New Year's Eve in Las Vegas

New Year's Eve in Las Vegas

It's nearly time to ring in the new year. It's about time too. The last 12 months have been full of ups and downs, victories and tragedies. I guess it's the same every year, right? So, if you're heading to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, you'll need to know about all the events in the city.

In our guide, you'll learn everything you need to know to have the time of your life. Read on, take notes, and see you next year!

Including:

  • When is New Year's Eve in Las Vegas?
  • Where is New Year's Eve in Las Vegas?
  • Things to remember over New Year's Eve in Las Vegas
  • Things to do on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas
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When is New Year's Eve in Las Vegas?

It may sound like a silly question, but New Year's Eve celebrations in Las Vegas tend to stretch from December 30 - December 31, so if you want to make the most of your time, you can get in on the action early.

Where is New Year's Eve in Las Vegas?

You'll find things to do and ways to celebrate all across the city. That's just a little tease, because we need to talk about some dos and don'ts before we explore the Strip's NYE offerings.

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Things to remember over New Year's Eve in Las Vegas

We're all for having a good time, but if you're celebrating your first New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, there are some things worth mentioning.

Firstly, from 6AM on December 31 to 6AM on January 1, you cannot hold glass or aluminum containers on Las Vegas Blvd. This is to ensure people stay safe, while limiting the amount of dangerous litter that can accumulate throughout the day.

It's also worth noting that large bags and purses, coolers, luggage of any kind (briefcases, backpacks, or cinch bags), computer and camera bags, strollers, and carts are also banned on the Strip and Downtown.

Even children under 18 are not allowed on the Strip or Downtown throughout this time. And, given the above, you can't even sneak them in with a stroller. All jokes aside, the cops take these rules very seriously, so don't give them any reason to kick you out!

Things to do on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas

Now we've got all the boring - yet necessary - stuff out of the way; let's talk about something fun! What kinds of things can you get up to on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas? Whether you're looking for thrilling sit-down performances, fireworks, clubbing, or otherwise, we've got you covered. Check out our recommendations below!

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Blue Man Group

This tireless trio of extraterrestrial entertainers will be at it one New Year's Eve too, bringing their liberally messy sound and color show to the Luxor Hotel & Casino at 2PM, 3PM, and 8PM.

If you've never been to a Blue Man Group show, then you're in for a treat. Landing somewhere between a music performance and an art installation, the three blue-migos combine paint and drums to bring their performance to life. And they also have a 'drumbone', an instrument that's half-drum and half-trombone. It might not make sense now, but when you see it, you'll understand.

It's worth noting that a combination of drums and paint is bound to make a splash. That's why we recommend that you take a waterproof and easily-washable clothes with you. There are dedicated splash zones, where punters are kitted out in stain-free gear, but you should always be wary of splash damage. The Blue Man Group takes no prisoners.

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Image courtesy of Marti Bug Catcher/Shutterstock

Vegas Strip New Year's Eve Fireworks

If you want to be out and about when the clock strikes 12, then you can't do much better than the New Year's Eve Fireworks. One of the most impressive fireworks displays in the country, you'll join thousands of other explosion-seekers as they gather around the Strip to ring in the new year.

As all eyes are drawn to the sky, a magnificent barrage of fireworks will be fired off from the top of eight casinos surrounding the Strip. Over the course of ten wonderful minutes, over 80,000 fireworks will crack the sky, lighting up the whole of Vegas. But they're not just fired off with reckless abandon. Instead, they're timed to music that will blare out across the crowd. So, if you've never seen a choreographed firework display, you won't want to miss it.

If you get there early, don't worry. The entire Strip becomes a pedestrian-only zone when the sun goes down, turning Vegas into one massive block party. Nice.

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Fremont Street Party

If you prefer pyrotechnics at eye level, then you'll find a similar block party at Fremont Street. While it may not boast the bangs of the fireworks on the Strip, it does come with some other exciting bonuses.

For one, you'll see live performances from the likes of Sugar Ray, Bush, Sugarhill Gang, and Julian Marley and The Wailers. Secondly, it being an adults-only party, you're free to revel in all the boozy goodness us adults tend to love.

So, if you aren't bringing the little ones with you and prefer bands over bangs, then check out Fremont Street Party.

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STARDUST at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

If you're an EDM junkie and want to ring in the New Year on a neon-soaked dancefloor, check out STARDUST at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.

Headlined by none other than the famous disk spinner DEADMAU5, you'll have hours upon hours of boogies to woogie. Doors open at 5PM, and will stay open long into the January night. And if the mouse-headed man doesn't cut it, preceding him are equally funny-named DJs like REZZ, RL GRIME, Ghost RYDR, Marauda, Noizu, and Versa. Very cool.

