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Henderson-area Community Events Calendar, Dec. 24-30, 2015

THE WEEK'S BEST BETS

1. Christmas Eve candlelight services:First Henderson United Methodist Church, 609 E. Horizon Drive, is set to host Christmas Eve Candlelight services at 5, 7 and 11 p.m. Dec. 24. The 5 p.m. service is set to be a family worship service, 7 p.m. a Celebration and Praise service, and a traditional candlelight service with communion is planned at 11 p.m.The services are open to the public. Call 702-65-6049.

2. Heritage Holidays:The Clark County Museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway, has opened its houses and buildings on Heritage Street for self-guided tours through Jan. 9. It is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Daily admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Museum hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 702-455-7955.

3. Train Rides to Santa's Cottage: Train rides to Santa's cottage with holiday stories and candy canes are set to be offered at 11 a.m, noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Tickets are $4 for members and $6 for non-members. Visit springspreserve.org.

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Rose Garden: Forty-four varieties of roses can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Southern Area Master Gardener's Rose Garden, 8050 Paradise Road. The extension has limited hours Dec. 24, opening from 8 a.m. to noon, and is closed Dec. 25. Rose varieties include hybrid teas, floribundas, shrubs, rugosas, damasks, noisettes and miniatures. The beds have engraved signage bearing the names of the roses, the varieties and the year of market introduction. The garden recently received a certificate of achievement in the Small Garden class during the national Sunshine 'n Roses Pacific Southwest District's annual convention. The district spans Southern California, Arizona, parts of Nevada, New Mexico and West Texas. The garden is maintained by Master Gardeners and members of the South Valley Rose Society. Visit southvalleyrosesociety.com.

M3 concert: The band plans to perform free at 8 p.m. Dec. 25 and 26 inside the Troubadour Lounge at the Jokers Wild Casino, 920 N. Boulder Highway. Visit jokerswildcasino.com.

Hand analysis and spiritual development: The event is planned at 2 p.m. Dec. 26 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway, and will be led by Valeria Lane, a professional hand analyst. Lane plans to present the hand analysis and map of consciousness principles of Dr. David R. Hawkins, a researcher, spiritual teacher and lecturer. She plans to include information gathered from Hawkins' research that is believed to help raise consciousness for living your life purpose as indicated in your fingerprints. She also plans to offer free hand readings and demonstrate techniques for determining personality traits found in the hands to develop greater personal awareness. Register at mypubliclibrary.com.

Live music: Upcoming entertainment planned from 8 to 11 p.m. at Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, includes Phil Stendek, Dec. 26. Visit elixirlounge.net.

D3 Hoops Classic: The basketball tournament featuring Division III men's and women's college basketball teams is planned for Dec. 26-30 at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Colleges competing are Bethel University, Calvin College, Carthage College, DeSales University, George Fox University, Millsaps College, Pacific Lutheran University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Saint Vincent College, Skidmore College, University of La Verne, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, University of Wisconsin-Stout, and Withworth University. Tickets start at $10. Visit southpointarena.com.

Blood drive: The American Red Cross plans the drive at 1 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling Rachel Ekman at 702-522-3986, the Red Cross at 866-236-3276 or visiting redcrossblood.org and using the sponsor code "Henderson Gibson Library."

Fireworks and yacht cruise: A New Year's Eve fireworks show presented by MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas, 15 Costa di Lago, is set to begin at midnight Dec. 31. A disc jockey also is slated to spin music, and village restaurants are offering dining specials. Also, the La Contessa Yacht is scheduled to set sail at 11 p.m. from the Lake Las Vegas Marina, 10 Costa Di Lago, for a 75-minute New Year's cruise around the lake, including viewing the fireworks show. Tickets are $25 and include a free flute of champagne. A cash bar also will be available. Attendees must be 21 or older. Visit lakelasvegasevents.com.

New Year's Double Dash: Valley residents are invited to lace up for the inaugural event, set to be hosted by the Cadence master-planned community at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, with registration starting at 9 p.m. The event will feature two 5K runs, with one starting at 10:30 p.m. and the other at 12:15 a.m. Jan. 1. A 1-mile fun walk also is planned at both times. Routes are set to wind through Cadence's grounds, which offer views of the Strip. The events will culminate at the community's Central Park, where registered participants can enjoy the Strip fireworks show, a cup of soup, hot cider, hot cocoa, music and party favors. Registration costs $35 for both 5Ks or $25 for one. The walk costs $15 for adults or $10 for children 10 or younger. Visit cadencenv.com.

