Photos: Ethel M flips on switch at 19th Annual Holiday Cactus Lighting

Leila Navidi

Flamingo headliner George Wallce emcees the evening during Ethel M Chocolates 19th Annual Holiday Cactus Lighting in Henderson on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 | 9:58 a.m.

Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Lighting

Launch slideshow »

Leila Navidi

"America's Got Talent" winner Michael Grimm entertains the crowd during Ethel M Chocolates 19th Annual Holiday Cactus Lighting in Henderson on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012.

The 19th Annual Holiday Cactus Lighting at Ethel M Chocolates in Henderson went off without a hitch Tuesday night. Flamingo headliner George Wallace, Zowie Bowie (with Chris Phillips singing with “Fantasy” at the Luxor star Lorena Peril for the first time) and “America’s Got Talent” winner Michael Grimm entertained the crowd.

Choirs from Schofield Elementary and Coronado High School serenaded guests who took factory tours, visited balloon artists and face painters and stood in line for photographs with Santa Claus. The entertainers led the crowd in a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown as Ethel M flipped the switch on more than half a million lights.

Once brought to life, the 3-acre Cactus Garden sparkled like a Winter Wonderland filled with holiday spirit. Visitors were given 3D glasses, which made the LED bulbs, inflatables and lights appear as falling snowflakes.

Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden officially opened Wednesday night and is free and open to the public from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. For more information, visit EthelM.com and Facebook.com/EthelMChocolates.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.