MGM Resorts International Celebrates the Year of The Pig with
Lion Dances and Vibrant Displays Throughout
Bellagio, ARIA and MGM Grand
MGM Resorts International is celebrating Lunar New Year 2019, the Year of the Pig, with festive dragon and lion dances, spectacular displays and authentic cuisine at a variety of restaurants.
According to Chinese culture, the pig is the 12th animal in the Zodiac and serves as a symbol of wealth, honesty and general prosperity. Individuals born in the Year of the Pig are known to be hardworking, compassionate and generous. They are ambitious and have a strong sense of responsibility to always achieve their goals.
Dragon & Lion Dances
Dynamic and colorful dragon and lion dances will commemorate the Year of the Pig at Bellagio, ARIA and MGM Grand:
- MGM Grand – Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. inside the main lobby with a processional through the casino.
- Bellagio – Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. at the main porte cochere with a processional through the casino.
- ARIA – Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the main valet with a processional through the casino.
Yau Kung Moon will perform the Chinese dragon and lion dances at all three resorts in a traditional Southern Shaolin Kung Fu system with a modern flair. Southern Shaolin Kung Fu is a collection of martial arts with more than 1,000 years of history. Yau Kung Moon, which translates to “Style of Flexible Power,” is one of the world’s most respected martial arts, dragon and lion dance organizations. Known for its trademark gold uniforms and innovative routines, Yau Kung Moon has been recognized internationally for being the first U.S. team to compete in the 1990 Invitational World Lion Dance Festival in Malaysia.
Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens celebrates the Year of the Pig with a captivating display envisioned by renowned designer Ed Libby in collaboration with the Bellagio Horticulture team and Feng Shui Master George Yau. The gardens radiate hues of red and gold with 32,000 flowers, silk-lantern chandeliers and a family of pigs as the centerpiece.
Four happy, golden pigs welcome guests as they enter the Conservatory through breathtaking 20-foot jade medallions. Regarded as one of the most valuable and precious stones in Asian culture, jade signifies wisdom, bravery and honesty. Five pendants crown the top of the pavilion, each decorated with a gilded dragon.
A family of pigs capture visitors’ attention as they walk through the entryway surrounded by the riches of nature. Nine piglets are seen frolicking through fields of fruit and corn. Nearby, the North Bed depicts notable landmarks of Macau, including the Golden Lotus sculpture. The original sculpture marks the return of the sovereignty of Macau to China, marking its 20th anniversary this year. Across the gardens, a 32-foot tall replica of the Temple of Six Banyan Trees, a Buddhist temple in Guangzhou, China, towers over the South Garden closely guarded by two Chinese Fu Dogs. Giant red lanterns strung with fire crackers brighten the gardens overhead while koi fish swim in the tranquil pond below.
The Conservatory is complimentary and open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lunar New Year display is open now through March 9.
ARIA
Beginning Friday, Jan. 25, ARIA’s main lobby will be adorned in celebratory décor to honor the Year of the Pig.
Three Chinese Deities: Fuk, Luk and Sau, will greet guests upon check-in at ARIA’s front desk. The deities personify the important aspirations of mankind: happiness, wealth and longevity.
A 196-foot dragon will hang from the lobby’s ceiling, weaving its way around a spectacular money tree made up of 88 golden coins symbolizing wealth and good fortune. Pigs will surround the base of the tree.
Throughout the resort, guests also will encounter more than 50 spectacular floral arrangements, kumquat citrus trees with lucky money envelopes, a nine-foot pig covered in vibrant floral near the Baccarat Lounge and a special Buddha garden at North Valet.
MGM Grand
MGM Grand’s main lobby recently transformed into a Lunar New Year spectacle with vibrant displays of eye-catching floral décor surrounding the resort’s iconic lion. Custom filigree arches with Year of the Pig medallions also hang between the lobby’s columns while playful panda bears greet guests on the banks of the front desk.
Culinary Specialties
Select MGM Resorts International restaurants are honoring the Year of the Pig with festive menus and specials. Highlights include Braised Whole Abalone at Lemongrass at ARIA, Brittany Blue Lobster Sashimi at Morimoto Las Vegas at MGM Grand and Chinese Roast Pork Belly at Rice and Company at Luxor.