New Year's Eve Las Vegas Fireworks 2015

America's Party: Las Vegas New Year's Eve 2016

This year's spectacular fireworks show theme will be "On Top of The World" and will feature a special tribute in the finale to Frank Sinatra. The show will clock in at 8 minutes and 18 seconds. Fireworks, done by Grucci, will be shot off seven hotel rooftops along the Las Vegas Strip. They are (north to south):

• Stratosphere
• Venetian
• Treasure Island
• Caesars Palace
• Planet Hollywood
• Aria
• MGM Grand

Best vantage points

The best fireworks viewing locations are near the hotels who are launching them. You'll get even better views if you can get up higher at rooftop bars, clubs and restaurants. For example Drai's pool deck has a great view of Caesars's fireworks, while the Cosmopolitan's roof top ice rink lets you see the fireworks of Planet Hollywood. The Stratosphere Tower parties give you a prime spot for seeing the fireworks across the Strip. Even just going up a few stories will improve your view.

Downtown Countdown

Toast the New Year during the Downtown Countdown Dec. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. at the Fremont Street Experience. The street party is themed TributePalooza and features 13 of the world’s greatest tribute bands including: Rio (Duran Duran), Generation Idol (Billy Idol), Fan Halen (Van Halen), No Duh (No Doubt), Red Not Chili Peppers (Red Hot Chili Peppers), The Rising (Bruce Springsteen), Police Experience (The Police), Rockin the Paradice (Styx), Wanted (Bon Jovi), The Who Generation (The Who) Pyromania (Def Leppard), Double Vision (Foreigner) and Don’t Look Back (Boston).

Schedule

4:00 p.m.– The Fremont Street Experience, the pedestrian mall will be closed to the public
5:00 p.m.– The Fremont Street Experience gates open for ticketed guests with valid event wristbands.
Concert Time: 5:30pm - 3:30am

Tickets

Tickets: $30 through Dec. 25, 2015. After Dec. 25th tickets are $40. Tickets can be purchased online, in-person at any of the Fremont Street Experience member hotel-casinos, or at the event gates on Dec. 31.

Admission to Downtown Countdown on New Year’s Eve is $30 per person when purchased online by Dec. 25. Beginning Dec. 26 tickets will be $40 per person and can be purchased online, in-person at any of the Fremont Street Experience member hotel-casinos, or at the event gates on Dec. 31.

Things to consider

It's going to be freezing! Temps are supposed to be in the low 30s that night. So bundle up.

It also helps to have a plan 3 or 4 hours before midnight. If you plan to celebrate indoors, remember once it hits 11:00pm all the hotels stop letting people in. They re-open their doors around 12:30am.  Actually it's their way of keeping the crowds inside the casino within occupancy limits set by the Clark County Fire Department. You don't want to find yourself stuck outside and have to use the bathroom.

If you are going to the Strip, get there early, around 5 or 6 p.m. Earlier if possible because they will close the strip down around 6 p.m.

Just because you are in Las Vegas doesn't mean there are no laws. Take a minute to read the Las Vegas New Years Eve Ordinances to understand what you can and cannot get away with. The cops here do not play and the famous, "I'am a tourist" excuse does not work for them.

Beware of the city's general curfew and the Fremont Street area curfew. Anyone under 18 years old must now be accompanied by an adult.

Transportation

The Las Vegas Monorail will be the only public transportation operating on the strip. Trains will be running until 3 a.m. Jan. 1.

Bus Routes 201 (Tropicana Avenue), 202 (Flamingo Road), and 203 (Spring Mtn. Road / Desert Inn Road / Lamb Blvd) will provide the closest possible access to the Strip but will not stop on the Strip.

If you are planing to get to a particular hotel on the Strip after the strip closure, here are buses and New Years Eve bus stops close to the Vegas strip.

All other streets, roads and alleys leading Westbound onto Las Vegas Blvd (Strip) between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay Road from Koval Lane will be closed at 5:45 p.m..

 All streets, roads and alleys leading onto Las Vegas Blvd (Strip) between Sahara Ave. and Mandalay Bay Road will be closed with all barricades in place at 6:00 p.m.

 Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) along with all inbound roads leading onto Las Vegas Blvd. will be fully closed to vehicle traffic at 6:30 p.m.

 Moving walkways, escalators and elevators on the Vegas Strip are set to be turned off at 6:30 p.m. Las Vegas Boulevard fully opens to pedestrian traffic at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy, drink responsibly, have fun and Happy New Year!!

Las Vegas Neighborhood Holiday Lights Displays

It took a bit longer than we expected but we have put together our annual list of neighborhood  Holiday Light Displays and Events around the Las Vegas Valley. If you know of a house or Event that should be included be sure to hit the comments section and let us know!

Neighborhoods:

Take a tour of holiday lights and decorations around the Las Vegas Valley. The area is divided into quadrants by using Sahara Avenue to divide north from south and Interstate 15 to divide east from west.

DOWNTOWN:

Twisted Vegas at 1941 Houston Drive

NORTHEAST:
Address: 3164 Mclennan Ave., North Las Vegas, 89081
Resident: Kellee Enneman
Description: 5 - 11 p.m. Perfectly straight house lights and multiple yard decorations. Decorations are accompanied by music.

Address: 1343 Villa Park Court, Las Vegas, 89110

Resident: Chris Colasuono

Description: 4 - 10:30 p.m. Sun-Thurs; 4 - 11 p.m. Fri-Sat. 10,000 lights that are synchromized to music. Music can be heard on station 106.1 FM. Currently 14 various song/light shows are programmed.


NORTHWEST:

Address: 8117 Chestnut Hollow Ave., Las Vegas, 89131
Resident: Frank Endellicate
Description: Entire house decorated from top to bottom. Various lawn ornaments, blow ups, reindeer and santas! Lights galore!

Address: 6759 Rowena Circle, Las Vegas, 89131
Resident: Missi K. Winter
Description: Anytime after 5:30 pm. Themed as the Peanuts visiting the North Pole!

Address: 6601 Brandywine Way, Las Vegas
Submitted by Bonnie Sandusky
Description: 7 - 10 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday; Monday-Tuesday, all day. My parents' home, always decorated every space you can imagine ... from the roof to the whole front yard! My Dad does this himself everyt year. He is 80 years old! Climbs up that roof, etc. Then goes to my sister's house & helps her! Every year! Needs to be recognized.

Address: 6313 Bristol Way, Las Vegas, 89107
Submitted by Bonnie Sandusky
Description: My sister's house says: Happy Birthday Jesus. Everyone seems to forget what Christmas really means & her display says it all ... a must see! 
 

New addition submitted by one of our readers:

NorthWest area, Residential home has an animated musical Christmas Lights display and a video of Santa in a window. A joke telling elf is hosting the Broadcast on 101.1 Fm  

3646 Carol Lark Court Las Vegas 89129.

SOUTHEAST:

A new addition submitted by one of our readers:

Address: 4255 El Cid Way Las Vegas NV 89121

Description: Huge two story house all decorated, TONS OF LIGHTS, garage has a viewing of a HUGE mini Christmas village built up on Styrofoam which includes three full trains running throughout the mini village, house will NOT disappoint! Truly a masterpiece!!!

SOUTHWEST:

Address: 2757 Grande Valley, Las Vegas, 89135

Resident: Rupert Chamberlain
Description: 5-10 p.m. My favorite TV show of all time is "Star Trek." The recent "Star Trek" movie was OK, but I much prefer the original cast. As a tribute to the show I have decorated my front yard to represent some of my favorite episodes with a holiday twist. Kirk and Spock in hand-to-hand combat armed with candy canes and dressed as elves, red, white and green animatronic tribbles and much much more. A true Trekkies holiday delight! Come one and all and join for a Romulan ale as we boldly go where no man has gone before!

Address: 10878 Milbank Ave, Las Vegas, 89135
Resident: Jerrold E. Creed
Description: 4 to 10 p.m. daily. Tune your car radio to 103.9 FM. Thousands of LED lights set to music. THX opening, Carol of the Bells, Linus and Lucy, Jingle Bells, TSO Wizards of Winter. Picture on this web page is this house. Featuring 16 mini trees out front. Merry Christmas. 

