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Rob Kachelriess

Mother’s Day is Sunday — and it’s not always easy to make plans or find the perfect gift.

My mom lives in North Carolina, so I shipped over some fancy ice cream before learning my parents took an impromptu vacation to the beach this week. My package arrived yesterday. I think it’s still on the porch 📦 (Good luck dry ice. We’re all counting on you.)

If your mom lives here in Vegas, we’ve got a few ideas for Mother’s Day fun 😁

 at UnCommons celebrates Mother’s Day weekend on May 9 with 

, featuring tea service, bites, and a free mini-bouquet.

 party on Mother’s Day with light bites, desserts, and an interactive game. It’s free, but secure your spot via RSVP.

🎭 Entertainment and the Performing Arts

 performance by R&B group Spectrum & Radiance. You can also bring mom a day earlier to Reynolds Hall for 

, the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s season finale with new musical director Rei Hotoda.

 throughout Mother’s Day weekend. The stage drama by Juliana Noble explores the relationship between a mother and daughter living under the same roof.

always knows how to have fun with a theme, inviting movie fans to see 

 on Saturday for some Mother’s Day “pregaming” on Saturday. Stroll and sip through 18 wine tasting stations.

Mother’s Day Weekend Sound Bath with Horses

 on Saturday evening for those 18 and over.

The Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum

 that’s perfect for all ages on Mother’s Day.

 hosts a Mother’s Day afternoon crafting session to learn about dark skies and nocturnal animals while 

 in North Las Vegas is serving coffee and sweet bread during a 

Two of my favorite restaurants are debuting new brunches on Mother’s Day: 

If your mom lives here in Vegas, we’ve got a few ideas for Mother’s Day fun.

Things to Do in Las Vegas for Mother's Day 2026

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas for Las Vegans

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

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

. Hello May. It’s promising to be a busy and exciting month in Las Vegas.

When Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday fall on the same day, you already know May is gonna be 

. Learn more about the history of Cinco de Mayo, plus specials and festivals in Las Vegas in our 

EDC isn’t the only parade in town. The 

 parade is back, marching through Downtown on May 9 in honor of our city’s Old West history. You can further celebrate the past with the 

 exhibit, which wraps up at the Clark County Museum in Henderson on May 25. The Mob Museum has two special events this month: Jack Sheehan presents 

Deadly Sources: A Las Vegas Journalist’s Close Encounters with Killers

 ​ (presented by Jack Sheehan) on May 6 and 

The Lives of the Showgirls: True Stories from Mob-Era Las Vegas

 on May 21. Both are free to attend with admission.

“Star Wars” fans are so passionate, May the 4th (as in “May the force be with you…”) has almost become a de facto holiday. See the best movie in the series, “The Empire Strikes Back” the way it was intended — on the big screen — at the Beverly Theatre with two May 4 showings. It’s also a great excuse to cosplay with fellow geeks at 

, win a game of Empire Trivia at House of Blues, and get more familiar with 

, which has crafts, movies, and other ways to celebrate.

Have some words to share? Enter the Henderson Libraries 

. Submissions are accepted May 4-30 with “pathways” as the theme. The piece can be a short story, creative nonfiction piece, or poem.

Las Vegas Indian Food & Cultural Festival

Lee’s Discount Liquor Beer & Tequila Experience

International Food Fest: A World of Flavors

, which welcomes hotel guests for the first time on May 29. The casino floor and Giada restaurant continued to do business as usual during the transition and the rooftop pool has changed its name from Drai’s to Soleia. Expect the influence of restaurateur, designer, and reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump to expand beyond remodeled rooms and suites in the months ahead.

A big congratulations to French Laundry alumni Tyler Vorce who just locked down a lease in Chinatown for a brick and mortar version of Lilli, which 

 at Durango Social Club. Book a reservation for a multicourse meal or just walk in and sit at the bar to check out a menu of small bites. We’re equally excited for the May 1 arrival of 

 at the Sahara. The Caribbean steakhouse by Kwame Onwuachi is unlike anything else in Vegas. Even the chef’s cucumber salad at a 

 about Maroon, May the Fourth, and other fun this month in the latest 

 episode. I joined host Jesse Merrick and guest Melinda Sheckells to run down our favorite 

events, eats, and activities throughout Las Vegas in May

Your Guide to May 2026 in Las Vegas

May is a busy month with food festivals, restaurants, Cinco de Mayo parties, "Star Wars" celebrations, and more. 

Things to Do in Las Vegas April 2026

What To Do in Las Vegas in May 2026

Taking care of our planet begins right here at home in Las Vegas. Earth Day is tomorrow, April 22, and our community has events throughout the week for opportunities to learn, help, and give back to Mother Nature.

 returns to The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 22. The largest student-run farmers market in the country is a fundraiser to support school garden programs, and much of the produce on sale is grown by students.

🏜️ Here’s a good excuse for a road trip. Go for a morning hike in 

 at the Mesquite Library. A variety of short films will be screened 12:30-3:30 p.m.

🌱 Kids are welcome at the Whitney Library to create 

 3:30-4:30 p.m. on April 22. Supplies will be provided to plant seeds and watch “hair” sprout on a creation to take home. Think of it as a better version of a Chia Pet.

