Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Nevada’s largest holiday drive-thru light show spectacular, Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway celebrates 16 spectacular years of holiday tradition in Southern Nevada. The drive-thru light show features more than three million lights along a 2.5 - mile course that intertwines through the speedway.
New Adventure: Now there is two ways to experience Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by the carload and open-air tram rides! Make your trip to Glittering Lights a little brighter, a little warmer, and a lot more magical. Try the all-new adventure Santa Tram, powered by AAA Nevada and boarding at Exotics Racing on select dates in December. Jump aboard, nosh on North Pole popcorn, enjoy hot cocoa, and nestle in to view millions of magical lights in this open air-tram experience. This per-person ticket is only $35, and includes photos with the big guy, Santa, games a mini train ride, and toasty outdoor area. Reserve your spot for this all-inclusive ticket ONLY at glitteringlights.vegas.
WHERE Las Vegas Motor Speedway Merriest way to arrive: 1-15 North, Exit 54, turn right. Entrance is ½ mile on the right. About Glittering Lights Glittering Lights celebrates 16 spectacular years of holiday tradition in Southern Nevada. Jingle that sleigh to Las Vegas Motor Speedway – only 10 minutes from fabulous downtown Las Vegas for Nevada’s largest holiday drive-thru light show featuring more than 3 million lights amongst a 2.5 - mile course that intertwines through the speedway. A tradition for 16 years in southern Nevada, Glittering Lights is open nightly at dusk. November 11 until January 7, 2017. 
Prices per car load: $20 Monday through Thursday, and $30 Friday-Sunday, holidays and December 19-25. glitteringlights.vegas.
Follow Glittering Lights @lasvegaslights or facebook.com/glitteringlightslasvegas.






 

 

 Pictures from the VIP Opening Night Celebration:

Grant A Gift for Autism Celebrated it's 7th Annual “Fashion for Autism” Fundraiser with a Stylish Soiree on November 5 at Aria Resort & Casino.

Featuring fashion by DVF (Diane von Furstenberg), the annual fashion event celebrated community members leading the fight against autism.
“Bringing a Solution Into Focus” is based on Grant a Gift Autism Foundation’s new partnership with the UNLV School of Medicine, creating a state-of-the-art facility, aimed at finding the new standard for autism diagnosis, research, programming and education in Nevada and the West Coast. Both organizations have joined forces to open the UNLV Medicine Ackerman Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Solutions. The new center combines cutting-edge diagnostics, treatment, behavioral/vocational training, support programs, and education for infants to young adults.
Attendees of Fashion for Autism sipped on champagne while bidding on lavish and luxurious items at an exclusive silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. Following the reception, Kim and Dana Wagner from KSNV News 3, hosted the live fashion show sponsored by DVF. Guests also enjoyed an incredible live auction followed by the awards ceremony honoring two outstanding community leaders who have worked tirelessly to ensure that families dealing with autism receive the help and support needed.
Gaudin Motor Company’s Gary Ackerman was honored with the Ambassador for Autism Award and Len Jessup, President of UNLV, received the Autism Advocate Award. Former Grant a Gift program client Luke Kecman along with Megan Rose Crandy were both awarded the Self-Advocate Community Achievement Award, for making significant accomplishments within the community.
www.GrantAGiftAutismFoundation.org

TEAM ELTON DEFEATS TEAM BILLIE JEAN 19-14 TO WIN WTT SMASH HITS

Sharapova, Roddick, McEnroe and Navratilova among tennis stars helping charity event to raise more than $600,000 for Elton John AIDS Foundation. Charity is always the biggest winner at the WTT Smash Hits presented by Citi event, with some of tennis’ big stars turning out to raise more than $600,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Monday night.
The 2016 edition of Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King’s annual charity tennis pushed the 24-year total to more than $15 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness programs. On the court, Team Elton got the best of Team Billie Jean with a 19-14 victory in the four-set showdown.
A capacity crowd watched Maria Sharapova’s highly-anticipated appearance as she opened the night pairing up with Andy Roddick for a set of celebrity doubles against Elton John and Martina Navratilova. Sharapova and Roddick got the best of John and Navratilova 3-1 in an entertaining quick set that preceded the World TeamTennis match. Team Elton took the lead in the first set of the night and never looked back en route to their second consecutive victory and an overall 13-11 series lead. Sharapova and 16-year-old junior Taylor Johnson teamed up in Sharapova’s return to the court but it was the veteran doubles experience of Martina Navratilova and Liezel Huber that took the first set for Team Elton, 5-2.

Former U.S. Davis Cup teammates Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish were too strong for Team Billie Jean’s duo of John McEnroe and Mark Philippoussis in men’s doubles, winning the second set for Team Elton 5-3. Roddick and Philippoussis faced off in a battle of big serves in men’s singles. Roddick held off Philippoussis 5-3 to build Team Elton’s lead to 15-8 after three sets. McEnroe and Sharapova rallied in mixed doubles, winning the first set of the night for Team Billie Jean with a 5-3 victory over Roddick and Navratilova and sending the match into Extended Play. Team Billie Jean won the first game in Extended Play but Roddick and Navratilova closed out the set and match by winning the next game for Team Elton. The evening started with all the players participating in a live auction that raised more than $150,000 of the evening’s totals. The players were active bidders in the auction, with Sharapova winning a ticket package for the Broadway hit “Hamilton” and John McEnroe buying an autographed Elton John piano bench. The stars were out in Las Vegas on Monday night to support WTT Smash Hits as avid tennis fans and Las Vegas residents Gladys Knight and Mike Tyson took in the action on the multi-colored tennis court just steps away from where Elton John plays his hit show, “The Million Dollar Piano” at Caesars Palace. International recording artists The Tenors opened the night by performing the national anthem.
 Official event sponsors include host sponsor Caesars Palace and presenting sponsor Citi. Additional sponsors and partners include AmerisourceBergen, Cashman Photo, Core Academy, DecoTurf, Donnelley Financial Solutions, Fanatics, GEICO, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, KXNT News/Talk Radio & CBS Sports Radio - Las Vegas, Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation, NBC & The CW - Las Vegas, WG Communications Group, Wilson and XS Tennis - Chicago. Ryan Wolfington and USTA Nevada are promotional partners of WTT Smash Hits.
For more on WTT Smash Hits, visit www.WTTSmashHits.com.
For more information on the Elton John AIDS Foundation, visit www.EJAF.org.

RiSE Lantern Festival

RiSE Lantern Festival returned once again to the Mojave Desert just outside of Las Vegas October 7 & 8, 2016. In its third year the breathtaking event was able to yet again celebrate the collective hopes, dreams and wishes of all those who attended with the simultaneous release of thousands of flame lit lanterns into the night sky.
The festival expanded to two-days this year allowing for even more patrons to attend and experience the awe-inspiring event.
Each night saw sold out crowds, welcoming 20,000 people throughout the weekend.
People traveled from all across the country to partake in the event with more than 80 percent of attendees coming from outside of Nevada.
Festival attendees came out to the desert venue early to participate in lantern decorating activities, take in live music performed throughout the day and enjoyed a variety of food truck and drink offerings.
After the sun set, at approximately 8 p.m. the first wave of lanterns were sent into the night sky.
By the end of the weekend over 40,000 biodegradable lanterns were sent upwards creating a truly magical atmosphere.
The night was capped off by a spectacular fireworks display at around 9 p.m.