austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Las Vegas

Find the best that Las Vegas has to offer.

Rob Kachelriess

Between resort fees and F1 construction, Las Vegas can be a scary place. That’s especially true as we head towards Halloween. Here’s how to celebrate the spooky holiday to the fullest.

 at Downtown Summerlin is free on Friday and Saturday nights at 6 p.m. throughout October.

We’re still waiting on confirmation, but 

 traditionally throws a big holiday celebration on Oct. 31, featuring carnival games, entertainment, and the community’s famous Halloween golf cart parade at 6 p.m.

Ok, this isn’t a parade — but it’s a walk. (Close enough, right?) The Nevada Preservation Foundation is leading a 

 for a combination of history and mystery on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. Tickets are $30 and support the NPF’s mission to preserve our city’s architecture and landmarks.

 at AREA15 is scary year-round, but especially fun during Halloween season with four haunted houses under one roof (including a seasonal popup featuring the 

A haunted house in a strip mall? Why not? You’ll find the 

 on the corner of Desert Inn and Durango with new costumes and storylines this year — and if the frights are a little much, you can opt for a less scary “No Boo” pass.

The creator of Bonnie Screams (R.I.P) brings 

 presents Hotel Fear (where there’s no vacancy and no peace) and Asylum, a twisted take on a mental institution at Meadows Mall.

 in the Downtown Arts District, mixing goth and monster themes with a menu of specialty holiday cocktails.

 featuring Bettie Page rum and live punk rock by a Misfits tribute band on Oct. 13.

If a Murder Burger and Cupcake Massacre sound tasty, head to the Palms and check into 

, a spooky interactive pop-up with a sinister take on food, drinks, and fun.

 mixes cocktails and views from the rooftop of Circa on Fremont Street during 

 with themed drinks and a costume contest on Oct. 31, 8 p.m.

Trilogy of Spirits: A Halloween Pop-Up Experience comes to the 

 (and its sister speakeasy, The Lock) with spooky, seasonally-inspired cocktails and 

 takes over Oddyssey Manor at AREA51, offering a theatrical spin on the stories of Edgar Allan Poe with Halloween-inspired cocktails.

 is an annual tradition for Opportunity Village. The holiday theme park has mini-golf, carnival games, and other fun stuff — plus a beer garden for adults on weekends.

 on Halloween night, featuring a “Strange Circus” dance party throughout the Wall, Portal, and A-Lot with DJ Valentino Khan.

 (formerly the Fetish & Fantasy Halloween Ball) definitely has a saucy side and is known for skimpy costumes. It’s back at Virgin Hotels on Nov. 1. Come by a day earlier and pregame during 

, a Halloween night party in 24 Oxford with Digital Underground.

 comes alive (or at least will be “undead”) for a 

 on Halloween, with costumes, themed tribute bands, and more.

 is screening scary movies all month long. It’s called 

, featuring 50 classics in 31 days, from Hollywood blockbusters to cult favorites. Each one is individually priced, but you can enjoy unlimited viewing with a $100 Slash Pass 🔪 🩸

 in Las Vegas. It runs three nights a week at 1923 Prohibition Bar.

The Majestic Repertory Theatre is advertising a “final encore” of 

 with dates scheduled between Oct. 1 and Nov. 21. (But is anything truly “final” in the horror genre, parody or not?) You can also hear audience ghost stories during 

Discover what to do in Las Vegas this October! From the Hobie Wave sailing championship to the Las Vegas Book Festival and Gilcrease Orchard's harvest.

Beyond Halloween: Fun October Festivals & Events in Las Vegas

Your Guide to Las Vegas in October 2026

Find the best of everything that Las Vegas has to offer.

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

Haunted houses? Shows? Spooky pop-up bars? We've got all that, plus anything else to make Halloween complete in Las Vegas. 

The Best Things to Do in Las Vegas for Halloween 2026

The Best Halloween Bars, Attractions, and Festivals in Las Vegas

The combination of power chords, beer, and devil horns 🤘 never gets old (even if the audience does). The Sphere will experience heavy metal for the first time with the debut of a 

 Thursday night. Can the band live up to the Sphere’s best moments so far?

