Festivals & events in Las Vegas

It's only natural the World Series of Poker should take place in this, the spiritual home of gambling, but Las Vegas has some rather more surprising excuses to party up its sequined sleeve.

No visitor would want to miss Viva Las Vegas, the old-school rockabilly and burlesque fest that runs over the Easter weekend, or the various rodeo events, culminating in the National Finals in early December. And Pet-a-Palooza? Very strange.

Information & prices

For information on temporary attractions in town, check the Las Vegas Weekly (www.lasvegasweekly.com) or Las Vegas City Life (www.lasvegascitylife.com). For details of convention dates, check the Las vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) website (www.visitlasvegas.com).

Some of the bigger events charge admission fees, and you usually have to pay for food and drinks at street festivals and parties.

One of the city's most popular festivals is its most regular. Held from 6pm to 10pm on the first Friday of every month, First Friday (www.firstfridaylasvegas.org) is essentially a massive block party with an artistic bent. Local galleries and shops stay open late into the night, bands and DJs play and there's tons of great street food and drinks on offer.

Critics' choice

NASCAR Nextel Cup

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 N Las Vegas Boulevard, at Speedway Boulevard, North Las Vegas
When: early Mar
Tel & website: 644 4444/tickets 1-800 644 4444/www.lvms.com
One of the biggest auto racing weekends of the year, the Vegas leg of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup sees thousands of enthusiasts descend upon the city. Visitors should book accommodation well in advance.

Viva Las Vegas

Where: Gold Coast, 4000 W Flamingo Road, at S Valley View Boulevard, West of Strip
When: Easter wknd
Tel & website: 1-562 496 4287/www.vivalasvegas.net
A pricey ticket, but worth it for the rockabilly bands from all over the world, the burlesque competition and the chance to shop for the perfect ’50s cocktail dress at the swap meet. The breathtaking hot rod car show atop the Gold Coast’s parking garage is open to all.

Helldorado Days

Where: various locations
When: mid May
Tel & website: 229 6776/www.elkshelldorado.com
Instituted in 1935 to attract tourists to the area after the completion of the Hoover Dam, this celebration of plays up the city’s western roots while also including golf and poker tournaments, trap shooting contests, art auctions, trail rides and a Downtown parade.

World Series of Poker

Where: Rio, 3700 W Flamingo Road, at S Valley View Boulevard, West of Strip
When: June-July
Tel & website: 777 7777/www.harrahs.com
It’s a matter of conjecture whether the popularity of poker fuelled the popularity of this two-week tournament or vice versa. Either way, the WSOP continues to expand each year.

Professional Bull Riders Tour

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S Maryland Parkway, at E Tropicana Avenue, University District
When: mid Oct
Tel & website: information 1-719 471 3008/tickets 474 4000/www.pbrnow.com
A chance to rub shoulders with the world's hard-bottomed bull riders and their fans and see some of the action up close.

Halloween

Where: around Las Vegas
When: 31 Oct
Nearly every nightclub and bar hosts a fancy-dress party for Hallowe’en, many overflowing with grown-ups playing naughty dress-up and entertainers giving of their best, often for AIDS charity Golden Rainbow.

National Finals Rodeo

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S Maryland Parkway, at E Tropicana Avenue, University District
When: early Dec
Tel & website: information 895 3900/1-888 6737 6336/www.nfr-rodeo.com
Cowboys and girls set Vegas ablaze for nine days as part of this massive event. Tickets are distributed by lottery a year beforehand, but you can watch proceedings on TV at the Gold Coast. Or buy western duds from the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, then party at Sam’s Town.

Spring

NASCAR Nextel Cup

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 N Las Vegas Boulevard, at Speedway Boulevard, North Las Vegas
When: early Mar
Tel & website: information 644 4444/tickets 1-800 644 4444/www.lvms.com
The Vegas leg of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup, the biggest auto race weekend of the year, sees thousands of enthusiasts descend upon the city.

Monster Jam World Finals

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium, 7000 E Russell Road, at Boulder Highway, South-east Las Vegas
When: mid Mar
Tel & website: 739 3267/www.monsterjamonline.com
Bring out your inner 13-year-old with this feast of automotive carnage, starring giant trucks with enormous wheels. The pit party is also worth a look.

St Patrick’s Day

Where: around Las Vegas
When: 17 Mar
Vegas more than makes up for its lack of Irish heritage on St Patrick’s Day. There’s a parade in downtown Henderson and a three-day party at New York New York’s Nine Fine Irishmen bar, which sprawls on to the casino’s mini-Brooklyn Bridge. Elsewhere, Hennesseys on the Fremont Street Experience celebrates with music, drink and ‘Irish nachos’.

