The best Christmas events in Las Vegas for a festive holiday

The Cosmopolitan’s fourth-floor Boulevard Pool is again a winter wonderland. Guests can rent skates and glide across the ice, roast s’mores over open fire pits, snack on churros or huddle in the Ski Lodge Waffle Hut and sip spiked hot chocolate, hot buttered rum or a pistachio affogato. Food offerings include a French onion grilled cheese and beef brisket chili. Through Jan 12.

Enchant Christmas has become one of the city’s most anticipated annual events. Taking place at Las Vegas Ballpark, Enchant features a light maze, winding ice skating trail and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. There is also a Christmas market with vendors selling arts and crafts, food, drinks, cocoa and cocktails. Through Dec 29.

The Four Seasons is partnering with the Nevada Ballet to put on a Nutcracker afternoon tea. Every weekend at Veranda, scones, tea pastries, truffle egg salad, smoked salmon and other treats are being served to guests (who can choose to upgrade their experience with Veuve Clicquot Champagne or Petrossian caviar). Sat, Sun through Dec 29.

This animated drive-through display at M Resort is fun for the entire family. The mile-long journey is an audio and visual experience that passes by larger-than-life Christmas characters and confections like sugar plum fairies and a giant gingerbread village—all lit in brilliant colors. Through Dec 29, 6–10pm.

Throw on your Christmas sweater, the Sand Dollar blues bar (the city’s original holiday pop-up) is crafting a new menu of spirited cocktails, which come served in holiday glassware. Among this year’s batch are the Christmasaurus, a pineapple rum and mezcal drink, and a cognac-heavy Jingle Balls Nog. The atmosphere here is over-the-top with every inch of the place covered in Christmas wrapping paper and decked out in ornaments. Through Dec 31.

This is the type of place Santa goes on holiday. At the downtown Plaza Hotel, this Sand Dollar spin-off has a tropical theme with Santa on a surfboard and tiki-inspired cocktails like the Sugar Plum Mai Tai and Frosty the Mermen. Through Dec 31.

The sweetest event of the season can be found among the sea of lights at Ethel M’s Holiday Cactus Garden. Tour the factory, pick up some of the chocolatier’s candies for stocking stuffers and enjoy sweets and cocktails in the brightly lit garden. For a unique experience, take part in the Chocolate & Wine Pairing. There is a $3 per person entrance fee that’s donated in its entirety to Help of Southern Nevada and Three Square Food Bank. Through Jan 4.

A holiday tradition returns. Visit the land of toy soldiers, waltzing flowers and shimmering snow as Clara goes on her magical journey in The Nutcracker, performed by the Nevada Ballet Theatre at Smith Center. Dec 14–27.

This newbie at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar pays tribute to cult classics like The Grinch, Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Die Hard through its decor and a rotation of clips from the iconic films. But you’re not here to just watch movies so grab pizza or pigs in a blanket and sip on a Jingle Juice or Cool Yule. Through early January.

The popular attraction features trees strung with millions of lights, rides, slides, mini golf, food trucks and the Forest Express—a train ride through the light-filled forest. Proceeds benefit Opportunity Village, an organization helping local adults with intellectual disabilities. Through Dec 31.

Cozy up in an igloo or roast s’mores by the fire pit at this popular Henderson pop-up. Spiked hot chocolates, holiday-themed cocktails and punches warm the soul, while light bites and charcuterie boards fill the stomach. Various dates.

The holiday-themed version of Tournament of Kings is a fun and festive experience with colorful costumes and a wizard wearing holiday garb. Guests will enjoy a fall-inspired menu (prepare to eat with your bare hands) and cheer for their knight as they joust and battle in the ring. Through Dec 25.

Despite being at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, you won’t exactly race through this drive-through holiday display. The 2.5-mile course—with its five million lights and over 3,000 displays—is best gawked at traveling at low speed or on the Santa Tram, an open-air trolley. There are also games and a mini train for the little ones and, of course, Santa Claus. Through Jan 5.

Those naughty elves have taken over Shady Grove Lounge at the off-Strip Silverton Casino and they’re throwing quite the cocktail party. Dozens of elves—hidden in all corners of the room—keep a watchful eye over the festivities as guests sip mistletoe margaritas and spiked ciders while surrounded by colorful string lights, oversized ornaments and snow-covered Christmas trees. Through Dec 30.

A Tim Burton-inspired pop-up and Christmas fiesta transforms this Chinatown taco parlor and speakeasy into a “Nightmare Before XMás.” Mas Por Favor transports guests to Christmas Town to meet Oogie Boogie and Jack Skellington replicas while munching on holiday-themed menu items. Through December 26.

Santa, snowstorms and an hourly nine-minute laser light show set to holiday favorites like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman” are all part of the longtime Mystic Falls experience. Through Jan 1.

Debuting this season, the Oasis Ice Rink at Fontainebleau sports twin ice rinks with 8,000 square feet of space to skate. When you’re not skating there’s food and drinks including bottle service courtesy of Veuve Clicquot Rosé and Yellow Label in the Winter Village. Through Jan 5.