Las Vegas 4th of July

Las Vegas 4th of July Weekend

Wish America happy birthday with 10+ fun things to do in Nevada in July
By Katie Sagal

What could be better than celebrating Independence Day weekend in Vegas? There are tons of special events for the whole family and plenty of patriotic cheer.

Spending 4th of July weekend in Las Vegas? Then you’re probably looking for a few local attractions and things to do that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to enjoy. Don’t worry – we’ve got some events and activities that will help you celebrate Independence Day in style and on budget.

You'll be pleased to know that practically everything in Vegas will be open on July 4th, too, from casinos and bars to all kinds of attractions, shops, and museums. There's no worrying about holiday hours in this town!

Plus, each venue will be competing to host the largest, most popular Fourth of July celebrations, so you'll likely benefit from lots of specials, free festivals, and entertainment. Therefore, if you’re looking for Las Vegas 4th of July Weekend ideas (which will be celebrated the weekend after the fourth), check out some of these local activities and fun things to do in Las Vegas in July, including...

  • Caesar's Palace Fireworks Show
  • July 4th Celebrations at the LINQ
  • Pool parties in Las Vegas
  • Museums
  • Hoover Dam
  • Grand Canyon
  • Lake Las Vegas
  • Henderson
  • Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade

What are you waiting for?

Save on admission to popular Fourth of July attractions

The Go Las Vegas pass provides regular admission to a number of these popular attractions. Choose as you go from dozens of Las Vegas attractions and activities and save up to 50% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. 

See all available passes and Las Vegas attractions. Please note that some of these special 4th of July weekend events are separately ticketed.

Caesar’s Palace Fireworks Show

A great fireworks option is the breathtaking display by Caesar’s Palace. Fireworks will go off from the Roman Tower beginning at 9:15 pm, and will last for 13 minutes! Although you’ll have great views from anywhere nearby on the Strip, the best views are probably from the front fountains of the casino itself. Head there early to get a spot! 

Getting In: The fireworks are free to watch.

July 4th celebrations at the LINQ

high-roller-night-las-vegasusa

This family-friendly event is the perfect way to spend an afternoon while celebrating this festive holiday weekend. Enjoy live musical performances, face painting, balloon-animal makers, games, caricature artists, and much more. In the evening, the LINQ Promenade will feature more adult-oriented entertainment with live shows scheduled throughout the evenings.

For the perfect view of the city and the festivities below, head to the top of the High Roller Observation Wheel. It will be festively lit in red, white, and blue, of course! 

Getting In: July 4th celebrations at the LINQ are free to attend. High Roller Observation Wheel tickets are included on all Las Vegas passes.

Pool Parties in Las Vegas

group-friends-swimsuit-enjoy-swimming-pool

One thing Vegas is known for is its lively selection of pool clubs and parties that happen throughout the summer season. Given the extreme heat and festive atmosphere of the holiday, you can be sure that crowds will flock to the pools to celebrate this 4th of July weekend.

If you want to join the revelers, check out a Pool Party Tour, which introduces you to a sampling of the city’s best pool clubs. Bonus points if you have a red, white, and blue bathing suit! Please note that these tours are for adults aged 21 or older only. 

Getting In: Pool Party Tour tickets are included on the Las Vegas Explorer pass.

Museums in Las Vegas

 

While it may seem a little counter intuitive to spend one of the country’s favorite outdoor holidays inside, it’s definitely worth a visit to these historical museums this 4th of July weekend. Plus, as July in Vegas is so hot -- it actually makes sense to soak up the AC as well as the sun! Learn about our nation’s history in quirky and wonderful ways at the Mob Museum, marvel at the famous works in the Bellagio Art Gallery, and step back in time with a walk through Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Getting In: Mob Museum tickets and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas tickets are both included with the Go Las Vegas pass. However, The Bellagio Art Gallery is separately ticketed and not included with the pass.

Appreciate America's Landmarks

looking-atop-hoover-dam

An ideal way to celebrate the United States' birthday is with a visit to some of America's most amazing natural and man-made wonders. Lucky for you, you'll find stellar examples of both near Las Vegas. Head out to the Hoover Dam, a marvel of twentieth-century engineering, for amazing views of this historic structure and the impressive river.

If you're willing to venture further afield and want to see one of the best National Parks in the American Southwest, then a Grand Canyon South Rim tour is for you. The Grand Canyon is a must-see for anyone visiting Vegas. Join a guided tour to avoid the hassle of parking, and enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet, too! 

