Holiday Photos at Shark Reef

Mark your calendar: Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay will be giving children a complimentary photo with Santa in the Shipwreck and a candy cane with every paid admission. The photos will be available December 21 through 24 from 10am - 4pm.

Haunted Reef at Shark Reef Aquarium

It's almost Halloween and that means, for the sixth year, the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay will be transformed into the Haunted Reef. Rattling chains, creaking doors and hauntingly spooky music will replace the normal sounds of the ocean and the jungle.

Children 12 and under, in costume, will receive complimentary access and candy!

Not to leave Count Dracula out in the cold, Haunted Reef also hosts Nevada's United Blood Services. Each adult who donates blood will receive complimentary entrance into Shark Reef Aquarium.

Shark Reef Now Offering Behind the Scenes Tours

There's a new option for teens at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium. Visitors age 13 and over can take take a 30-minute, behind the scenes guided tour of the aquarium which boasts over 2,000 exhibits.

This new in-depth, fully guided tour explores water filtration, saltwater-making, food preparation, SCUBA diving and animal care. Visitors will see what it takes to operate a 1.6 million gallon aquarium in the middle of the desert.

Tours are available every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $8 with the purchase of an admission.

AdventureDome Launches FrightDome

Circus Circus' AdventureDome is being transformed into FrightDome for the weekends leading up to Halloween. Every Thursday through Sunday from now through Halloween (including the Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday before and during Halloween), the theme park becomes a haunted attraction from 7pm until midnight.

Ranked the fourth scariest haunted attraction in the country by AOL.com, the Fright Dome includes killer clowns, a haunted 4-D theater, the Cavern of the Dead Haunted House, and more. In all, you can opt for five haunted houses, haunted rides, haunted theater shows, and more for a single day ticket of $32.95 (or a get in fast pass for $44.95 that puts you in the express line at all haunted houses). The attraction is very intense and isn't suitable for kids under 12.

For More Information:
• visit www.frightdome.com

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Adds First Video Game Character

If you've got a video buff in the family, there's one more reason to visit the popular Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, located at The Venetian. The famous wax museum, a 250-year-old operation which began in London, has unveiled its first video game character, Master Chief. The impressively life-sized figure of Halo's Master Chief was revealed to the world by song-writer and bass player Pete Wentz of 2007 Teen Choice Award Winner and Grammy nominated band Fall Out Boy at an official unveiling ceremony Saturday afternoon.

"For me, the launch of Halo 3 will be the entertainment event of the year. It will be as big as or bigger than any of the summer's movie blockbusters," said Wentz. "Master Chief is as much of a hero today as characters like Spiderman, Frodo and Luke Skywalker were for previous generations."

The figure was created at the Madame Tussauds Studios in London specifically for the Las Vegas attraction. Master Chief stands at an impressive 7'2" tall, with an approximate finished weight of 275 lbs. A total of 10 studio artists worked on the massive figure, dedicating an estimated 892 man-hours for the sculpture including 687 hours for sculpting, 168 hours for molding, and 37 hours for painting. Materials included over 1,000 pounds of clay.

Master Chief will be stationed at the attraction's front entrance area -- providing guests with a "disarming" greeting at the door. With its towering presence, this newest attraction at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is sure to bring out the most devoted fan base -- Halo Nation -- for a personal look and photo with their iconic hero.

Best of all, you'll be able to interact with the figure up close and personal as with all the statues at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas; stand and have your photo taken!

For More Information:
• visit www.mtvegas.com

Photo: Pete Wentz, songwriter and bass player for alt-rock band Fall Out Boy and an avid gamer, helps unveil Halo's Master Chief at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. (PRNewsFoto/Madame Tussauds)