Extreme Thing Festival

Where: Desert Breeze Skate Park, 8275 W Spring Mountain Road, at S Durango Drive, South-west Las Vegas
When: late Mar
Tel & website: 474 4000/www.extremething.com
Extreme sports, such as skateboarding, BMX and wrestling championships. Extreme body modification, chiefly piercing and tattoos. And extreme music: punk, lots of it. Expect teenage aggression by the bucketload.

Pet-a-Palooza

Where: location varies
When: late Mar
Website: www.mix941.fm
Rock bands share the stage with animal performers at this festival. The fairgrounds are lined with booths hosted by animal rescue and non-profit organisations, and there are pet-oriented vendors hawking their wares.

Viva Las Vegas

Where: Gold Coast, 4000 W Flamingo Road, at S Valley View Boulevard, West of Strip
When: Easter wknd
Tel & website: 1-562 496 4287/www.vivalasvegas.net
Old-school rockabilly bands from all over the world, a burlesque competition and a vintage fashion swap meet, all for a pricey ticket. The breathtaking hot rod car show atop the Gold Coast’s parking garage is open to all. Dress in Sailor Jerry tattoos and Brylcreem to blend in.

Mardi Gras Celebration

Where: Fremont Street, at Las Vegas Boulevard South, Downtown
When: early Apr
Website: www.vegasexperience.com
The only reason Mardi Gras is New Orleans’ festival is because Las Vegas didn’t think of it first. That doesn’t stop the Fremont Street Experience from hosting its own version slightly later in the year.

Pure Aloha Festival

Where: Cannery, 2121 E Craig Road, at Collinson Avenue, North Las Vegas
When: mid Apr
Tel & website: 604 9438/www.vizzun.com
Immerse yourself in two days of Polynesian food, music, art and dance. The city’s community of transplanted Hawaiians help make the festival rich in traditional and contemporary interpretations of aloha.

Clark County Fair & Rodeo

Where: Clark County Fairgrounds, on I-15, Logandale
When: mid Apr
Tel & website: 1-888 876 3247/www.ccfair.com
For a taste of hometown South-western life sans glitter, drive a little way north for all kinds of ropin’, ridin’, country music and carnival fun.

UNLVino

Where: Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, at E Flamingo Road
When: mid Apr
Tel & website: 946 7000/www.unlvino.com
More than 100 international wine-growers participate in this fundraiser for UNLV. There are auctions of wine-themed art and vintage crates, but the real treat is chatting with the growers and sampling the wines. Designated drivers are thoughtfully provided.

Epicurean Affair

Where: location varies
When: Apr-late May
Tel & website: 878 2313/www.nvrestaurants.com
Local restaurants unveil their latest attempts to outdo each other in this industry festival of culinary hedonism. Expect a full-blown onslaught of the senses from exotic food, drink and spectacle.

Cinco de Mayo

Where: Lorenzi Park, 3333 W Washington Avenue, at N Rancho Drive, North-west Las Vegas
When: wknd closest to 5 May
Tel: 229 1087
The city’s Mexican community comes together in a show of pride with all-day dancing, mariachi bands, fireworks and traditional cuisine.

Dark Skies Arts Festivals

Where: near Primm
When: mid May
Website: http://darkskies.vegasartists.com
The tribal event in the desert lasts three days and describes itself as radically inclusive: no spectators, only participants. Expect themed camps, decorated cars and things set (artistically) on fire. A second event takes place later in the year.

Helldorado Days

Where: various locations
When: mid May
Tel & website: 229 6776/www.elkshelldorado.com
Instituted in 1935 to attract tourists to the area after the completion of the Hoover Dam, this revived celebration of Las Vegas’s beginnings plays up the city’s western roots while also including golf and poker tournaments, trap shooting contests, art auctions, trail rides and a Downtown parade.

Vegas Cruise

Where: Fremont Street, at Las Vegas Boulevard South, Downtown
When: late May/early June
Website: www.vegasexperience.com
This three-day classic car event sees enthusiasts showing off gleaming vintage vehicles on Fremont Street. Onlookers may be blinded by all the chrome.

Summer

CineVegas Film Festival

Where: Brenden Las Vegas 14 Cineplex, Palms hotel
When: mid June
Website: www.cinevegas.com
Founded in 1990 by Danny and Robin Greenspun of the local Greenspun media dynasty, this festival is Sin City's own little Sundnace. It brings tgether a mix of upcoming features, decades-old obscurities and underground fare, including some locally made movies.