U2 had one chance to get it right when opening the Sphere exactly three years ago today. The band showcased their best album (“Achtung Baby”) and fully maximized the Sphere’s shape-shifting superpowers. But there was something about “Where the Streets Have No Name” that added emotional resonance to the night (and finally got the VIPs and old, rich ticketbuyers out of their seats), bringing the audience outdoors, “high on a desert plain,” in a crystal-clear Nevada landscape.

Between John Mayer’s guitar licks and Bob Weir’s final shows before passing in January, there’s a lot to appreciate about Dead & Company’s run at the Sphere. The setlists changed frequently with one constant: In a special effect produced by Industrial Light & Magic, the Sphere took the audience to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood before rising up over the city and into the cosmos for a “long, strange trip” that plays out before landing back in the Bay Area hours later.

🌪️ ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Goes for a Spin

 (filmed with the Sphere’s own patented camera system) as a movie showcase, but “The Wizard of Oz” proved the venue could adapt older, established media for new cinematic experiences. When the tornado hits Kansas — with wind, fog, and a rumble felt in the seats — it not only delivers on wow factor, but sets the audience up for a hard landing (apologies to the Wicked Witch of the East) as the screen shifts from sepia to Technicolor.

 in Munchkinland. [City Cast Las Vegas ✍️]

 — no dice — but the Backstreet Boys seized the opportunity to show what a boyband could do with all those special effects, putting together a show with an intergalactic sci-fi setting. It’s definitely the most “digital” of the Sphere’s concerts without a backing band or even a real instrument anywhere in sight. So when the act took flight with the help of a practical effect — a levitating stage — for “I Want It That Way,” it gave the audience a genuine, climatic surprise.

🛎️ The Eagles Check In to the Hotel California

The Eagles chose to give away their best moment early, opening with “Hotel California” while the screen transforms from sunny Los Angeles to a “dark desert highway” and spooky hotel corridors with a gathering of ghouls joining in on the chorus. It’s a testament to the band’s deep catalog that the show never lulls from there — and an on-screen sequence during “In the City,” in which the audience rises above an urban dystopia is another moment that perfectly blends music with special effects.

As Metallica debuts a new residency, we look back on three years of the Sphere and our favorite moments so far.  

Top 5 Moments at the Sphere

The Sphere’s Best Moments … So Far

Here’s a new holiday we can all get behind: 9 to 5 Day, which falls on Sept. 25. (or 9/25) in honor of the late Dolly Parton. The singer had two “9 to 5” hits in 1980 (a #1 single and a movie), which inspired the day, which 

 in the Tennessee State Senate next year.

, including Las Vegas. In a sad twist, Dolly was supposed to perform at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Sept. 25 as one of six residency dates. While she can’t be here to entertain us in Las Vegas, we can still honor the legacy of the singer, actress, and philanthropist with a few Sept. 25 events.

 for cornbread hush puppies, root beer floats, and a dollar off beer and wine. Dress up like Dolly and get 15% off your order.

🍷 It’s “Dolly Day” all day for a $9.25 wine pour and Dolly Spritz cocktail at 

 of MacLowe Gold Label Whiskey are available 5-7 p.m.)

🤠 Head to Santa Fe Station in the Northwest Valley where 

 is throwing a Denim & Diamonds Party to celebrate Dolly Parton. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bring three gently used denim items for free admission plus a drink ticket. Donations go to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission.

 in the Boca Park shopping center is holding a 

 6:30–8:30 p.m. Come dressed in pink, rhinestones, or any other country wear and enjoy an on-canvas painting session while listening to Dolly’s music. Tickets are $42 and go towards the 

 with drag performances, comedy, and live singing at 8 p.m. There’s no cover, but half of sales for a Dolly-inspired Butterfly cocktail will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination LIbrary literacy initiative. Dust is also 

🍹 The Rio is hosting a weekend-long “Working 9 to 5” celebration Sept. 25-27 at The Venue. Tickets begin at $9.25 for 

Faaabulous! The Ultimate Drag Brunch Show

 offers two admissions for $92.50 using promo code DOLLY. Five bucks from each ticket and a Cup of Ambition cocktail benefit Storied, a local Imagination Library affiliate that 

 after her passing in August. [City Cast Nashville 🎧]

Saturday is Sept. 25 or “9 to 5 Day,” which gives Las Vegas the perfect opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Dolly Parton. 


Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Day Events in Las Vegas

Celebrate Dolly Parton on 9 to 5 Day

 by Las Vegas Weekly readers in the annual Best of Vegas awards. We’re incredibly grateful for this honor and thank everyone who took the time to cast a vote. Seriously, thank you! 🙏

We also want to shine a spotlight on some of the other winners who’ve been featured in our podcast or newsletter.

 … who generously offered tickets for a special 

 … and general manager Kip Kelly who always brings the fun when 

Best Art Gallery: Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum

 … which hosted a live recording of City Cast Las Vegas to 

Best New Strip Bite: Maroon by Kwame Onwuachi

 … which wasn’t far behind, and had been 

 … another repeat winner! And where City Cast Las Vegas hosted a 

 for Neighbors in our membership program 🎄

, who opened SMKD BBQ and Hayworth within months of each other. Read about both on our running list of 

Best Arts District Lounge: Cornish Pasty Co.

 … a dive bar with great burgers that’s 

musician, author, and jack of all trades P Moss

Best Antique Shop: Charleston Antique Mall

 … which saw lots of changes over the past year, and 

Best Passport to Free Fun: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library Card

For the second year in a row, City Cast Las Vegas was named "Best Vegas Podcast" by Las Vegas Weekly readers.

City Cast Las Vegas Wins "Best Vegas Podcast" for the Second Straight Year

City Cast Las Vegas Repeats as 'Best Vegas Podcast' in Las Vegas Weekly’s Best of Vegas Awards

 is a stage production about how Canadians and Americans can rely on each other in difficult times. So yes, it’s a story we can all use right now — and it happens to close out the latest season of 

 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park with 10 performances this month. You can also take a day trip to Boulder City for the Nevada Shakespeare Festival's free presentation of 

Julius Caesar: Welcome to Rome on the Edge

, which runs from Sept. 4 to Jan. 4. The pieces include anything that’s vintage and made by hand, including toys and clothes. Meanwhile, it’s last call for 

Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt

 earlier this year and was fascinated by the collection. The run ends Sept. 13.

) brings together the Filipino dishes of Justin Barnes and the Mexican recipes of Mariana Alvarado Garcia for 

, a cross-cultural, multi-course meal at Winnie & Ethel’s. You have three dates to choose from: Sept. 11, 18, and 25. The price is just $78 per person.

 returns with its first full season under the direction of new conductor and music director Rei Hotoda, who was hired after an 

. The first shows fall on Sept. 12-13 with a 

tribute to Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli

. In the months ahead, the Philharmonic will perform the music of Beethoven, Handel, Brahms, and more, including John Willliams with a live score to match a screening of the original “Star Wars.” (No, I’m not calling it “A New Hope.”)

Food festivals are few and far between during the hottest days of summer, so we’re excited to see big culinary events back on the calendar this month. 

 returns to the Wynn Sept. 18-20 — a series of dinners and tastings headlined by 

 dine-around on the pavilion lawn and the all-you-can-eat 

, featuring food by your favorite celebrity chefs. 

 follows Sept. 24-27 with dinners, tastings, cocktails, panels, and seminars at the Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, and Park MGM. The poolside 

 begin at $175. But we have more food and fun this month:

The Big Jiggly Cookout Labor Day Celebration

 at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

🇲🇽 Mexican Independence Day Celebrations

Las Vegas likes to celebrate Mexican Independence Day weekend with a bigtime boxing match — although the megafight rematch between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao at the Sphere 

 for reasons I still don’t understand. You can still catch a welterweight showdown between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn at the T-Mobile Arena, plus a 

, who’s more than happy to keep the Sphere occupied.

