
Ho ho ho! What better place to celebrate than Las Vegas? Prepare to celebrate with offerings that range from the interesting to the bizarre to the risqué. Ready?

Gaze at the gaudy lights of the casinos, watch desert cacti transform into Christmas trees, listen to dancing fountains as they sing along to classic carols, stare at the dancing, singing, and acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil, laugh your ass of at comedy shows, stare in amazement at magic shows and titillate yourself with the adult only showgirl extravaganzas.

Whew! Take a breath now. It may not be a white Christmas, but it will definitely be one you will never forget.

The Naughty List
If you really want to make the naughty list, then come on down and spend some time in Las Vegas. Besides the places you already know (or heard of, wink wink.) I’ve detailed where you can go to enjoy the Holiday season.

Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan: The Cosmopolitan hotel transforms their fourth-floor outdoor pool into an ice rink during the holidays. This winter wonderland is created with an ice making machine that makes the perfect skating surface. With Monday-night holiday movies, unique wintery cocktails, s’mores and dazzling views views of the Las Vegas Strip, this will make your Holiday complete.

Ethel M Chocolates Factory and Cactus Garden: If you haven’t figured it out, Las Vegas is in the desert, which means we’re missing out on a Christmas staple: trees. But in typical Vegas fashion, we do our best without them. The Ethel M Chocolates Factory features over three acres of cacti festooned with half a million lights. It’s sight you won’t soon forget. It gets better though. You can complement this visual overload with savory offerings of chocolate! Get down here. The display runs through the month of December and is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Bring your selfie game.

Bellagio Fountains: The fountains at the Bellagio are a national treasure. (I may have just made that up) But if they’re not, they definitely should be. Regardless, during the Holiday season, they dance along to classic seasonal tunes like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and even “O Holy Night.” Perfect Vine moment. Or Instagram. Twitter? You get the idea.

Holiday Havoc at the Hard Rock: Now, if you’d rather skip the Holiday music and listen to something more up to date, simply head straight for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino! There, the Joint is host to the Holiday Havoc rockfest. This year’s show will feature London-based headliners Bastille on December 15. They will be joined by Fidlar, Silversun Pickups, and The Moth & The Flame. Get your tickets! Now!

Terry Fator’s A Very Terry Christmas at the Mirage: Enjoy the Holidays with the former winner of America’s Got Talent. I have to say, he’s become quite the Vegas favorite. And now he’s got his own theater at the Mirage Hotel and Casino. Come watch him perform some seasonal tunes like “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Winter Wonderland” coupled to his trademark blend of original country songs and ventriloquism. Side splitting laughs are on the house.

Scuba Santa at the Silverton: If you didn’t already know, the Silverton Casino Hotel houses a 117,000 gallon saltwater aquarium. It’s home to over 4,000 sharks, stingrays and tropical fish. Oh, and mermaids. Yes. Mermaids. But during the holiday season, they all getaa visitor from someone further up north. Santa Claus. From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 22 & Dec. 23), you can watch Santa (and elves) swim around. Yeah, I know. Only in Vegas right?

City Center Christmas: Picture this: thousands of fresh flowers, a 50-foot Olympia Pine Tree bedazzled with with bright white LED lights, and candy-like twists hanging from the ceiling. This is the essence of Christmas. And you can experience it for yourself at The Crystals shopping center at CityCenter. Also, live music from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Not bad huh?

Christmas Concerts: If you’re feeling fancy, The Nutcracker is always spectacular experience at Reynolds Hall at the Smith Center. Just don’t come in hungover. It runs December 12, 2015 – December 20, 2015. Or for some 1970s pop nostalgia, head over to the South Point Hotel and Casino. Here, delight in the longtime staple of Las Vegas showrooms, Tony Orlando. If you don’t know who that is, ask your parents. At least you’ll have something to talk about with them….

The Reason for the Season
You don’t need a reason to come to Vegas. But if you’re looking for one, the Holidays will work. Bring your friends, co workers, your loved ones (make sure they don’t meet) or maybe even your family.

After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year.