Las Vegas Introduces GlowFest, Transforming Paradise Road into a Walk-Through Winter Light Destination for Holiday Travelers

Published on December 2, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada is preparing to add a new star to its holiday skyline as GlowFest, a large-scale winter light experience, gets ready to transform Paradise Road into a glowing seasonal playground from 20 December 2025 to 22 February 2026. Set just off the famous Strip, near the Sahara Las Vegas Monorail Station, the attraction will invite visitors into a walk-through world of art, light, culture and food designed for families, couples and groups who want a festive night beyond casinos and nightlife.

A New Winter Tradition for the Entertainment Capital

According to the official GlowFest information and listings on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) channels, the experience will occupy more than 200,000 square feet – roughly eleven acres – on 2600 South Paradise Road. The attraction is being promoted as more than a conventional light show, with the layout conceived as interconnected “realms” and story zones that encourage visitors to wander, linger and return across the season.

Operating from 20 December through 22 February, GlowFest aligns closely with the city’s peak winter tourism calendar, spanning Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year, all highlighted in official LVCVA holiday communications as key drivers for international and domestic visitation.

Backed by Official Tourism Promotion

The LVCVA, which serves as the official tourism authority for Southern Nevada, presents GlowFest alongside other seasonal attractions in its holiday press materials, underlining its role in extending visitors’ stays and offering more family-friendly after-dark options. In its November 2025 news briefs and holiday season release, the authority notes that GlowFest will convert the space near SAHARA Las Vegas and the Monorail station into a “radiant world of art, light, culture, taste and storytelling” throughout the winter period.

This positioning from the destination’s official tourism body signals that GlowFest is intended as a recurring seasonal anchor rather than a one-off spectacle, helping Las Vegas compete more directly with other global cities that promote winter light festivals and outdoor cultural events.

A Baby Dragon’s Journey Through Five Realms

The official GlowFest description outlines a narrative that threads through the experience. Guests are invited to follow the journey of a baby dragon that drifts through the darkness of the universe and is drawn toward a distant blue-green diamond – Earth. The dragon’s adventure unfolds across five themed realms: Reality, Nature, Ocean, Celestial Realm and Exotic Lands, each brought to life through handcrafted sculptures, projections and large-scale lantern-style installations.

Within these realms, visitors will encounter monumental features such as the Tree of Life, the Lotus Garden and a series of celestial gateways, which the creators highlight as signature photo spots and emotional “peaks” within the walking route.

Eleven Acres of Light, Art and Interactivity

Information from the official GlowFest website emphasizes that the attraction is fully walk-through, with pathways, open plazas and family play zones instead of a drive-through format. Visitors can expect dazzling light sculptures, interactive displays, children’s play areas, and dedicated family fun zones that encourage hands-on engagement rather than passive viewing.

Street food stalls, night-market style vendors and rotating food trucks will share the space with the installations. Organizers highlight that these culinary components will evolve throughout the season, referencing Las Vegas-based vendors and chef-driven pop-ups to ensure repeat visits feel fresh.

Food, Night Market Energy and Local Flavor

For the tourism sector, the food and beverage element is central. Official releases describe a “rotating lineup of Las Vegas food vendors, chef pop-ups and food trucks,” promising a mix of kid-friendly items and more adventurous dishes for adult visitors. The format mirrors Asia-inspired night markets and lantern festivals, while also showcasing Las Vegas’ local culinary scene that the LVCVA consistently promotes as a pillar of the destination’s identity.

This blend of street food, seasonal comfort dishes and snacks gives GlowFest an additional layer of appeal for visitors who want to turn the light show into a full evening out, pairing the visual spectacle with casual, outdoor dining in cooler desert temperatures.

Tickets, Passes and Local-Friendly Pricing

Ticketing details published through official event and media channels indicate that GlowFest is structured to attract both tourists and residents. Day passes start at approximately US$35 for one-time admission, while season passes begin around US$64 for visitors who want unlimited access throughout the winter

The organizers also offer Flex Pass options, allowing guests to choose any date and time within the season, and VIP add-ons priced around US$33 for perks such as designated parking, access to lounges, upgraded restrooms and a private bar area. Locals, military personnel and seniors receive a 10% discount across the season, and an opening promotion gives Nevada residents 50% off tickets during the first three days, from 20 to 22 December.

For the travel trade, these structures create clear opportunities for hotel packages, bundled experiences and repeat-visit incentives for longer winter stays.

Easy Access Just Off the Strip

GlowFest is deliberately located just east of the Strip, with official event information highlighting its setting at 2600 South Paradise Road, adjacent to the Sahara Las Vegas Monorail Station.

This link to the Las Vegas Monorail – itself owned and operated under the LVCVA umbrella – means visitors can reach the site quickly from major resort corridors without relying on taxis or ride-shares for every journey. Free parking and clear access off the Paradise–Sahara intersection also make the event attractive for local families driving in from residential neighborhoods across the valley.

Part of a Wider Official Holiday Strategy

In its official “Las Vegas Sparkles This Holiday Season” release, the LVCVA lists GlowFest alongside long-standing seasonal attractions such as decorated resort displays, special shows and other light experiences. The authority notes that GlowFest’s programming will include visits with Santa, live Christmas carolers and New Year-themed performances, positioning the event as a multi-generational gathering place during peak travel weeks.

This integration into the city’s broader holiday calendar supports the LVCVA’s mandate to attract leisure travelers, extend average length of stay and encourage visitors to explore neighborhoods and experiences beyond the core casino floor. By placing a large-scale light festival on Paradise Road, the destination adds a new “reason to step off the Strip” that still feels convenient and safe.

Family-Friendly Counterpoint to Nightlife

From a tourism perspective, GlowFest arrives at a moment when Las Vegas is increasingly promoting its family-friendly and non-gaming assets. Official travel information from the city already highlights museums, outdoor attractions and kid-oriented shows; GlowFest now joins that portfolio as a seasonal, high-impact experience that works for multi-generational travel parties.

In practice, this means that families staying at Strip hotels can ride the Monorail to Sahara in the late afternoon, explore the light realms, enjoy a relaxed outdoor dinner, and still return early enough for children’s bedtimes – or for adults to continue their evening elsewhere. Couples, meanwhile, can tie GlowFest into romantic itineraries that include fine dining and performances, particularly around Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year.

Opportunities for Travel Trade and Media Storytelling

For tour operators, travel agents and content creators, GlowFest offers rich storytelling hooks built on official information: the baby dragon narrative, five themed realms, monumental sculptures, food culture, and the connection to Las Vegas’ evolving winter brand.

It provides a visually striking backdrop for media itineraries, influencer content and destination marketing campaigns that want to show Las Vegas in a softer, more family-oriented light. Because the event runs for more than two months, it can be integrated into Christmas, New Year city-break packages, romantic winter getaways and Asian-market Lunar New Year promotions without needing separate product development.

Conclusion: Las Vegas Welcomes a New Lantern of Light

As Las Vegas prepares for another busy holiday and winter season, GlowFest arrives as a fresh symbol of how the city is broadening its appeal beyond gaming and nightlife while still delivering spectacle. Official tourism information and the event’s own materials describe an eleven-acre world of lantern-style art, immersive storytelling, food and music that turns a stretch of Paradise Road into a seasonal stage for families, couples and friends.

For travelers planning a winter escape to Nevada, GlowFest adds one more reason to step into the cooler desert evenings, ride the Monorail beyond the Strip and experience Las Vegas in a new light – one where dragons, lotus gardens and celestial gateways glow beside towering resorts, and the city’s holiday spirit shines as brightly as its famous neon.