Don Rose has made a career portraying Elvis and has performed his tribute show across the United States and Canada as well as in Germany and Switzerland. Rose has appeared on "PM Philadelphia," ABC's "Mike & Matty" show, and TNN's "Country Tonight" with Gary Chapman. Vocally trained in Orlando, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn., Rose works hard to make every event a special occasion and looks forward to meeting Elvis fans new and old across the country. The Elvis tribute show, Happy Birthday to the King," at the Riverside Resort starring Don Rose and featuring the Blue Hawaiian Dancers will be Jan. 3 - 8. Tickets are $25, call 1-800-227-3849.

Harrah's acquired the Flamingo Laughlin in its acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Now the resort with 1,907 rooms and 57,000 square feet of casino space is being sold to American Real Estate Partners, which also owns the Stratosphere and Arizona Charlie's properties in Las Vegas.

An interesting fact is Richard Brown, chief executive officer for the American Real Estate Partners' gaming operations, knows the property very well since he once served as marketing director of the Flamingo Laughlin.

Winter Break, which is a special festival targeted for the 50 plus age group, will take place at various casinos and area sites, Jan. 6-12. There will be all sorts of activities, seminars, events, shows, and contests. For package information, call Arko and Associates at 1-888-278-9844.

The annual Laughlin Desert Challenge will be held at the Laughlin Events Arena, Jan. 12-15. The SCORE desert racing series will return to a course in the surrounding desert. There will be two viewing locations along the 11-mile course plus grandstand viewing with SCOREVISION big screen replay at he the Event Arena. The event will be filmed for national television. Racing will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $15 each day and free for kids five and under. There is also a $35 VIP pass available.

A couple of big highlights at the Laughlin Desert Challenge are the Laughlin Leap competition with cars hurling though the air for distance on Thursday at 6 p.m. and the Pit Crew Competition on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Sports bettors with a talent for picking the winners in football games should plan to enter the Colorado Belle and Edgewater's "Holiday Bowl Contest VII," a 28-proposition contest designed around the major college bowl games, with a $10 entry fee up to five times and a potential to win 40 percent of the total cash paid in entry fees. All entry fees are returned as prize money. Entries are being accepted at the Colorado Belle's Sports Book and Edgewater's Race & Sports Book until 1 p.m. on Dec, 26, prior to the start of the Motor City Bowl.

Contestants will receive contest cards with 28 propositions-22 bowl games with the point spread, and six totals (over/under). The contestants with the highest number of correct picks of the 28 propositions will win prize money. Tie breaker consists of total points scored in all January contest games, without exceeding the actual total. In the event contestants remain tied, prize money will be divided equally among those contestants. Contestant standings will be posted on Dec. 30, and final results will be posted on Jan, 5, 2006 at each property.

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The 5th Annual Cloud's Jamboree will be held at the Avi Resort from Jan. 6-Feb. 5 and at the Riverside Resort, Jan. 13-22. This event showcases a large collection of vendors displaying and selling all sorts of rocks, minerals, gems, lapidary equipment and jewelry. It's free to browse. For information, call 866-558-7719.

The Pioneer's 24-hour comfortable Sassy Sue's Saloon has been transformed into a neighborhood-type saloon by outfitting the room with a pool table and dart boards. Appetizers available from 2 to 10 p.m. and specialty beers are featured daily.

Debbie Reynolds will be singing with the Big Band in Don's Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside, Dec. 27-31. She'll be doing two shows on Dec. 31 at 7 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets on New Year's Eve are $42 and $47.

The legendary Reynolds, whose career got started when she won a beauty contest at the age of 16, takes audiences on a trip down memory lane. She starred in many MGM films and was even nominated for an Academy Award. Her creative live performances include celebrity impersonations and outstanding timeless songs from her Hollywood career.

On New Year's Eve in the Starview Room at 9 p.m., Deb Wagner and the Girls of Swing will be featured with some of the finest jazz musicians from Los Angeles. Wagner is not only a professional trumpet player but an accomplished performer and bandleader, who has even appeared on the Silver Screen. Her love for Swing music and "hanging with the girls" combines great music with a hint of kitsch.

The Girls of Swing perform a staggering array of swing music originating in the 1930s and 1940s - music made famous by such big bands as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Count Basie. Tickets for the New Year's Eve dance are $60 per couple or $35 for a single.

The Colorado Belle not only uses its Web site to inform readers about the hotel, casino, restaurants, entertainment, and special events, it has a Captain's Log where you can register to win a visit. You could win one of five vacation stays in suites at the Colorado Belle, which will be given away each month in the "Cruisin' on the River" Promotion. Each winner will also receive $200 in dining certificates in addition to the three-day, two-night stay,

The Riverside Resort's All American Turkey and Pie Giveaway is back by popular demand through Dec. 31. King of Clubs Players' Club members are eligible to get a free holiday pie or turkey by earning 500 points. When you get the points, you receive a $5 voucher toward any purchase of turkey, pie, gasoline or other items at any Safeway affiliated store.

Kokopelli's Lounge at the Edgewater is being remodeled.

The "Celebration of Lights" at the Ramada Express, which is a fabulous light display encompassing the entire resort, will continue through Jan. 1.

The Fiesta Showroom at Harrah's will remain closed until Jan. 16, when two shows, "Rhythm & Flair" and "Strip!" return for an engagement through May 27.

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