Getting In: Hoover Dam Tour tickets are included with Go City® Las Vegas passes. Grand Canyon South Rim Tour tickets are available as a premium attraction option with the 3-, 4-, and 5-Day Go City® Las Vegas passes.

Celebrate America at Lake Las Vegas

Missed the celebrations on the 4th? No problem! Look no further than the family-friendly Lake Las Vegas 4th of July Celebration. There will be live music, barbecue stations, and a sidewalk sale for your enjoyment. You’ll also find a bouncy house (kids only, unfortunately), face painting, and a balloon artist. 

Lake Las Vegas

Top it all off with a fireworks display set off over the lake at 9:00 pm and you’ve got one incredible day the whole family can enjoy. Keep an eye out for the latest updates on Lake Las Vegas's Independence Day celebrations. 

Getting In: Celebrate America is free to attend.

Henderson, NV 4th of July

Another event that offers plenty of family-friendly fun is just a quick drive from Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. Held in Heritage Park, this annual event features a full array of July 4th festivities and runs from 6pm - 9pm with a fireworks show at 9pm. So, see the sights and celebrate during the day, then soak up the excitement in the evening! Enjoy live music and other entertainment, tasty concessions, and much more. Arrive early to take advantage of the free parking. 

Getting In: The Henderson 4th of July Celebration is free to attend.

Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade July 4

Nevada and US flag

Every year, Summerlin City Council puts on the city's biggest 4th of July parade. The parade begins at 9:00 am and runs from Hillpoint and Hills Center, down Hills Center Drive, and concludes at 11:00 am. Arrive early for a good spot along the parade route! Enjoy the floats, marching bands, dance troupes, veterans' groups, and lots of entertainment. Perfect for celebrating this patriotic holiday! 

Getting In: The Summerlin Patriotic Parade is free to watch.

Annual Boulder City Damboree Celebration July 4

A perennially popular local event is held in Boulder City, Nevada with a different theme every year. Previous themes have included “We Luv BC." Enjoy a fun-filled day with activities like a Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Bicentennial Park, a parade down Nevada Highway, a water play zone, flag raising, contests, and more! Top off your day with a stunning fireworks show at 9pm.

Getting In: The Boulder City Damboree is free to attend.

Save up to 50% on Las Vegas attractions  

Planning your Las Vegas trip? With Go City®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots, and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  

☀️See all Las Vegas attractions ☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 – ✈️ Buy a Las Vegas pass ✈️ 

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Fireworks exploding behind the neon-lit 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' road sign
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Las Vegas in December

