Whether you have friends and family visiting for Thanksgiving Weekend, or you’re just looking for something to do to get out of the house, we have got the list for you! We’ve gathered LOTS of fun things to do Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas that don’t involve eating turkey and shopping (though if that’s what you’re looking for, we’ve also added it here).
Check out our featured events, and enjoy a list of all the events we have on the calendar from Wednesday, November 27, through Sunday, December 1, 2019.
As always, we have included a few experiences that aren’t free, but are great fun for family and friends alike.
Las Vegas Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving
Turkey is the name of the game on Thanksgiving. But, if you’re not much of a chef, you can treat your family and friends to some fine restaurant dining or even a carry-out meal and avoid those dirty dishes. Thanksgiving is a popular holiday for dining out, so be sure to check out this list of Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving and make your reservations early! You’ll also want to order ahead for your carry-out all Thanksgiving weekend.
Friendsgiving at Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca- Say Grazie! Wednesday, November 27th bring your friends and family and enjoy $20 bottomless House Wine, Draft Beers and Sangria. You can also enjoy their Happy Hour Monday- Friday from 5pm-7pm featuring $7 Food & Drinks.
Holiday events Thanksgiving Weekend
Looking for more Holiday cheer and delicious cocktails? Check out the Miracle on Spring Mountain. New to Las Vegas this year, this Christmas-themed Pop-Up Cocktail Bar will serve holiday cocktails in a very festive setting. With kitschy holiday décor, professionally-developed holiday cocktails and nostalgia that’ll put the Griswald’s to shame, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit. The Miracle Pop-Up will be located at the Sand Dollar Lounge (3355 Spring Mountain Rd.) and will be open starting Thanksgiving Weekend from November 25th- December 31st.
Ethel M Chocolates– The 26th annual Holiday Cactus Garden features over 1 million holiday lights. This spectacular FREE attraction is lit up nightly starting Tuesday, November 5th– Sunday, January 5th at sundown until 10pm. This year, the tree lighting will feature Matt Franco, George Wallace, Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel and more! Ceremony and Entertainment are November 6th from 5pm-7pm. FREE admission with Toy, Food, or Monetary Donation. Santa will also be on location for your photos every Friday through Sunday 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. until December 23. Professional photos for purchase or take your own. They are closed on Christmas Day, but open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve until 8pm.
Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway– Drive your way through millions of Holiday Lights at the Speedway. Friday, November 8th– Sunday, January 5th. The park opens at dusk. This year, you will see many custom light displays and never-before-seen lights (as well as some of our old favorites). Named as one of the 7 Over-The-Top Holiday Light Displays You Gotta See by Huffington Post. Single car admission is $20 Monday-Thursday, and $30 on Weekends, Holidays and December 19-January 1st. They also offer an open-air Santa Tram, a Fast Pass ticket and a Season Pass option. See all options at the link.
Downtown Summerlin Holiday Parade – Join Downtown Summerlin this holiday season as we light up the streets with a magical family-friendly spectacle of floats, toy soldiers, snowflake princesses, nutcrackers, dancers and more at the holiday parade! Featuring magical floats inspired by your favorite classic holiday movies, festive dancers, joyful characters and even a little snow! This annual parade is FREE and open to the public and runs November 15th – December 21st: Fridays & Saturdays at 6 p.m.
Rock Rink at Downtown Summerlin- The signature ice skating rink located near the Pavilion at The Lawn. Skate under the stars set to the backdrop of joyful holiday music and an impressive 40-foot holiday tree overlooking the rink. November 15th– January 2oth, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Skate Rental is $15, all ages are welcome. Check the link for hours and more info.
Don’t forget to ride the festive Downtown Summerlin holiday train that runs through January 20 circling the ice-skating rink and holiday tree. Rides are $4.00 per adult and child.
Snow in the Square at Town Square– Come to Town Square every night beginning November 16th- December 23rd for Snow in the Square, where magical snow flurries will fall set to your favorite Christmas music. This FREE winter wonderland appears every night at 7pm, with a second show Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.