Address: 346 Maddalena, Las Vegas, 89183
Resident: Ryan S. Knepp
Description: 6 - 8 p.m. My 14-year-old stepson Ryan Knepp loves Christmas decorations. With every dime he gets he buys blow-up decorations to place in the yard. Over the last month he has spent countless hours setting up his display.

He has about 40 blow ups plus countless lights and other displays. Last year he had blow ups stolen. He now attaches each one to plywood and puts a cable around all of them to prevent them from being stolen. He is very meticulous and makes sure every wire and string is just right. This 14-year-old does this all by himself and with his own money. Truly an inspiring story about Christmas and youth.

Address: 3308 Surfline Dr., Las Vegas 89117
Resident: Walt Patalina
Description: 5-11 p.m.

HENDERSON:

Address: 3018 Scenic Valley Way, Henderson 89052
Resident: Robert Thomas
Description: 4:30 - 11:30 p.m. Lots of lights, inflatable airplane on roof, nativity scene, snow globe and lighted animals, angels and more. Live Santa appearing on Sundays.

New addition: 1700 block of Quiver Point Avenue

NORTH LAS VEGAS:

A new addition:

3016 Judson Avenue

EVENTS:

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is hosting a nightly light show with 400 animated lights along the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) racetrack. 

Town Square Park

And while real snow is a possibility at this writing (and gets less if the weather warms up), Town Square Park hosts a show of artificial snowflakes falling at 7 p.m. nightly until Dec. 23, with a second show at 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Neon Museum:

Starting Nov. 30, visitors who take the nighttime tour of the Museum’s Boneyard also will view a special, holiday-inspired palette of lights. Also on the Neon Museum’s holiday schedule is an ornament-making activity from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14. Following that session, from 5 to 6 p.m., hot chocolate will be served and singers from Las Vegas Academy will perform in the Neon Boneyard’s outdoor events area. The event is free and open to the public.

Nighttime tours of the Neon Boneyard are $25 for general admission and $22 for seniors, students, active military and veterans, and Nevada residents with valid IDs.

 Sam’s Town

Mystic Falls at Sam's Town casino and hotel is once again decorated for the holidays. The winter wonderland features holiday trees, festive lighting, snowfall, animatronics, laser lights and water features. There is also a 15-minute laser light show hourly during the holiday season from 5 to 10 p.m. Santa Claus will appear from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. More info

Jingle Bell Block

Dec. 5-24
Downtown Grand Las Vegas and Downtown 3rd have created a winter wonderland named Jingle Bell Block on 3rd Street between Stewart and Ogden avenues. There is a Christmas tree lot, holiday beverages and festive food available for purchase, a free bounce house for kids, and handcrafted gifts for sale from the Downtown 3rd Farmers Market. Santa Claus will also be available for visits. The Christmas tree lot will be open 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. Santa's Village will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Open through Dec. 24. Admission and valet parking is free.

Sunset Park

1st annual Sunset Wonderland Holiday Festival
Dec. 6-22
4 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends
Sunset Wonderland will have activities every Friday, Saturday and Sunday including holiday music, children's games/activities, contests, horse rides, holiday carolers, live music and dance performances by local Las Vegas dance troupes and, of course, we can’t forget about photo opportunities with Santa. Additional craft and food vendor will be on site in our Wonderland Marketplace on the weekends as well. Ice-skating, Ferris Wheel, Tree purchases & the Holiday Wonderland of Tree Display will be available Monday thru Thursday from 4PM-10PM and weekends from 10AM - 9PM.The event is for all ages.
Price: Free to Sunset Wonderland, Ice Skating $8 per hour including skate rental
More info: Call (702) 455-8200

Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest

Opportunity Village

702-259-3741

November 27, 2013-January 6, 2014

Call or Check Site for Hours or to Purchase Tickets

Spring's Preserve 

Spring's Preserve boasts the Holiday Spectacular, a winter wonderland bathed in lights and snow flurries, surrounded by madrigal singers and carolers, and offering pony rides and pictures with Santa Claus

Ethel M. Chocolate Factory Cactus Garden Light Display

This long time local favorite proves that even here in the desert the spirit of Christmas abounds. Hundreds of cacti and other desert plants are adorned with nearly half a million LED. Open (and free) to the public from 5 PM - 10 PM nightly until January 1st this Henderson must see includes holiday performances and visits from Santa. Perfect for kids and grandparents and anyone in between, few Las Vegas traditions can compete. See the schedule of events.