The days grow shorter and the nights grow colder (oh so much colder) as winter arrives in the desert, but there’s still plenty to keep you warm here in this city that truly never sleeps. So charge your mug with mulled wine, grab a gingerbread cookie, draw closer to the fire and read on for our guide to December vacations in Las Vegas. Visiting Las Vegas in December Average Temperature: 46°F • Average Rainfall: 4 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 7 hours/day Twinkling lights, a holiday feel and maybe, just maybe, a light dusting of snow. That’s Las Vegas in December, when temperatures plummet to near-freezing and locals drag duffle coats, scarves and thick woolen mittens out of storage. This is when you’ll find hotels decked out in all their festive glory: think grand lobbies festooned with thousands of fairy lights and cacti dressed in tinsel and other shiny holiday baubles. The December cold will keep you indoors most of the time, though hardy souls can still brave hikes around the Grand Canyon’s South Rim as well as its diminutive sibling, the Red Rock Canyon. It’s worth wrapping up to head out and see the Strip’s Christmas lights in all their glory. And the chilly weather is equally unlikely to dissuade you from going to see the Bellagio’s dancing fountains in action, still one of the best free things to do in Vegas in December, as in any month. December’s hotel prices are reasonable, with a hike if you’re staying for Christmas, and some fairly astronomical pricing on the 31st, when half a million revelers descend on Sin City to see in the New Year. Things to do in December It should go without saying that Las Vegas has some of the best indoor entertainment on the planet but, if you want to get (sort of) out and about during the day, we recommend a spin on the hop-on hop-off bus tour. It’s a great way to see a bit of the city with minimal effort, and visits iconic landmarks including the famous ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign, the Mob Museum, the Strat hotel and, of course, those unmissable Bellagio fountains. You can hop off anywhere you like to start filling your Instagram feed with wintry Vegas selfies, or stay on for the full two-hour loop to get a proper introduction to Sin City. A nighttime bus tour also operates to allow you to experience the Strip at its illuminated best, with a bonus stop and walking tour at the Fremont Street Experience. Come in from the cold and check out some of Vegas’s best museums. The Mob Museum takes a look at the history of organized crime in the US, with a permanent collection that includes old rifles, wiretap recordings and flapper dresses – there’s even an underground speakeasy serving Prohibition-inspired cocktails. Head to the Neon Museum to be dazzled by hundreds of historic neon signs (where else but Vegas?) and get your culture fix at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. There’s also a beautiful pinball museum (with playable machines, so bring some quarters) and a museum that charts the utterly mesmerizing and quite terrifying history of atomic testing in the Nevada desert. Fancy trying your luck in the casinos? Catch some old-school Vegas vibes on the slot machines at the iconic Caesars Palace, go for glory at The Golden Nugget or plan a (legal) heist on the blackjack and roulette tables at the Mirage and the MGM Grand, both of which featured in the movie Ocean’s Eleven. Concerts in Las Vegas in December often take on a holiday theme, and you’ll be able to catch Sin City stalwarts Cirque du Soleil and the Blue Man Group in a number of different venues. Check listings for the likes of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and the T-Mobile Arena for big-name rock, pop and comedy legends. December is also a great time to do your Christmas shopping in Las Vegas, with Black Friday sales ongoing at the major malls – Las Vegas Premium Outlets, The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, the Fashion Show Mall – especially in the early part of the month. What’s on in December? What’s on in December? It might be quicker to list what’s not on in December, but here goes anyway. It’s holiday season so hotels and attractions go all out in their efforts to out-Christmas each other. And that means just one thing: a Santa’s sackful of sensational seasonal must-sees. And, as free things to do in Las Vegas in December go, the first of these may just edge out the Bellagio fountain illuminations.... Ethel M Cactus Garden While pine trees may be de rigueur elsewhere in the States at this time of year, here in Vegas it’s all about the cactus. And nowhere does holiday decorating better than the folks here in the grounds of the famed Ethel M Chocolate Factory, where the three-acre cactus garden gets an annual December makeover that includes more than half a million twinkling lights and a family of animated reindeer. It’s open until around 10PM throughout December and quite the most magically festive experience in town. Ice Skating at the Cosmopolitan For sheer Christmassy vibes, The Cosmopolitan’s rooftop runs the bejeweled cacti a very close second. High above the Strip, this winter wonderland boasts firepits, cocktails, s’mores, holiday movies and stellar views of the neon skyline. Oh, and did we mention the 4,200 square foot ice-skating rink? There are even guaranteed snow showers throughout the evening, thanks to the resort’s very own snow machines! Great Santa Run Not just bags of fun but also raising sacks of cash for great causes is the Great Santa Run, which takes place every December in downtown Las Vegas. Join thousands of fellow Santa Clauses on this fun run. Your entrance fee gets you a five-piece Santa suit, finisher’s medal and swag bag and you can choose to run 5k or just one mile. Kids aged three and under go free. New Year Celebrations If you can swallow the eye-watering hotel prices in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve, then you’re in for one helluva fun time, as revelers take to the Strip in their hundreds of thousands to brave the winter chill and ring in the New Year with wild boozy abandon. The whole of the Strip – from Mandalay Bay at the southern end to the Strat’s cloudbusting SkyPod four miles north – closes to traffic at dusk, allowing the party to kick off in earnest. By mid-evening, the streets are seething with merry-makers, all ready to have a good time and enjoy an epic fireworks show, the likes of which only a city as flamboyant and hedonistic as Las Vegas can pull off with such unparalleled bombast. Save on attractions in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
solo tourist at the Bellagion fountains in Las Vegas
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Things to do alone in Las Vegas