World Series of Poker

Where: Rio, 3700 W Flamingo Road, at S Valley View Boulevard, West of Strip
When: June-July
Tel & website: 777 7777/www.harrahs.com
It’s a matter of conjecture whether the popularity of poker fuelled the popularity of this two-week tournament or vice versa. Either way, the WSOP continues to expand each year, to the point where the main event in 2006 saw nearly 9,000 competitors and a cool $12 million awarded to winner Jamie Gold.

Red White & Boom

Where: Desert Breeze Park, Spring Mountain Road, at S Durango Drive, South-west Las Vegas
When: 4 July wknd
Tel & website: 455 8838/www.redwhitenboom.com
With a fireworks display second only to the Strip’s, a monstrous carnival, plus a passel of national rock acts, this two-day, vaguely patriotic party really is fun for the whole family.

Las Vegas Harvest Festival

Where: Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Boulevard North, at E Washington Avenue, Downtown
When: mid Aug
Tel & website: 1-415 447 3205/www.harvestfestival.com
Hundreds of artisans from across the country bring their hand-blown glass, silver jewellery and jars of chutney to this fair.

Autumn

Greek Food Festival

Where: St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 5300 S El Camino Road, at E Hacienda Road, South-west Las Vegas
When: early Sept
Tel & website: 221 8245/www.vegasgreekorthodox.com
This 35-year-old institution is one of Las Vegas’s few true ethnic festivals. Enjoy four days of folk dancing, retsina and souvlaki with a boisterous crowd.

Black & White Party

Where: Palms, 4321 W Flamingo Road, at S Valley View Boulevard, West of Strip
When: mid Sept
Tel & website: 382 2326/http://afanlv.org
Affordable but still satisfyingly posh, the city’s main AIDS fundraiser brings the community together with black-and-white costumes, food from the best chefs in town, and risqué amusements such as a spanking booth.

SuperRun

Where: Downtown Henderson
When: mid Sept
Tel & website: 643 0000/www.superrun.com
The area’s largest classic car show takes over downtown Henderson for three days with hundreds of classic vehicles of all kinds, from fully-built custom hot rods to a well-preserved hearse used when the Mob ran Vegas.

Las Vegas BikeFest

Where: Fremont Street, at Las Vegas Boulevard South, Downtown
When: late Sept/early Oct
Tel & website: 1-866 245 3378/450 7662/www.lasvegasbikefest.com
Even non-bikers can enjoy the classic Harleys, demo rides and ‘Artistry in Iron’ master builder championships at this get-together for the black-leather set.

Grand Slam for Children

Where: MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, at E Tropicana Avenue
When: early Oct
Tel & website: information 227 5700/tickets 474 4000/www.agassifoundation.org
Andre Agassi hosts an exclusive gala auction and dinner to benefit his children’s foundation each year, bursting with the country’s great and good. The concert that follows, at the MGM’s Garden Arena, is always given by an A-list performer.

San Gennaro Feast

Where: location varies
When: Sept
Tel & website: 286 4944/www.sangennarofeast.net
This Italian-American festival is mostly about the food, but it also includes carnival rides and a traditional procession.

Frys-com Open

Where: TPC at the Canyons, 9851 Canyon Run Drive, at Town Center Drive, Summerlin
When: Oct
Tel & website: 242 3000/www.pgatour.com
Keen golfers will fancy an autumn break in Vegas, when the PGA Tour rolls into town for the annual Frys-com Open.

Age of Chivalry Renaissance Fair

Where: Sunset Park, E Sunset Road & S Eastern Avenue, East Las Vegas
When: mid Oct
Tel & website: 455 8200/tickets 474 4000/www.lvrenfair.com
Chivalrous battles, costumed maidens and other displays of questionable historical accuracy. We can recommend the roast turkey leg.

Professional Bull Riders Tour

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S Maryland, Parkway, at E Tropicana Avenue, University District
When: mid Oct
Tel & wesbite: information 1-719 471 3008/tickets 474 4000/www.pbrnow.com
The chance, should you want to take it, to see angry bulls and their riders up close.

Rockabilly Rod Reunion

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 N Las Vegas Boulevard, at Speedway Boulevard, North Las Vegas
When: mid Oct
Tel & website: 632 8213/www.rockabillyrodreunion.com
More than a hot rod car show and automotive swap meet, the Rocakbilly Rod Reunion mixes vintage dragsters, rockabilly bands, DJs and burlesque acts. Don’t miss the burnout contest from hell.

Las Vegas Balloon Classic

Where: Silver Bowl Park, 6800 E Russell Road, at Boulder Highway, South-east Las Vegas
When: 3rd wknd in Oct
Tel: 452 8066
Hot-air balloons fill the sky for this weekend of flying competitions. The Saturday sundown ‘balloon glow’ demonstration is a must-see. Crafts and vendors help make it great for kids.

