Las Vegas > Calendar of Events
Las Vegas January Events
College Baseball - UNLV Rebels: NCAA baseball packs a wallop of home run frenzy for America's favorite pastime. Play begins in January, continuing through most of June.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade: Usually the Saturday prior to January 12. This annual parade down Fourth Street, from Coolidge Avenue to Ogden Avenue, honors Martin Luther King, Jr. with floats, marching bands and an awards ceremony to recognize those who have contributed to the Dream.
High Roller Super Bowl: A Super Bowl weekend celebration at the Showboat Casino Hotel.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade: Usually the Saturday prior to January 12. This annual parade down Fourth Street, from Coolidge Avenue to Ogden Avenue, honors Martin Luther King, Jr. with floats, marching bands and an awards ceremony to recognize those who have contributed to the Dream.
High Roller Super Bowl: A Super Bowl weekend celebration at the Showboat Casino Hotel.
Las Vegas February Events
Las Vegas Marathon: first Sunday in February. Run the 26-mile marathon to downtown Las Vegas.
Chinese New Year: Sponsored by the Las Vegas Asian-Pacific Cultural Center, this annual event is celebrated with a number of different events held all over Las Vegas.
Black History Month: A number of events in February celebrate the African-American influence on the culture and entertainment of Las Vegas, notably the kickoff breakfast at Fitzgerald's Hotel and Casino, the largest Black-owned hotel and casino in the United States, and the family cultural event held towards the end of February at Neonopolis.
World Archery Festival: The National Field Archery Association sponsors the first of a series of tournaments, with an accompanying trade show featuring archery equipment, accessories and clothing. Hosted at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.
Chinese New Year: Sponsored by the Las Vegas Asian-Pacific Cultural Center, this annual event is celebrated with a number of different events held all over Las Vegas.
Black History Month: A number of events in February celebrate the African-American influence on the culture and entertainment of Las Vegas, notably the kickoff breakfast at Fitzgerald's Hotel and Casino, the largest Black-owned hotel and casino in the United States, and the family cultural event held towards the end of February at Neonopolis.
World Archery Festival: The National Field Archery Association sponsors the first of a series of tournaments, with an accompanying trade show featuring archery equipment, accessories and clothing. Hosted at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.
Las Vegas March Events
Nascar Weekend: The annual NASCAR weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has rapidly become a must-see event for race fans across the country. More than 135,000 people will be treated to three days of racing, beginning with Pole Day qualifying runs on Friday. The Sam's Town 300 runs on Saturday. Drivers will be back on the track on Sunday for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. The winner walks away with an early season leg up in the Nextel Cup point standings. In addition to the races, there are driver appearances, which usually take place both at the Speedway and at various points around Las Vegas.
St. Patrick's Day Parade: The Mayor presides over a series of parades and general partying in the downtown area, with plenty of green beer. Sponsored by the Sons of Erin.
Great Crafts Festival: every third week in March venture to the Cashman Center for a great display of local crafts.
Monster Jam World Finals: every third week in March stop by Sam Boyd Stadium to see the monster trucks compete.
St. Patrick's Day Parade: The Mayor presides over a series of parades and general partying in the downtown area, with plenty of green beer. Sponsored by the Sons of Erin.
Great Crafts Festival: every third week in March venture to the Cashman Center for a great display of local crafts.
Monster Jam World Finals: every third week in March stop by Sam Boyd Stadium to see the monster trucks compete.
Las Vegas April Events
World Series of Poker: starting in early April, this month-long tournament held in Benny Binion's Horseshoe costs a thousand dollars to enter, but the winner receives a check for a million dollars.
City of Light Jazz Festival: Jazz musicians from all over the country assemble at Hills Park in Summerlin during the last week of April.
Fremont Street Mardi Gras: Party like you are on Bourbon Street at the Fremont Street arcade during the third week in April.
National Pro-Am City Leagues Championship: Men, women, and children compete in a national basketball tournament.
City of Light Jazz Festival: Jazz musicians from all over the country assemble at Hills Park in Summerlin during the last week of April.
Fremont Street Mardi Gras: Party like you are on Bourbon Street at the Fremont Street arcade during the third week in April.
National Pro-Am City Leagues Championship: Men, women, and children compete in a national basketball tournament.
Las Vegas May Events
TopCoder Open: in a battle of wits and typing skills, programmers from all over the world compete in this event held at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino and vie for the grand prize of $150,000.
EA Sports Supercross: during the first week in May witness the last American Motorcross event of the season in this stunt-filled show at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Stars, Cars & Guitars Motorhead Festival: For the entire family, the Cars Stars & Guitars Motorhead Festival rocks with tons of street rods, bikes, classics, trucks, exotics, and collector vehicles.
Summer Jam: Sam Boyd Stadium is host to the latest in popular music.
Cinco de Mayo: the Mexican Patriotic Committee puts on a fiesta at Freedom Park with clowns, food, parades, entertainment, and more on the Sunday closest to May 5th.
