The best festivals in Las Vegas take full advantage of the great desert weather bountiful sunshine that make this such a good festival destination. That, and the fact that Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world, with parties that last all day and night, as well as some of the best nightclubs, shopping centres, and restaurants in the world.
Whether you enjoy craft beer and delicious culinary experiences or love to dance to live music and experience magical festivals, the wide range of celebrations in Vegas make it easy to make memories you’ll never forget. Since thousands of people head to Las Vegas every year for these events, make sure to plan in advance so you can get the most out of your trip.
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Exodus Festival
Dance the night away at this popular EDM music festival
- Nightlife
Exodus Festival has been a music festival in Las Vegas since 2010 and features some of the most popular electronic dance music today. Every year on select long weekends in the summer, DJs from across the globe head to the Vegas Strip to throw a massive party at exclusive clubs like Hakkasan, XS Nightclub at Encore, Encore Beach Club, Wet Republic, and Omnia.
You can either pay a cover charge to get into specific shows or buy an all-access pass. This pass is a great way to see the most you can as it gives you expedited entry into all pool parties and nightclubs included in the festival.
Open: May–August
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Las Vegas PRIDE Festival
Celebrate diversity at this vibrant LGBTQ+ festival
- Nightlife
The Las Vegas PRIDE Festival is the largest LGBTQ+ festival in Las Vegas, attracting over 10,000 attendees every year in October. Held at the expansive Craig Ranch Regional Park just a few miles north of the city, attendees enjoy 2 days of live music, amazing food, exhibitors, and even a glamorous night parade to kick the event off.
The festival takes place throughout the northern side of the park and has ample free parking if you’re up for a bit of a walk. If you’re looking to take advantage of ridesharing pick-up and drop-off, there’s a smaller parking lot next to the festival entrance.
Location: 628 W Craig Rd, North Las Vegas, NV 89032, USA
Open: October
Map - 3
Epicurean Affair
Eat your heart out at this gourmet event
- Food
- Nightlife
Hosted by the Nevada Restaurant Association, the Epicurean Affair is a decadent evening festival featuring delicious cuisine and craft cocktails at the Red Rock Resort, Casino & Spa. Located 15 minutes northwest of the Las Vegas Strip, just off W Charleston Blvd, the venue is easy to get to from anywhere in the city and just off the beaten path enough to feel exclusive.
If you’re looking for a heightened experience, snag a VIP admission ticket, which gets you in an hour early, or rent a cabana for an exclusive night of indulgence to remember.
Location: 11011 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89135, USA
Open: May
Map - 4
iHeartRadio Music Festival
Party all night long to live music by the biggest stars of today
- Nightlife
The iHeartRadio Music Festival is a 2-day world-class festival featuring the hottest artists of today in Las Vegas. Hosted every year in September at elite nightclubs and day clubs in sin city, this festival is a non-stop party with a line-up of dozens of popular artists across a variety of genres and formats.
Buy tickets ahead of time and use your mobile pass to enjoy live music on the Daytime Stage at AREA15 or at the T-Mobile Arena for the headlining artists of the festival.
Open: September
- 5
Life is Beautiful Festival
Wander around a vibrant music and art festival
- Food
- Nightlife
The Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival is Las Vegas’ top event featuring live music, incredible food, talented artists, and workshops in downtown Vegas. With 18-city blocks transformed into a picturesque festival, it’s easy to make amazing memories at Life is Beautiful.
Every September, Downtown Las Vegas transforms into an impactful spread-out venue that hosts a 3-day festival focused on celebrating culture. Whether you’re looking to purchase a 3-day all-access pass or a single day ticket, you’ll love every minute you spend at this vibrant festival.
Open: September
- 6
The Great Vegas Festival of Beer
Grab a refreshing beverage or 2 at this beer festival
- Food
- Nightlife
The Great Vegas Festival of Beer is an annual event dedicated to honouring Nevada’s craft beer and culinary scenes hosted by Motley Brews, a team of local craft beer enthusiasts. Located at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, just 10 minutes north of the Strip, this festival is known for its extensive offerings crafted by local culinary artists, mixologists, and craft brewers.
In addition to a wide variety of great food and drinks, the festival features a few other events like a Taco Tiki Throwdown, which is a competition that celebrates one-of-a-kind tacos and tiki-style cocktails.
Location: 200 S 3rd St, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA
Open: April
Map - 7
Rise Lantern Festival
Experience the magic of lighting a lantern and letting it go in Vegas
- Couples
- Nightlife
- Photo
Rise Lantern Festival is a beautiful event hosted in the Jean Dry Lakebed just 25 minutes south of downtown Vegas every Fall. To kick off the occasion in style, the festival begins with live music and has popular local food trucks in addition to dozens of vendors and artists selling unique gifts. After the sun sets, thousands of festival goers release their lanterns into the night sky, which are biodegradable and retrieved by festival workers after the event.
Every ticket comes with 2 sky lanterns and a pen to write your own message with. Because the venue is remote, rideshares are not allowed. Instead, some tickets come with shuttle passes or you can opt to park on site.
Open: October
Map - 8
Great American Foodie Fest
Enjoy some of the nation’s best food at this outdoor festival
- Families
- Food
The Great American Foodie Fest celebrates celebrates the best food from across the United States in a popular 3-day festival held every April in Las Vegas. Located in Galleria at Sunset, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Vegas, this food festival is known as one of the largest food-centric festivals on the West Coast.
Thousands of visitors come every year to this festival to enjoy a wide variety of delicious and decadent foods and craft cocktails. With free parking and free entry for kids under 48 inches, along with dozens of different food trucks, attractions, and carnival rides, this festival is a great event to bring the whole family to.
Location: 1300 W Sunset Rd, Henderson, NV 89014, USA
Open: April
Map - 9
Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender
Embrace the spirit of Sin City at this lively cultural celebration
- Nightlife
The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender is known as the largest rockabilly event across the globe. Every September, this 4-day festival attracts over 20,000 attendees to the Orleans Hotel and Casino and features over 60 bands each year.
In addition to energetic live music shows and exclusive pool parties, guests can enjoy burlesque shows, classic car shows, vintage clothing booths, and pop-up tattoo parlours. There are different tiers of tickets that get you into everything from the classic events and shows to exclusive pool parties and the car show, so make sure to buy the wristband that works best for you.
Location: 4500 W Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103, USA
Open: September
Mapphoto by Tomás Del Coro (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
- 10
International Fight Week
Catch some exciting live action at this massive UFC festival
- Nightlife
International Fight Week is UFC’s own week-long celebration, held every summer in Las Vegas. In addition to the esteemed UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the event is a fully immersive experience featuring ceremonial weigh-ins, live entertainment, amateur tournaments, press conferences, and more at sites like the T-Mobile Arena, the Apex facility, and other venues across Vegas.
Since the festival lasts for a whole week, visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences including some free events. Of course, the star attractions are the ticketed high-profile fights between some of the top fighters of today.
Open: June–July