What to do with kids in Las Vegas over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus eight dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Magical Forest at Opportunity Village · 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146
Good to know: Santa is in the park through Dec 24. Tickets are date-specific.
Las Vegas Ballpark, Downtown Summerlin · Las Vegas Ballpark, 1650 S. Pavilion Center Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89135
Bass Pro Shops at Silverton · 8200 Dean Martin Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89139
Good to know: Free studio photos with Santa, kids' crafts and giveaways. Book a free photo time online.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway · 7000 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89115
Good to know: A 3-mile drive-through with 6 million lights. Take I-15 exit 54 (Speedway Blvd.); GPS can send you to a closed gate. Santa Tram rides are $25 a person on select nights.
Ethel M Chocolates · 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson, NV 89014
Good to know: A cactus garden in a million lights, with free choir shows on many nights. No reservations needed. Strollers fine; no pets.
Las Vegas Ballpark · Las Vegas Ballpark, 1650 S. Pavilion Center Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89135
Good to know: A Christmas light maze with Santa, ice skating and a snow slide as paid add-ons.
Magical Forest at Opportunity Village · 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146
Good to know: A holiday park with lit trees, a train ride, a carousel and a 50-foot slide.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas, third-floor Oasis Pool Deck · The Strip
Good to know: Most weekdays 5–11pm, weekends from 2pm, with late hours around the holidays. Holiday movies on the rink Tuesdays at 5 and 8pm. Skate aids: Not listed.
Spring Valley Library · 4280 S. Jones Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89103
Good to know: For ages 0 to 11 and their grown-ups, with a countdown at noon.
Centennial Hills Library · 6711 N. Buffalo Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89131
Good to know: Games, then a countdown at noon. Space is limited.
Summerlin Library · 1771 Inner Circle Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89134
Good to know: Crafts and a countdown to noon.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway · 7000 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89115
Good to know: A 3-mile drive-through with 6 million lights. Take I-15 exit 54 (Speedway Blvd.); GPS can send you to a closed gate. Santa Tram rides are $25 a person on select nights.
Ethel M Chocolates · 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson, NV 89014
Good to know: A cactus garden in a million lights, with free choir shows on many nights. No reservations needed. Strollers fine; no pets.
Magical Forest at Opportunity Village · 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146
Good to know: A holiday park with lit trees, a train ride, a carousel and a 50-foot slide.
Open on New Year’s Day: Las Vegas Natural History Museum, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, Springs Preserve, Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden Lights.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in Las VegasEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Las VegasEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in Las VegasFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in Las VegasFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in Las VegasIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in Las VegasBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in Las VegasHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in Las VegasParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in Las VegasKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in Las VegasParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in Las VegasPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with dates
Christmas markets in Las VegasChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in Las VegasDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Las Vegas Natural History Museum (Dec 24: Not listed; Dec 25: closed), DISCOVERY Children’s Museum (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Springs Preserve (Dec 24: Not listed; Dec 25: closed), Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden Lights (Christmas Eve 5–8pm; closed Christmas Day) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Santa at the Magical Forest, Santa at Enchant Christmas and Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum (Not listed), DISCOVERY Children’s Museum (Closed), Springs Preserve (Not listed), Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden Lights (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 5–8pm).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Glittering Lights, Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden and Magical Forest. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Glittering Lights, Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden, Enchant Christmas, Magical Forest and Oasis Ice Rink at Fontainebleau. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Las Vegas, through the holidays.
