Spectacular shows
Las Vegas loves putting on a show. And more than anything it loves putting on a spectacular. Your biggest problem is going to be choosing which one to see.
There’s nothing like a bit of mass synchronised swimming to make you think of old-school American spectaculars, and Le Rêve – The Dream, at Wynn Las Vegas, brings the idea up to date with a dream-like, visually stunning water-based show. Voted Best Production Show in Las Vegas five years running, this has everything from high dives to an underwater tango.
The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Jersey Boys offers a gripping story and a foot-tapping soundtrack at Paris Las Vegas. The rags-to-riches story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons appeals to all ages and has become a massive worldwide hit.
Combining acrobats, lights, an explosion of colour and an unbeatable soundtrack, LOVE by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage pays tribute to the Beatles. A 360-degree seating plan and 6341 speakers (each seat has three) make this an immersive experience, and a psychedelic one at that.
For something completely different, Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur is a medieval show-and-dinner, during which you get to cheer and jeer knights and wizards while tucking into Cornish hen, steamed vegetables and biscuit (that’s American for bread roll).
Live music, comedy and more
Whether it’s Rod Stewart at Caesars Palace, Lionel Richie at Planet Hollywood, or Santana at the House of Blues, Las Vegas is never short of a musical legend or two.
Live music – from the legendary to the niche – can be found all over Vegas, with hot spots including Brooklyn Bowl, The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan and House of Blues.
Of course, having a laugh is a big part of what Vegas is about, and if you need any assistance in the funny bone tickling department, there’s plenty available. Try Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at the MGM Grand or Lipshtick at The Venetian – a series of seriously funny women entertainers. You can also see comedy greats such as Jerry Seinfeld at Caesars Palace and Ray Romano at The Mirage.
Impressionism is also alive and well in Vegas. Not so much Monet and Manet, but performers pretending to be Elvis, Bob Dylan or Eminem. Gordie Brown does all three (as well as many others) at Golden Nugget, Frank Marino regularly turns into Joan Rivers at The LINQ Hotel and Casino, and Terry Fator at The Mirage proves that puppets are still funny, in the right hands.
Vegas can pull an amazing array of magicians out of its hat. Whether it’s Penn & Teller at Rio or CRISS ANGEL Believe from Cirque du Soleil, you won’t fail to be amazed.
Sport
The word “rugby” may not immediately spring to mind when you think of Las Vegas, but it’s the regular venue for the annual USA Sevens international tournament. Part of the Sevens World Series, the weekend-long event (also know as the Las Vegas Sevens) attracts the world’s best sevens players, and drew more than 75,000 fans in 2015.
Vegas is also a regular on the NASCAR circuit, with the annual NASCAR weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway offering the opportunity to buy tickets not just for the grandstand, but for the Neon Garage, in the centre of the speedway’s infield. While this has the potential to make revheads dizzy as they are circled by their heroes, it also provides unrivalled access to the race teams and drivers.
Many of America’s leading pro sports leagues – the NBA, PGA Tour and Major League Baseball – host regular events in Las Vegas, while the city plays host to four college basketball conference tournaments.
Fight fans will be well aware that Vegas has a long history of hosting boxing world title bouts, while those who think those pesky Queensbury rules are just too darn restrictive might prefer Ultimate Fighting Championship.
If you want a taste of the West, the National Finals Rodeo is not just any old gathering of cowboys and cowgirls, it’s the “Super Bowl of Rodeo” in which the best and bravest in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association compete for the world title. Alternatively, check out the Professional Bull Riders.