Photo courtesy of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan– The Boulevard Pool transforms into a real ice rink, high above the Las Vegas Strip. It features a light snowfall every 30 minutes and runs from November 2oth– January 5th. The Ice Rink was named one of USA Today‘s 10 Best Ice Skating Rinks in North America. There is no cost to enter Boulevard Pool and enjoy the Ice Rink area. They do offer a skate rental discount for hotel guests and locals. Click the link for prices, hours and more information.
Mckee Ranch Foundation– Christmas at the Ranch is back and better than ever, November 23-December 25th. Hours are Friday-Sunday from 10am-3pm. With a $20 donation or more for the whole family, you includes a pony or horse ride, & access to all the Holiday Play areas. There will also be Christmas Trees for sale, Playground area, Christmas Decor, Photo Ops with La La Photography, Hay Rides and Train Rides.
Tree Lighting Ceremony at the District at GVR- Come to the District November 30th from 6pm-8pm for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting & Laser Light Show featuring Live Entertainment, Stilt walking Elf & Toy Soldier, selfie station with Rudolph & Frosty.
Holiday at the Park– The Park will transform Thanksgiving weekend into a glowing Holiday experience on Friday, November 29th begins at 6:00pm as they light the 80-foot Silver Fir tree. Enjoy light installations, food and beverage offerings, photo ops, themed live entertainment and much more daily from 6pm-10pm (11pm on Golden Knights game nights).
*Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops- Santa arrives Saturday, November 16th at 5pm. Free Photo with Santa from 6pm-8pm. Please see the link for more FREE crafts and giveaways for kids November 16th-December 24th. This Holiday event includes…
- Magical tree lighting
- Unveiling of Santa’s Wonderland®
- McSteven’s® hot chocolate*
- Santa will be giving away a $25 Bass Pro Shops® Gift Card to 1 lucky winner every half hour! 5:30–7:30pm
Pictures with Santa in Las Vegas
Want to get a great photo with Santa, family and friends while they are all in town together? Check out all of the different places to get your Santa Pictures in Las Vegas! Many of them take reservations so you can avoid waiting in the long lines, but plan ahead, Santa will be busy Thanksgiving weekend.
If you’d rather score some great deals and get way ahead on your holiday shopping list, here’s our post on the Best Black Friday and Holiday Deals . Here you’ll find lots of great Black Friday prices and gift card deals for your browsing.
More Thanksgiving weekend fun in the Las Vegas Valley
Not quite ready for all the Holiday themed hustle and bustle? Check out our post on the 10 Best Cheap Date Nights in Las Vegas. Las Vegas can be a pretty fun city to wine and dine in, but if you’re not careful, you’ll break the bank. And with the holidays approaching, you’ll want to keep some of that dough in your wallet.
Looking to get out of the holiday hustle and bustle for a few hours? Why not head outdoors this Thanksgiving weekend? Check out all the Things to do at Red Rock Canyon. You get beautiful city and mountain views, lots of fresh air and even some exercise if you’d like to work off that Thanksgiving meal.
If hiking isn’t your thing, and you just want a scenic, peaceful environment, you can head out to Lake Mead and relax for the day. Too cold for swimming and probably boating, but the lake is serene and far from the crowd of the city.
This list of the BEST Museums in Las Vegas can give you history, dinosaurs, games, cars and even wax celebrities. Whether you’re looking for an educational experience or just something unique to see that’s not your typical Vegas, there is something for everyone. Many of these Las Vegas museums are FREE or offer discounts on admission as well, now who doesn’t love that? Best Museums
Vegas Golden Knights Hockey– If the ladies happen to be out Black Friday shopping, grab the boys (or the girls) and head to T-Mobile Arena to see our amazing Vegas Golden Knights take on the Arizona Coyotes. Game time is 3pm, and doors open at 1:45pm. Tickets start at $69, but expect to pay $100- $150 on average. Get your tickets here.
I hope this gives you lots of fun ideas for Thanksgiving Weekend, stay tuned for more Holiday posts coming up. Don’t forget, you can get free daily email updates of all the free and cheap events, plus deals and discounts on entertainment and dining, by subscribing to our daily newsletter. For even more cheap fun, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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