Las Vegas celebrates the holiday season in a signature over-the-top fashion. From elaborate botanical gardens to sparkling light shows, there are endless exciting things to do in Las Vegas on Christmas.
In your list of things to do on Christmas day in Las Vegas, have Bellagio Conservatory visit at the top. This year’s masterpiece features a towering 18-foot snow globe surrounded by towering Christmas trees and thousands of poinsettias. Visitors can walk through a sparkling tunnel into the center of the snowy scene for magical photos. The Bellagio fountains dance to beloved holiday tunes from November through early January, perfectly synchronized with a dazzling light show on the lake’s water.
Other fun things to do in Las Vegas for Christmas include visiting the Cosmopolitan’s whimsical rocket ship sculpture decked in thousands of ornaments and lights. Kids can meet Santa at the resort’s ice rink. Listen for the periodic “snowstorms” as bubbly snowflakes cascade from the Cosmopolitan’s 65-foot striped tree. Down the street, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood host a soapy “snow” show of their own to mimic a white Christmas.
Things to Do on Christmas Eve in Las Vegas
Christmas Eve brings a rush of pre-holiday excitement. Many hotels ramp up decorations like ARIA’s 90-foot-tall sparkling tree in anticipation of the big day. Some of the things to do in Las Vegas on Christmas day include catching a cheerful show – popular productions add songs, dances, and costumes to spread seasonal cheer. Afterward, feast on multi-course holiday prix fixe dinners at celebrity chef restaurants. Cap off your evening strolling the dazzling light displays outside Caesars, Venetian, Bellagio, and more as you scout things to add to tomorrow’s holiday itinerary.
Locals also flock to town square markets around Summerlin and Henderson to sip hot chocolate and let the kids ice skate under the stars on Christmas Eve. At Town Square, visitors can track Santa’s journey on a command center display. Community caroling and tree lightings make for heartwarming neighborhood holiday fun before turning in for the night, ready to for Christmas things Las Vegas.
Family Things to Do in Las Vegas for Christmas
Beyond the reputation for adult-only entertainment, there are many family things to do in Las Vegas for Christmas. Hotel festivities provide options catering to kids and parents alike. Options like the Bellagio Conservatory, Mirage Volcano holiday show and LINQ promenade work for all ages. Other key family-friendly things to do in Las Vegas Christmas day include:
Circus Circus Adventuredome
The indoor amusement park at Circus Circus gets into the holiday spirit by decking out rides like the Canyon Blaster rollercoaster with thousands of colorful lights. Kids can go ice skating on the property’s outdoor rink under the watchful eye of a sparkling clown marquee. This is one of the best things to do on Christmas Day Las Vegas.
Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
At this drive-through animated light show, families cruise 2.5 miles of holiday scenes featuring a sparkling wizard’s castle, leapfrogging reindeer, dancing trees and over three million lights. Sync the radio to holiday music while seeing if the kids can spot Santa in his sleigh.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory Holiday Cactus Garden
The highlight of this Henderson botanical garden is the delightful 30-minute light show flashing across a million colorful bulbs choreographed to Christmas classics. Afterwards, sample gourmet chocolates and sip hot cocoa while kids hunt for the mischievous glowing lizards hiding among the desert plants.
Best Christmas Things to Do in Las Vegas
Narrowing down the best things to do at Christmas in Las Vegas takes some strategic planning to make the most of the holiday season. Top picks for things to do Las Vegas Christmas include:
The Gaylord Rockies Resort at Tivoli Village Holiday Experience
This should be on your list of things to do in Christmas in Las Vegas The interactive winter experience brings the charm of a European Christmas market to Las Vegas. Marvel at over a million dazzling lights, enjoy an indulgent holiday buffet, or relax for a showing of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas in a cozy chalet cinema.
Lights at Wet’n’Wild Holiday Inn Express
A dazzling display of over one million LED lights synchronized to holiday music greets visitors at this hotel water park. Beyond lights shows, activities include snow tubing, ice skating, gingerbread decorating, festive movies and photos with Santa. It’s also one of the more budget-friendly holiday offerings in town.
Miracle Pop-Up Holiday Cocktail Bars
One of the best things to do on Christmas in Las Vegas is to visit the Miracle on Spring Mountain. This place transports visitors straight to the North Pole with kitschy Christmas overload. But the real magic lies in the menu – think hot buttered rum, Christmas tree-garnished tipsy hot chocolate, and of course Santa’s famous sugar cookie shots. More cheekily-named concoctions can be found at Miracle’s other pop-up location, the Merriest Bar on Earth.
Places to Go in Las Vegas During Christmas
From neighborhood markets to botanical winter wonderlands, here are delightful places to go in Las Vegas during Christmas:
Springs Preserve Holiday Express
Ride this family-friendly train while enjoying hot cider and cookies. Along the ride, see dazzling light displays including a splashy Sound Wave Holiday Tree flashing to holiday music. Other activities include cookie decorating, ornament making and photos with Santa.
Opportunity Village Magical Forest
An annual favorite, this charitable holiday attraction delights visitors with millions of lights, sweet train rides, hot chocolate and nightly snow shows. Kids will love the mini thoroughbred racetrack and seeing Santa fly overhead in his sleigh.
Downtown Summerlin Holiday Parade & Market
Browse local artisan stalls while enjoying live music at this holiday market. On select nights, Summerlin visitors can catch the resort’s dazzling parade floats, dancers, giant balloons and more marching down main street alongside Santa.
Things to Do in Vegas Christmas Weekend
A Las Vegas Christmas weekend overflows with holiday magic. From seeing Santa fly over the Strip at T-Mobile arena to lavish holiday feasts, here’s how to celebrate Christmas in Vegas things to do in style:
- Christmas Eve: Take photos in front of the LINQ Promenade’s 12-story LED Christmas tree flashing to tunes like “Jingle Bell Rock.” Check out the festive Victorian-themed painting projection show at Downtown Container Park. Enjoy Christmas Eve dinner at Bacchanal Buffet, with carving stations for holiday ham and more.
- Christmas Day: Some of the things to do Christmas day Las Vegas including having brunch at Wicked Spoon Buffet at Cosmopolitan, with eggnog cream puffs, Christmas prime rib and unlimited champagne. See Santa soaring outside T-Mobile arena as part of the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon pre-race festivities. Catch a Christmas Cirque du Soleil show followed by a spirited holiday music performance at Herbs & Rye Lounge. All these Las Vegas things to do Christmas will crown your day and give you a festive feeling.
- Boxing Day: After exhausting your Las Vegas Christmas things to do list, you can now gamble the afternoon away at casino holiday lounges like Flamingo’s Bugsy Christmas Cabaret. Browse the artisan gifts at Tivoli Village’s Christmas market then take a spin on their outdoor ice skating rink. Cap off your Vegas holiday weekend seeing a Christmas edition of popular Magic Mike Live adult revue.
With nonstop meals, cocktails, sights and entertainment everywhere you turn, Las Vegas dazzles brighter than ever over Christmas. After the presents have been opened, there’s still plenty of things to do in Las Vegas during Christmas. Under the shining neon lights, this desert oasis overflows with Christmas spirit. With endless displays, entertainment options, and holiday revelry, Las Vegas provides magical Yuletide memories that will last long after the season is over. With all the above things to do for Christmas in Las Vegas, you’ll have a great time during this festive season
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