Las Vegas Welcomes Year Of The Yang With World-Class Cultural Festivities And Celebrations

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Entertainment Capital of the World" will celebrate Chinese New Year this February with an impressive collection of symbolic decor, traditional Chinese cuisine and activities to commemorate Year of the Yang, honoring the Goat, Sheep and Ram. This year's Chinese zodiac sign is believed to bring peace and harmony. Year of the Yang is also known for bringing good fortune, making Las Vegas the ideal destination to celebrate. 

Festive Decor & Entertainment
The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at Bellagio celebrates Chinese New Year with a captivating display through March 15. Guests can enjoy 22,000 flowers in vibrant hues of red and gold, an assortment of silk-lantern chandeliers and Asian vignettes that incorporate Chinese design.

The Palazzo's Waterfall Atrium welcomes a massive art installation through March 8. The resort's floral and horticulture department worked with a team of artisans and a Feng Shui master to produce three unique, hand sculpted, life-size rams and eight sheep. The area is filled with Ching coins, bamboo and tangerine trees and more than 2,400 plants and flowers.

Beginning Feb. 12, ARIA Resort & Casino will transform its main lobby with celebratory decor featuring a 7-foot-tall, energy efficient LED illuminated ram made from recycled aluminum. Additionally, a 229-foot-long dragon will hang from the lobby's ceiling and wind through 140 lanterns. Located behind ARIA Resort & Casino's front desk will be three 5-foot-tall Chinese Deities personifying happiness, wealth and longevity.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas welcomes "Lucky Cat" in honor of Chinese New Year. "Lucky Cat" is a 9-foot-tall interactive art exhibit based on the fabled cultural icon of good fortune. Designed to reward the curiosity of those who stop and explore, "Lucky Cat" dispenses a fortune card to all who place their hand on its paw. For a select few, this fortune will function as a golden ticket to a variety of experiences at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Wynn Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn Las Vegas will unveil three 600-pound ram sculptures gilded in gold leaf in honor of Year of the Yang. The sculptures will be on display beginning Feb. 17 and accompanied by more than 100 fruiting tangerine trees. Additionally, red, yellow and orange chrysanthemums, begonias and calandivas can be seen throughout the Wynn Atrium throughout the New Year.

The Forum Shops at Caesars welcomes a 22-foot-long and 12-foot-high illuminated dragon on display throughout the Chinese New Year celebratory season. This traditional symbol of power, strength and good luck is 950 lbs., covered in 30,000 red and amber LED lights. The dragon can be seen at the Fortuna Terrace.

The Venetian welcomes singer-songwriter and best-selling female artist in Hong Kong, G.E.M. (Get Everybody Moving) or TANG Tsz-Kei, to The Venetian Ballroom on Feb. 21. G.E.M. was one of seven contestants to compete in the popular Chinese talent show, "I Am a Singer." She is known for her fusion of soul, R&B, classical music and rock.

Wine and Dine
MOzen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental will commemorate Year of the Sheep with Dim Sum and Prosperity Yu Sheng menus Feb. 18-21. Additionally, a special Chinese New Year dinner will be available featuring delicacies such as roast Peking duck crepes, lemongrass prawns and more.

The popular Dim Sum brunch returns to Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas Feb. 18-25. Chef Xian Ming Yu will cook up a variety of options including steamed dumplings, pot stickers, lavish sushi and rib carving stations and much more.

M Resort's Studio B Buffet will serve a variety of Asian favorites beginning Feb. 19 through Feb. 25. Selections will include lion's head meatballs with bok choy, poached chicken with ginger and scallions, beef lo mein, and more.

Jasmine at Bellagio will offer an extraordinary Dim Sum menu Feb. 19 through March 1.

The celebration continues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Mizuya, Noodle Shop and The Grand Wok and Sushi Bar will all offer specialty items and menus in honor of Year of the Yang.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will also celebrate Chinese New Year with distinctive specialty cocktails and menus from Jose Andres' China Poblano.

Hakkasan at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino will celebrate Chinese New Year with a specialty menu that incorporates the "Wishing Tree" tradition. The menu and experience is available to guests Feb. 8- March 1.

Cultural Celebrations
The Annual Chinese New Year in the Desert/Las Vegas Spring Festival will take place at The LINQ Promenade Feb. 20 and 21. The event is complete with cultural celebrations including Dragon and Lion dances, exhibits, performances and more.

Traditional dragon and lion dances will take place throughout the destination to celebrate Year of the Yang.  

• Feb. 19 – 3 p.m. at The Venetian and The Palazzo: A ceremonial lion dance will begin with an eye ceremony at The Venetian porte cochere and end at The Palazzo porte cochere. The event is complete with firecrackers, a parade of dancers and drummers dressed in authentic clothing.
• Feb. 19 – 5 p.m. at Bellagio: The dynamic and colorful dragon and lion dance will begin at the main porte cochere.
• Feb. 19 – 6 p.m. at M Resort: The resort will host a traditional good luck Chinese dragon and lion dance that will begin and end in the hotel lobby.
• Feb. 20 – 1 p.m. at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino: The dance will begin inside the main lobby.
• Feb. 21 – 6 p.m. at Wynn Las Vegas: The experience will begin under the porte cochere at the south valet entrance.
• Feb. 21 – 6:30 p.m. at ARIA Resort & Casino: The dance will begin in the main porte cochere.
• Feb. 22 – 2 p.m. at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: Guests can experience the 'Dotting of the Eyes' ceremony at the resort's entrance. The moving celebration will twist and turn throughout the casino floor and make a stop in front of the High Limit Lounge for a "Collecting of the Cabbage" ceremony.
• Feb. 27 – 6 p.m. at Palms Casino Resort: A unique dragon and lion dance will take place throughout the casino floor.
• Feb. 28 – 5 p.m. at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: The casino floor will transform into a mecca for Chinese New year celebrations with a special "feed the dragon" dance.

To plan your unforgettable trip to Las Vegas for Chinese New Year this February, including air and hotel packages, show tickets and more, visit www.LasVegas.com.

Photos and video of Las Vegas are available at www.thenewsmarket.com/LVCVA.

ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center.  With more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and almost 11 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.  For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.LasVegas.com.

Press Contact:
Lindsey Stull, R&R Partners
T: 702.241.2156
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Joanna Lin, IW Group
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SOURCE Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)

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