Celebrating the Red, White and Blue: Vegas Style
The perfect Fourth of July celebration? Fireworks, pool parties, live music, grilled fare, cocktails and frozen treats are all things that make up the perfect Independence Day Party. And Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World, has longtime been a popular destination for finding all of that and then some. With a myriad of holiday weekend festivities, we’ve narrowed it down to our top picks, which are all sure to make for an explosion of fun, no matter what you fancy.
If you’re looking for something to do in the heart of the famous Las Vegas Strip, look no further than the home of Julius Caesar, Caesars Palace. The iconic hotel and casino will serve as the epicenter of the city’s main fireworks display that starts at 9:15 p.m. So arrive early for the best vantage point. The display will last nearly 14 minutes and will be staged from the hotel’s Julius Tower. The perfect viewing spot might just be in front of the hotel’s fountains on Las Vegas Blvd.
No music genre is more all-American than country. And Caesars Palace’ Colosseum has just the ticket: superstar entertainers Reba McEntire with Brooks & Dunn, who. will perform their legendary hits over three dates during the holiday week: July 3, 5 and 6. Tickets and information can be found here.
For a more locals’ vibe, check out the weekend-long events lineup at Plaza Hotel & Casino. Highlights of their annual Pool Nights Independence Day Pool Party Weekend include:
- Independence Day Pool Party, July 4, featuring fireworks display on the rooftop pool, a hot dog eating contest, live DJ and drink specials all night. This will be downtown Las Vegas’ only live fireworks show so expect crowds and get there early. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. but the doors open at 5 p.m., with festivities starting at 6 p.m.
- Beverage Olympics, July 6, featuring teams of five people competing in Olympic-inspired events such as Ice Cube Clear Out, Pitcher Chug, Flip Cup and Beer Pong.
- Cocktail specials will be offered at the pool’s cocktail bar, including $3 Jell-O shots and specially-prized frozen cocktails such as the Firework cocktail and Blueberry Lemonade Vodka.
- The Plaza’s Food Truck will be on hand selling its popular burgers, chicken sandwich, BLT wrap, tacos, nachos and salads.
Another locals’ favorite annual event is Station Casinos’ July 4th fireworks show shot off from Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa Casino in Henderson and Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Summerlin. Guests at both properties will enjoy a nine-minute show promptly at 9 p.m. Before the show, enjoy the resorts’ array of dining establishments, including Hanks Fine Steaks & Martinis and Bottiglia Cucina and Enoteca at Green Valley Ranch and T-Bones and Hearthstone at Red Rock Casino.
If you’ve got little ones or are looking for a more family-friendly atmosphere, the 25th annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade is a must. It’s Southern Nevada’s largest Fourth of July Parade with more than 70 entries, including traditional floats, oversized balloons, musical groups, active military members and veterans, cartoon characters and crowd-favorite, the Vegas Golden Knights float. Also making appearances this year as the Las Vegas Aviators, Las Vegas Aces and Las Vegas Lights. More than 40,000 are expected to attend this event which has become a July Fourth tradition in Las Vegas. The festivities are from 9 to 11 a.m., and while admission is free, arrive early to snag the best viewing spots. Find more information here.
What professional sport screams America better than the All-American game of baseball? On July 3, the Las Vegas Aviators, the city’s professional Triple-A baseball team and affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, will compete for a win against our rivals from the north, the Reno Aces. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. and will culminate with a fireworks display over the new Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin. And while we definitely recommend indulging in the complete experience with the traditional Peanuts and Cracker Jacks, some of our other food picks are the Chicago Smokehouse hotdog from the Flydog paired with the Aviator Ale beer by Tenaya Creek. Buy your tickets here.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of fun in Las Vegas for the holiday weekend! So get ready to show off your patriotism with your best red, white and blue ensemble and party like it’s 1776, but always remember to drink responsibly!
