Bellagio Conservatory Brings out Bells and Whistles for the Holidays

^{Bellagio’s Conservatory remains to be a longtime Vegas place of interest that many visitors look forward to seeing, so it’s hard to find a time where it isn’t swarmed full of people taking in the sights. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)}

LAS VEGAS -- The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are as beautiful as ever and remains one of the few all-ages attractions on the Las Vegas Strip. But they really brought out the (literal) bells and whistles for the winter display this year.

Casinos in Las Vegas never miss a chance to spruce up decor for the holidays, but Bellagio’s display has a special place in my heart. As a Las Vegas local whose mom worked at the Bellagio for a few years, I always enjoyed coming with my family to see the gorgeous, themed flower displays year after year. Twenty-something years later, the display is just as immersive, and designer Ed Libby frankly never misses with these setups.

Winter Display Brings Some New and Returning Features to the Conservatory

The Conservatory sits tucked next to Bellagio’s hotel lobby, spanning a great 14,000 square feet with four different flower beds. The display transforms five times a year for Lunar New Year, spring, summer, fall and winter. Each display is designed by Ed Libby and Bellagio’s 120-person Horticulture team.

This winter’s theme, “All Aboard for Holiday Bells and Whistles,” leans into a nostalgic choo-choo train fantasy meant to make you think of coming home for the holidays. It opened on November 14 and will run until January 3.

“When designing this display, our goal was to capture the twinkle, nostalgia and pure enchantment that make this special time of year so extraordinary,” said Libby. “This year’s exhibit invites guests on a heartwarming journey that celebrates the magic of travel, the warmth of connection and the breathtaking beauty of the holidays.”

Unlike previous years, the Peppermint Express and the Garden Table are two new additions to the display.

When you walk past the quaint gingerbread house in the west bed of the display, you might see someone in there enjoying a meal right inside the Conservatory. The Garden Table lets guests dine inside the display, a gingerbread house decked in shiny red hearts and snow-like icing.  Guests have the option for brunch from Sadelle’s at $145 per person or dinner from Michael Mina at $195 a person. 

Reservations are required and can only be made online. But they are in high demand and reservations can be somewhat spotty. A week in advance would likely be ideal for making a reservation, but there are only 3-5 time windows they book for brunch or dinner. It can be worth checking back as some cancellations do open up.

As expected from Bellagio, the price tag is exactly what you’d expect for almost becoming part of the display. Though it doesn’t seem to be ideal for larger groups due to the size, the dining experience could be worthwhile for a special occasion for a small group of up to 6 people.

Your eyes are not deceiving you…the “Jingle Bell Pop” popcorn on the ornament is a whopping $25. Prices on the menu may come as an initial shock, but then you’ll remember you’re at the Bellagio and then it all starts to make sense again.

The Peppermint Express is a little pop-up right outside the Conservatory that sells holiday snacks made by Bellagio’s pastry team. Expect holiday cookies, peppermint meringue, chocolate candies, nougat, popcorn, coffee and hot chocolate on the menu. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m, and plenty of people were lining up to enjoy some treats.

Unpacking the Display’s Flower Beds

The layout this year is jam-packed with holiday touches in each of the four beds of flowers.

The West Bed features the massive Christmas tree topped by a Swarovski crystal star and surrounded by LED ornaments. The Peppermint Express train circles the tree, complete with a live-feed camera. This bed is also where The Garden Table sits, a dining experience tucked away inside a Bellagio branded gingerbread house.

 The 42-foot-tall Christmas tree in the Conservatory is one of the crown jewels of the display and was a popular spot for photos. Photobombing someone to get through the walkway is somewhat inevitable.

On the North Bed you'll see a collection of brass instruments, bells and drums that help to frame a giant storybook featuring LED screens.

East Bed is the home of the “Bellagio Express,” conducted by “Elvie” the elf. You can actually walk through the train and see the baby’s breath emerging from the smokestack like steam. Red and white crystal snowflakes and poinsettias also fill the space.

And in the South Bed are four toy soldiers standing guard next to nutcrackers marked with a “B” for Bellagio.

Bellagio Holiday Display by the Numbers

Wonder what goes into making a display of this caliber? 

• 110,000 energy-efficient light bulbs
• 20,000 poinsettias
• 7,500 preserved red and black roses on the nutcracker
• 8,700 ornaments on the tree
• 1,000 red feathers on the nutcracker’s hat
• 80 team members who build the display
• 41 fresh-cut Silvertip trees
• 12 gold and silver bells
• 6 days to complete the change-out

The Conservatory even smells like orange and warm spices to make you breathe in some holiday cheer right when you walk in. The fragrance is sold as the “Bella” candle at the Giardini Home Store right next door to the Conservatory if you’d like to bring the scent home with you. On top of that, the store also sells a variety of luxurious holiday decor, including things like a $1.5k figure of Santa driving a Mercedes-Benz. 

Bellagio also uses recycled water from the resort’s on-site wells to power parts of the display, which is a nice aspect for sustainability for something you’d expect to put a lot of strain on the resort’s water bill. 

Local Insight Into a Lasting Strip Attraction 

The Bellagio’s display remains one of the many attractions on the Strip that draws people of all ages, but also one of the most popular free Christmas activities left on the Strip. Compared to the casino’s fountain show that remains the same, the Conservatory’s updates are one of the only reasons a lot of locals bother coming down here at all. 

The photos make it look bigger than it is in person,” said local resident Darwin Aguilero, who used to work at the Bellagio. “But most Strip attractions are year-round and don’t really synergize with the holidays, so I did like getting to see it. It’s a pretty quick attraction to see.” 

Some visitors I spoke to added that trying to find a time when this isn’t insanely packed is nearly impossible. Even on a weekday morning, it was full of people. According to many locals who frequent the Bellagio, the late night hours around 3 a.m. are the best times to visit if you’re looking for it to be quiet and more empty than usual. 

Despite the critiques, the joy of the display is something that has never lost its value over the years. It’s free, it’s beautiful and it’s one of the few things in Vegas that visitors can enjoy without feeling like they’ll get priced out. And not to mention, there’s a wonderful fountain show to watch after you’ve gotten your steps in looking at thousands of flowers and lights.