Thursday 15

Winter wonderland? How about desert wonderland? Ethel M Chocolates’ Botanical Cactus Garden takes you on a journey through thousands of holiday lights adorning more than 300 species of cacti, succulents, desert trees and shrubs. 5–10 p.m, 2 Cactus Garden Dr., ethelm.com

The In Transition: Female Figurines exhibition brings us closer to understanding pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, Central America and South America. Each unique figurine reveals the history of the people who created them thousands of years ago. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum, unlv.edu

Friday 16

If you sit in a classroom or office all week (and even if you don’t), some fresh air might be nice. Gilcrease Orchard offers holiday wagon rides, with caramel apples, apple cider doughnuts, kettle corn, chili, hot cider and hot chocolate available for purchase. 4–8 p.m., $2 entry, 7800 N. Tenaya Way, thegilcreaseorchard.org

Take a lunch break and head to Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse for a program of holiday classics performed by the Nevada School of the Arts Quartet. Noon, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South, artslasvegas.org

As we near the end of 2016, we pay our respects to those who passed this year. DJ Allen spins at Prince vs. Bowie: A Dance Party at the Bunkhouse Saloon to help facilitate some catharsis. 11 p.m., bunkhousedowntown.com

Local musicians bring you The Dark Holidays at Backstage Bar & Billiards. Enjoy the funky bass riffs of iRie along with Prolific’s prog rock and some acoustic guitar shredding and powerful vocals from Kat Kalling. 8 p.m., $5–$10, backstagebarlv.com

Saturday 17

It’s the holidays, which means you need to get your aggression out before you spend what seems like countless days cramped in one home with your family. See WWE NXT Live, and root for your favorite wrestler as they hammer down in the ring. 7:30 p.m., $26–$113, Mandalay Bay Events Center, mandalaybay.com

Not even an iceberg will stop Santa’s sleigh from visiting Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Get a pic with jolly St. Nick on the ship’s grand staircase while touring the exhibit. 1–3 p.m., Luxor, $24–$32, luxor.com

Special celebrations call for Champagne, but there are more sparkling wines to discover from all over the world! At Sips With a Master Sommelier at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, Will Costello will show you how to select and pair the perfect bubbly with your holiday meals. 4–5 p.m., $50, Mandarin Oriental, mandarinoriental.com

It’s not too late to do good for Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation’s 14th Annual Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive. Firefighters and volunteers are still collecting new, unwrapped toys and gift cards at select Wal-Mart locations and any local fire stations across the Valley. Donations accepted Sat and Sun through Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., theburnfoundation.org

Learn to capture the beauty of winter skies with watercolor. Clark County Wetlands Park provides all supplies and instruction to make your own masterpiece. 11 a.m., advance registration required, facebook.com/clarkcountyparks

Sexy nerds show us how the holidays and the horror genre go together at Nerdlesque Night’s Bloody Holiday. 7:30 p.m., $10, Artifice, facebook.com/nerdisthenewsexy

Watch competitors perform Herculean feats at Nevada’s Strongest Man & Woman. Cheer them on as they pull logs, pickup trucks and other impressively heavy items. 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., in front of Banger Brewing, unitedstatesstrongman.com

Piff the Magic Dragon with Mr. Piffles

Sunday 18

How about some live music and comfort food after a morning hike at Mount Charleston? The lodge there has you covered with pizza, burgers, sandwiches and more. Plus, Michael DeGreevs entertains from his catalog of 500 songs from classic rock and pop genres. 12–4 p.m., mtcharlestonlodge.com

Marc D. Donovan invites you to Christmas Crooner to benefit Foster Change, a nonprofit that supports resources for foster, kinship and adoptive families of Southern Nevada. Listen to Sam Phillips, formerly of Million Dollar Quartet, pay tribute to classic holiday baritones such as Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. 3 p.m., $35-$65, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, facebook.com/christmascrooner

Help yourself to a delicious meal that helps others, too. Fresh52 Farmers and Artisan Market and local vegan Chef Mayra serve up a Holiday Farmhouse Brunch to benefit Project 150, a nonprofit that helps homeless and disadvantaged high school students graduate. 11:30 a.m., $50–$90, Tivoli Village, sundaysuppers.splashthat.com

Monday 19

Mondays Dark turns 3, but rather than throwing a birthday party, performer, philanthropist and host Mark Shunock celebrates the anniversary of the charity event at Vegas’ Night to Give Back. 7 p.m., $20–$50, Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, mondaysdark.com

Mr. Piffles wants to remind us that the holiday season is about giving back. Catch Piff the Magic Dragon’s holiday show, Piff’s Piffmas Piff-Tacular, and bring unopened pet food for the Piff for Pets Holiday Pet Food Drive with Three Square Food Bank to help other furry friends enjoy the season. 8 p.m., $63–$103, Bugsy’s Cabaret at Flamingo, piffthemagicdragon.com

The Play4Kay Shootout: Women’s Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena is a benefit for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Watch teams carry on the message of perseverance and awareness, just as beloved coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Kay Yow did. 11:30 a.m., $15–$50, T-Mobile Arena, kayyow.com

They play, you sing. The Golden Tiki hosts A Very Merry Punk Rock Karaoke with a four-piece backup band to push you through your set. 10 p.m., thegoldentiki.com

Tuesday 20

Did you know you can see a polar bear family here in Las Vegas? OK, so they aren’t real polar bears, but Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens has put a few made of flowers on exhibit, alongside decorated trees and holiday displays. 24/7, bellagio.com

Meet Shelbi Schroeder, the artist behind the Reclaim exhibition. With photography, textiles and other media, Schroeder has challenged domesticity and sexuality and explored female desire. View her artwork, engage in its novel commentary and rub elbows with the artist herself. 4–6 p.m., Las Vegas City Hall Grand Gallery, 495 S. Main St., artslasvegas.org

It’s time to kick it up a notch! Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House just launched a four-course winter tasting menu, showcasing the restaurant’s signature and new plates, from lettuce wraps to gumbo and other Creole dishes the celebrity chef is known for. Bam! $55, MGM Grand, mgmgrand.com

Wednesday 21

Treat yourself! Visit Downtown’s new Vesta Coffee Roasters, which opened this month, to get through slump day. 7 a.m.–4 p.m., 1114 S. Casino Center Blvd., vestacoffee.com

Gold Top Bob & The Goldtoppers soothes Double Down Saloon with sweet old-school blues. 10 p.m.,
doubledownsaloon.com

Looking for more stuff to do in Las Vegas? Go to vegasseven.com/calendar