Bring the family to Las Vegas for a

Christmas to remember. The

whole town amps up its already

bright displays.

Day and night, free entertainment

abounds in hotel lobbies or

courtyards. Check for dates and

times. This is Vegas, so look for

restrictions like “adults only.”

Some locations require

reservations, and many sell out in

advance, so now’s the time to

start planning! It’s also a great

chance to see the stunning Grand

Canyon on a Papillon flying tour.

• Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway dazzles with over two million LED lights. Drive the 2.5-mile course and listen to holiday tunes. Now you can say you drove the Las Vegas Speedway [$20 admission]!

• Ethel M Chocolates Factory and Cactus Garden is a brief, self-guided factory tour with free samples and candy shop. Visit 3 acres of native cacti in their Botanical Cactus Garden and catch the million holiday lights by night, for a Christmas wonderland. In Henderson, NV [Free].

The free entertainment rivals the most elaborate stage shows at the holidays.

• Bellagio Hotel Fountains – Watch the supersized light show as fountains dance to holiday songs, and you don’t have to spend a cent. Shows every 15 minutes.

• While there, drop by the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, open 24/7 with displays of outsized Christmas trees and giant toys made of flowers [Free].

Holiday window shopping goes upscale at the world’s most sophisticated retailers. Find last-minute Christmas gifts—looking is free!

• Crystals at CityCenter, the high-end home to luxury stores like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, who spare no expense to create dramatic windows. The entire center is decorated, with live holiday music daily.

• Adventure to Santa – Fashion Show Las Vegas Mall, a sleigh ride with Shrek to Santa’s Home, to meet Santa and pose for photos [reservations required].

• Silverton Casino Hotel Aquarium – Kids will squeal as they chat with an underwater Santa, swimming with thousands of sharks in the aquarium [Free].

• Stroll the Lodge, an upscale, luxury-themed resort made to resemble an Old West mining town, with multiple restaurants.

• Even at the holidays, a little nightlife is in order, like their Zagat-listed Hootie & the Blowfish’s Shady Grove Lounge.

Dreaming of a “white Christmas?” Pick your skating rink, complete with holiday trimmings straight out of New England.

• Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan – skate above the Strip, sample s’mores and warm cocktails by the fire pit, and experience real snowfalls. Free admission, varied rates for skating and rentals.

• Caesars Chalet Holiday Ice Rink and Winter Lodge – a large-scale rink, with LED-lighting, fake snow, and tasty winter drinks. Flat admission rate.

Christmas dinner is the holiday focal point. Reserve early to ensure seating. Budget for higher holiday pricing, even at bargain buffets.

• Hotel Buffets – top-rated in many sources, from Caesars Palace Bacchanal to the Wynn Las Vegas, and more.

• Top gourmet restaurants and celebrity chefs are walking distance on the Strip. Take your pick of ethnic cuisines or go for the steak and lobster fest of your dreams.

Vegas is the entertainment mecca for spectacular shows. Book now before they sell out. Here are ideas for the whole family.

• The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil – their best-loved music with the Cirque’s heart-stopping routines. Must be 5 and over; under 18 must be with an adult.

• Blue Man Group at The Luxor (starting November 18, 2015), a wild celebration, blending comedy, music, and performance art with multi-media technology. Under 5 not admitted.

Since 1965,Papillon has flown around 600,000 passengers yearly on Grand Canyon Tours. Over forty excursions departing from Las Vegas, with spectacular views of the Grand Canyon and more.

Details and reservations, at 1-888-635-7272, or visit http://www.papillon.com.

• http://lasvegassun.com/news/2010/dec/20/10-must-see-holiday-lights-displays-las-vegas

• https://blog.travefy.com/2013/12/6-things-to-know-when-spending-christmas-in-las-vegas/

• http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/christmas-in-las-vegas.php

• http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/buffet.php