Bellagio Conservatory Kicks the Holidays Into High Gear With Lavish Winter Display

If you’re feeling holiday spirit-challenged, we recommend a visit to the free Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

The Conservatory has unveiled its winter display for 2015, featuring enough creativity and whimsy to warm the heart of even the most die-hard devotee of humbuggery.

Bellagio Conservatory winter 2015
The Bellagio’s Christmas display nearly stunned the snark out of us. “Nearly” being the operative term.

Fans of the Bellagio Conservatory will find a number of familiar elements, but there’s always something new to see at this beloved attraction.

The centerpiece of the Bellagio’s winter display is the 42-foot white fir tree. Don’t get all bent out of shape, it’s faux fir.

Bellagio Conservatory Las Vegas
We kid. The tree is real, shipped in from Mt. Lassen, California. The tree weighs 6,800 pounds, more or Lassen.

The gargantuan tree, easily the most stunning in Las Vegas, has about 2,500 ornaments and 7,000 lights.

Other tried-and-true elements of the holiday display are frolicking polar bears. We suspect the polar bears aren’t going anywhere given the sponsorship deal Bellagio has struck with Coca-Cola.

Bellagio Conservatory polar bear
See all the inappropriate jokes we’re not telling? It’s the Christmas spirit!

The Coca-Cola advertising is done with class, however, and nobody going to begrudge Bellagio for finding a partner to help offset the cost of the producing this winter wonderland in the middle of the desert.

The Coca-Cola partnership once again has a philanthropic component. When guests share a Conservatory photo using the hashtag #HollyJollyVegas, Coca-Cola will donate a buck to Toys for Tots (up to $25,000). It’s hard to hate on Capitalism too much when kids get toys during the holidays.

Bellagio Conservatory
Aren’t you feeling super guilty about global warming right about now?

Each of the polar bears is made with thousands of white carnations. The cubs use 5,000 carnations, and the mother has 12,000.

Conservatory veterans will also recognize the 14-foot toy soldiers.

Bellagio Conservatory toy soldier
Dude, lighten up, it’s not Buckingham Palace.

We also love the working toy train running in endless circles.

One of our favorite Easter eggs in the winter display is the pair video screens showing live video from a camera affixed to the toy train. The screens are located elsewhere in the exhibit, and guests are consistently delighted when they realize what the screens are showing.

Bellagio Conservatory
One of the train camera video displays. We probably should’ve said “spoiler alert.” Then again, this whole blog is sort of a spoiler. You’ll live.

A snow tunnel has made its return, perfect for a photo op. The tunnel is constructed so that “snowflakes” move within the tunnel walls.

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas 2015
Sorry, but “Die Hard 2” sort of wrecked icicles for everybody.

Also in the new winter display are a collection of crowd-pleasing penguins, several of which clearly have a better fashion sense than this Las Vegas blog. Then again, just about everyone does.

Bellagio Conservatory
We assume this, too, is faux. Don’t make us cry penguin tears, Bellagio.

Beyond the returning favorites, new surprises abound.

The house made of chocolate is out, but an animated rocking horse is in (see below).

There are also two 12-foot snow globes. Those are huge globes, even by Las Vegas exotic dancer standards. Yes, in fact, we have to ruin everything. Get used to it.

Bellagio Conservatory
National Finals Rodeo is in town, so you can bet some cowboys have been eyeballing that horse, bigtime.

Overhead bells used in previous displays have been replaced by colorful, 10-foot stockings.

There’s also a 12-foot, animated jack-in-the-box.

Bellagio Conservatory
Or, more accurately, a harlequin-in-the-box, because Las Vegas appreciates alternative lifestyles.

While many of the props used in the Bellagio Conservatory’s winter display don’t involve flowers (an intriguing departure from past displays, and one we suspect could be a cost-conserving measure, it’s a Conservatory after all), there are still a lot of flowers.

According to the Bellagio, there are 34,000 poinsettias (our favorite dog, too), azaleas (love her music), cyclamen (our favorite lady part) and Ottowa mums (who raise the most polite kids, ever).

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas 2015
Everyone’s a child again! So, yeah, sort of smelly and loud, but in a good way!

Unless we missed it, it appears the live music component of the display has been nixed this year. Again, the exhibit appears to be trimming more than just its 750 plants and shrubs.

The Bellagio’s holiday display runs through Jan. 3, 2016.

Bellagio Conservatory
Experts believe penguins survived the extinction of the dinosaurs 60 million years ago. Who’s the comic relief now, dinosaurs?

The winter display is one of five seasonal themes at Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (here’s the official site), with the others being Chinese New Year, spring, summer and fall.

Bellagio Conservatory
On your way out, stop by the hotel lobby where there’s whimsy all year round.

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens continues to be one of the great free attractions in Las Vegas, and this year’s holiday display is already drawing huge crowds.

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas
Don’t be surprised if your heart grows three sizes during your visit. It’ll be uncomfortable, but totally worth it.

Walking through the Bellagio Conservatory at this time of year is a magical experience. It’s a chance to reconnect with our childhood, to feel the anticipation of Christmas morning, to be filled once again with the wonder and spirit of the holidays.

And we’re not even going to ruin it with a stupid joke. Because we’re sure as hell not going to risk ending up on anyone’s “naughty” list this late in the game. Sorry, heck. Sure as heck.

More cheer below!

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas 2015