Water Street Gets in the Holiday Spirit with Carriage Rides, Parades and a Festival of Trees

Thursday, Dec. 11

Henderson is cranking up the holiday machine this weekend with the WinterFest celebration, three days of making merry down on Water Street. Things get rolling tonight with the Henderson Symphony Orchestra’s Sounds of the Season concert, and continue through Saturday with carriage rides, a festival of trees, arts and crafts, a parade, etc. HendersonLive.com.

Friday, Dec. 12

Don’t know about you, but we think the holidays could use a few new traditions. Here’s one: A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant! It’s kind of a mash-up of actual Scientology teachings and a nativity scene, if you can grasp that. 8 p.m. at Art Square Theatre, with shows through Dec. 20. Table8LV.com.

Saturday, Dec. 13

Every year about this time we strongly suggest that you catch a ride on Boulder City’s Santa Train. It’s the Nevada State Railroad Museum’s holiday run in a real train, and it allows you to hang with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Warning: The Santa Train is only this weekend and next, and it always sells out. Buy tickets in advance at NevadaSouthern.com.

Sunday, Dec. 14

While we’re on the topic of don’t-miss annual events, it’s time once again for the Nevada Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at The Smith Center. It features a full orchestra, lush intricate sets and some beautiful dancing. 7:30 p.m., with shows through Dec. 21. TheSmithCenter.com.

Monday, Dec. 15

Remember when the UNLV Solar Decathlon Team pretty much cleaned up at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition last year? Their project, a 754-square-foot self-sustaining desert home, is now on display at Springs Preserve. Yes, you really can live comfortably without 3,500 square feet. Open daily. SpringsPreserve.org for info.

Tuesday, Dec. 16

Winter officially arrives in five days, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t go ice skating right now. That’s possible at several places during our relatively warm cold period, including at Downtown Summerlin’s Rock Rink. Open daily through mid-January, the rink blends skating with light shows and a DJ on weekends. DowntownSummerlin.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

What makes one building a place people want to be and another a place people want to avoid? What goes into designing the physical spaces that surround us? These and other questions are explored in Reflecting and Projecting: Twenty Years of Design Excellence, a new exhibit of award-winning design projects at UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum. Through Feb. 28. UNLV.edu.

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