This Nevada Garden Celebrates the Holidays by Wrapping Cacti in Christmas Lights

Each November, for the past 24 years, the largest cactus garden in Nevada has transformed into a festive wonderland. And as of the annual lighting ceremony last week, it's happened again: The Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden is now the largest cactus garden light display in the world.

At least, until the lights come down in January.

Home to more than 300 species of cactus and other drought-resistant plants, the garden covers four acres of desert terrain just outside of Las Vegas. This time of year, the succulents get dressed up in over a million twinkling lights, and visitors can come by until 10 p.m. for free tours of the magical, spiky grounds.

If that doesn't sound festive enough already, the garden is owned and operated by Vegas-based confectionery company Ethel M Chocolates.

Those who need to beat the chilly Nevada winter can get into the holiday spirit by drinking hot cocoa while wandering amongst the cacti. (And if you really want to warm up, start off with a “happy hour” tasting of their spirit-infused chocolates, and be merry.)

After taking in the light display, visitors can pop over to the factory for a self-guided tour of the chocolate kitchen, and then their flagship store, a favorite stop for stocking stuffers and custom-created advent calendars.

For their newest holiday attraction, the garden opened an ice rink for visitors to skate among the succulents this year. On an unrelated note, at time of writing, it is currently 70° on the botanical garden grounds.

Visiting Nevada this holiday season? The Ethel M factory and cactus garden are just 20 minutes outside Las Vegas. It’s truly a Southwestern Christmas miracle.