Lights of Las Vegas beckon with holiday glow

This seems to be a season for decking things out. We decorate our homes, our trees, our pets and even ourselves. It's only natural, then, that Ethel M Chocolates should decorate the sprawling cactus garden at its factory in Henderson.

The 3½-acre garden is decorated with more than a half-million lights. And it's only one of the holiday events going on across the valley, most of them till the new year.

Jessica Ruttman, marketing manager for Ethel M, said the cactus garden attracts a wide variety of people throughout the year, and that's also true in the Christmas season.

"During the holidays, we strive to make it a fun family event," she said. "There's really something for everyone."

The lights are on at the garden at 2 Cactus Garden Drive in Henderson (near Sunset Road and Mountain Vista Street) from 5 to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1. Santa will be in residence from 5 to 10 tonight through Sunday, plus Nov. 23-25 and 30, Dec. 1-2, 7-9 and 14-23. Local choirs perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. The factory and retail shop is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Thanksgiving (4 to 10 p.m.), Christmas Eve (8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Christmas (closed) and New Year's Eve (8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Admission to everything is free, and a schedule is on the company's website, www.EthelM.com.

You can even get a free piece of candy in the bargain. Ethel M always offers samples of its pecan brittle, but at this time of the year, it also offers its seasonal peppermint bark. And the company's hot chocolate - made with its solid milk chocolate and milk, "not your typical powder from a can," Ruttman said - is sold in the store adjacent to the factory.

"I think you can really taste the difference," she said. "It's quite rich."

Some visitors like to snack as they stroll.

"In addition to families, we see couples walking through the garden with their hot chocolate, kind of taking in the sights and the smells," she noted.

Ruttman added another thing that's gratifying is that some people put the garden on their holiday agendas year after year.

"Some of our out-of-town customers make this an annual trip," she said. "Whether they're visiting Las Vegas or visiting family, they make it a point to come see us. That we have repeat customers who don't even live here is really great."

In addition to the seasonal candies such as peppermint bark, pumpkin pie and eggnog, they're also bringing back three vintage flavors, and most of the candies are available in seasonal packaging.

SPEEDWAY LIGHTS

If a half-million lights aren't enough for you, consider the 2 million that are expected to light up Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday evening as part of the aptly named Glittering Lights. The 450 displays are spread over a 2½-mile route through the speedway property and will be on display through Jan. 6. Hours are from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Admission is $15 per car Mondays through Thursdays, $20 Fridays through Sundays.

The first 15,000 vehicles will each receive a goodie bag, and Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada will provide $2 off admission with a donation of used goods at any of its sites or at the Glittering Light gates. Tickets are available at the gate, at www.GlitteringLightsLasVegas.com or at local Walgreens stores. And vehicles containing active-duty or veteran members of the military will be admitted free from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20-21 and 26-29. Military ID required.

VENETIAN HOLIDAY

The Venetian and Palazzo, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will celebrate 50 days of Winter in Venice, beginning Sunday and continuing through Jan. 6. A parade through the Doge's Palace plaza (featuring characters from the Winter in Venice celebration) and tree lighting will begin at 6 and 8 p.m. daily. The resorts' polymer outdoor skating rink ­- adjacent to the outdoor gondola attraction ­- will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and same-day reservations for the 30-minute skating sessions ($14.95, or $9.95 for locals, including skates) can be made at the outdoor ticket booth.

The Venetian and Palazzo also will present the holiday music and multimedia effects of Mannheim Steamroller at 7 p.m. Nov. 20-Dec. 30 in the Palazzo Theater. Tickets ($70.40 and up) are available by calling the Palazzo box office at 414-9000 or (866) 641-7469 or www.Palazzo.com. And the Culinary Clash Master Chef Competition is scheduled from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Nov. 29 and Dec. 7, 14 and 21 in The Venetian's Doge's Palace. The competing chefs will create recipes from a mystery basket, and samples will be available.

MAGICAL FOREST

The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., starts Wednesday and runs through Jan. 6. Attractions include hundreds of decorated trees, millions of lights, nightly entertainment, the Forest Express passenger train, a gingerbread house display, an antique carousel and photos of Santa in his workshop. Hours through Jan. 6 are from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $9 for children 3-12 and $11 for those 13 and older for entry only, or $15.50 or $17.50 with unlimited rides. For details, go to www.Opportunity Village.org or call 259-3741.

MYSTIC FALLS

The annual Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland at Sam's Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, also begins Wednesday. The property will be extensively decorated for Christmas and a 15-minute laser light show in the Mystic Falls atrium will be presented hourly from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. Cowboy Santa will appear from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23 in the gazebo in Mystic Falls Park.

WINTER GARDEN

The popular conservatory and botanical gardens at Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will display their autumn finery through Nov. 24, with the Christmas display making its debut a few days later.

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.

Contact reporter Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@review journal.com or 702-383-0474.