Downtown Summerlin to launch holiday season

The public is invited to a community tree-lighting ceremony headlined by USA BMX Olympic gold medalist Connor Fields Nov. 18 at 6 p.m., followed by the return of the popular annual holiday parade at Downtown Summerlin, the community’s 106-acre retail, dining and entertainment destination.

The event also marks the arrival of Santa Claus and includes holiday pop-up performances of “The Nutcracker” by Nevada Ballet Theatre.

According to Danielle Bisterfeldt, vice president of marketing for Summerlin, Downtown Summerlin has become holiday headquarters for the community and the entire valley thanks to a robust line-up of events, activities and celebrations for residents of all ages and interests.

“From our holiday parade and photos with Santa, to our Rock Rink ice skating rink and a special four-night Hanukkah celebration in partnership with the Jewish Community Center, we’ve got the holidays covered for just about everyone,” Bisterfeldt said.

The parade takes place at 6 p.m. for 17 nights: Nov. 18, 19, 25, 26; Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10 and nightly Dec. 16-24. It offers a family-friendly spectacle of floats, toy soldiers, snowflake princesses and princes, nutcrackers, dancers and holiday music.

Also parading through the streets are characters such as penguins, polar bears and reindeer. All shows are free and open to the general public.

Santa Claus also arrives Nov. 18 and takes up residency in his Winter Wonderland-themed set sponsored by Summerlin Hospital Medical Center in the Macy’s Promenade through Dec. 24. Photo packages start at $22, and Santa offers photos with pets on Tuesdays from Nov. 22 through Dec. 20 between 7 and 9 p.m.

Downtown Summerlin’s premier ice skating rink — Rock Rink — near the Pavilion on The Lawn, is now open through mid-January.

It is open nightly from 4 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover Las Vegas, Rock Rink highlights include multicolored light shows with music every hour and an impressive 30-foot holiday tree overlooking the rink. Skate rentals start at $15, and all ages are welcome.

For the second year, Downtown Summerlin partners with the Jewish Community Center to host a four-night Hanukkah celebration, Dec. 26 through Dec. 29.

Four nights of activities begin with the lighting of the Menorah on Dec. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Other activities include a Chabad Hanukkah lighting, family skate night and Ultimate Challenge for adults.

“Downtown Summerlin continues to offer community-based and family-friendly Hanukkah celebrations,” Bisterfeldt said. “This year’s festivities, in partnership with the Jewish Community Center, will once again provide strong, celebratory offerings to the Jewish community in Las Vegas.”

For more on Downtown Summerlin’s holiday events and offerings, visit www.downtownsummerlincom.

Summerlin is the only master-planned community in Southern Nevada with its own downtown.

The community offers new homes encompassing more than 90 floor plans in 22 neighborhoods in four villages: The Ridges, The Cliffs, The Mesa and The Paseos.

Homes are available in a variety of styles — from single-family homes to townhomes priced from the $300,000s. Visit Summerlin.com for more information.