Crystals at City Center's Holiday Winter Wonderland

To say Free and Crystal's in one sentence will make any Las Vegas resident chuckle. The shopping center known for such outrageously high end shops like Cartier, Gucci and Prada has earned a reputation as the king of upper echelon shopping. If you're arms are laden with bags from these shops you're a high roller.

It may come as a surprise then to see one of the best FREE holiday displays anywhere in Las Vegas. Hundreds of seasonal plants decorate the multi levels of this amazing shopping mall, including the rare and never before seen in the US white LED Christmas trees, draped in crystal as well as numerous massive traditional trees sent in from Oregon. Take the kids or the wife or the in laws to this soon to be perennial holiday favorite. Just try and keep your money in your wallet.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Las Vegas Holiday Fun Things to Do

We thought it best to break our Holiday Lights Displays and Fun Things to Do into two separate blog posts so that people can find what they are looking for quicker and easier.

Bellagio Conservatory

Bellagio Resort & Casino Conservatory

This year’s winter display includes more than 32,000 fresh poinsettias and a 45-foot-tall (14-meter) tree, along with a chocolate reindeer and life-size candy house. 

The Fountains at Bellagio

Bellagio's famed fountains dance like sugar plum fairies to iconic holiday hits throughout the season. Sing along to favorites like Santa Baby, Carol of the Bells, Hallelujah Chorus and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year while the water spouts perform magical routines. Shows run every half hour Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 7 p.m. Performances shift to every quarter hour from 7 p.m. to midnight nightly.

The Nutcracker at the Smith Center

Witness a production of one of the most beloved holiday classics by the Nevada Ballet Theater. With choreography by Artistic Director, James Canfield, new elements, and a grandiose set, you're sure to fall in love with this timeless tale again. See the performance December 14-22 at varying show times. Tickets start at $52 (plus taxes and fees). No children under three-years-old will be permitted to attend. Purchase your tickets online.

Santa Claus at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Kris Kringle ventures 20,000 leagues under the sea to join the finned creatures of the Shark Reef Aquarium for a very unique Christmas photo op at the Shipwreck. With every admission, children 12 and under will receive a complimentary photo and candy cane with Santa and his shark helper, Santa Jaws. Children can also check out Santa's mad SCUBA skills at approximately 4:15 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Aquarium admission is $18 for adults and $12 for children. Children ages 4 and under are free. Santa drops by between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 7, 8, 14, 15 and 21-24.

Ice Skating Rinks:

THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS

Real ice will be used for the rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' Boulevard Pool, beginning Nov. 30. In addition to the rink, the complex will feature such cozy touches as fire pits, warm cocktails and s'mores. Date Skate Mondays will feature holiday movies on the resort's 65-foot digital marquee, and Throwback Thursdays will feature music from the '70s to the '90s, with skaters invited to dress appropriately for the period. Regular hours will be from 3 to 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends, with extended holiday hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4 (but closed New Year's Eve). All-day skating access will be $10 for Nevada residents, $15 for nonresidents; access to the complex is free. It will be open to those 2 and older, but those 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult who's at least 21.

Caesars Palace

Glide to your heart's content on the Bella Luce Terrace at Caesars December 6 through January 12. You can practice your favorite Blades of Glory moves for $10 with a $5 fee to rent skates. Rink is open daily from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The Venetian

Wave to the canal gondoliers and their passengers as you skate by. The Venetian's rink (open until January 5) floats along the water and features phenomenal views of the Strip. Open daily from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., hourly skate sessions and rentals are $14.95 per person or $9.95 for Grazie members and locals.

Tony Hsieh's Downtown Rink at Gold Spike Hotel

The not yet unveiled but highly anticipated downtown attraction, comprised of over 4,000-square-feet of synthetic ice, is the newest pet project of the Zappos.com CEO. While creating quite a stir in local media and gossip columns, few details have emerged about its inception, except to expect it to be open before next weekend, December 14.

Happy Holidays!