DECEMBER

15

Icelandic singer and songwriter Bjork performs at 8 p.m. at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort with special guest Ratatat. Tickets: $78, $103 $128, 702-474-4000, www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. www.palms.com.

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Las Vegas hosts major New Year's Eve celebrations. At America's Party fireworks are launched along the entire length of the Strip, from Excalibur to Stratosphere. Entertainment by All-American Rejects, Chicago, Five for Fighting, Rockstar: Supernova, Smash Mouth and OK Go. The four-hour-plus celebration will air exclusively on DIRECTV's channel ... Gates open on Fremont Street at 5.30 p.m. $80; must be 18 and older. www.americasparty2007.com.

ONGOING

THE DA VINCI EXPERIENCE: Artist, architect, designer, engineer, philosopher, scientist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci was the true Renaissance man. More than 60 copies of his remarkable inventions and most-famous paintings will be on display as part of The Da Vinci Experience. All of the replicas in The Da Vinci Experience were designed from da Vinci's notebooks, which contain more than 13,000 pages of notes and drawings, and were recreated using the same materials and techniques that would have existed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The replicas are organized in three viewing galleries: transportation, military and mechanical. Visitors will get a chance to see prototypes for the first bicycle, the first car, the first helicopter and the first parachute, among others.

Copies of da Vinci's original drawings and sketches are close to the replicas to compare the sketches with the models. Many of the exhibit's designs are interactive to help understand how the machines could work. The exhibit includes a short film about da Vinci, a gallery housing replicas of his paintings, interactive computer kiosks and a gift shop.

9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St., Henderson; through March 2. Tickets: $17 adults; $12 seniors (older than 65), students ages 7-17, active-duty military; $55 for families of five. Ages 6 and younger are free. 702-267-4849, www.HendersonLive.com.

The WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL at the Springs Preserve: The lights display in the 8-acre garden and throughout the Preserve with half a million LED lights, creates the backdrop for performances in the Courtyard Plaza, Garden Amphitheatre and Tool Shed Theater, as well as for roving carolers scheduled throughout the season.

Holiday-inspired treats and green gift options are available in the Springs Café, at the Gift Shop and at kiosks throughout the Preserve.

The Winter Lights Festival is 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and daily Dec. 24-30. Admission to gardens: $4 adults, $2 ages 5-17. Admission for gardens and galleries: $9 adults, $4.50 children, under 5 and pass holders free. www.springspreserve.org.