View of the Las Vegas Strip from the balcony at High Steaks, a new steakhouse atop the Rio Hotel & Casino by Chef James Trees. (Photo by Thomas Butler)

From a cultural trip South of the Border to a culinary journey atop a hotel, here are some great new Las Vegas activities

With fall well underway and the holiday season upon us, I thought now would be a good time to reflect on some of the cool new things I experienced in Vegas over the past few months.

Of course, as this is Vegas, there’s always something new to do, but these 5 experiences provide a nice variety, including cultural exhibits, shows, haunted houses, and restaurants.

Colors of México: Día de Los Muertos Celebration

Fantasy Lab’s Colors of México has seven rooms of interactive experiences, a restaurant, and bar, and it’s all tucked inside the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas.

I really did not know what to expect from Fantasy Lab’s Colors of México. I’ve never been to La República Mexicana and I don’t know a ton about the country, but this 20,000-square-foot venue truly immerses you in Mexican culture, history, heritage, folklore, and traditions. By the time I left, I was ready to pack my bags and go on a vacation South of the Border.

Located inside the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, Colors of México recreates the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of an upbeat outdoor Mexican marketplace filled with music, food, drinks, art, friendly locals, photo opportunities, and seven rooms of interactive experiences. The food is authentic and delicious; the cocktails are creative and strong; and the people are welcoming and fun.

Through Nov. 30, the venue is showcasing a multi-media Día de Muertos exhibit. The story of this celebration is told in seven chapters, with each room representing a different chapter. It’s emotional, but never morose, because this holiday is a celebration of life and love, and as the exhibit reminds us, death is not the end.

Cost for this experience is $15, and it serves as a credit toward food and drink.

Tip: If you park in the red section of the Fashion Show’s underground parking garage, the escalator leads right to the Colors of México entrance.

In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience

Sold-out crowds and rave reviews have prompted In Pour Taste to extend its limited engagement through January 31.

Wine tastings are often a snooty affair, even though they involve a lot of spitting. In Pour Taste, on the other hand, is the opposite of snooty (and I didn’t spit even once).

This comedy wine-tasting experience takes place on the top floor of the Shops at Crystals on the Las Vegas Strip in the Lighthouse ArtSpace, the venue that houses the Immersive Van Gogh experience. Australian comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh lead everyone and anyone, from savvy sauvignon swiggers to clueless chardonnay chuggers, through five glasses of wine and lots of laughs. During each performance, the men are joined by a local wine expert to fill in any gaps.

Tickets to this daily 5 p.m. show (dark Mondays) start at $49.99 and include five tastings with an alcohol-free option available.

Tip: Take the elevator near Crystals’ valet (free to park, but you have to tip) to the mall’s fourth floor. The venue is right there.

Awakening: A Journey Through Dark and Light

Award-winning puppet master Michael Curry created the puppetry for Awakening, including a gigantic swimming whale.

As I wrote on social media, the Wynn Las Vegas production, Awakening, gave me chills. The sets, the music, the costumes, the puppets, the performances … everything immerses you in this magical 360-degree production.

Brought to life by a cast of 60 international artists, the show feels like a living video game. The plot features an unlikely hero who reluctantly embarks on a quest to reunite darkness and light to save the world.

The theater itself is one of the most technologically advanced ever designed, and the behind-the-scenes talent, like legendary producer Bernie Yuman, producer/director Baz Halpin, narrator Sir Anthony Hopkins, and award-winning puppet master Michael Curry, is top-notch. Curry, known for his award-winning work on The Lion King on Broadway, does not disappoint with his puppet creations for Awakening, including an enormous whale that swims around the stage and temporarily convinces the audience that it’s underwater.

Area 15 : Zone 2 and Universal Horror Unleashed

AREA 15 will continue unveiling new experiences in Zone 2: The Terminals into 2026.

A purpose-built destination for experiential attractions, art, and entertainment, AREA 15 recently commemorated its five-year “AREA-versary” by debuting a huge expansion, Zone 2: The Terminals, which includes Universal Horror Unleashed and a ton of new experiences.

As of now, visitors can explore 23 immersive attractions and 11 eateries and bars while also taking in 60 sculptures and 30 murals, the largest permanent installation of monumental festival art in the world. AREA 15 will continue unveiling new experiences in Zone 2 into 2026.

While Universal Horror Unleashed debuted its fan-favorite horror classics in time for Halloween, they are here to stay all year round. Created by Universal Destinations and Experiences, the attraction puts visitors face-to-face with the film studios’ scariest creatures like Dracula and Frankenstein, as well as classic Hollywood horror film themes. There are four horrifying haunted houses, four themed hellscapes for roaming, and a bar with spine-tingling bites and specialty libations.

General admission for Universal Horror Unleased starts at $59 for Nevada residents

High Steaks Vegas

Salisbury Steak is still steak, and in this case it’s a vey fancy, yet affordable, interpretation.

Las Vegas native Chef/Partner James Trees opened High Steaks Vegas high atop the Rio Las Vegas in October. It is the first major casino restaurant in modern history helmed by a born-and-raised Las Vegas chef.

Along with impressive 180-degree views from the 50th floor, the steakhouse stands out for its unique game meats, like Bison, Elk, Boar, and Venison. Additionally, High Steaks considers the current economic climate, offering both value-driven items and “high roller” only-in-Vegas experiences. One standout item is the Pastrami Glazed Bacon, which proves that, yes, bacon can be made even better. There’s a Lion’s Mane Mushroom Steak for vegans and vegetarians. And don’t forget the scrumptious sides, decadent desserts, and creative cocktails.

A James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef Southwest and recipient of the Key to the City of Las Vegas, Chef James Trees has five acclaimed restaurants across the Las Vegas Valley. Even with all this success, the chef is extremely down-to-earth and friendly, and truly cares about his guests.

High Steaks Vegas is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

5 new and exciting things to do in Vegas