Every December, Las Vegas transforms like Cinderella when she goes to the Prince’s ball. After December 1st, the city gets a magical makeover and transforms into a magical land colored green, white, and red. Apart from featuring numerous Christmas-themed events, the city hosts some of the most iconic Christmas landmarks in the country, ranging from activities like the King Arthur war to more modern items like a vast North Star display.

One is spoilt for choices, luckily, the holiday season lasts for a whole month, and you can spend ample time exploring the various magical Christmas spots in Sin City. Most of the activities are kid-friendly, making December one of the best months to visit Las Vegas as a family. Below are the ten activities that will give you a magical Christmas in Las Vegas:

Ten Magical Christmas-Themed Activities in Las Vegas

1. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

• Located in: Bellagio Hotel & Casino
• Address: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: 702-693-7111
• Website: https://bellagio.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/conservatory-botanical-garden.html?ecid=GMB_BE

The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is known for its unique and magnificent displays during each season. The Christmas display starts immediately after Thanksgiving, welcoming everyone who visits the garden into the holiday spirit. Walking inside the garden, you are greeted by various Christmas attractions ranging from poinsettia plants to infinite glittering lights crowing a 42-foot-tall Christmas holiday tree.

The Christmas tree is the garden’s centerpiece, featuring a miniature railway, 8,700 decorations, and 10,000 white LED lights. Don’t forget to check out the gigantic gingerbread-style cottage, which is the habitat of a cute family of Coca-Cola polar bears. Interestingly the polar bears are artificially constructed using various materials, including carnation flowers. The Bellagio Pastry team created five-foot-tall egg nestles with three gigantic eggs inside. You can crown your experience at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens by watching a Christmas musical performance at the Bellagio Fountains. The Christmas exhibition is open 24 hours until January 1, 2023.

2. Winter Wonderland Festive North Star Display (ARIA Resort & Casino)

• Located in: CityCenter
• Address: 3730 S Las Vegas Blvd
• Website: https://aria.mgmresorts.com/

ARIA Resort & Casino isn’t left behind during every Vegas Christmas season. The resort ensures a magical treat comprising creative and mouth-watering pastry masterpieces for anyone visiting Las Vegas. More than 90 pounds of fondant and 2,000 pounds of sugar are used in creating the 2022 ARIA Patisserie window Christmas displays. The flowers decorating the trees are made from rice paper, while other decorations are made from madeleines and delectable cream puffs.

The colorful ornaments, toy soldiers, Santa Claus sculptures and snow themes are perfect for capturing beautiful family moments. The Winter Wonderland is also one of the most beautiful places to take pictures for your Instagram posts during Christmas. This year ARIA Resort & Casino features a 28-foot North Star as the centerpiece of its Christmas decoration, standing in the hotel’s lobby. The North Star stands over 28 feet tall, features 10,000 individual crystals and 10,000 twinkle lights, and requires 100 hours of the workforce to set up.

3. Tournament of Kings Holiday Show (Excalibur Hotel & Casino)

• Address: 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd
• Phone:  877-750-5464
• Website: https://excalibur.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/tournament-of-kings.html

Take a trip back to medieval history and experience the famous story of King Arthur from England. Every year during Christmas, the Excalibur Hotel & Casino hosts the Tournament of Kings Holiday Show. The medieval-themed entertainment keeps the audience thrilled and fascinated as they follow the tale of vale and treachery that involved King Arthur. The tickets for the show start from $41.87.

The show is at the Tournament of Kings Arena, a 900-seat round arena. During the performance, guests enjoy an ultimate Camelot dinner experience by eating dinner served in original utensils. The tournament meal will feature the following delicacies from the medieval era:

• Roasted Seasoned Cornish Game Hen
• Corn on the Cob
• Dinner roll
• Apple Square
• Lemon Pepper Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes

Enjoy dinner while eating with your hands and thumping your fist on the table when cheering your favorite knight. The show features valiant knight rides in the arena, proving their chivalry. Thanks to the pyrotechnics and special effects, guests enjoy a mind-blowing experience.

4. Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Garden

• Address: 2 Cactus Garden Dr
• Phone: 702-435-2608
• Website: https://www.ethelm.com/pages/holiday-cactus-garden

The Ethel M Cactus Garden is one of the most beautiful and unique botanical gardens in Las Vegas. It features the natural and indigenous vegetation of the desert region surrounding Sin City. However, during Christmas, the garden elevates its appearance by embracing the holiday theme. Visitors are welcomed to a very distinct Christmas destination in Las Vegas.

The garden has more than 300 indigenous cactus, and desert plants adorned with colorful hues creating a dazzling spectacle. They are surrounded by the magnificent arches of the color-changing LED lights, displaying strings of green, blue, red and white Christmas lights. Don’t miss hunting for the bright reindeer, elves, nutcrackers, and the magical Christmas tree. Every night Santa Clause visits the garden granting the “wish” of everyone, especially the kids who have been good all year round.

If you visit the Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Garden as a family or couple, you can finish the trip by visiting the chocolate factory. The chocolate factory trip can involve sampling some chocolate delicacies.

5. The Nutcracker Las Vegas

• The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
• Address: 361 Symphony Park Avenue
• Phone: 702-749-2000
• Website: https://thesmithcenter.com/tickets/2223/the-nutcracker/

The Nutcracker Las Vegas is a fantastic 120-minute performance, with one 20-minute intermission hosted at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts at Reynolds Halls. The tickets to the performance range from $35.95 to $185.95, and the performance dates will be from December 9 to December 24, 2022 (7:30 pm and 2 pm).

