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A Red Rock rally, spectacular light displays and more stuff you need to know about

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Wanna keep Red Rock pristine?
Photo: Corlene Byrd
    • 3 PLACES WITH SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

      1. Ethel M’s Holiday Cactus Garden Bring your mittens and stroll through more than three acres of cacti and desert plants, festively adorned with a million colorful lights and other Christmas decor. The chocolate factory’s annual celebration is free and perfect for families—purchase hot chocolate, sample freshly made candies, visit with Santa and hear performances from local choir groups. Decorated through January 1, open nightly 5-10 p.m. 2 Cactus Garden Drive, 702-435-2608.

      2. Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Tune in to the accompanying radio station and catch up on Christmas classics while driving through this 2.5-mile loop of lights. Be sure to hit the concession stand first, so you can sip hot cocoa and munch sweet snacks during the ride. Plus, this year marks the debut of the Santa Tram, an open-air tram ride through the lights that includes photos with Santa. Through January 7, starting at dusk, $20-$30 per vehicle (Santa Tram $35), glitteringlightslasvegas.com.

      3. Boulder City Parades Head to Boulder City on December 3 for a Christmas doubleheader. At 4:30 p.m., Santa’s Electric Night Parade will transform the historic downtown district with holiday floats, marching bands and musical groups. Afterward, head to the Lake Mead Marina for the 40th-annual Lake Mead Parade of Lights (beginning at 6:30 p.m.), featuring extravagantly decorated boats sailing past Boulder Beach. Both events are free to attend. Bcnv.org. –Rosalie Spear

    • THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION ON VIMEO

      Filmmaker Jordan Ehrlich spent seven years working on his documentary The Cost of Construction, which examines construction worker deaths at Vegas hotel-casino projects. Spurred by the Pulitzer-winning reporting by Alexandra Berzon in the Las Vegas Sun, the California-based filmmaker made multiple trips to Las Vegas, interviewing family members of killed construction workers, along with Berzon and experts on construction deaths (although he was never able to get official comment from casino owners or construction companies). “It’s a very controversial issue, and a lot of people don’t want to ruffle any feathers,” Ehrlich told the Sun. The movie is available for rent via Vimeo, so you can see for yourself. $3-$9, thecostofconstruction.org. –Josh Bell

    • ARTIST DANIEL BOZHKOV AT MARJORIE BARRICK MUSEUM

      Hear the multidisciplinary performance artist and fresco painter discuss his work, inspirations, absurdist philosophies and societal theories as part of UNLV’s Visiting Artist Lecture Series. Born in Bulgaria and now based in New York City, he’s known for international acts of resistance, including a crop-circle portrait of Larry King, for which he took flying lessons so he could aerially film the image (“Learn How to Fly Over a Very Large Larry”), and a first-hand commentary on industrial globalization, for which he became a Walmart greeter and painted a mural in his store’s layaway section (“Training in Assertive Hospitality”). December 1, 7 p.m., free. –Rosalie Spear

    • BENEFIT FOR THE WATER PROTECTORS AT 11TH STREET RECORDS

      Unsure how to support to the #NoDAPL (No Dakota Access Pipeline) movement in North Dakota? Attend this all-ages benefit, which will feature live performances by Time Crashers, Radio Silence and Los Ataskados, and will collect cash, supplies and clothing for the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. December 2, 7 p.m., $5+. –Mike Prevatt

    • RED ROCK RALLY

      Red Rock Canyon is in trouble. A developer hopes to build more than 5,000 homes on neighboring Blue Diamond Hill. Though the developer insists the planned tract won’t produce high levels of traffic, light pollution or noise, these changes are certain to exceed the current levels, which are already too high for this peaceful, secluded spot. If you’d like to help keep Red Rock pristine, head to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park Saturday morning to hike, bike, do some yoga or run a 5K. The Red Rock Rally will present those activities as a form of demonstration, in both definitions of the word: The Rally shows developers that locals are passionate about Red Rock, and it puts a human chain of healthy activity between today and an undesirable future. December 3, 7-11 a.m.; event is free, parking costs $9 per vehicle; saveredrock.com. –Geoff Carter

    • WE ARE PANCAKES AT BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS

      These Vegas indie rockers have been working hard in the studio to deliver an EP that’s sure to make your hips shake. Join the five-piece as it releases debut recording Cookies and Mimosas, with support from fellow locals The American Weather, Jessica Manalo and Kurumpaw. December 3, 8 p.m., $5. -Leslie Ventura.

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