Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest to light up Las Vegas beginning Nov. 22

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., is set to open the Magical Forest Nov. 22 to Jan. 6.

Volunteers and employees transitioned the event space from the inaugural HallOVeen fundraiser to the Magical Forest the first week of November.

“It’s going quite well,” said Linda Smith, the organization’s associate executive director. “We had a one-week turnaround to get it ready for our gala, but things went quite smoothly. We have a lot of volunteers helping.”

Kim Gentry, a contract manager at Caesars Palace, volunteered to help prepare the Magical Forest.

“I enjoy helping out a great organization that does so many great things in the community,” Gentry said, “and I love this time of year. It’s my favorite.”

Gentry said she plans to bring her family to the Forest once it opens.

“I actually have a son that is autistic who sees everything with a different set of eyes,” she said. “The organization is close to my heart. I think everyone should support them in one way or another.”

Opportunity Village plans to pack the forest with nightly entertainment, including storytellers, friendly characters, parades and choirs.

“There’s a lot of new things this year,” Smith said. “We have a new arcade area, candy cabin and entryway. We have a new mini grand prix ride called Rudolph’s Raceway, and Santa Claus will be here nightly in his newly refurbished home at the North Pole.”

Traditional attractions, such as the Forest Express Passenger Train, Cheyenne’s Enchanted Carousel and Rod’s Mini-Golf, are set to return.

According to Smith, the organization will kick off the event with a tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 22 with Mayor Carolyn Goodman and local celebrities.

“Here, (the celebrities are) just part of the fabric of our community,” Smith said. “It becomes sort of this down-to-earth place where everybody is your friend.”

Smith created the Magical Forest more than 20 years ago while hosting a reception for the organization’s donors. She decorated the trees with lights and offered wine and cheese.

“Everyone was saying it looked really pretty and asked if I could turn the lights on the following night so they could bring their families by,” Smith said. “I did, and twice as many people came.”

By the third night, Smith sold cookies and hot chocolate to curious visitors. She raised $3,000.

“The second year, we raised $60,000,” she said. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger. Then we added the attractions, and the rest is history.”

According to Smith, about 175,000 guests visit the Magical Forest each year, and Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks are the busiest times.

“If it’s packed, there’s about 5,000 people a night,” she said. “Christmas Eve is my favorite night. It’s not so frantic. It’s just the community enjoying the spirit of Christmas.”

Opportunity Village recruits about 100 volunteers each night to run the Magical Forest.

“We’re always looking for volunteers who are 18 or older,” Smith said, “especially Thanksgiving and from about Dec. 23 (to Jan. 6).”

All proceeds benefit the services and programs offered at Opportunity Village.

Ticket passports, which include entry and unlimited rides, cost $19.99 for adults and $17.99 for children. General admission costs $11 for adults and $9 for children.

The Forest is open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Parking is free.

For tickets or more information, visit opportunityvillage.org/magical-forest. To volunteer, call Ashley Sutherland-Winch at 702-880-4054.

Contact Southwest/Spring Valley View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.