Life is Beautiful
This music, art, food and ideas festival is an annual fixture on the streets of downtown Las Vegas. Music is the core, with more than 30 performances a day. The selections are nothing if not eclectic – this year’s big names include the Weeknd, Arcade Fire, Florence + the Machine, Travis Scott, St Vincent and NERD. There’s also a strong comedy focus, with the likes of Hannibal Buress, Michelle Wolf and Pete Davidson headlining the Kicker stage. Notably more relaxed than other multi-day festivals, it’s also one of the few that’s renowned for the quality of its food. Plus, there are serious art shows, a comedy showcase and TED-style talks – it’s probably the only place where Blink 182 and Bill Nye the Science Guy have shared the same bill.
Downtown Las Vegas, 21-23 September
Electric Daisy Carnival
The annual festival, spanning three days and attracting some 400,000 people, is nothing short of a fantasy playground for grownups. It pulls in the big names in electronic dance music (EDM), who play themed stages renowned for their light shows and pyrotechnics. As the name suggests, there is a carnival onsite, complete with ferris wheel and rides, traditional funfair games, wedding chapel and circus performers. This was the first year that on-site camping was offered (with air-conditioned tents!). No word on next year’s headliners yet, but expect everyone who is anyone from Afrojack to Zedd.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 N. Las Vegas Blvd, 17-19 May 2019
DJ residencies
Wynn Nightlife, which runs mega club XS as well as Intrigue and Encore Beach Club, has a DJ stable that includes some of the biggest names around – it further consolidated that by adding Solomun, Jamie Jones and Black Coffee to its 2018 roster. Fellow headliners who already know their way around the Wynn’s knobs and faders include EDM superstars Kygo, David Guetta, Diplo, and The Chainsmokers. . The Art of the Wild weekender (5-7 October) is a three-day party that brings in guests such as Jamie Jones, Guy Gerber and Nicole Moudaber. Elsewhere, the five-level nightlife utopia that is Hakkasan (at the MGM Grand) is renowned for its parties and DJs. It boasts some of the biggest names in EDM, with numerous dance music icons in residence: Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Steve Aoki, Hardwell and famous DJ sister duo Nervo. They are also joined by a younger generation of international stars, including Zedd and Elephante – look out for them playing sibling club Omnia. More after-hours beats are lined up at Drai’s where you’ll find everyone from Snoop Dogg to 50 Cent, Pusha T and DJ Esco getting parties started.
Wynn, Hakkasan, Omnia and Drai’s, all S Las Vegas Boulevard
Photograph: Kevin Morris/Splash News
Las Vegas Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon
It’s back for its 10th anniversary, the event that mixes a marathon run along Las Vegas Boulevard with live bands, DJs and drum lines to help keep tired legs pumping (each mile is marked by a new act). The run begins at sunset, so the illuminated glory of the Strip will provide extra motivation. The weekend also includes shorter distances (5k, 10k, half marathon), a health and fitness expo, and a closing party headlined by the Goo Goo Dolls. Betrothed couples should note that they can get married on the course, courtesy of the Run Through Wedding.
10-11 November
Resident entertainers
Vegas’s reputation as the home of music legends is rightly deserved, with new shows this year from the likes of multi-Grammy winner Gwen Stefani, whose Just a Girl show will be on at Zappos Theater Planet Hollywood. Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson – aka Backstreet Boys – are back with Larger Than Life at Zappos Theater; as is Cher, fresh from her showstopping role in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, with Classic Cher (is there any other kind?) at MGM’s Park Theater. With songs such as Poker Face, you might argue that Lady Gaga has always been a perfect fit for Vegas; she’s launching a marathon 74-date residency at the end of the year at MGM’s Park Theater.