Academy of Country Music Awards
EA Sports Supercross: during the first week in May witness the last American Motorcross event of the season in this stunt-filled show at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Stars, Cars & Guitars Motorhead Festival: For the entire family, the Cars Stars & Guitars Motorhead Festival rocks with tons of street rods, bikes, classics, trucks, exotics, and collector vehicles.
Summer Jam: Sam Boyd Stadium is host to the latest in popular music.
Cinco de Mayo: the Mexican Patriotic Committee puts on a fiesta at Freedom Park with clowns, food, parades, entertainment, and more on the Sunday closest to May 5th.
Academy of Country Music Awards
Las Vegas June Events
Jazz Festival: Live jazz bands from all over the country congregate under the Fremont Street arcade for a three day festival during the first week of June.
International Truck Show: Annual exposition of trucks, including a truck beauty contest and many other amusements and activities hosted by the Las Vegas Convention Center during the last few days of June.
International Truck Show: Annual exposition of trucks, including a truck beauty contest and many other amusements and activities hosted by the Las Vegas Convention Center during the last few days of June.
Las Vegas July Events
Fourth of July Fireworks: Enjoy spectacular fireworks at a number of venues, including Cashman Field, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Sante Fe Station Pavilion, Desert Breeze Park, Hills Park in Summerlin, Bicentennial Park in Boulder City, Morrell Park, the Stratosphere Lounge and the Primm Valley Casino.
Las Vegas August Events
Def Con X Underground: first week of August. The Alexis Park Hotel and Resort hosts a convention of the largest number of computer hackers in one place, where you can learn state of the art security techniques and how to defend yourself from those who know best.
Las Vegas September Events
Blue Sky International Film Festival: Independent film directors screen their latest documentaries and short features in late September at Nevada's largest film festival, at Regal's Village Square Cinemas.
College Football: UNLV Rebels: College football season officially begins in September as UNLV vies for the NCAA #1 spot.
Las Vegas Bikefest: Streets are invaded by 30,000 bikers, who take over the Fremont Street resort corridor for four days of music, contests and special events. Typical fest activities include the custom bike show, Mr. and Miss Las Vegas Bikefest pageants, the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson Wet T-Shirt Contest, Poker Runs (combination rides and poker games), a slot tournament, a tattoo contest, jello wrestling, and the World's Strongest Biker Competition. Bikefest concludes with a Bloody Mary Breakfast, open only "to those that are brave enough to show their faces Sunday morning."
Best in the Desert: In the longest off-road race in the US, travel over 300 miles in 3 days, starting at the Sunset Hotel and ending in Reno.
Mexican Independence Day: Hosted by the Mexican Patriotic Committee in Freedom Park, this celebration includes music, food, and live entertainment.
San Gennaro Feast: ethnic food vendors and a carnival highlight this tribute to San Gennaro.
Greek Food Festival: in late September. Visit St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church for its live music, folk dancing, Greek food, and bazaar.
College Football: UNLV Rebels: College football season officially begins in September as UNLV vies for the NCAA #1 spot.
Las Vegas Bikefest: Streets are invaded by 30,000 bikers, who take over the Fremont Street resort corridor for four days of music, contests and special events. Typical fest activities include the custom bike show, Mr. and Miss Las Vegas Bikefest pageants, the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson Wet T-Shirt Contest, Poker Runs (combination rides and poker games), a slot tournament, a tattoo contest, jello wrestling, and the World's Strongest Biker Competition. Bikefest concludes with a Bloody Mary Breakfast, open only "to those that are brave enough to show their faces Sunday morning."
Best in the Desert: In the longest off-road race in the US, travel over 300 miles in 3 days, starting at the Sunset Hotel and ending in Reno.
Mexican Independence Day: Hosted by the Mexican Patriotic Committee in Freedom Park, this celebration includes music, food, and live entertainment.
San Gennaro Feast: ethnic food vendors and a carnival highlight this tribute to San Gennaro.
Greek Food Festival: in late September. Visit St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church for its live music, folk dancing, Greek food, and bazaar.
Las Vegas October Events
Viva Las Vegas: tours, parties and concerts for gay and lesbian visitors and residents, ending with a party at Wet 'n' Wild theme park.
Professional Bull Riders Championships: late October. Winning riders and the most challenging bulls meet for a four-day competition at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball: One of the more popular Las Vegas events is presented by the purveyors of adult products, as exhibitionists and others congregate in costume at the SportsCenter to enjoy live music and assorted contests, on the weekend closest to Halloween. Any wisp of a costume is permissible, so break out your feathers, latex and Saran Wrap, but please leave your artificial genitalia at home.
Invensys Classic: 5-day PGA tournament held in mid-October.
Mr. Olympia and Fitness Olympia Competitions: held in mid-October at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Fitness presentations and products complement the bodybuilding competitions.
Professional Bull Riders Championships: late October. Winning riders and the most challenging bulls meet for a four-day competition at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball: One of the more popular Las Vegas events is presented by the purveyors of adult products, as exhibitionists and others congregate in costume at the SportsCenter to enjoy live music and assorted contests, on the weekend closest to Halloween. Any wisp of a costume is permissible, so break out your feathers, latex and Saran Wrap, but please leave your artificial genitalia at home.