Halloween

Where: around Las Vegas
When: 31 Oct
Nearly every nightclub and bar hosts a fancy-dress party for Hallowe’en, many overflowing with grown-ups playing naughty dress-up. The Fetish & Fantasy Ball at the Alexis Park Hotel (www.alexispark.com) reigns supreme for debauchery, but for something a bit less risqué, hit the Beaux Arts Ball at Studio 54: it features some of the best entertainers on the Strip, with all proceeds going to AIDS charity Golden Rainbow.

Vegas Valley Book Festival

Where: various locations
When: early Nov
Tel & website: 895 1878/www.artslasvegas.org
Local authors, historians and poets get a chance to shine in this three-day celebration of bibliophilia that brings local literary heroes to town for readings, signings dabates and panel discussions.

Motor Trend International Auto Show

Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, at Convention Center Drive, East of Strip
When: late Nov
Tel & website: 892 0711/www.motortrendautoshows.com/lasvegas
A chance to see all the shiniest new models and prototypes from the world’s automobile manufacturers before anyone else, though sadly you can’t drive them away. Free parking is available at the Convention Center’s Silver Lot 3.

Winter

Christmas

Where: around Las Vegas
When: Dec
The most spectacular festive event in the region is the annual Light the Night display in the cactus garden at Ethel M Chocolates in Henderson. The space is dotted with millions of lights, while carol-singers reel off all the festive favourites. Be sure to get yourself into the factory before 7pm for free chocolate samples.
Other events around the city bring good cheer in similar ways during December, with magical forests, giant candy canes and millions of fairy lights illuminating an laready dazzling cityscape.

National Finals Rodeo

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S Maryland Parkway, at E Tropicana Avenue, University District
When: early Dec
Tel & website: information 895 3900/1-888 6737 6336/www.nfr-rodeo.com
Cowboys and girls set Vegas ablaze for nine days as part of this massive event, which, if you haven't booked your ticket months in advance, you can see on TV at Gold Coast.

New Las Vegas Marathon & Half-Marathon

Where: around the city
When: early Dec
Tel & website 731 1052
The run starts and ends at Mandalay Bay, which then hosts an all-day post-marathon festival. If you want to run, register online: the earlier you do so, the cheaper the fee.

New Year’s Eve

Where: around Las Vegas
When: 31 Dec
Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street become absolutely rammed on New Year’s Eve, a night filled with parties, one-hit celebrities, air displays, fireworks and general chaos. Be warned that room rates soar.

An American Trilogy

Where: Cannery, 2121 E Craig Road, at Las Vegas Boulevard North, North Las Vegas
When: mid Jan
Tel & website: 1-866 999 4899/507 5700/www.cannerycasinos.com
This annual celebration of the King welcomes hosts of Elvis-lovers around 16 Jan, his birthday. The buffet serves his beloved fried banana and peanut butter sandwiches.

African American History Month

Where: West Las Vegas Library, 951 W Lake Mead Boulevard, at Concord Street, West Las Vegas
When: Feb
Tel & website: 507 3980/www.lvccld.org
The West Las Vegas Library houses a permanent collection of artefacts, photographs and documents relating to African American history in the West. During February, its theatre hosts a celebration of African American community and culture in the region, with spoken word, dance, theatre and music.

High Rollers Scooter Weekend

Where: around the city
When: mid Feb
Website: www.lvscooterrally.com
Rockers on motorbikes steer clear: this weekend of mod rock and showing off is for sharp-looking multi-mirrored scooters and the aficionados who love them.

Chinese New Year Celebration & Asian Food Festival

Where: Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza, 4255 Spring Mountain Road, between S Valley View Boulevard & S Decatur Boulevard, South-west Las Vegas
When: 25 Feb
Tel & website: 221 8448/www.lvchinatown.com
The Chinese New Year celebrations in Vegas are actually pan-Asian; they also celebrate Japanese, Tahitian and Thai culture. Expect traditional lion and dragon dances and a feast of eastern delicacies.

Public holidays

New Year's Day 1 Jan
Martin Luther King Jr Day 3rd Mon in Jan
Presidents Day 3rd Mon in Feb
Easter Sunday Mar/Apr
Memorial Day last Mon in May
Independence Day 4 July
Labor Day 1st Mon in Sept
Nevada Day last Fri in Oct
Veterans' Day 2nd Mon in Nov
Thanksgiving 4th Thur in Nov
Christmas Day 25 Dec

Our listings

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. Before you go out of your way, we strongly advise you to phone ahead and check the particulars.