LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas will celebrate Chinese New Year, Jan. 31 – Feb. 16 with a collection of symbolic decor, traditional Chinese cuisine and activities to commemorate the Year of the Horse. This year's Chinese zodiac sign is significant because it is believed to bring fortune and good luck.
Festive Decor & Entertainment
Starting Jan. 11, the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio will display a new exhibit with a fabricated three-tier mountain featuring eight massive stallions – as the number eight represents good luck. The East Garden will feature a prosperous money tree with oversized gold coins hanging from branches.
Live performances of traditional folk and pop music with authentic Chinese instruments including the erhu, ruan, and pipa will take place in the serene South Garden from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The conservatory design will be guided by Feng Shui with the exhibit on display till March 1.
Wynn Las Vegas will unveil three, 800-pound Tang Dynasty horse sculptures on Jan. 9. The 9-foot-tall, 10-foot-long horses were created by master sculptor Sillipachai "Mod" Toonrud of FORTE Specialty Contractors in Las Vegas, and will be painted red and gilded in gold leaf. The sculptures will be on display through Feb. 14.
"PANDA!" takes the stage at The Palazzo Las Vegas, Jan. 7 to Feb. 28 for a limited engagement. The show follows the heroic quest of LongLong, a warm and caring panda, on an adventurous mission to rescue his beloved Peacock Princess who was kidnapped on their wedding day.
Singer Hacken Lee will perform live at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Feb. 7-8. The show starts at 8 p.m., and will feature hit songs from his last decade of music.
Downtown Festivities
This year, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts offers two special shows that will highlight the spirit of Chinese New Year. On Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. "TAO: Phoenix Rising" takes the stage with a night of Taiko drumming and innovative choreography. Then Shen Yun performs from Feb. 21-23. This show brings to life 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through classical Chinese dance and music.
The Fremont Street Experience will host "Chinese New Year In the Desert" Feb. 7-9. Kicking off the weekend of celebration is the opening ceremony on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m., followed by a concert series with special guests Victoria Wei Zhong and Henry Chuc. Other notable events include the Lotus Flowering/Thai Folk Dance, Muay Thai Exhibition and a special concert series on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Chinese New Year parade takes place on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. and starts at 4th Street, from Gass Ave. to Ogden.
Lion & Dragon Dances
Traditional Dragon and Lion Dances will take place throughout the destination to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Performances will include:
- Jan. 31 – 3 p.m. at The Venetian Las Vegas: A traditional Dragon dance and eye painting ceremony with firecrackers and festive decorations to celebrate
- Jan. 31 – 6 p.m. at MGM Grand: Lion-dancing pioneers Yau Kung Moon will perform a traditional Chinese lion dance that starts at the main lobby and carries through the casino
- Feb. 1 – 4 p.m. at Bellagio: A lion and dragon will prance their way through Bellagio's Porte Cochere welcoming guests
- Feb. 1 – 6 p.m. at Wynn Las Vegas: Guests can experience the traditional dragon dance, which will start at South Valet at Wynn. The parade will wind through the Wynn Casino before making its way to Encore. The procession will feature a 90-foot-long-dragon, eight lions, firecrackers and special acrobatic performance
- Feb. 1 – 5 p.m. at Flamingo Las Vegas: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 1 – 6 p.m. at The Quad Resort & Casino: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 1 – 7 p.m. at Harrah's Las Vegas: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 3 – 6 p.m. at ARIA: Traditional lion dance that will start at the main porte cochere and head through the casino
- Feb. 5 – 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. at Gold Coast: Traditional dragon dance through casino floor. Guests will also enjoy trees filled with candy and tangerines.
- Feb. 8 – 12 p.m. at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 8 – 1 p.m. at Paris Las Vegas: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 8 – 2 p.m. at Bally's Las Vegas: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 8 – 5 p.m. at Caesars Palace: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
- Feb. 12 – 7 p.m. at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino: Traditional lion dance through casino floor
Decadent Menus
This year's array of decor and lively entertainment will be joined by a number of restaurants on and off Strip that are preparing special menus and dishes for the holiday celebration.
Rice & Company at Luxor Hotel and Casino will present a four-course meal that features signature selections, including the wicked roll, egg drop soup, kung pao chicken, beef and broccoli, and garlic shrimp with vegetables. The meal ends with the dessert duo of exotic fruits and berries with chocolate.
Guests looking for authentic Asian fare may visit Wynn Las Vegas' Wing Lei, for a dim sum lunch buffet from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. The newly remodeled restaurant will allow guests to indulge in dozens of small delicacies, daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tea lovers will be excited to hear Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas is celebrating Chinese New Year in their Tea Lounge. Chinese New Year-inspired pastries, handmade fortune cookies and the traditional Chinese coin in an authentic red envelope will be the highlights of the traditional tea ceremony.
Chinese New Year menus will also be available at FIN at The Mirage, The Grand Wok and Sushi Bar and Pearl at MGM Grand.