We’re all familiar with Las Vegas’ reputation as a party town – groups of friends drinking together, showgirls performing to large, cheering audiences and rich and famous celebrities gambling obscenely large quantities of money while sipping cocktails are images we’re all familiar with. But these are stereotypes, and only represent one side of this city. For those traveling here alone there’s plenty to do and see if we’re willing to look beyond the obvious, and not just during the day. Some of the best Vegas solo activities include: Hop-on Hop-off bus tour Day trips Rockstar Club or Pool Party Tour An immersive evening show Downtown walking tour Museum visits Taking a class Take the Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour You don’t have to be alone to do a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour, but it doesn’t matter if you are, because someone else does all the talking. The Vegas Big Bus Tour covers all the important stops, including the Bellagio Fountains, Treasure Island, Excalibur and the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, so you can use it as a handy transport option between attractions, but if you’re on your own why not sit back and enjoy the whole tour, learning about the Vegas Strip, Downton and how the town got the nickname ‘Sin City’. The whole trip takes about 2.5 hours and is a great way to get your bearings in a place that can be overwhelming on the first visit. There’s also a Big Bus Night Tour, so you can enjoy all the same sights again, only this time it’ll be painted neon. Escape on a day trip It may be in the middle of the desert, but that doesn’t mean the area around Vegas is deserted. In fact, it’s surrounded by breath-taking natural wonders of surprising variety with opportunities for hiking, canoeing and outdoor yoga, to name a few. Most of them can only be reached by road, so why not on a coach tour, when you get the double benefit of not having to worry about logistics and the chance to meet a bus load of awesome people. If you have a Go City attraction pass, you can take a full-day trip to the Grand Canyon which includes park entry and takes you past Lake Mead, the picture-perfect reservoir formed by nearby Hoover Dam, El Tovar, Hopi House, Kolb Photo Studio and the Bright Angel Trail. And of course there’s a walk to the canyon’s South Rim, the deepest, widest and most photographed part of the landscape. If you’ve already done the Grand Canyon, there’s also Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and Hoover Dam and the Black Canyon tours you can try. Party like a Rockstar There’s no reason to hide away in Vegas if you’re on your own when the sun goes down – instead, get your dancing shoes on and make some cool new friends on a Vegas Rockstar Nightclub Tour. Meet your host at a premier Ultra Lounge on the famous Las Vegas strip, and then spend the next five hours feeling like a VIP as you get to skip the line at three of Vegas’ most famous clubs. You’ll travel between clubs in the luxurious Limo Party Bus, which has a complimentary bar on board, so the conversation should be flowing! Or if you prefer to party in the daylight hours, how about a Rockstar Pool Party? You’ll get the same VIP treatment, and the same luxury limo with open bar, but this time you’ll meet at a day pool club, tour the Vegas Strip and be dropped off at one of Vegas’ hottest pool parties – and by the time you get there, you’ll have a limo full of new friends to party with! Be immersed in a show Just because you’re on your own doesn’t mean you should miss all the fun in Vegas, and an essential part of that is going to see a show. Plus, Vegas shows are so immersive that you’ll forget you’re by yourself anyway! With Go City, you can choose to spend the evening laughing the night away at L.A. Comedy Club at the STRAT, dancing and singing along to the Legends in Concert tribute acts, or reminiscing over The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, which is a multi-sensory spectacle telling the story of the Beatles through their own songs with choreography, visuals and aerial acrobatics. Or you could experience the surprising combination of painting and percussion of the Blue Man Group, possibly getting a colorful splash in the process! Uncover the past on a Las Vegas walking tour Spend a couple of hours in the afternoon peering underneath the surface of the glitz and glamor of Vegas on a guided walking tour. Start at the corner of Fremont Street and Main Street, where Vegas was founded in 1905, and journey towards Downtown Vegas, learning about things like where the Rat Pack preferred to hang out and why the city is so full of wedding chapels. You’ll also discover where to spot things like the famous Golden Nugget, a piece of the Berlin Wall and 1870’s street lamps from Brussels. Plus with a walking tour it doesn’t matter if you’re on your own, because someone else is doing all the talking – though there’s nothing stopping you from making new friends at the food stops along the way! Get cultured Museums are a great place to visit solo because you don’t have to worry about keeping up with anyone – you just go at your own pace. You can concentrate on your audio guide as you go round ignoring everyone else, or pop in your headphones and block out the world with your favorite chill playlist. In Vegas, the museums are many and varied, so there’s bound to be something to pique your interest – choose from the Mob Museum, Natural History Museum, Hollywood Cars Museum and Liberace Garage, the Erotic History Museum, the Neon Museum or the National Atomic Testing Museum. Take a class Taking a class is a great way to meet other people, partly because there are usually plenty of opportunities for chatting, but also because you already have a shared interest in whatever the class is about. Plus there’s a good chance of meeting other solo travelers. As you’d expect, there are yoga, cooking and pottery classes, but in Vegas you can also learn a skill or two that might come in handy. For example, you could get some poker lessons before you hit the casinos, learn a few magic tricks, or even take a glass blowing class, where you can make your own souvenir to take home. Go solo with Go City Vegas has so many opportunities for the solo traveler, so there’s no need to feel lonely. And you can get even more out of your visit with a Go City All-Inclusive Pass, which lets you join in as many fun activities as you like!
Karleen Stevens
Las Vegas
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