Magical Las Vegas Christmas Traditions For Children of All Ages
Las Vegas is one of the most magical places in the country to celebrate the Christmas season. The city transforms with decadent holiday light displays. All the must-see places and attractions are decked out in holiday decorations. And of course, Santa is about anywhere you go.
If you're looking for the perfect time of year to bring your kids to Las Vegas, Christmas is it. Kids of all ages will be dazzled by Las Vegas all dressed up for the holidays. Every member of the family will have fun taking in the special sights, activities, and events.
Here are some Las Vegas Christmas traditions your family has to check out during the holiday season.
The Nutcracker at Smith Center
The Nutcracker ballet is performed by ballet companies all over the world during the holiday season. It's one of the very few global Christmas traditions that exist.
So, of course, the Nevada Ballet Theater participates in the tradition. Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December, there are exquisite performances of this iconic ballet at the Smith Center on Symphony Park Ave.
The Nutcracker is all about the magical world of fairies, toy soldiers, and the infamous Mouse King, it's the perfect show to introduce your kids to the ballet. The performances are kid-friendly, so don't worry about your littles making a lot of noise. Let them fully enjoy this magical holiday experience.
Holiday Magic 2021 at The LINQ Promenade
The Linq Promenade is the heart of the Las Vegas strip. This huge pedestrian mall has the best shops, restaurants, and experiences Vegas has to offer. There are even rides for kids of all ages, including the largest Ferris wheel in the world - The High Roller. From the top of the High Roller, you can see the entire city.
Like most places in Vegas, the Linq Promenade completely transforms for the holiday season until January 2, 2022. There are decorations everywhere, holiday-themed lights, live performances, an interactive 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, Christmas crafts, and the High Roller is lit up in holiday colors. Every day during December, you and your family can wander the promenade and enjoy all the holiday wonder.
You and your kids will be happy to run around the promenade taking in all the sights and sounds.
Cowabunga Bay Christmas Town
Cowabunga Bay is hosting a one-of-a-kind holiday celebration festival of lanterns with a winter wonderland of handcrafted chinese lanterns!
Immerse yourself in the beauty and glow of handcrafted Chinese Lanterns that light up the nights, be dazzled by their 20-foot christmas tree and capture memories with Santa!
Lantern festivals, which date back more than 2,000 years, feature gorgeous handcrafted lanterns displaying the creativity and amazing engineering feats of skilled artists. A team of 25 artisans have sculpted, assembled and illuminated these works of arts on-site at Cowabunga Bay beginning November 5 and running select dates through February 2022.
Opportunity Village's Magical Forest
Opportunity Village is an incredible program that raises money to support services and programs for people with disabilities. One of their biggest fundraising events every year is the Magical Forest, which pops up every December.
Opportunity Village's Magical Forest is an amusement park that appeals to everyone in the family, regardless of their age.
There are rides for kids and adults. Holiday-themed vendors provide delicious food and hot cocoa. There are over a million lights to brighten the night sky. The giant Christmas tree completes the holiday aesthetic.
Santa is a frequent visitor to the Magical Forest, so kids can do a meet and greet and get their photo with jolly Old St. Nick.
All the proceeds go toward helping Opportunity Village support their mission. So, you can feel good about spending your holiday dollars at the Magical Forest because you know you're helping others.
Open: Nov 26th, 2021-Jan 2nd, 2022 (Closed: Christmas Day)
Scuba Santa at the Silverton Aquarium
For a completely different kind of Santa experience, take the kids to the Silverton Aquarium during the holiday season.
This giant aquarium that features all kinds of aquatic creatures is already a favorite of kids of all ages. But during the holiday season, the experience becomes even more magical. Why? Because Scuba Santa and his elves drop by for a visit.
Santa and his elves strap on their scuba gear and go for a dive in the tanks with the animals. So you'll be watching a stingray or a shark and all of a sudden, there's Santa. The coolest part is that Santa has headphones and a microphone that allow him to hear what kids on the other side of the glass are saying and answer back.
Your kiddos can talk to a scuba diving Santa! It's definitely a different Santa meet and greet than the one you go to at the mall each year.
Springs Preserve Holiday Express
Every kid loves trains and most adults do too, especially when that train is holiday-themed.
The Springs Preserve Holiday Express is a train all decked out for the holiday season that takes you and your family to Santa's village. Once you're there, your family gets one on one time with Santa in his cottage. They can also participate in reindeer games, make holiday crafts, and enjoy all sorts of holiday treats.
If you're looking for a holiday village experience with some extra magic, a ride on the Springs Preserve Holiday Express is perfect.
Have the Las Vegas Christmas of Your Dreams
During December, Las Vegas completely transforms into a magical holiday wonderland. It's an experience that everyone in your family will love. These are a few of the amazing holiday traditions you can enjoy during your perfect Las Vegas Christmas.
Need some help planning your holiday season in Vegas? Check out the Attractions section of our website for more ideas about how to enjoy Las Vegas this holiday season or any time of year.