Gong Xi Fa Cai - Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Horse 2014 Events & Dragon Ceremonies Guide

Happy Chinese New Year

Vegas is full of fun celebrations for the New Year. One of my favorites that is our annual tradition with the kids is to visit the Bellagio gardens. If you haven't been they are decked out for the Year of the Horse.

We also enjoy giving coins and munching down on some Chinese food. And try and catch the parade too! :)

Chinese New Year 2014, the Year of the Horse, falls on January 31 through February 18th.

I was born in the Year of the Horse - so I am formally declaring this my year! LOL!

Here's a side note: People born during the Year of the Horse (a symbol of speed, strength, courage, perseverance and nobility) are believed to be great communicators, clever and friendly.

This is your year if you were born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

If you aren't sure what year you were born or the kiddos - you can check it out here!

Here's a list of things going on around our town.
If you know of something I missed - please email me and I will add.
Thanks!

Panda Express - FREE Firecracker Chicken Breast Entree - valid 1/31 only. No purchase necessary. You must show the coupon though on your phone or print it out.

~ Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens:  Celebrate the Year of the Horse during Chinese New Year with a vibrant display that features as it's centerpiece a fabricated three tier mountain featuring eight massive stallions - as the number eight represents good luck. The East Garden will feature an 18-foot-tall custom-made prosperous Chinese money tree with 384 oversized gold coins on its branches, as mounds of I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese symbol for money, surround its base. A serene sanctuary guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui – the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy.

Live music performances by the Las Vegas-based Beijing Trio will take place in the South Garden from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. nightly.

On view January 11 through March 1, 2014, Hours: Open 7 days a week, 24 hours.

~ The Venetian and The Palazzo - The Palazzo Lobby and Waterfall Atrium are adorned with eight unique, hand-painted and sculpted horses and one sculpted lamb, the horse's secret friend. Find the horses throughout the display. The feature horse stands at 16 feet in its own fountain. His friends range from a 48-inch foal and two 18-foot rearing horses. Two of the horses are in the raised gardens and another two appear to be walking through water.

You will also find special horses sculptures, stunning Chinese lanterns, bamboo towers and numerous live horticulture displays.

Also included in this years' Chinese New Year celebrations will be a ceremonial dragon and lion dance. There will be firecrackers too! The dance will begin at The Venetian's lavish Porte‐Cochere, making its way through The Venetian Casino, into The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium, through The Palazzo Casino and end in the upper Palazzo Porte‐Cochere. The colorful spectacle will feature a parade of dancers and musicians dressed in elaborate costumes playing authentic music.

If you'd like to watch a video of last year's celebration of the Year of the Snake - catch it here!

~ Wynn Las Vegas and Encore has on display 3 800-pound Tang Dynasty Horse Sculptures that greet you as you enter the property in the Wynn atrium and in the garden outside the baccarat room at Encore. The 9-foot-tall, 10-foot-long horses will be on display from Jan. 9 to Feb. 14, 2014 in honor of Chinese New Year. There will be Chinese-inspired floral and sculpture displays including over 8,000 red and yellow chrysanthemums and silk dragons.

On Saturday, 2/1 at 6pm starting at South Valet at Wynn will be a traditional dragon and lion dance and ceremony. Guests can participate in the ceremony by following the 90-foot-long dragon, and 8 lions as they parade through Wynn and Encore to live music, firecrackers and special acrobatic shows performed by the lions.

~ Cosmopolitan 'Dotting of the Eyes' ceremony will be held on Saturday, 2/1 at 2pm. You can find this at the resort's entrance at the East Side entrance off Las Vegas Boulevard.

During the ceremony around 30 performers will 'awaken' a dragon and lions by dotting their eyes with red paint. Once awakened, the twisting and turning dragon will lead a parade of lions and dancers throughout the casino floor.

Polynesian artist Alexander Lee will present The Botanical Factory inside P3Studio.
Lee will display his ink paintings using breadfruit tree leaves as he creates compositions ranging from Polynesian head ornaments to Chinese ink paintings. Dates: Jan. 22 through Feb. 16, 2014

~ Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza, 4255 Spring Mountain Road. Las Vegas, Phone 702-221-8448

Come celebrate Chinese New Year at the largest and most exciting New Year Celebration destination in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza. Sample the biggest authentic Asian food gathering in Vegas. Everything from Canton, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Japanese, Hong Kong, Hawaiian cuisine, you name it, it will be on display. Performances: Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Chinese Acrobat, Chinese Martial Arts, Japanese Taiko Drums, Japanese Dance, Chinese Folk Dance, Polynesian Dance, Korean Dance and Vietnamese Dance.

Other activities: Chinese Arts & Crafts, Calligrapher, Chinese Fortune teller and Lots of vendors.

Celebration starts at 10am until 5pm.
Admission will be $3.00 for adults and $1 for Children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free.

~ McDonald's will again host the Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 11am.
Go here for the parade route. For more information you can also visit http://www.cnyinthedesert.com.

~ Chinese New Year in the Desert will host a series of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultural celebrations throughout the Fremont Street Experience. This inaugural event will feature a live authentic dragon dance by the Las Vegas Lohan School of Shaolin, as well as a digital dragon dance, complete with virtual firecrackers on Viva Vision, and cultural entertainment.

Dates: February 7, 2014 - February 9, 2014
Times: Friday, 5pm - 10pm; Saturday, 12pm - 10pm; Sunday, 12pm - 9pm
Location: 3rd Street, between Fremont and Stewart Avenue

For a detailed list of the events go here.

Here's a quick guide for all the Dragon and Lion Dance Ceremonies:

Forum Shops at Caesars Palace: The Meadows School Chinese New Year Parade - Kindergarten and fifth grade students will hold their annual Chinese New Year Parade on January 31, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

The Shops at Crystals: Friday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. Entrance near Todd English P.U.B.
The Venetian & The Palazzo: Friday, Jan. 31 at 3pm The Venetian porte cochere and through the casino to The Palazzo

MGM Grand: Friday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m Main lobby and through the casino

Las Vegas Premium Outlets North: Saturday, Feb 1 at 11a.m.-1p.m. 

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. East Side entrance off Las Vegas Blvd

Bellagio: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4:00 p.m. Main porte cochere and through the casino

Flamingo Las Vegas: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. Flamingo's South West Entrance

Wynn: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. Starting at South Valet at Wynn

The Quad: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. The Quad Hotel Lobby

Harrah's Las Vegas: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. Harrah's Hotel Lobby
ARIA: Monday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. Main porte cochere/valet and through the casino

Gold Coast: Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. On the casino floor

Fremont Street Experience: Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30pm - 7:55pm Lion Dance & Martial Arts
Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:10pm - 7:20pm Lion Dance and Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:10pm - 6:25pm Lion Dance

Planet Hollywood: Feb. 8 at 12 p.m. Through casino floor
Paris Las Vegas: Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. Paris Hotel Lobby
Bally's Las Vegas: Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. Bally's North Entrance
Caesars Palace: Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. Caesars' Main Entrance
Rio: Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. Rio's Hotel Lobby