What a year it’s been for Opportunity Village. The iconic Las Vegas nonprofit institution marked an incredible 70 years serving the community with programs for people with disabilities. It opened a new location in East Las Vegas in February, broke ground for a new Northwest Community Center and Betty’s Village North residential project in the fall, and will relocate its OV Thrift Store near the Meadows Mall with an opening on December 2.
And now it’s time to celebrate again, together for the holidays. The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village opens for the season on November 29 with a tree lighting ceremony set for 5:30 p.m. at the festive wonderland at 6300 West Oakey Boulevard. Still one of the organization’s primary fundraisers, the Magical Forest offers rides, mini golf, a holiday lights walking path, the Forest Express train, Santa’s cabin, the Holiday Shoppe and familiar treats like hot chocolate or turkey legs. (Tickets are on sale now at magicalforest.com and check before you go for prices, hours and availability.)
But the thing about holiday cheer is—there’s never too much. If you’re already hooked and looking for a tour of festive attractions across the Valley, consider the following fun.
Cosmopolitan Ice Rink This perennial favorite also arrives this week, opening November 28 with a tree lighting ceremony set for December 1 hosted by Cosmo headlining comedian Chelsea Handler. There’ll be holiday movies, photos with Santa, s’mores and more, and new this year is the Coca-Cola Holiday Village, pouring the classic bubbly bev in special ice glasses inside an igloo bar, serving up Coke floats with your favorite toppings and helping you create personalized postcards in the holiday message booth. (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com)
Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Garden If you’re not picking up sweet stocking stuffers at Ethel M after you roam the Holiday Cactus Garden with the family, you’re just not doing Christmas in Vegas the right way. Open through January 4 with no reservations required, the sparkling desert garden is perfectly complemented by a cup of hot cocoa while you stroll. This year, every bit of the $3 entrance fee goes to HELP of Southern Nevada and Three Square food bank. (ethelm.com)
Enchant Christmas Back at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin, the immersive pop-up Enchant will include “the world’s largest Christmas Maze” of 80,000 square feet of light sculptures, ice skating, caroling, live entertainment, a holiday shopping village, a kids’ play place, food and drinks and more. Jump on this: Free tickets for kids will be available December 4, 10 and 11. (enchantchristmas.com)
Glittering Lights The 2.5-mile, five-million-twinkling-light strong Las Vegas Motor Speedway attraction has been illuminating our holidays for 24 years and has been open since November 8. The drive-thru celebration continues through January 5 with more free nights, contests and promos than ever before. (glitteringlightslasvegas.com)
98.5 KLUC Chet Buchanan Toy Drive It may not qualify as an attraction but Toy Drive is one of the Valley’s favorite Christmastime traditions. Radio legend Chet Buchanan will once again take to the 20-foot scaffold at NV Energy on West Sahara to preside over the 26th annual community collection of presents to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada, with some fun holiday photo ops and activations stoking the spirit. (helpsonv.org)
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