Lake Las Vegas to hold holiday events

Thoughts have turned to the November and December holidays, spending time with family and friends, and good will and good cheer. To memorialize these occurrences, the Lake Las Vegas master-planned community and MonteLago Village Association have scheduled a slate of seasonal activities.

Highlights include a Nov. 19 tree lighting ceremony and musical performances featuring Lauren Diaz of this season’s “The Voice,” Santa Cruises, winter holiday art show, Santa visits and Christmas Express train rides, and New Year’s Eve fireworks. All are based in MonteLago Village against the backdrop of the 320-acre lake.

Festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Annie Meadows, an American Contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and recording artist, and Leon Patillo, former lead singer with Santana, will perform and help lead the countdown to the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Performances featuring the talented Diaz with Positively Arts Foundation students follow. The nonprofit group brings professional artists and aspiring students together to ensure performing arts thrive despite financial difficulties many schools face.

After the tree lighting, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is hosting a meet-and-greet with Meadows and Patillo. Attendees who make a store purchase will receive a free autographed holiday poster, and kids can choose a build-your-own nativity kit or 3-D snowflake ornament. Free hot cocoa and coffee are available tonight.

Children are invited to join Santa Claus on a special hour-long yacht cruise featuring holiday-inspired games, goodies and photos. The Santa Cruise will sail Saturdays at 11 a.m. on Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 and 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17. Admission is $20 per person, and children must be accompanied by an adult. For reservations, visit https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=70785.

Children can visit Santa from noon to 2 p.m. on Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 and 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17. Additionally, there will be free Christmas Express train rides and $1 hot cocoa in Seasons Grocery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on those Saturdays.

The free holiday-themed art show will feature work from Southern Nevada artists in the Lake Las Vegas Art Galleries – North Gallery. The reception will be 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 9, with live music, complementary refreshments and awards presented from the juried show. Artwork can be purchased in Seasons Grocery and will be displayed from 1 to 8 p.m., Dec. 10 to Dec. 12.

A free fireworks show will help bring in 2017 at midnight on New Year’s Eve with live music prior to the display. Village restaurants and Lake Las Vegas resorts will offer special menus and packages. Details are being finalized. Visit lakelasvegas.com for information.

Seasons Grocery is conducting a canned food drive through Dec. 22; hosting a free holiday baking event with award-winning Chef Flemming of the eponymously named bakery in Henderson’s Water Street District from 4 to 7 p.m., Dec. 15; and selling special turkey and hams to make holiday cooking easier. For details, call at 702-898-0145.

MonteLago Village is at 15 Costa di Lago in Henderson, minutes from Galleria Parkway and I-515/U.S. 95 or off Lake Mead Parkway and Lake Las Vegas Parkway. Free parking is available at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort &Spa parking garage adjacent to MonteLago Village. For information, visit lakelasvegas.com.