We can't believe it's that time of the year again already but we're happy to oblige with our annual Question of the Day Christmas Activity Round-Up (QODCAR, for short).
First, some notable absences: Caesars Palace, long famed for its outdoor Christmas tree, will apparently be treeless this year due to construction issues; there will be no repeat of the Rio's "Holiday Show in the Sky" this holiday season -- the Masquerade Tower float show will in fact be dark from Dec. 16-26; and at the time of this writing, the Hard Rock did not yet know if they'd be repeating last year's "Hard Rockafella" celebrations with the outdoor skating rink -- again, blame the current expansion projects if that one fails to materialize.
So there's the bad news. The good news is that most of the old favorites will be taking place, together with some more recently established traditions, plus some novel events for 2007 that are sure to keep the whole family full of festive cheer, especially if you're into gingerbread houses, which seem to be the only sector of the Las Vegas housing market unaffected by the subprime catastrophe (see tomorrow's QoD) and are in fact the one area of the real estate market that seems to be booming this year.
ACTIVITIES
Floating Ice Skating Rink Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: Nov. 16-Feb. 17 Hours: Mon-Fri, 3 p.m.-9 pm.; Sat & Sun, Noon-9 p.m. Price: $15 adults/$12 children/$125 season pass Located on Lake Las Vegas, off the shore of MonteLago Village, and can accommodate up to 60 skaters at one time.
Sunset Ice Skating Rink Galleria at Sunset Dates: Nov. 23-Jan 1 Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Price: $9 adult/$7 children. Located in the south parking lot next to valet.
Gingerbread Factory Renaissance Hotel 3400 Paradise Rd. Dates: Dec. 15 & 16 Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Price: $30 per house Fee includes gingerbread-house instruction, guidance, and supplies to make houses, including candy and fruit for decoration. Cookies, juice, and milk will be provided for the children. Proceeds will be donated to The Foundation for Positively Kids.
Lake Las Vegas Annual Gingerbread House Competition Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: Dec. 1-Dec. 22 Hours: 10a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Houses will be displayed at the Ritz-Carlton, Loews Lake Las Vegas, and MonteLago Village Resort. There are four catagories in this year's competition: Professional Chefs Home Cooks/Culinary Students; Teen (13-17); and Youth (12 and under) For entry forms or information please log on to lakelasvegas.com or call 702/564-1600
Sugar Plum Fantasies & Gingerbread Dreams Roy's, Summerlin 8701 W. Charleston Blvd. Dates: Dec. 8 Hours: Noon-2 p.m. Price: $25 Fee includes supplies and lunch. Roy's Pastry Chef Noah French will lead children in creating their own Hawaiian gingerbread house. RSVP to 702/838-3620.
Las Vegas Great Santa Run Fremont Street Experience Date: Dec. 1 Hours: 10 a.m. Price: $45/$25 children 12 and under Siegfied & Roy will serve as the Honorary Team Captains for Opportunity Village's charity event and an attempt to break the World Record for the largest Santa gathering, currently held by Liverpool, England. Check-in and greetings from Mayor Oscar Goodman begin at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 10 a.m. Log on to www.opportunityvillage.org for more information. Online registration closes Nov. 30.
HOLIDAY DECORATION & LIGHT DISPLAYS
Bellagio Conservatory Holiday Display Bellagio Dates: Dec. 1-Jan. 5 Hours: 24 hrs Price: Free This year's display will feature festive arctic animals, incuding animated penguins and a reprise of last year's pecan-encrusted reindeer, plus a 21-foot tall wreath, borders of red Amaryllis, and a 42-foot Shasta white fir decorated with more than 12,000 lights as the centerpiece.
Chocolate Wonderland Ethel M's 2 Cactus Drive, Hende