Invensys Classic: 5-day PGA tournament held in mid-October.
Mr. Olympia and Fitness Olympia Competitions: held in mid-October at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Fitness presentations and products complement the bodybuilding competitions.
Las Vegas November Events
COMDEX: mid-November. COMDEX is where hardware manufacturers, software vendors and service providers launch products, where leaders discuss industry trends, and where the media spotlights what's hot in the $915 billion IT industry.
College Basketball - UNLV Rebels: Come cheer on the Rebel as they start the college basketball season and try to get into the March Madness Tournament held each year.
Motor Trend International Auto Show: The Las Vegas Convention Center hosts an annual exposition of new cars, mini-vans, SUVs and trucks in late November.
Pennzoil World of Outlaws: Stop by the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in mid-November to see racecars speed at 150 miles per hour.
Strut your Mutt: Dogs can enter contests, learn new tricks, and get adoption assistance in this mid-November event at Dog Fancier's Park.
Ethel M Chocolate Light the Night Spectacular: running from late November to early January, you can experience special tours of the Mars chocolatier and see the countless lights in the desert garden.
College Basketball - UNLV Rebels: Come cheer on the Rebel as they start the college basketball season and try to get into the March Madness Tournament held each year.
Motor Trend International Auto Show: The Las Vegas Convention Center hosts an annual exposition of new cars, mini-vans, SUVs and trucks in late November.
Pennzoil World of Outlaws: Stop by the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in mid-November to see racecars speed at 150 miles per hour.
Strut your Mutt: Dogs can enter contests, learn new tricks, and get adoption assistance in this mid-November event at Dog Fancier's Park.
Ethel M Chocolate Light the Night Spectacular: running from late November to early January, you can experience special tours of the Mars chocolatier and see the countless lights in the desert garden.
Las Vegas December Events
National Finals Rodeo: mid-December. Rodeo competitors from all over the world gather at the Thomas and Mack Center for a week of steer wrestling, bronco bucking and calf roping.
New Year's Eve Downtown: For a more organized alternative to the Strip celebration, enjoy popular live bands and a synchronized fireworks display at the Freemont Street arcade.
New Year's Eve on the Strip: The entire Strip is packed with partying street crowds and top entertainers everywhere.
Las Vegas Marathon: From the 'only in Las Vegas' file, here's a marathon that includes the world's first Run-Thru Wedding Chapel. The Las Vegas Marathon is an annual event that always draws a field of world-class athletes and thousands of wannabes, competing for a piece of the $400,000 prize purse. Starting at Mandalay Bay Resort, the marathon route takes runners from the Strip to the city of North Las Vegas, where they'll turn west and then south, making their way back to the Strip via Frank Sinatra Drive.
Las Vegas Bowl: Fans turn out in droves for this postseason NCAA college football game.
America's Party: The fireworks spectacular, launched from 10 resort rooftops along a five-mile stretch of the Las Vegas Strip, is choreographed by the famed Gruccis of New York. The soundtrack for the display includes Las Vegas icons Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, Elvis and Liberace. Special effects such as the famous Grucci Gold Flitter Split Comets punctuate Sinatra's 'Luck be a Lady Tonight', while multicolored Strobes shells highlight the fancy keystrokes of Liberace's 'Chopsticks.' Some $500,000 has been spent on the explosive extravaganza. Partygoers can buy commemorative photographs and merchandise on the Las Vegas Strip during the evening. More than 300,000 are expected to turn out.
New Year's Eve Downtown: For a more organized alternative to the Strip celebration, enjoy popular live bands and a synchronized fireworks display at the Freemont Street arcade.
New Year's Eve on the Strip: The entire Strip is packed with partying street crowds and top entertainers everywhere.
Las Vegas Marathon: From the 'only in Las Vegas' file, here's a marathon that includes the world's first Run-Thru Wedding Chapel. The Las Vegas Marathon is an annual event that always draws a field of world-class athletes and thousands of wannabes, competing for a piece of the $400,000 prize purse. Starting at Mandalay Bay Resort, the marathon route takes runners from the Strip to the city of North Las Vegas, where they'll turn west and then south, making their way back to the Strip via Frank Sinatra Drive.
Las Vegas Bowl: Fans turn out in droves for this postseason NCAA college football game.
America's Party: The fireworks spectacular, launched from 10 resort rooftops along a five-mile stretch of the Las Vegas Strip, is choreographed by the famed Gruccis of New York. The soundtrack for the display includes Las Vegas icons Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, Elvis and Liberace. Special effects such as the famous Grucci Gold Flitter Split Comets punctuate Sinatra's 'Luck be a Lady Tonight', while multicolored Strobes shells highlight the fancy keystrokes of Liberace's 'Chopsticks.' Some $500,000 has been spent on the explosive extravaganza. Partygoers can buy commemorative photographs and merchandise on the Las Vegas Strip during the evening. More than 300,000 are expected to turn out.