Discover the best things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada, in September 2026! From vibrant fall festivals to concerts, plan your perfect autumn getaway with our ultimate local guide.

Your Guide to Las Vegas in September 2026

Catch it while you can. Cirque du Soleil’s newest, but four-year-old Las Vegas production, 

, performs for the last time on Sept. 5. How does it rank among other resident shows on the Strip by the French-Canadian entertainment company?

When in doubt, go with O, the one Cirque show we all agree to love. The short "oh" sound in the name is inspired by "eau,” which is French for water — and 1.5 million gallons of it is used on stage at the Bellagio for splash-filled dives and other stunts.

The only live show ever officially licensed and approved by the Beatles parent company ran at the Mirage from 2006 until the resort closed in 2024. You couldn’t go wrong with the music alone, remixed from the master tapes for a custom sound system, but the vintage London imagery was a trip back to the 1960s.

Launched in 1993 at Treasure Island, Mystère is the oldest Cirque production in Vegas, but never feels stale. It’s almost like a greatest hits of what Cirque is about — no theme necessary — and just trippy enough to not weird out the masses.

I have a soft spot for this MGM Grand production and its levitating stage, even though I once wrote a story about its habit of 

Running for more than 13 years at Mandalay Bay, this dance-heavy production has some resilient staying power to match the enduring (or perhaps … 

) appeal of Michael Jackson. The plotline is meh 👎 But the hologram finale ends the show on a high note.

Cirque’s only adults-only show on the Strip wasn’t afraid to get topless, have a drag queen host, and play around with sexuality. Despite its risque nature, it lasted seven years until the pandemic shut everything down in 2020. It never reopened.

Mad Apple took over Zumanity’s old New York-New York theater in 2022 with a theme to match the casino itself. The show represented a new era for Cirque, toning down pricey production spectacle in favor of New Yawker energy and attitude, adding up to a Spiegelword-esque variety show with breakdancing, basketball dunking, and standup comedy.

I know I’ve seen this show. I remember nothing about it. Zarkana lasted four years before its theater was demolished in 2016 to expand the Aria’s trade show space — revealing where the real money is generated in Vegas.

Somehow, Cirque couldn’t make Elvis work in Vegas, perhaps reflecting the waning appeal of the King with younger generations. After debuting at the Aria in 2009, the show was scrapped in 2012 for Zarkana.

Cirque’s biggest dud tried to model itself after a moody action flick at the Luxor, but was underwhelming and violated the cardinal sin of giving us too much story. It was cancelled after just a year in 2020 … 

 the pandemic was even an excuse to do so.

An un-Cirque-like collaboration with Criss Angel (Believe) and Blue Man Group, which the company bought in 2017.

Mad Apple performs its final show on Sept. 5. See where the production ranks among the Strip's Cirque du Soleil history. 

The Best Cirque du Soleil Shows in Vegas History

Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas Legacy: Ranked

Las Vegas has never shied away from weird and wacky tourist attractions, but as we continue to 

📷 The Palms just turned the exterior video wall on the 423-foot-long Ivory Tower into the world’s tallest photo booth. (We think. I haven’t checked with the record keepers at Guinness to confirm it.) It’s called 

 — and will allow you to become a part of the Vegas skyline during special activations and entertainment events.

 to send in their (used? 😬) baseball caps for consideration in a “larger than life” hat wall at 

, the country star’s upcoming honky tonk at the Flamingo. My thoughts and prayers to the intern assigned to sort through the donations.

, increasing the capacity from just 175 people to nearly 1,200. Now renamed the Meta Apex (thanks for the sponsorship, Mr. Zuckerburg), the venue is part of the same Southwest Valley campus that’s home to UFC headquarters — and a nice 

 to bigger cage fights at the T-Mobile Arena.

