Las Vegas Holiday Markets And Family Fun To Take In This Weekend

Christmas is around the corner, but there is still time to take in some fun events, and shopping, before Santa lands his sleigh!

Throughout December, Tivoli Village hosts Nutcracker Night Market each Thursday leading up to Christmas. It is in collaboration with LV Craft Shows.

You can find unique specialty gifts, listen to live music to set the holiday mood as you stroll through a festive marketplace. The kids, and you, can meet the Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Fairy, and complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides are available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December through December 21.

UnCommons is inviting the Las Vegas community to celebrate the Season of Splendor, with some immersive holiday events, that offer fun festivities, and partnerships, with local performing arts groups. Take it in this one last weekend before Christmas. It runs through Saturday, Dec. 21,

The Quad at Uncommons will host a great lineup of festivities celebrating the Las Vegas holiday season, and their own commitment, and connection to the arts community in southern Nevada.

Enjoy pop-up performances by Nevada Ballet Theatre, and roaming carolers. Grab a complimentary hot chocolate from Urth Caffé, and enjoy the cozy fire pits - complete with s’mores made with locally made Mexican chocolate from Siempre J.B. Cheese and meats from Wineaux and AMARI Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop.

Guests can also enjoy other specialty experiences including holiday floral pop-ups, and a really cool stocking embroidery station for custom monogramming.

Oh, and by the way - complimentary parking throughout the Season of Splendor at Uncommons.

If you're looking for something with a little more of a Las Vegas holiday feel, get your jingle on and mingle in the Jingle Bell Lounge at Topgolf Las Vegas, through December 29.

The second-floor Birdie Bar got a Las Vegas holiday makeover with beautiful lights and tons of decorations. Snap a few fun holiday pictures with your friends and family, surrounded by festive holiday décor.

Enjoy a hot, or cold drink in an exclusive $5 holiday souvenir mug mug. Entry is FREE!

So there you go - enjoy the Las Vegas holiday season at three of the coolest (my opinion) stops in Las Vegas. And Happy holidays to all!

Where are the best happy hours in Las Vegas?

It's always five o'clock somewhere, right? Especially in Las Vegas. But when it comes to happy hour, let's face - you want a bargain. You want to save a little money on that drink, and those nachos.

The Las Vegas Strip isn’t exactly known for its bargains these days. Gone are the days of cheap drinks, and 99 cent shrimp cocktails. So let's leave the Las Vegas Strip, and be a true local.

There are some great happy hours in Las Vegas, and you don't have to go anywhere near the strip. Some of your favorite restaurants offer a great happy hour, that you may not have even known about.

In Las Vegas, restaurants with some of the best happy hour menus are no where near the Las Vegas Strip. They are in neighborhoods, strip malls, or your favorite brewery. Yes, of course, many resort restaurants have happy hours. But as a local, we're not going to the strip, or even necessarily a casino -unless we have to. Or, those cousins are visiting from Milwaukee, and they have to get a yard of margarita, and see the KISS street performers, in ass-less chaps.

You can thank the US Navy for Happy Hour. In the 1920s, after World War I, happy hours were periods of time on naval ships where sailors could participate in relaxing activities, so they could remove themselves from the toll of life at sea. Those activities were supposed to be morale boosting - mostly boxing, and other athletics.

Of course the US was in the midst of prohibition. But Americans got around that (shhhhh) by going to speakeasies to get a drink before dinner. Happy hour as we know it today!

These are just 5 of the better happy hours in Las Vegas - at least some of my favorites. Remember though, happy hour deals change often, so be sure to check the restaurant’s website or social media for updates before popping in for a drink.

Great 'hoppy' hour specials include $5 LVBC drafts, $13 LVBC flights, $5 house wine, $6 well drinks. Sloppy Joe Sliders, fried pickles - that are AWESOME - and a really great "pubcuterie." I'm not the biggest beer drinker, but this place has some of the best beers in Las Vegas. Do a flight, and try a few!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/D3fbda77Y85kPssBA

The Spot has some GREAT food! And one of their favorites, and mine, is offered on their happy hour menu - their pork belly burnt ends. YUM!!!! Six chicken wings for $8. Happy hour is in the bar only, of course, and they do it from 3pm-6pm, AND again at 9pm-close.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/g4wUdypZ61HvMh9aA

Yes, the Cheesecake Factory. They have always had a great happy hour menu! Sliders, pot stickers, hot pretzel bites, spinach and cheese dip, fried zucchini, a happy hour burger, and tons more. Several delightful cocktails for $8.50, draft beers $4.95, bottled beer $3.95. Seriously - you can't go wrong! Try the fried zucchini - just like my grandma's!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zZCVFTo4LpRVKoGr7

Lazy Dog is just a fun place overall - and you can bring your dog! Happy hour lettuce wraps, crispy brussels sprouts, buffalo cauliflower. $4 wine, $1 off their draft beers. Woof!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2dYo9a83JBBtmvaF6

Echo & Rig is one of the best off strip steakhouses in Las Vegas, and in my opinion - still fairly reasonable. Their happy hour food menu is small, but mighty! A $3 Hotdog - the best hot dog ever! $4 Steak and egg, and Butcher fries with prime steak, homemade teriyaki, and scallions. Half off all draft & bottled beers, half off premium well liquor, $5 house wine, and always a $3 cocktail! It's great, but get there early, it gets busy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sjAGMT4w7XbXqzfm9