I just LOVE Christmas time!! I love the smells, the feelings, the treats, just everything! Sometimes Vegas gets a bad rap for not having things to do for families, so I have put a list together of some things around town for the holidays (some are even FREE)... Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Live NativityDecember 8-10 and December 15-17 3 performances nightly This year the Red Rock stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is putting on a live nativity at Opportunity Village Buffalo campus. This is a free event, but you need to make a reservation because this is a very popular event.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory Cactus GardenFree! Gorgeous light display! Check out the calendar of events to see when the kiddies can sit on the "big man's" lap and spill their Christmas wishes.
Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro ShopsNow through December 24thFree photos with Santa, and it looks like they have planned even MORE FREE crafts and activities! Monday-Friday crafts from 5pm-7pm, Saturday and Sunday crafts from noon-5pm. Games and activities are free all day long! Kiddies can check out trains, race slot cars, write letters to Santa, play with the soft gun arcade, and more!
Gift of LightsNow until January 1st 6pm-9pmThis spectacular drive-through light display is a great Christmas tradition! This is one of our favorite things to do with the kids. We get everyone in their jammies, and bring some hot cocoa and candy canes for treats as they find their favorite display. Cost is $15 per car (discount if you bring items to donate to Goodwill) - worth it! Winterfest at City of HendersonDecember 9th 6-9pmTwo day event fulled with games, art show, gingerbread house contest, and childrens activities! Best part, it's FREE!
Bellagio ConservatoryOpen 24 hours Free! Check out the great display that never disappoints! Great spots for family photos too.
Lakeshore Learning CenterEvery Saturday from 11am-3pmEach week (even after the holidays), you can take your little ones down to make a great little craft. This activity is FREE and so much fun for kids any age! This month, they can make mittens, snowmen, penguins, ornaments, and even noise makers for new years!
Lowes Build and GrowDecember 3, 10, and 17th 10:00amGo to any Lowes in the valley and help your kiddies create a train set. They will make one car each week. The NutcrackerDecember 17-December 24 at Paris HotelTake your princess to this beautiful holiday tradition. This one's gonna cost ya, but it's sure to be a lasting memory.
Santa TrainDecember 3,4,10,11,17,18It may be a little drive to Boulder City for this activity, but it's another show stopper I'm sure. Bring your letters to Santa and meet the 'big guy' and his Mrs. on the ride! Cost is $5 per person, but of course, I found you a $1 off coupon (not sure if it will apply to this event, but it's worth a shot)
Magical Forest at Opportunity VillageEvery night through December 31st Truly a magical experience to be surrounded by hundreds of decorated trees and thousands of lights. There is also a train ride, photos with Santa, Gingerbread house display, and even a carousel. So much to do. This one does cost a bit, but there are ways to cut back. Check out their calendar of events for more information. The best deal will be Monday nights - Free child admission with adult purchase.
Storytelling with Santa on the BeachEvery Saturday in December 6pm-8pmLoewes at Lake Las Vegas is sponsoring a story hour with Santa himself! This is a FREE event too! Stories still coming up: 12/10 - The Twelve Days of Christmas, 12/17 - The Tailor's Apprentice, 12/24 - The Nutcracker. There is also ice skating on the lake through Jan 29th. Check out their website for group rates.
Springs PreserveDecember 10-11, and 17-18 5pm-9pm Springs Preserve has transformed into a Holiday wonderland! Come make treats, do crafts, see the amazing light displays, and see a 'reindeer' or two. For an extra fee, you can ice skate or take a picture with Santa. How fun! Cost for this event is $8 for adults and $5 for kids (5-12yrs) Natural History MuseumDecember 19-23 and December 26-30 11am-3pmEach day of winder break, you can pop on down to the museum for Weekend Science projects. These are usually only done on Saturdays, but they have some special things in store when the kids are out of school. Kids will get to see how Christmas lights work, make Christmas ornaments, or even fingerprint snowflakes! Cool!
Town SquareEvery Wednesday in December 6pm-7pmHoliday nights and lights will feature performing groups from all over the valley from elementary schools to high schools and more. All done before the Snow in the Square! That's right! Every night at 7pm it will SNOW in Las Vegas!! Check it out! Phew! That should keep everyone busy for a while at least! I'm sure there is so much more going on, but my kiddies are calling and it's that time of year to cater to their every whim. If you still are in need of a daily pick me up, my friend Colette has put up her Advent Blog. She has an amazing message every day to help us keep focused on why it is we celebrate this time of year. MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 
