Las Vegas holiday season officially gets its first big switch-flip this week. Glittering Lights, the drive-through light show at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, opens Friday, Nov. 6 and runs nightly through Jan. 3, 2027, with more than 6 million LED lights spread across a three-mile course. And two weeks later, Fontainebleau Las Vegas brings back its free-entry Oasis Ice Rink on the Strip.
Key Takeaways
- Glittering Lights opens Friday, Nov. 6 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and runs through Jan. 3, 2027, open nightly from 5 p.m., rain or shine.
- A carload is $39 cash at the gate or $44 by credit card; a $149 season pass covers two vehicles and includes Fast Pass.
- Veterans get in free on Veterans Appreciation Night, Nov. 11, and military personnel on Nov. 16 (valid ID required).
- Fontainebleau’s Oasis Ice Rink opens Nov. 19 on the resort’s third-floor pool deck. Entry is free; skating starts at $30, or $15 for Nevada locals on select dates and late nights.
What’s new at Glittering Lights this year
Organizers say the course has more than 600 animated and sparkling displays. New for 2026 is Under the Big Top, a circus-themed display presented by Circus Circus. The 12 Days of Christmas stretch now runs a quarter mile, and an expanded Avenue of Flags marks the country’s 250th anniversary with a flag from each of the 50 states, alongside a new red, white and blue “Tribute to America” section.
The “Tribute to the Movies” route adds scenes from The Nightmare Before Christmas and Gremlins, the Neon Forest grows with glowing “Fairy Willows,” and the in-car Ho Ho Radio playlist adds Debbie Gibson’s new holiday single “Lit Up.”
Tickets and packages
Besides the standard carload ticket, the show sells a $64 Fast Pass on select peak nights, a new $69 Date Night package, and Santa Tram rides at $25 per person on select nights (or a $119 VIP family four-pack). The show also lists free nights for military, veterans, teachers and first responders, plus themed nights such as Pet Night, Bike Night and an ATV/UTV Powersports Night; check the official events calendar for exact dates before you go.
Fontainebleau’s Oasis Ice Rink returns Nov. 19
Fontainebleau calls its rink the Strip’s largest and only real ice rink. It runs Nov. 19 through Jan. 17, 2027 on the third-floor Oasis Pool Deck. Walking in is free; standard skating starts at $30 plus taxes and fees. Fire-pit rentals for up to six people start at $200, and holiday movies play Tuesdays at 5 and 8 p.m. Hours vary by date, with 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. sessions over Thanksgiving week and Dec. 19–30.
What it means for locals and visitors
For locals, Glittering Lights is one of the easiest family outings of the season: one price covers the whole car, and paying cash saves $5. On busy peak nights, the Fast Pass is the way to skip the line. Because it is a drive-through show at the Speedway off I-15, visitors without a car will need a rental or a round-trip rideshare. On the Strip, the Fontainebleau rink is a free place to watch the skating with a drink in hand, and locals can skate for half price on select dates.
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