Bellagio’s Holiday Display Never Fails to Impress

By Scott Roeben, on December 05 2017
3 min read 4 comments
Las Vegas Things to Do in Las Vegas

As annual traditions go in Las Vegas, we hope Bellagio’s unveiling of its holiday display never will. Go. In case that wasn’t clear.

Bellagio Conservatory
Paging Dr. Freud.

The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio are one of the few remaining free spectacles in Las Vegas and should not be missed.

Bellagio pulls out all the stops for its Christmas display. Vegas regulars will recognize some familiar elements (such as the polar bears), but there are always new things to see.

Bellagio Conservatory
Bellagio’s up to the challenge of giving your inner Grinch a beat-down.

The focal point of the holiday display is the big-ass Christmas tree, of course.

The White Fur tree, brought in from Mt. Shasta, stands 42-feet tall and has about 2,500 ornaments. Yes, we counted.

Bellagio Christmas
Bellagio’s Christmas tree is 18 feet in diameter, not unlike this blog after a buffet.

Naturally, the Conservatory is replete with flowers, including the seasonally-appropriate poinsettias (28,000 or so), famous for not being pronounced like they’re spelled.

Bellagio Christmas
The botanical name for the poinsettia is “euphorbia pulcherrima,” which sounds like what you’d call a poinsettia if you were bullying it in a locker room.

The Ice Princess is a new addition to Bellagio’s Christmas display, with a dress of white hydrangea and Phalaenopsis orchids. Yes, we copied and pasted those flower names. We are a busy person and don’t have time to “take notes” or “exert effort.”

Bellagio Conservatory
When your mom sees your browser history.

Bellagio’s horticulture staff of about 120 people have this whole Conservatory thing down pat.

The larger-than-life display draws throngs to the Strip casino, although the vast majority don’t stick around to eat or drink or gamble.

In recent years, casinos have cut back on free offerings to strengthen their bottom lines. Bellagio’s Conservatory has weathered those cost-cutting measures, and hasn’t yet suffered the fate of attractions like “Sirens of TI” at Treasure Island or “Masquerade Show in the Sky” at Rio.

Trust us, there have been meetings.

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas
Props on the elf diversity, Bellagio.

Here’s an insider tip for your Conservatory visit: Watch for the GoPro camera on the train at the base of the Christmas tree.

Bellagio Christmas
It’s only creepy if you get one for your ex.

Video from the camera is streamed live on a nearby video monitor.

Bellagio Christmas
Please keep it classy. There are lots of kids around.

Bellagio regulars will find it notable the horse statue in the hotel’s lobby has been swapped out. Not for a holiday-inspired horse and rider, but a samurai-themed one.

There’s currently a samurai exhibit in the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Here’s more.

Bellagio lobby horse rider
Bellagio’s disco ball horse has been replaced with a samurai’s. The Japanese warriors were fairly kick-ass archers on horseback.

While we enjoy visiting the Bellagio Conservatory during the day to see all the details of the flowers and props, some prefer the glow of the lights at night.

The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio are open 24 hours a day, so check out during the day and after dark.

Oh, and don’t forget to use the hashtag below to help homeless youth.

Bellagio Conservatory
At least that hashtag doesn’t have any unfortunate double meanings.

The Christmas display, called “Holiday Glamour” (because naming things is hard) runs through Jan. 1, 2018. Next up, Chinese New Year, from Jan. 8 through Mar. 3, 2018.

Enjoy more poorly-composed photos in the gallery, below. And if you’d like to see past Bellagio displays, we’ve grouped them all together on our site, so dive right in.

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas 2017