MGM Resorts International Rings in the Year of the Dog with Celebratory Dances and Vibrant Displays
Throughout Bellagio, ARIA and MGM Grand
MGM Resorts International is celebrating Lunar New Year 2018, the Year of the Dog, with festive dragon and lion dances and spectacular displays.
According to Chinese culture, the dog is the 11th animal in the Chinese Zodiac and is a symbol of fortune and longevity. Individuals born in the Year of the Dog are known to be responsible, loyal, honest and hardworking. They are always ready to help and enjoy putting others needs before their own.
In addition to experiencing traditional Lunar New Year menus throughout several MGM Resorts’ restaurants, guests are invited to celebrate with a series of special events:
Dragon & Lion Dances
Dynamic and colorful dragon and lion dances will commemorate the Year of the Dog at Bellagio, ARIA and MGM Grand:
- MGM Grand – Friday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. inside the main lobby with a processional through the casino
- Bellagio – Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. at the main porte cochere with a processional through the casino
- ARIA – Sunday, Feb. 18 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 Dog with a festive display envisioned by renowned designer Ed Libby in collaboration with the Bellagio Horticulture team and Feng Shui Master George Yau. The gardens are brought to life by colorful lanterns, thousands of I-Ching coins and a larger-than-life dog as the centerpiece.
Upon entering the Conservatory through the East Garden, visitors will walk through a circular dome draped in thousands of red roses and yellow forsythia. At the garden’s edge, ding pots – ancestral vessels that protect against bad fortune – burn incense from their peaks for good luck.
Capturing visitors’ attention as they walk through the entryway, an 18-foot Siberian Husky stands guard atop a mountain overflowing with I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese symbol for money. A 16-foot Moon Gate towers over the South Garden, highlighting lush vegetation and a tranquil pond. Across the Conservatory in the North Garden is an 18-foot money tree flourishing with 384 oversized gold-leafed coins on its branches.
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 3.
ARIA
Beginning Friday, Feb. 9, ARIA’s main lobby will be adorned in celebratory décor to honor the Year of the Dog.
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. Dog sculptures covered in silver and gold leaves will be incorporated into the floral décor.
Throughout the resort, guests also will encounter cherry blossoms, Chinese lanterns and lions.
MGM Grand
On Thursday, Feb. 8, MGM Grand’s main lobby will transform into a Lunar New Year spectacle with a vibrant display featuring the iconic Leo the Lion surrounded by eight panda bears and eye-catching floral décor. Custom filigree arches with Year of the Dog medallions will hang between the lobby’s columns. Upon check-in, guests will be greeted by six panda bears on the banks of the front desk.