When Tim Molyneux says “My job is to make Las Vegas happen,” he is referring to his current assignment as Las Vegas Production Manager for the holiday show ENCHANT.

Tim and a crew of some 100 artisans, craftspeople, electricians, riggers, carpenters, stagehands, site operators, and staff are in the midst of turning Summerlin South’s Las Vegas Ballpark into a very brightly lit holiday “World’s Largest Christmas Maze” experience. I visited the site two weeks ago as preparations were being made.

What I saw was a ball field with bunches of what Tim calls “assets” but which I would know as gigantic decorations mostly white and fortified with steel (to survive the sometime gusty Vegas winds.)

I saw star-like decorations, huge animals, seating areas, tunnels, a huge 100-foot holiday tree and even a skating rink. In the ballpark concourse area were lots of areas for food booths, crafts, and places for photos with Santa and family members all of which had even more lights. Above the concourse, with views of the entire experience, were luxury suites available for parties and groups.

ENCHANT is an evening activity – with hours differing on weekends and weekdays – but starting at dusk – either 4:30 or 5:30 p.m. Many of the nights have themes such as Paws and Claws (pets night) Military and First Responders Night, Fiesta Navidena, etc.

Local families and visitors can get tickets on-line or on-site, arrive for free parking (preferred and valet parking are also available) and then enter the ballpark and wander in a maze of decorations and holiday lights. Patrons can also eat and drink seasonal favorites from local restaurant vendors, shop for holiday gifts and crafts, rent ice skates, hear Christmas stories from Mrs. Claus, and enjoy live entertainment. I have talked to a couple people who have been to ENCHANT in past years who had nothing but good things to say – they and their family may have had a healthy walk from parking to the ballpark, but once they arrived they had lots of holiday fun.

ENCHANT was originally conceived by Kevin Johnson and Cam Walker from Vancouver, British Columbia. The two started as youngsters creatively displaying holiday lights. The neighbors loved their lights and soon the two had decorated other houses, shopping malls, community gardens, etc. Then came the idea of a light maize which made its debut in Vancouver in 2018 and came to the U.S. (and Las Vegas) in 2021. This year ENCHANT will be located in Seattle, Washington and San Jose, California along with Las Vegas. Each city presents new mazes and decorations each year. This year’s holiday Maze is called Reindeer Games.

Although the “assets” of ENCHANT are in storage most of the year in out-of-town warehouses, some 50 semi-trucks started bringing needed assets to the Las Vegas Ballpark in October. Then, in the next three-and-a half weeks, following a design from ENCHANT corporate, the assets and electrical needs were surveyed into the ballpark layout via satellite coordinates. Next the ballpark ground was trenched for electrical cable, the cable laid, and a new Teflon floor was brought in. The decoration locations were confirmed through another land survey, then the decorations were built, placed, powered, and secured. During the install production, Tim typically works 12 to 14 hours a day, managing the site build, budgets and crews.

Locally, Tim works with a staff that includes people who work with food and shop vendors, who book entertainment, sell and collect tickets, help with marketing and public relations, etc. “The workers who build and load out ENCHANT come from all over the country,” Tim explained. “And of course many are local as well. One of our star players is Dre Conway who is a pro site manager for shows all over the country, and even though ENCHANT is the smallest show he does each year, it is his favorite because he gets to spend the holiday season with his family and build magical memories for others. Alex Shifton, head of electronics, is a local veteran ENCHANT builder who somehow always gets our million-plus lights installed, lit and shining bright. Our team is solid.”

Tim explains his team is going from a 130,000-square-foot ballpark to a magical winter wonderland in a very short period of time. When the Nov. 22 – Dec. 29 show is over, Tim and his team have to pack everything up again and return the ballpark and turf to its original state — yes, they even make sure the grass field is alive again and ready for the new baseball season. Tim admits he is enjoying the long hours and the people involved in ENCHANT and who knows, he may be interested in a return visit in 2025. “But first,” he says,”let’s get through this year’s Reindeer Games. “I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”