Planning on traveling to Las Vegas this holiday season? Whether you’re boarding flights to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving, Christmas or somewhere in between, Las Vegas embraces the spirit with plenty of options for visitors.

While there’s no snow, there are plenty of activities to get that jolly feeling during your stay in town.

On Nov. 18, Town Square, the major outdoor shopping area just South of Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Blvd. is welcoming Santa’s arrival to town with his Annual Parade. Beginning at 7 p.m., holiday characters and some of Las Vegas’ finest will welcome Santa’s arrival to his Las Vegas home. Celebrate the season as he arrives via horse-drawn carriage. Following his arrival, Town Square’s 45-foot Christmas tree will be lit, along with a well-timed snow fall. Stay after the parade and take photos with Santa and then go and enjoy the shopping and restaurants on-property.

Thanksgiving may not seem like a time people come to town, but it is. Depending on budget, there are plenty of restaurants that offer coursed Thanksgiving meals. And, if they don’t have a special menu, chances are they are featuring some Thanksgiving staples, including the bird and stuffing. If you are planning to dine out on Thanksgiving in Las Vegas, be sure to book your reservations as soon as possible.

For people in town on December 3, be sure to sign up or at least swing Opportunity Village’s annual Great Santa Run. This 5K event features more than 10,000 men and women, decked out in Santa gear, trying to break the world record for the largest gathering of Santas.  Complete with live entertainment, fanfare and more, this is a do-not-miss event if you’re in town. The run starts at Town Square at 10 a.m. with some parachuting Santas dropping from the sky.

Then, after the run, take part in the special Las Vegas Santa Pub Crawl. This fundraiser to benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation kicks off in the heart of Downtown at the newly re-vamped El Cortez at 8 p.m., then takes revelers on a drink-fueled crawl to some of the area’s hottest bars, including the new Insert Coin(s) bar. Tickets are $10 and give you a souvenir cup, drink specials and more.

If you want some holiday music, on Dec. 29, Trans Siberian Orchestra visits Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center. The orchestra, a yearly event in town, will have two shows on the 29th.

Flickr Photo Credit: Dan4th Nicholas