🎰 Don’t discount the power of a casino rewards club promotion, but this one is unusually good. 

 with barely a string attached. New and current loyalty club members can claim the promotion Mondays through Wednesdays until Sept. 7.

🎄 Celebrate Christmas … with Creed 🎸 Relive the late ‘90s and the early aughts as the rock band takes the Mariah Carey route and performs 

🤔 A lie in the sky? As previewed in our guide to August, the 

 is now open atop the Mandalay Bay hotel. Booze, views, and DJs are nothing new in Vegas, but as our friend Corey Levitan at casino.org 

, the venue isn’t really on the 63rd floor 

. The number is completely made up. If you want to be accurate, the Vinyl Room is on the 43rd floor.

Want your photo to be a part of the skyline? Vegas is full of weird new things to do these days. 

New Tourist Attractions in Las Vegas

What Vegas Needs Now: Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Summer is winding down and Las Vegas remains busy as we avoid the heat and look ahead to booze, food, sports, shopping, culture, and a big celebration for an iconic Strip resort.

🥃 Mix Drinks and Music at Two New Bars

Goodbye Foundation Room. Say hello to the 

, which takes over the 63rd-floor perch at Mandalay Bay. The lounge opens Aug. 8 with food, drinks, music on high-fidelity vinyl sound systems, and an atmosphere inspired by Japan’s jazz kissa listening rooms. Yes, you still get the awesome views. Country fans will be more interested in 

, which brings the beer-soaked line dancing of 

 at Santa Fe Station to Sunset Station in Henderson on Aug. 15.

🎂 Wish a Happy Birthday to Caesars Palace

August 5 marks 60 years since Caesars Palace opened on the Las Vegas Strip. To celebrate, the resort is rolling out special 

 at bars and restaurants throughout the property all month long. The Bacchanal Buffet is even offering some throwback dishes like Duck à l'Orange, Clams Casino, and Oysters Rockefeller. (Sorry, no throwback prices.) For a deeper dive into the history of the place, the Mob Museum presents 

Not Built in a Day: The Epic Story of Caesars Palace

, a discussion free to attend with paid admission on Aug. 6.

🛍️ Hit the Markets for Local Shopping

 is back with a Night Market at UnCommons on Aug. 1, plus a series of smaller Sunday Neighborhood Market events at Akin Cooperative in the Arts District. You can also shop for items by local vendors at the 

 inside the Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet Aug. 21-23, 

 at Santa Fe Station Aug. 27, and a UFO-themed 

🎉 Feel the Fireworks (and Super Bingo 👀) at the Plaza

The Plaza Hotel & Casino seems to be especially busy in August. It’s the final full month of Friday night Welcome to the Weekend fireworks, the Latin-themed 

 extended its run with additional performances, and 

 before) is one of the most exciting ways to cash in on the classic casino game.

It's no surprise to see two restaurants with Michelin recognition show up in Vegas during the same week the influential dining guide announces its new Southwest lineup. Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Chicago’s Michelin-starred Kasama join Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA and Casa Playa chef Sarah Thompson for a multi-course 

 dinner at the Wynn on Aug. 25, blending Filipino, Senegalese and Mexican influences. The menu includes Kasama’s short rib kare-kare, Thompson’s uni infladita with bone marrow and Mbaye’s take on Senegalese dibi with grilled prawns and mushrooms. Reservations are available 6-8 p.m.

Las Vegas has new bars, cultural festivals, shopping, parties, and more this month. 

Las Vegas' Best

Your Guide to Las Vegas in October 2026

The Best Halloween Bars, Attractions, and Festivals in Las Vegas

The Sphere’s Best Moments … So Far

Latest articles

Celebrate Dolly Parton on 9 to 5 Day

City Cast Las Vegas Repeats as 'Best Vegas Podcast' in Las Vegas Weekly’s Best of Vegas Awards

Your Guide to Las Vegas in September 2026

Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas Legacy: Ranked

What Vegas Needs Now: Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Your Guide to Las Vegas in August 2026

Asian Restaurants with Amazing Wine Lists