And that's it! Everything you need to know about New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, all tucked up into one handy guide. Whatever you decide to do, have a happy new year! But why stop there? After the dust has settled and the hangover's dispersed, why not make the most of your trip? Vegas still has plenty to offer, and with Go City, you'll experience the very best of the city for one low price. Check out our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass to see which works for you!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Top Las Vegas Museums to Visit - Culture, History, Nature, & More

While most people think of Las Vegas as a city filled with gambling, dining, and drinking, there are plenty of cultural attractions to enjoy, too. Whether you prefer art museums, cultural institutions, or topical exhibitions (or appreciate them all!), Las Vegas has something you’re sure to love. Want Passes to Top Las Vegas Museums? Admission to a number of these attractions is included on the Go Las Vegas® Card. Choose as you go from dozens of topic attractions and save up to 60% on admission versus paying at the gate. See all available Las Vegas attractions and passes. Museums available on the Go Las Vegas® Card include: Madame Tussauds Las Vegas CSI: The Experience Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. The Mob Museum REAL BODIES at Bally’s BODIES: The Exhibition TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition Please note that not all of the museums listed below are included with the Go La Vegas® Card. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas If you adore pop culture, this is one institution you won’t want to miss. It’s the world’s most famous wax museum, filled with realistic replicas of celebrities from around the globe. Wander through eight distinctive rooms with different themes and “meet” your favorite stars. Keep that phone charged for those perfect Instagram shots! Getting In: Madame Tussauds Las Vegas tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas® Card. CSI: The Experience For all fans of procedural crime dramas, this is the attraction for you. Here you’ll learn to become crime scene investigators in the style of the hit show. You’ll be able to gather evidence before heading to the lab with your clues to see if your crime-solving skills are up to the challenge. Bonus: if you successfully figure out the killer, you’ll get a CSI diploma! Getting In: CSI: The Experience tickets included with the Go Las Vegas® Card. Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Immerse yourself in the world of Marvel comics with a visit to this top family attraction. Go beyond the world of the comic books and see the franchise brought to life. You’ll actually dive into the action, too, with a chance to train to become an agent of S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (aka, Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network). This is one fans of Marvel properties at any age will love. Getting In: Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas® Card The Mob Museum If you’ve always been curious about the mob, have a real thing for the Godfather movies, or just love history, this is the museum for you. You’ll see exhibits filled with real artifacts and evidence. Plus, learn about the long history of the ongoing struggles between the mob and law enforcement officials. It’s a great way to see real, fascinating history brought to life -- there’s even a Prohibition exhibit that people love! Getting In: The Mob Museum tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas® Card. REAL BODIES at Bally’s After scoping out the models at Madame Tussauds, come here to visualize models of the human body in a whole new way. This informative and engaging exhibition showcases the anatomy of the human through real specimens, carefully preserved and respectfully displayed. You’ll wander through 11 fascinating galleries that explore how the human body works, how it interacts with the environment, and the meanings that culture makes from the body. It’s a powerful exhibition that’s well worth your time. Getting In: REAL BODIES at Bally’s tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas® Card. BODIES: The Exhibition Hosted by the Luxor Hotel, this unique exhibition also showcases real preserved bodies and body parts. It’s a larger exhibition than REAL BODIES, but offers many of the same themes, including respect for the wonderful machine that is the human body. It’s a good educational experience for kids above a certain age, and offers in-depth looks into how the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, and respiratory systems work. Getting In: BODIES: The Exhibition tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas® Card. TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition Whether you’re a big fan of the film, a history buff, or just someone who loves a good story, you’ll appreciate this exhibition. The tragedy of this infamous ocean-liner has been retold many times, but now you’ll have the chance to see real artifacts and objects from the wreck itself. As part of a 25,000-square-foot exhibition space, visitors can see recovered objects like floor tiles, windows, and luggage, as well as full-scale recreations of famous spaces like the Grand Staircase. Getting In: TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas® Card. Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art Located on the Las Vegas campus of the University of Nevada, this free little museum is an excellent resource in the community. Once a natural history museum, today this institution ties together the UNLV art galleries with exciting exhibitions and special programming. You’ll find strong holdings in contemporary art, objects from the American southwest, and Pre-Columbian artifacts. Getting In: The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is free to explore. Remember to Save on Museum Admission Hopefully one or two of these museums strikes your fancy. If you’re interested in adding one or more to your Las Vegas itinerary, consider picking up an all-inclusive Go Las Vegas® Card to save up to 60% on admission.
Katie Sagal
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4 Days in Las Vegas - Perfect Itinerary

Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, so believe us when we say you’ll have zero trouble filling four days with high-octane, dice-rolling, Strip-tastic fun. Your only difficulty will be deciding what to do first. And that's where we come in! Read on for our perfect 4-day Las Vegas itinerary, including: High Roller Observation Wheel Fremont Street Experience Grand Canyon Mandalay Bay Beach Club Bellagio fountains, gallery and gardens Colosseum theater Las Vegas Arts District Hoover Dam Red Rock Canyon Day 1: Viva Las Vegas! Kickstart your Sin City adventure by getting the lay of the land aboard the open-top hop-on hop-off bus. There’s really no better way to get an overview of this sizzling city’s must-see landmarks. Tick off the bucket-list classics, including that essential selfie stop at the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign, and marvel at how the Strip's flamboyant hotels vie for the tourist dollar with their increasingly outlandish gimmicks.  We’re talking Paris’s replica Eiffel Tower, the Bellagio’s legendary dancing fountains, and the exploding volcano at The Mirage, to name just a few. You’ll also get to whiz around the OG downtown area, home of the glitzy Fremont Street Experience (of which more later). There’s even a nighttime version of the bus tour that gives you an opportunity to experience the Strip in all its neon glory, all without having to lift a finger (or indeed a foot). Having experienced Vegas’s uniquely surreal atmosphere at arm’s length, it’s now time to go full immersion mode in the city’s legendary casinos. So put on your best poker face, cram your pockets full of dollar bills and get lucky. Take your pick from dozens of casinos, from old-school giants like Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand and the Bellagio to beloved downtown faves including the famous Golden Nugget. Expect hundreds of classic table games like like roulette, blackjack and Texas hold ‘em poker plus thousands of slot machines in these cavernous, money-guzzling twilight zones of capitalism. Day 2: Strip Highlights Ok, day 2 of your awesome 4-day Vegas experience and it's time to get up close and personal with some of the Strip’s main attractions. And you really could fill a whole day or more exploring this vast thoroughfare, with its supersize hotels, monster malls and hundreds of bars and restaurants, from fast food to fine dining. Top tip: the Strip is much longer than it looks. Avoid aching calves and pesky blisters by taking full advantage of the Las Vegas Monorail, which connects a number of major hotels and casinos along the Strip’s eastern side, running for nearly four miles. But what to see and do? Bit of an art fiend? Good news: Vegas does high culture every bit as well as it does low culture. Case in point: the ever-rotating exhibitions at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art have included works by household names including Warhol, Picasso and Lichtenstein; the horticultural marvel that is the resort’s botanical gardens is also something of a work of art in itself. Here during pool party season (March-October)? Hit up Mandalay Bay’s epic Daylight Beach Club, home to a ridiculously large pool (4,400 square feet, fact fans), a man-made beach and a seemingly endless lazy river. You could sip bubbly aboard the knee-knocking High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ Hotel, which soars 550 feet over the Strip. Or catch a show at the legendary Colosseum theater at Caesars Palace – superstars from Sinatra to Madonna have graced the glittering stage here down the years. Ride the glass elevator up Paris’s replica Eiffel Tower or cruise the Venetian’s faithful replica of Venice’s Grand Canal in a gondola. The possibilities are almost literally endless. Day 3: You can always go… Downtown! It would be easy to overlook Las Vegas’s laidback downtown area for the considerable thrills and spills of the Strip, but that would be to miss out on Sin City most old-school enclave, home of the boho Arts District and terrific Neon Museum, a sort of retirement home for Vegas signage of yore. Best visited in early evening, this is the place to nab Insta-perfect selfies bathed in the neon glow of such iconic signs as the Stardust and Lucky Cuss Motel. Check out the nearby Arts District for the best of Vegas’s indie scene, including galleries, boutiques, vintage clothing emporia and hipper-than-thou craft breweries like Hop Nuts Brewing and the Nevada Brew Works. There’s nothing old school about the Fremont Street Experience. Easily Vegas’s most popular attraction outside the Strip, this huge complex features a video-screen canopy the length of five football pitches, beneath which tourists and locals browse stores galore and sip colorful cocktails in the chi-chi bars. Eye-popping hourly light shows and live music across three stages every evening means there’s never a dull moment here in Glitter Gulch. Day 4: The Great Outdoors Sure, Las Vegas is terrific fun, but three sinful days of sensory saturnalia can be more than enough for most people. What better way then to round out your perfect 4-day Las Vegas itinerary than swapping the noise, neon lights and general chaos of the Strip for the wide open spaces of the Nevada and Arizona deserts? You can take a helicopter ride over the awe-inspiring Hoover Dam to the enchanting South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where a restorative stroll among rust-red rocks and vibrant wildflowers is pure manna for the soul. Opt for an afternoon trip that will time your return descent along the Strip around sundown, for some of the most spectacular skies and Sin City views you’re likely to find. Helicopters not your bag? Rent a soft-top instead and strike out south along Interstate 15 to Red Rock Canyon deep in the Mojave Desert. This relatively diminutive sibling of the Grand Canyon promises equally otherworldly landscapes, characterized by soaring sandstone crags and towering cacti. Don’t miss sculptor Ugo Rondinone’s hallucinatory art installation on the way there. Seven Magic Mountains is a series of gravity-defying boulder stacks painted in a kaleidoscope of vivid colors – essential eye candy for any Insta addict worthy of the name. Save on attractions in Las Vegas  Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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