New Year's Eve at Sunset Station: Disc jockey Lee Orchard is set to spin music starting at 11 p.m. Dec. 31 inside Club Madrid at the hotel/casino, 1301 W. Sunset Road. The cost is $10. At Gaudi Bar, live performances are planned by Ryan Whyte Maloney and Cali Tucker as seen on the TV vocal competition series "The Voice." Also, Tony Venniro is slated to perform at Rosalita's Cantina, with the free show set from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Visit sunsetstation.sclv.com.

Photo exhibit: The Desert Companion Focus on Nevada photography showcase is planned through Dec. 31 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Photos will be available for viewing during library hours. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Photo contest: The city of Henderson's seventh annual What Makes Henderson Great! photo contest is underway, with entries due Jan. 5. Those who enter the free contest can submit up to five images, which must reflect positive aspects of living, working or enjoying recreation in the city. Entries can include landscapes, landmarks, friends, animals, abstract, sports, portraits and other types of photos. To enter use the hashtag #WMHG15 on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Images may also may be submitted by email to photo.contest@cityofhenderson.com or by mail to City of Henderson, Attn: Photo Contest, P.O. Box 95050, MSC 141, Henderson NV 89009-5050. Winners will be announced Feb. 3 during Mayor Andy Hafen's State of the City address and will have their images displayed at Henderson City Hall, 240 S. Water St.; at cityofhenderson.com; and on the city's Facebook page. In addition, winners will receive recognition by the Henderson City Council. Entry forms and instructions may be found on the city's website.

Henderson priorities: Henderson residents can take an online survey at hendersonstrong.metroquest.com through December to offer input on improving the city. The feedback will help set priorities for the city's comprehensive plan update. Those who take the survey will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Target. The city said it has experienced demographic and economic changes since 2006, when its last plan was adopted. The document, called Henderson Strong, is aimed at communicating the city's vision, long-term goals and objectives in terms of managing growth over the next 20 years. Visit hendersonstrong.org.

Robert Burns Night Dinner: The St. Andrew's Society of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit cultural organization, plans the 32nd annual event at 5 p.m. Jan. 16 at Sunset Gardens, 3931 E. Sunset Road. The cost is $50 per plate, which includes salad, an entree, a vegetable, dessert and coffee or tea. The event is slated to feature bagpipe music and dancing. Checks must be payable to SASSN and can be mailed along with with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to PO Box 33244, Las Vegas, NV 89133-3244. Visit sassn.com.

WORTH A DRIVE

Las Vegas Garden Railways Christmas display: The display is planned from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 30 in the showroom at Jim Marsh Kia, 8555 W. Centennial Parkway. The display will be closed to the public Dec. 25 and 27. The layout is set to be decorated with a Christmas theme and is free to the public during business hours. A raffle is planned, with proceeds donated to a local Las Vegas charity.

Civil War Experience: Try on Civil War uniforms and learn to march in formation from re-enactors during an event set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 26 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, 6375 state Route 159. Visit tinyurl.com/gmr82wq.

Old Fort Tours: Visit the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort for a ranger-led walking tour of the grounds at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 26 at 500 E. Washington Ave. The tour covers the timeline of settlements on the site and includes a discussion of historical visuals, artifacts and natural resources. Admission is just $1 for ages 13 or older, and children 12 or younger are admitted free. Visit parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort or call 702-486-3511.

Kwanzaa 2015 — A Celebration of African Values, Culture & Community: The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 26 and 27 at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. The community is invited to celebrate and share the meaning of Kwanzaa and embrace the best in African culture, community and humanity. Keynote speaker Al Gourrier is set to speak on Community Education. The event also is set to include workshops, speakers and a Marketplace Bazaar with artisans and vendors. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 702-229-4800.

Beatles Tribute Band: The Fab Four – The Ultimate Tribute is set to perform the Beatles' hits at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26 and 27 at the Suncoast Showroom, 9090 Alta Drive. Tickets start at $30.28. Visit suncoastcasino.com or call 702-284-7777.

Winter Chess Camp: Budding young chess students can spend the winter break from school learning the game of chess at Las Vegas Chess Academy, 3160 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 105. A session is scheduled from Dec. 28-30, with half days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $180 and full days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $250. Family discounts are available. Visit lasvegaschesscenter.com.

Paws on the Patio: The event to benefit Adopt A Rescue Pet is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 29 on the patio of Brio Tuscan Grille at Tivoli Village, 420 S. Rampart Blvd. Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly (and unfashionably) for an ugly sweater contest including canine friends. Rah! Raw! Rah! Pet Foods will have treats for the dogs. To RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/zu749r6.

The Loud New Yorker and Friends: The performance of musical theater songs in a cabaret setting is scheduled at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 29 at the Baobab Stage Theatre at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. Visit baobabstage.com or call 702-202-8010.

