Cock-a-doodle-do to you—and no, we’re not wishing you a good morning (though we certainly hope you have one). Actually, we’re wishing you a happy Year of the Rooster, as 2017 is known on the Chinese calendar.
With celebratory festivities commencing Jan. 27 and stretching through Feb. 2, Las Vegas—just recovered from its massive New Year’s blowout—is geared to send the Chinese New Year rocketing off to a rollicking start as well. There’s no shortage of ways to party!
Anchoring the celebrations is the sixth annual edition of the Chinese New Year in the Desert Festival, Jan. 27-30 (702.848.2098, cnyinthedesert.com); unfolding across multiple locations. Among the highlights: a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring the Sichuan Song and Dance Theater Company at Fashion Show (Jan. 27, 6-9 p.m.); a parade in downtown Las Vegas (Jan. 28, starting at 11 a.m.), featuring extravagant Asian-themed floats, kicking off at Fremont and 11th streets and capped by community cultural performances, and school bands and orchestras combining for a “Dragon Fest Concert” at Container Park; and a ticketed benefit concert at The Linq Theater, again featuring the Sichuan company (Jan. 29, 2-4 p.m.).
Acting as a touchstone, The Linq Promenade hosts performances throughout the festival from local Chinese communities and the Sichuan troupe on the Promenade Fountain Stage, plus “Dragon Dance” shows by the Lohan School of Shaolin daily at 6 p.m. Additionally, The Linq’s High Roller observation wheel will glow red and gold in honor of the holiday, and also offers New Year-style frames for souvenir photos (available as well at the Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas), and see large-scale, live spray-painting demonstrations and purchase New Year-themed artwork from local artists.
Vibrant, colorful spectacles for the eyes and ears—in the form of live dragon/lion dances—will be in abundance at numerous resorts, including a procession through the lobby at Aria (Jan. 28, 4 p.m.); one winding through the casino at MGM Grand (Jan. 29, 4 p.m.); and yet another through the Bellagio (Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m.).
The Palazzo
At The Forum Shop at Caesars, an enormous 12-foot-high, 22-foot-long dragon weighing 950 pounds sits at the entrance to the center near Caesars Palace casino. And more than 30,000 amber and red LED lights cover the giant creature.
At The Palazzo Atrium, get your camera ready to capture images of Chinese New Year displays including a gigantic rooster and dragon.
Those are just a few instances of incredible New Year art—pretty much everywhere you look, you’ll find holiday decorations and Chinese symbols of good luck festooning hotels and shops as the Year of the Rooster rules the Vegas roost.
Find special offerings at Las Vegas’ restaurants
An important component of Chinese New Year in Las Vegas is the food—many restaurants offer special menus during the holiday, while others offer themed items honoring the Spring Festival.
Holiday food specials are in plentiful supply at The Linq Promenade, including special rates and offers at the Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop (holiday-themed tins), Flour & Barley (kung pao shrimp pizza), Virgil’s Real Barbecue (hush puppy samples and a Year of the Rooster drink with Espolón Blanco tequila), Sprinkles (Year of the Rooster cupcakes), and the Tsingtao Booth (specialty cocktails and beer from one of China’s largest breweries).
More culinary specials are available at hotel restaurants. Over at MGM Grand’s Grand Wok and Sushi Bar, which is adorned with Chinese New Year décor, a holiday menu from Jan. 27-Feb. 5 boasts pan-fried filet mignon, braised sea bass, and broccoli with crab meat gravy. Pop over to Mandalay Bay’s Noodle Shop from Jan. 27-Feb. 1 for holiday treats including pork medallion glazed in sweet and sour sauce, General Tso chicken, and ginger beef and crispy prawns tossed in pineapple sauce. Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar offers a three-course menu featuring Gong Hei Fat Choy (braised dried oysters and black moss) on Jan. 28.
