Travel

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Holiday Lights

ethel m las vegas, vegas blog, christmas lights, cactus garden lights

The holidays are a magical time of year, especially in Las Vegas. The weather is cooling, the nights are dark early and the Vegas lights make everything feel dreamy… even at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory!

If you are looking for a holiday lights experience off the strip and family friend, the Ethel M Cactus Garden during Christmas must be on your list. Pack up your strollers with a few warm blankets and take your little ones to experience a festive and free holiday adventure!

Ethel M Chocolate Factoryethel m chocolate factory, christmas lights ethel m christmas lights

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Lights

When I visited the Ethel M Chocolate Factory lights as a child, I remember walking smelling the aroma of cocoa in the air, sampling a few of the varieties and being swept into the allure of thousands of lights. The facility seemed a lot larger back then, but taking our young children to Ethel M’s was definitely a fun treat for the holiday season.

The Holiday Cactus Garden is an experience not to be missed for Vegas families for a few reasons.

But mostly because it is FREE!ethel m chocolate factory, christmas lights

Cactus Garden Las Vegas

Walkthrough the cactus garden completely lit and decorated with thousands of lights and characters for as long as you want. With a huge variety of cacti, the garden is truly a desert landscaping masterpiece. The walkways weave through plants of all sizes, some with massive thorns while others delicate in nature. And during the holidays, the cactus garden is lit up into a winter wonderland that would leave any photography lover giddy with excitement. So much magical light in places, and on plants, that you are not likely to see in any other place.

Santa visits the cactus garden on Thursday through Sunday beginning at 5 pm, so be sure to schedule your visit accordingly! We stood in a short line so that my daughter could at chat with Santa (for free) but we didn’t buy the photo which came at a fee. I asked if I could take my own pictures and what do you know – you are allowed to shoot as many pictures as you want. And that’s free, too!ethel m chocolate factory lights during christmas season

Hot Chocolate Perfection

The only money we spent on this beautiful family activity was $4.95/each for the most delicious cup of hot chocolate in all of Las Vegas. My daughter got the traditional cup while I feasted on a Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Our evening at Ethel M Chocolate Factory Holiday Cactus Garden was low stress, low budget and focused on holiday cheer. I hope you guys check it out or doing similar low stressed, family holiday fun in your areas.

  • Mexican Hot Chocolate: A Simple, Festive Recipe - De Su Mama
    September 12, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    […] for toddlers calendar, but after Alina tried her first Mexican Hot Chocolate on our visit to the Holiday Cactus Garden last weekend, she was extra excited for the sixth day of the […]

  • Advent Calendar Activities: Family Holiday Traditions - De Su Mama
    May 6, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    […] of the activities continue from last year. Vegas blog readers might remember when we took Alina to Ethel M Chocolate Factory’s Cactus Garden for some Mexican hot chocolate and Vegas lights. Or how we came home inspired to make our own […]