Holiday Happenings

n Green Valley Baptist Church, 270 N. Valle Verde Drive, plans to presents its Living Nativity Thursday and Friday. Refreshments will be provided by the church. Each 15-minute performance begins on the half-hour, starting at 6 p.m. and ending with a performance at 8 p.m. Information: pastor David Simpson, 376-0480.

n The M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans a menorah lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. Dec. 20. The menorah is expected to be displayed in the main hotel lobby until Dec. 27.

n The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2240 Village Walk Drive, plans to have its menorah lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 with speeches from local dignitaries and rabbis, a children's choir performance and Hanukkah treats. Visit thedistrictgvr.com.

n Ethel M Chocolates Cactus Garden holiday lighting is open daily until Jan. 1 at the garden, 2 Cactus Garden Drive. Free admission. Visit facebook.com/ethelmchocolates.

n The 50-foot-tall Christmas tree at The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2240 Village Walk Drive, plays holiday tunes every 20 minutes between 5 and 9 p.m. daily during the holidays. Santa is scheduled to be at the main plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays through the holidays. The District also is offering complimentary horse and carriage rides on Main Street between noon and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

n Visit Santa at the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Starting Dec. 16, the mall is set to be open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Pets can have their pictures taken with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.

n The Village Lake Las Vegas, 30 Strada di Villaggio, is hosting Storytelling with Santa on the Beach. The event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday with "The Tailor's Apprentice"; and Dec. 24 with "The Nutcracker." Enjoy cookies and milk, hot cider and s'mores by the fire pit. Free. Visit lakelasvegasevents.com/entertainment.

n The Village Lake Las Vegas, 30 Strada di Villaggio, has opened its floating ice rink for the season. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children. Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Rink is open until Jan. 29. Visit lakelasvegasevents.com/entertainment.

n Clint Holmes, along with his wife, Kelly Clinton, and sister Gayle Steele, plan to perform a holiday show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Suncoast Showroom, 9090 Alta Drive. Tickets are $15.95. Visit suncoastcasino.com or call 636-7075.

n The Las Vegas Redrock Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans "The Nativity," a free live production at Opportunity Village's Ralph & Betty Engelstad Campus, 6050 S. Buffalo Drive. Showtimes are set for 6 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Visit thenativitylv.com.

n The Nevada Conservatory Theatre is scheduled to present Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" through Sunday at the Judy Bayley Theatre, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets start at $20. Visit pac.unlv.edu or call 895-2787.

n The Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., plans midnight shows of "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" Friday through Dec. 24 for $10 per ticket. Visit onyxtheatre.com or call 732-7225.

n A 20th anniversary touring performance of "The Forgotten Carols," starring the show's creator Michael McLean, is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Tickets are $12.50 to $28.50. Visit forgottencarols.com/tickets.

n The Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., plans to host Night at the Museum: The Polar Express from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday for children 5 to 12. The event, designed to give parents an opportunity for holiday shopping without the kids, includes a screening of "The Polar Express," holiday craft-making and writing letters to Santa. Santa Claus will make a visit, and pizza and snacks will be served. The cost is $25, and space is limited to the first 120 children. A skating rink joins the Springs Preserve's Holiday Spectacular scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday through Dec. 23. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 12 and free for children 4 or younger. Members save half off admission. Ice skating is $5 per 20-minute session. Visit springspreserve.org.

n City of Las Vegas' Ward 5 is set to host its Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a free screening of "The Polar Express" beginning at dusk Friday in Lorenzi Park, 3333 W. Washington Ave. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Visit lasvegasnevada.gov/ward5 or call 229-6405.

n Las Vegas City Councilman Bob Coffin plans to host an senior center winter wonderland from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave. Attendees 50 or older must bring one school-aged child for admission. Festivities include lunch, raffles, entertainment and visits with Santa. Registration is required. Visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-6851.

n The Firenze Sextet is set to perform a free classical holiday concert at noon Friday at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-6511.

n Christ Lutheran Church 111 N. Torrey Pines Drive, plans a free children's event with hot chocolate, photos with Santa, cookie decorating and a puppet show at 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Visit christlasvegas.org or call 870-1421.

n Area school choirs are set to sing at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 21. Families can get photos with Santa from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays at Santa's House. Pets are welcome on Wednesdays. Snow shows are scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursdays and 7 and 8 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. Visit mytownsquarelasvegas.com or call
269-5000.

n The Las Vegas Garden Railway Society's annual Christmas model train exhibit is set to be on display 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays through Dec. 31 at Jim Marsh Automotive, 8555 W. Centennial Parkway. Viewing is free, and donations will go to The Shade Tree. The G-scale model train is about twice the size of a standard-size model train set and incorporates digital sound technology. For more information, call 645-3009.

n Students from the City Wide Youth Music Workshop plans to perform at the 17th annual Shoes for Children Shoe Drive and Benefit Performance at 3 p.m. Saturday at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Admission is one new pair of children's athletic shoes sized to fit children in preschool through high school. Donations also will be accepted through Dec. 23 at all library branches. Call 507-3989.

n Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland at Sam's Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, offers a free 15-minute winter laser light spectacular at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 23 Cowboy Santa is set to be on hand from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Visit samstown.com or call 456-7777.