A&E

Holiday Events Guide 2013

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Photo: Christopher DeVargas

We could’ve been naughty, but we decided to be nice. From holiday lights to ice skating rinks to shows, the Weekly has your one-stop shop guide for where to go and what to do over the holiday week.

Ice skating

Bring the whole family to one of Vegas’ four “ice” skating rinks. Lace up your skates at the Venetian (daily, 3-11 p.m., $14), Cosmopolitan (Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-midnight; Saturday & Sunday, noon-midnight, $10-$15), Caesars Palace (daily, 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m., $11) or Gold Spike (Sunday-Wednesday, noon-midnight; Thursday-Saturday, noon 1 a.m., $10).

Lights

Bellagio Conservatory Step into the elegant casino’s winter wonderland complete with a 45-foot, 80,000-pound tree, polar bears and poinsettias. Open 24 hours.

Ethel M Chocolates Now through January 1, the Ethel M Chocolates Botanical Cactus Garden glows nightly with beautiful holiday lights. Check out the garden now through December 23 to visit with Santa himself. 5-10 p.m., visits from Santa 5-9 p.m, free.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Hop in the car and bring the family to the Speedway, home to a 2.5-mile-long Glittering Lights display. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5:30-10 p.m., $15, $20 on Christmas Eve and Day.

The Neon Museum Vegas’ house of neon hosts its first holiday light display now through December 31. 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., $25, $22 for seniors, students, military, veterans and Nevada residents.

Opportunity Village The Magical Forest returns to Las Vegas with festive lights and activities for the whole family, like a gingerbread house, mini golf, a snowflake slide and more. Through January 6. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-9 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 5:30-10 p.m $9-$20.

Events

Christmas For You Too Vegas vocal group Tenors 4U performs pop hits and classical songs during this holiday show as part of the Downtown Cultural Series. December 20, noon, free. Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. S.

Holiday Favorites Concert Celebrate the season with the Holiday Favorites Concert featuring the sounds of Duo Mystique on flute and harp, performing traditional holiday songs and Celtic music. December 21, 1 p.m., free. Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. N.

Winter in Venice The Venetian and the Palazzo have turned into a winter wonderland for the holidays. From the 65-foot LED Christmas tree to whimsical holiday creatures that come to life nightly, there’s plenty of cheer to go around at the Strip casino. Through January 5. Nightly holiday spectacular at 6:05 p.m., 8:05 p.m. and 10:05 p.m., free.

Holidays at the E Carnival games, face painting and more await at this festive, all-ages celebration at the East Las Vegas Community Center. December 21, 1 p.m., free. 250 N. Eastern Ave.

Holiday Contra Dance The Charleston Heights Arts Center presents this community dance, accompanied by a live acoustic band performing holiday classics and waltzes. Comfortable shoes and casual clothing is advised. December 21, group lesson 6:30 p.m., dance at 7 p.m., $3-$10. 800 S. Brush St.

La Otra Posada The Winchester Cultural Center presents La Otra Posada, a pastoral play telling the traditional Christmas story, performed only in Spanish by the theater group Inarte. December 21, 7 p.m., $10-$12. 3130 S. McLeod Drive.

Sunset Wonderland Clark County Parks and Recreation presents Sunset Wonderland, a winter festival with holiday music, childrens’ games, horse drawn carriage rides, carolers and most importantly, Santa. Through December 22. Monday-Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m, free. Sunset Park.

Train Rides with Santa All aboard! Hop onto the Polar Express for a 20-minute train ride with Santa Claus as he reads holiday stories and hands out candy during a ride along the Exploration Trail. Then go sight seeing on the Snowman Stroll where you’ll spot a number of hand-made snowmen and creatures by artists and kids from throughout the Vegas Valley. December 23 & 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $5. Springs Preserve.

Raft with Santa Switch things up this Christmas Eve and spend the day in Boulder City with Black Canyon River Adventures. Raft down 12 miles of the Colorado River with Santa himself at the helm, piloting the raft throughout the 6.5-hour smooth-water trip. Not only do Santa’s elves provide ground transportation to the river and back, there are gifts for each passenger, a boxed lunch and, at the end of the trip, cookies and hot chocolate. December 24, 9:30 a.m., $87.95 for adults 16 and up, $82.95 for ages 13-15, $53.95 for ages 5-12 and children under 5 are free. 800-455-3490.

A Celebration of African Values, Culture and Community The West Las Vegas Library Theatre hosts a day-long celebration in observation of Kwanzaa. Activities include a film screening of the Soweto Gospel Choir, a play about the life of Malcolm X and more. December 28, 11 a.m., free. 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

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