The Nutcracker Las Vegas is two hours magical journey of life filled with moonlight snow, waltzing flowers, and graceful fairies. It is categorized as one of the oldest Christmas holiday traditions in Las Vegas. The audience joins the beautiful Clara and her Prince as they travel from Clara’s hometown to the magical kingdom of toy soldiers. On their journey, they encounter exotic visitors and mischievous rodents from faraway lands.

6. Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

• Address: 7000 Las Vegas Blvd N
• Phone: 702-644-4444
• Website: https://www.lvms.com/

During the day, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a battleground for car racing enthusiasts. However, every night during Christmas, the place transforms into a magical place. Visitors enjoy a unique and magical drive under a beautiful display of Christmas lights and decorations. The activity has no age limit; hence it’s very family-friendly, and one can come in their car and drive through the well-illuminated speedway.

The 2.5-mile racetrack is adorned with more than five million LED lights. The Christmas lights will dance to the festive music as you drive or walk through the tunnels. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway also features Christmas scenes, celebrity meet-ups and Hanukkah lights. You can purchase a ticket for your vehicle or open-air tram. The tickets are per vehicle, and the open-air tram conveniently takes you through the exhibition.

7. Winter Wonderland at Fashion Show Las Vegas

• Address: 3200 Las Vegas Blvd S
• Operating Hours: 11 am to 7 pm (Sunday), 11 am to 8 pm (Monday to Thursday), and 11 am to 9 pm (Friday and Saturday)
• Website: https://www.fslv.com/en.html

The Fashion Show Las Vegas is an iconic shopping destination on the Las Vegas Strip, with the most fabulous stores. Apart from shopping, you can enjoy fantastic dining and entertainment options while visiting Fashion Show Las Vegas. During Christmas, everyone who walks through the shopping complex doors is given a magical Christmas shopping experience.

Apart from the fantastic Christmas decorations, lovers of fashion will love the holiday shopping experience offered at this shopping destination. The Fashion Show Las Vegas features New York-style runway displays incorporated with various live music and dancing every week. Featured in the runway displays are the hottest fashion designers in the industry. The Fashion Show lobby transforms into a Winter Wonderland,” which is a beautiful snowy holiday walkthrough in the shopping complex. The walkthrough features interactive ice ambassadors, mind-blowing snow-white trees, snow flurries, and breathtaking ice sculptures. All building to a gigantic snow globe performance featuring a gorgeous real-life ballerina.

8. Christmas at the Venetian

• Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
• Phone: (702) 414-1000
• Website: https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/

Venetian Las Vegas is one of the most beautiful and high-end hotels in Las Vegas. It is also home to one of the most iconic Vegas Christmas landmarks, the tallest Christmas tree in Sin City, standing over 65 feet tall. The Christmas holiday season at the Venetian Las Vegas is a time of merry and sharing the spirit of love and giving to everyone visiting Las Vegas. Each year the hotel thrives on establishing a new mind-blowing Christmas tradition for its guests by offering unique delicacies.

The 2022 Christmas at the Venetian Las Vegas features a comprehensive, unique holiday menu comprising beverages, seasonal cuisine, and desserts. Some of the outstanding options include the following:

• A Yardbird Holiday
• Holidays at the Cocktail Collective
• Matteo’s Holiday Dinner
• Holiday Dinner at Mott 32
• Holiday Dinner at Bouchon
• BRERA osteria Holiday Dinner

If you are looking for a beautiful place to enjoy an outstanding and sumptuous Christmas dinner, Venetian Las Vegas has a limitless collection for you. After dinner, you can enjoy a magnificent performance at the Palazzo Theatre or the spectacular holiday display at the Waterfall Atrium (Palazzo Tower).

9. Enchant Christmas Village (Enchant Las Vegas)

• Address: 1650 S Pavilion Center Dr and 3000 Las Vegas Blvd S
• Phone: 276-262-4268
• Website: https://enchantchristmas.com/

Enchant Las Vegas opens its doors for visitors to explore the Christmas Village, the world’s largest LED Light Maze adventure. The enchanting light maze provides a delightful experience for people of all ages, making it one of the most popular Christmas attractions in Sin City. Visitors get Ice-Skating Trail, a Santa Clause meet-up, and a Christmas Market featuring local vendors inside the village.

The 90,000 sq/ft maze takes you through the adventure, taking visitors through a magical storybook of delectable treats and beautiful light creations. While many places will have Santa Claus visiting, the Enchant Christmas Village also has visits from Mrs. Claus, enhancing the creativity of the village.

Enchant is located in Summerlin and on the Strip.

10. Wynn’s Winter Wonderland (Holiday Atrium Village at Wynn Las Vegas)

• Address: 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S
• Operating Hours:  Open 24 hours
• Phone: 702-770-7000
• Website: https://www.wynnlasvegas.com/

Christmas and winter share a romantic relationship as old as time. Each year, the Wynn Las Vegas resort brings the winter to the desert city of Las Vegas during the Christmas holiday through their Wynn’s Winter Wonderland. Explore the snowy destination with an elevated Christmas ambiance thanks to the fantastic Christmas decorations. Besides the incredible decorations, visitors can treat themselves with holiday-themed drinks and seasonal cuisine/

The Holiday Atrium Village is a dazzling new neighborhood inspired by the novel Gulliver’s Travels. The six intricately crafted miniature wintery villages are located at the Atrium. Visitors are welcome 24/7 to the village and aren’t charged any fee. Visiting Wynn’s Winter Wonderland should be on your bucket list if you want to enjoy a whimsically unique Vegas Christmas experience.