Top 10 things to do in Las Vegas in the second half of 2023

1 May 2023

The year might seem like it’s flying by as the calendar turns to May today, but there’s still plenty of time and more importantly plenty of big events taking place in Las Vegas over the rest of 2023.

Here’s a look at some of the major events happening starting this month.

10. National Finals Rodeo
Hold onto your hats in December as the Wrangler 65 National Finals Rodeo rides into the Thomas & Mack Center from Thursday, 7 December through Saturday, 16 December.

This year’s event will have a record-setting competition payday of more than $11.5 million.

The competition attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback, riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.

Tickets range from $200-$2,000 and can be purchased through nfrexperience.com.



9. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Race cars flying up and down The Strip at 200 miles per hour is going to be a sight to be seen in November as Sin City is the home to the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. The inaugural race will take place Sunday, 19 November.

Practice runs will take place Thursday and Friday, 16-17 November, followed by the qualifier on Saturday, 18 November, and the grand final on Sunday.

MGM Resorts, Wynn Las Vegas, Bellagio, and Hard Rock are all offering special seating packages to watch the race up-close-and-personal.

8. Halloween
The spookiest night of the year is only better in Las Vegas. Sure, it’s for the kids, but there’s plenty of fun to be had as an adult too.

There’s HalloWeekend from Saturday, 28 October through Tuesday, 31 October on Freemont Street, which will feature live bands, nightly shows, flash mobs, aerial dancers, street performers and costumes galore.

Vegas Fright Nights start in September through the frightening holiday. It will feature three attractions: Nightmare Manor, Clown Invasion, and Blood Barn.

Visitors must make their way through the haunted Asylum and Hotel Fear at the Meadows Mall.

There’s also 31 Freak Street at the northeast corner of the parking area at Tivoli Village where guests will have their choice between two haunted attractions, Crimson Manor and Mayhem.

7. MSG Sphere opening
If you’ve been in Las Vegas recently or even flown over Las Vegas then you’ve probably caught yourself saying “what is that?” No, it’s not another Epcot Center, but it’s the MSG Sphere, which will open in October with Postcard from Earth on Friday, 6 October.

Not only is the MSG Sphere a sight-to-see on the outside, but also word on the street is that it’s going to be just as impressive on the inside as well. It will feature the highest resolution LED screen in the world with a 160,000-square-foot display that wraps up, over and behind the audience. There will be an advanced audio system that will deliver crystal-clear sound to every guest at every seat using spatialized 4D technology and an infrasound haptic system, so guests can feel the music and sounds as it literally vibrates through their bodies. Lastly, there will also be environmental effects such as change in temperature and smells to make you feel as if you’ve been transported to another location.

U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At MSG Sphere will be the first concert series at the MSG Sphere. With more than one million ticket requests to date, Sphere Entertainment Co. and Live Nation announced an additional seven dates have been added to a first-of-its-kind live music experience which will see the world’s biggest rock band launch the world’s most cutting-edge venue behind The Venetian Las Vegas.



6. Mexican Independence Day
The weekend of 16 September can only mean one thing in Las Vegas, yes, it’s Mexican Independence Day. This weekend every year, America’s Playground hosts events, entertainment, music and food to celebrate the holiday.

Some of the events on the calendar this year are: strolling Mariachis at Caesars Palace, multi-Latin GRAMMY Award winner Alejandro Fernández special show at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino; Maná, the world’s leading Latin rock band will perform at the T-Mobile Arena; iconic Mexican ground Banda MS and guest Edén Muñoz are scheduled to perform at Mandalay Bay; and Mexican pop group RBD will take its “Soy Rebelde Tour” to the MGM Grand.

5. Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour
Following the release of her seventh studio album, also titled Renaissance, the Queen B is bringing her concert to Allegiant Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, 26-27 August. This will be the global superstar’s second solo all-stadium tour, following The Formation Tour in 2016.

While Beyonce doesn’t actually start her concert until next week in Stockholm, it’s rumored that she will perform “Cuff It,” “Baby Boy,” “Say My Name,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”, among others.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster for $150-$6,000.



4. WNBA All-Star Game
The defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces will host the cream-of-the-crop on Saturday, 15 July as they welcome all the best players in their league for the mid-season classic on their home court at the Michelob ULTRA Arena.

This will be the third time that the Aces have hosted the All-Star game. In addition to the game, there will be two full days of WNBA activities as part of the “WNBA Live” fan festival, which is in its second year of existence. On Friday, 14 July the players will take part in the 3-Point Content and Skills Challenge.

Tickets can be purchased at axs.com and range between $50-$1,000.

3. July 4th weekend
The Entertainment Capital of the World celebrates everything red, white and blue throughout the Independence Day weekend. Visitors can honor the Fourth of July holiday with entertainment, fireworks, parades, and more throughout the celebratory weekend.

Exodus Festival Las Vegas, which will run from Thursday, 29 June through Tuesday, 4 July, will be your All Access Pass to the busiest parties in Sin City.

The 4th of July Summerlin Patriotic Parade featuring floats and bands kicks off at 8:45 a.m. at the corner of Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive and finishes near Trailwood Drive and Spring Gate Lane.

Many hotels on The Strip will be launching fireworks on the Fourth itself.

2. CONCACAF Nations League Finals
The final tournament of the second season of the international football competition takes place 15-18 June at Allegiant Stadium. This is the second season involving the men’s national teams of the 41 member associations of CONCACAF.

The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, 15 June as second-seed Panama plays third-seed Canada at 4 p.m. PT, followed by top-seed USA facing off against fourth-seed Mexico at 7 p.m. PT. The runners-up will take to the pitch for third-place at 3 p.m. PT. The winners will play for the coveted trophy on Sunday, 18 June at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Tickets for both the semifinals and finals are on sale at Ticketmaster between $100-$600.



1. World Series of Poker

The 54th annual World Series of Poker 2023 kicks off this month as it returns to the Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s) and Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino on the Strip from 30 May to 18 July.

Last year’s WSOP, 197,626 entrants from more than 100 countries brought in a record-breaking $347.9 million in total prize money. This year, the series will have the largest capacity to date with 608 tables, which means there’s a good chance that 2023 will break multiple attendance records, including the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, best known as The Main Event, which runs from 3-17 July. Last year, 8,663 participants took part in the crown jewel of the tourney, making it the second largest-field in the history of live poker. This year, it will be no surprise if the all-time record of 8,773 participants set in 2006 is finally broken.

And you don’t have to be a player to enjoy the WSOP in Las Vegas as many poker enthusiasts each year head to Sin City each summer to attend the festivities free of charge and rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the game.


Related Links
Ranked Online Poker Rooms
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Details
World Series of Poker Gaming Vendor Information
Hard Rock International Gaming Vendor Information
MGM Resorts International Gaming Vendor Information
Bellagio Details
The Venetian Las Vegas Details
Wynn Las Vegas Details

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