CSN 2015 Juried Student Exhibition: The student exhibit is scheduled during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday through Dec. 30 inside the Fine Arts Gallery at the College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Visit csn.edu or call 702-651-4000.

Cafe New Years: Ring in the New Year with a six-course dinner and a view of the Strip from 6 to 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31 in the Divine Cafe at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Reservations are required, and the event is limited to guests 21 or older. Tickets are $151.92 for dinner and appetizers during fireworks or $107.82 for just dinner or $56.75 for just appetizers. Visit springspreserve.org.

Tule Springs First Day Hike: The hike is set from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 1 at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Join state park rangers for a walk in ancient Nevada at Tule Springs. The meeting place for this hike is within Las Vegas city limits and will be provided to participants upon registration. Admission is free. Participants should feel comfortable walking over uneven terrain for two hours without sitting. The number of participants on this hike is limited to 100 people. Call 702-875-4141 to reserve a spot. Group reservations will be limited to 8 people per group.

Brandeis University National Committee event: Nancy Scott, associate professor of fine arts at Brandeis University, is set to be the guest lecturer for the group's University on Wheels brunch event set for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 3 at Canyon Gate Country Club, 2001 Canyon Gate Drive. Scott has published various art journal articles, and her most recent book about Georgia O'Keeffe has been published by Reaktion Books as part of its Critical Lives series. The book focuses on O'Keeffe's work in the context of her life and will be the subject of Scott's presentation. The event is open to the public, and the cost is $40. Reservations are required. Contact Evelyn Brunner at bnclv.org.

"Faded Glory": Art by Rafael Blanco is set to be on display through Jan. 9 inside the gallery at the Charleston Heights Art Center, 800 S. Brush St. The photographs, paintings and sculpture in the show are a statement on America's multicultural heritage and its dedication to the red, white and blue of the flag. An artists' talk and reception is slated from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7. Visit artslasvegas.org.

"Hot, Dry and Inked": An exhibit of Las Vegas tattoo art and objects is scheduled to be on display through Jan. 10 in the gallery in the Origen Museum at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Visit springspreserve.org.

Odyssey's Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure: Find out what it's like to be a shipwreck explorer, the captain of a sinking ship or a pirate on the run in the visiting interactive exhibit scheduled to be on display through Jan. 31 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Visit springspreserve.org.

Sustainability Gulch Puppet Show: A wacky Wild West puppet adventure is scheduled at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekends through December in the Big Springs Theater at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. The show is included with paid admission. For an extra $5, guests can meet, sing and dance with and take pictures with the puppets at a Puppet Party Hoedown scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. Visit springspreserve.org.

Utah Shakespeare Company Tour: The Utah Shakespeare Company plans to bring its 75-minute education outreach production of "Hamlet" to town at 2 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. The program is free, but tickets are required. Get them at artslasvegas.org.

Casa de Shenandoah: Tours of the Wayne Newton estate at 3310 E. Sunset Road are discounted up to 50 percent for Nevada residents during the holiday season. Guests that purchase a Gold Tour package will receive 50 percent off their second ticket as well as complimentary admission for children 12 or younger through Jan. 7. The visitor center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with scheduled tours beginning at 9 a.m. and the last tour departing at 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Christmas Day. Visit casadeshenandoah.com or call 702-776-7491.

Spring Mountain docent classes: The Spring Mountain Ranch State Park Docent Organization is seeking volunteers. New classes are set to begin Jan. 9. Call Carlo Luzzi at 702-355-9341 or email carlo6180@yahoo.com.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Holiday light show: The Light Up the Night display at center court inside the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road, can be seen every hour on the hour through Dec. 24 from 5 p.m. until closing. The show features 54,000 lights on a 40-foot Christmas tree. The mall is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Visit galleriaatsunset.com.

Holiday Cactus Garden: Residents can visit the Holiday Cactus Garden at Ethel M Chocolates, 2 Cactus Garden Drive, from 5 to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1 to see the more than 500,000 colorful lights. More than 70 percent of the lights this year will be LED, the business said. Visit ethelm.com.

Pictures with Santa & Train Rides: Tivoli Village, 440 S. Rampart Blvd., plans to offer pictures with Santa and train rides from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Photos start at $10. Visit tivolivillagelv.com or call 702-570-7400.

Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: The event featuring a 2.5-mile, drive-through holiday light display is scheduled from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday and holidays through Jan. 3. Tickets are $20 per vehicle and $55 for a season pass. Buses are $1 per person with a minimum charge of $20. Purchase tickets at glitteringlightslasvegas.com, Southern Nevada Walgreens locations or at the gate. Goodwill of Southern Nevada offers discounted entry coupons for Glittering Lights with a donation of goods. The coupon is available at any of the stores, drop-off locations or at the entrance of Glittering Lights. Value is $5 off Monday through Thursday and $2 off Friday through Sunday and holidays. A portion of each ticket sold benefits Speedway Children's Charities.

Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland: The holiday-themed light, music and animatronics show is scheduled on the hour from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. at Sam's Town, 5111 Boulder Highway. Visit samstownlv.com or call 702-636-7075.

The Ice Rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: The seasonal venue is scheduled to be open from noon to midnight daily through Jan. 3 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Snow showers are scheduled every half hour from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and amenities include holiday movie screenings, festive culinary offerings, including curated cocktails and roasted s'mores over a fire pit. Admission is free. All-day skating access is $15 or $10 for Nevada residents. Skates can be rented for $5, and skating aids can be rented for $10. Visit cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or call 702-698-7000.

Photos with Santa Claus: The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Visit mytownsquarelasvegas.com.

Downtown Summerlin Holiday Parade: The 20-minute parade with eight floats, music and characters such as penguins and reindeer is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Visit downtownsummerlin.com or call 702-832-1000.

Rock Rink: The Rock Rink, the public skating rink at Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, is set to be open daily through Jan. 18 (closed Christmas Day) near the Pavilion on the northwest side of the property at Rosemary Park Drive and Summa Drive. Skaters of all ages can join in the fun through January. A detailed schedule and prices can be found at downtownsummerlin.com.

Santa's Wonderland: Families are invited to visit with Santa, get a free photo, make crafts and participate in activities through Dec. 24 at Bass Pro Shops, 8200 Dean Martin Drive. Special features include holiday video option and a Bass Pass that allows Santa visitors to schedule a time and shop while they wait versus standing in line. Visit basspro.com/santa or call 702-730-5200.

PLAN AHEAD

Pop culture-inspired art exhibit: Pen and ink drawings by Joshua Weinberg are slated to be on display through January at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Weinberg's art features characters from movies, comic books, video games and other pop-culture works. The drawings depict the characters as the opposite sex. An artist reception is planned at 6 p.m. Jan. 7 and is set to include refreshments. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Las Vegas Vintage Motorcycle Auction: The 25th annual event is set to feature more than 700 motorcycles up for auction starting at 8 a.m. Jan. 7-9 at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Models are scheduled to range from 1898 to 2015. Tickets are $25 per day or $60 for a three-day pass. Visit southpointarena.com.

Ted Talks: Two or three Ted Talks videos involving the topic of creativity are set to be screened at 4 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. A discussion is planned after the videos, which are about 18 minutes each. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Polishing your resume: Attendees who bring printed copies of their resumes can have them critiqued by author and career expert PJ Sheldon at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. The event is free, but registration is required. Call 702-207-4261.

Sunset Garden Club: A demonstration on Japanese flower arranging is planned at the group's meeting at noon Jan. 12 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. Muriel Scrivner, president of the Nevada chapter of Ikenobo Ikebana, will give the demonstration. The meeting is free and open to the public. Visit sunsetgardenclubofnv.org.

Clark County Genealogical Society: The group plans to meet at 10 am. Jan. 16 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. The session is free and open to the public. Visit mypubliclibrary.com or ccgs-wa.org.

Bobby Caldwell: The entertainer is set to perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 inside Club Madrid at Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road. Tickets range from $25 to $55. Visit sunsetstation.sclv.com.

Social Media 101: Participants can learn the basics of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and other social media sites at 10 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. No computer skills or social media accounts are required. The class is limited to 12 participants. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Elvis Tribute: Justin Shandor is set to perform hits from Elvis Presley's movies at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at the M Pavilion inside the M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $30, $36 or $42. Visit themresort.com.

Ronnie Milsap: The country music artist plans to perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 20 inside the Grand Events Center at Green Valley Ranch Resort, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway. Tickets go on sale Dec. 18, costing $20, $30, $40 or $50 at any Station Casinos reward center, by visiting sclv.com/concerts or through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

ONGOING

Desert Newcomers Club: This nondenominational social club for women who are new to the Las Vegas/Henderson area is set to meet the third Wednesday of every month. Coffee meetings are planned at 10 a.m. the last Thursday of the month at the Green Valley Methodist Church, 2200 Robindale Road. Visit desertnewcomersclub.org.

Open mic nights: Kelly Clinton is scheduled to host the dinner shows from 9 to 11:55 p.m. Mondays at the Bootlegger Italian Bistro, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The events will feature unknown and established entertainers. Reservations are suggested. Visit bootleggerlasvegas.com.

Harp music: Mariano Gonzalez is scheduled to perform on the harp from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays in the main dining room at The Bootlegger Italian Bistro, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Visit bootleggerlasvegas.com or call 702-736-4939.

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