East valley is no Scrooge when it comes to holiday events

If you can’t get into the holiday spirit in the east valley, you probably can’t get into it anywhere. The area offers some of the valley’s longest-running holiday events.

— The Sunset Stampede Laser Light and Water Show at Mystic Falls Park is a free laser display at Sam’s Town, 5111 Boulder Highway. The event is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For the holiday season, the usual show with lasers and animatronic wildlife gets a winter wonderland makeover with falling snow, LED Christmas lights and holiday music.

“This has become a tradition now,” said David Strow, director of corporate communications for Boyd Gaming, which operates Sam’s Town. “You can come and stroll in the park or you can grab a bite at Billy Bob’s Steak House and Saloon or Willy and Jose’s Cantina and see the show from there.”

Shows are scheduled at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. daily.

Cowboy Santa is set to be on hand from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19 and noon to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 20. On Dec. 22 and 23, he’s set to be there from noon to 8:30 p.m. Photo packages are available. Visit samstownlv.com or call 702-636-7075.

— One of the latest additions to the valley’s holiday happenings is the Winter Wonderland, 899 E. Fremont St.

The event includes ice skating, a snow play area, a Gratitude Forest, Christmas lights, holiday snacks, shopping and a 50-foot Christmas tree.

The highlight is a sledding hill covered with artificial snow. Ice skating and snow play are $5, and the sled hill is $10 for five rides. Santa is set to be on hand from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 18, 22 and 23, 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 19, 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 20 and 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 21.

The Fremont Street Experience, with its holiday music and light shows, is a short stroll down the road. Free parking is available in the Llama Lot on the corner of Ninth and Fremont streets. Visit givewithme.com.

— Glittering Lights has been at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North, for five years.

The event sprang from the long-running Gift of Lights event at Sunset Park but has become bigger and more spectacular every year. The drive-through display is 2.5 miles long and features millions of LED lights in festive and often funny displays sponsored by local companies.

“How long it takes to go through it depends on a lot of things,” said Renee Guglielmetti, spokeswoman for the event. “Our busiest times are between 6:30 and 8 (p.m.), so if you want to avoid the rush, go before or after that.”

Glittering Lights is planned through Jan. 4. Hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $20 per vehicle. Visitors may receive $5 off Sundays through Thursdays with the donation of a bag of gently used items for Goodwill of Southern Nevada. Live Nativity nights presented in partnership with the United Methodist Churches of Las Vegas are scheduled Dec. 18-24, except for Dec. 21. Hot cocoa may be purchased at the event. Visit glitteringlightslasvegas.com.

— Most of the casinos have decked their halls for the holidays, but there are a few of note.

The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has a 65-foot Christmas tree with lights synchronized to music.

The fountains at Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, have Christmas music in the mix for the holidays. Inside the Bellagio, the Conservatory is a living Christmas display with thousands of flowers.

The Linq, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has a Winter PARQ that includes a tubing hill.

Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South, have skating rinks, and the latter also has fire pits to roast s’mores.

The Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has DreamWorks Animation’s Adventure to Santa, a 15-minute interactive attraction where visitors can join Shrek and his friends on a journey to find Santa at the North Pole. Reservations are recommended by visiting fashionshow.com.

Contact East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 702-380-4532.