Chinese New Year 2014, the Year of the Horse, in Las Vegas falls on January 31 through February 18, 2014. Also known as Spring Festival in China, Chinese New Year is the lengthiest and most significant celebration in the Chinese lunar calendar.
RELATED: Las Vegas Celebrates Chinese New Year 2014
Everything will be open on Chinese New Year from shops and casinos, to bars and restaurants, to buffets and city attractions. During this holiday, visitors to Vegas can enjoy great dishes at some top notch Chinese restaurants in the city. If travelers plan to come to Las Vegas on Chinese New Year, Travel Agent came up with a few things to do below during their visit:
Bellagio – The Chinese New Year 2014, Year of the Horse exhibit is currently displayed at the hotel’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This year, a massive horse statue stands on a three tier mountain in a garden decorated with Chinese lanterns, models of kids playing with firecrackers and a gold coin money tree. Guests can enjoy live performances daily from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the South Garden. The exhibit is open 24 hours, seven days a week and will be on view now through March 1, 2014.
The Venetian and The Palazzo – The hotels and casino resorts will also celebrate the Year of the Horse starting with a ceremonial dragon dance on January 31 at 3 p.m., complete with firecrackers and an eye painting ceremony. The event includes a parade of dancers and drummers in costumes making their way through The Waterfall Atrium & Gardens. Also at the atrium will be the large “Year of the Horse” art installation which runs through February 16. The festivities also include a show focusing on the panda, available for viewing Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at The Palazzo Theater.
The Fremont Street Experience – The attraction in Downtown Las Vegas is also getting ready for celebrations, hosting the 3rd annual “Chinese New Year in the Desert” festival from February 7-9 at 3rd Street, between Fremont and Stewart Avenue. The event will offer a live dragon and lion dance by the Las Vegas Lohan School of Shaolin. Free entertainment will present traditional performances on the 3rd Street Stage. Other performers include: Desert Winds Ensemble, Korabo Taiko Drummers, Hong Lin Singing Group, The Meadows Lower School Orchestra, Sung's Korean Dance Studio, Hong Lok Chinese Singing Group, Bon Odori Dancers, Rau Tama Nui, Philippine American Youth Organization, Wai Crew Dance, The Divas, Kaminari Taiko, Isla Vegas Young Stars, Heart of Polynesia, Tendo Baikoki Cultural Dance Group, Philippine American Youth Organization, Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club Choral Group, Las Vegas Teine Ole Toafa, Li Lin Hong Chinese Music Ensemble, Filipiniana Dance Company of Las Vegas and Maori Volcanics.
Chinese American Chamber of Commerce – LVCACC puts together the largest New Year celebration in the city, starting at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The celebration includes the Authentic Asian Food Festival, offering Hong Kong, Canton, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Japanese, Hawaiian cuisine and more. Nearly 5,000 people are expected to visit, according to the Chamber of Commerce. There will be free drawings and exhibitions on display throughout the day. Live performances include Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Chinese Acrobat, Chinese Martial Arts, Japanese Taiko Drums, Japanese Dance, Chinese Folk Dance, Polynesian Dance, Korean Dance and Vietnamese Dance. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free.
Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade – McDonald’s will once again host the parade on February 9 starting at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Gass Avenue and 4th Street. The parade will go up 4th Street through Fremont Street and stop at the intersection of 4th Street and Ogeden Avenue.
Other Las Vegas Chinese New Year Events include the “Dotting of the Eyes” ceremony at the Cosmopolitan on February 1 at 2 p.m. at the resort’s entrance at the East Side entrance off Las Vegas Boulevard. Wynn and Encore Las Vegas also invite guests to view its three 800-pound Tang Dynasty horse sculptures as they enter the resort in the Wynn atrium and in the garden outside the baccarat room at Encore. The 9-foot-tall, 1-foot-long sculptures will be on display through February 14.