🌷 Children 6-11 are invited to North Las Vegas City Hall to create their own recycled seed planter, 5:30-6:30 p.m. on April 22. The 

 bioblitz on Friday, April 24 at 8:30 a.m. Meet at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex to explore the Pittman Wash Trail. It’s a great way to bond with others while 

 at Woofter Family Park in the Northwest Valley, Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. to noon. It’s in honor of Arbor Day, which is actually a day earlier on Friday.

🌼 The Blue Diamond Library is hosting an 

 on Saturday, April 25 to show how old items (like old pots or a worn-out shoe rack) can be repurposed for growing plants. A limited group is welcome at 10 a.m. to plant herbs, flowers, and vegetables — and take ‘em home. Call 702.507.4301 to confirm availability.

💧 The Blue Diamond Library will also show you how to turn plastic bottles into terrariums for plants to thrive 

✨ The quiet Blue Diamond community is near 

 — both perfect for celebrating Earth with an outdoor hike. 

 remains committed to conservation efforts and is hosting 

 nighttime viewing event on Friday, April 24, 7-10 p.m.

🐕 The Nevada SPCS is teaming up with Virgin Valley Ecommerce for an 

 on Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Bring in your old computers, kitchen appliances, and even scrap metal. (I don’t see televisions on the list, which aren’t usually accepted at drives like this.) If you go home with a new pet, consider it a bonus of doing even more good in the community 🐶 🐱

🦋 The Springs Preserve is always a great place to learn about outdoor environments. 

 classes are being held every Saturday and Sunday throughout April at 1 p.m. Make sure to also visit the seasonal 

Earth Day is back and it's time to put the planet first. Las Vegas has a week of big events and activities to improve the environment.

The Best Ways to Volunteer for Earth Day in Las Vegas

How to Celebrate Earth Day in Las Vegas

It’s April 15 — the deadline to file taxes (or file an extension, slackers). If you’re in the hospitality field, I hope the 

 thing worked out this year. If not, a few local businesses have discounts to take the sting off any bill.

🍕 To match the 1040 used to file taxes, you’ll get $10.40 off when ordering at least $40 worth of food at 

. The deal is good for the pizzerias in Boca Park, Henderson, and Spring Valley (Rainbow & Warm Springs), but not the one inside the Grand Canal Shoppes.

🍔 It’s not a Tax Day special, but this deal happens to fall on it. 

 (featuring a full half-pound of beef) every Wednesday to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The deal is dine-in only, good from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a drink purchase.

 gentlemen’s club is giving a free cocktail or beer to anyone who shows proof of a filed tax return … so bring documentation, I guess 🤷 A lap dance will cost you.

, which has five valley locations, is giving guests 

. (Use the code TAXDAY when ordering online.) You can also take advantage of the regular Wednesday burger deal, which comes with unlimited fries for $12.99.

 is honoring happy hour prices all day long and serving its Old Fashioned for just $10.40 👀 There’s also a special bourbon-glazed meatloaf available as part of the regular Wednesday night Supper Club series.

 now has three Las Vegas locations. The Tax Day deal for 15% off 

 will give you a free dozen (original glazed) with the purchase of any dozen.

 could be the right way to wrap up the day. The 6 p.m. event at the Student Recreation & Wellness Center is geared towards alumni, students, and their families, but everyone is welcome. Just 

 we don’t have to pay state taxes in Nevada 👍 

Tax Day Freebies, Deals, and Discounts in Las Vegas

Spring is here and the weather is getting warmer — on some days, at least. As Vegas hotels open their pools for the season, there’s no reason for locals to feel left out.

 is open to non-hotel guests who are 21 and over. In a killer deal that’s almost too good to believe, anyone with a Nevada ID can book a free cabana Sunday-Friday (and seven days a week through April 30).

General admission is $20 (via walkup or online through 

 at Virgin Hotels. The latter serves the entire menu from neighboring Kassi Beach House (one of Virgin’s best restaurants) without a poolside markup.

 is open daily with free admission for locals 21 and over. And yes, the Sahara remains one of those rare 

 pool deck for as little as $30 admission, although there’s no cover when dining at the Backyard Grill. Those who work in hospitality get free admission on Industry Mondays.

 has a newly renovated pool area to go along with its new name. Cabanas start as low as $200 (or $350 during peak season) with water bottles and a fruit plate included. Regular admission is $20 ($10 for kids under 10), although those prices increase by 10 bucks on May 1. Get a two-for-one admission deal Monday-Thursday.

 for non-hotel guests is $15 (Monday–Thursday), $25 (Friday–Saturday), or $35 (holidays) with bottle service beginning at $150. Locals get half-price adult admission on Thursdays. A VIP Season Pass ($199 through April 30, $249 as of May 1) includes unlimited entry to both M Pool and the DayDream dayclub throughout the season.

 at the Aria gives locals free admission on Wednesdays, along with a champagne open bar for the ladies (12:30-1:30 p.m.), $200 bottle specials on tequila and vodka, and buy-one, get-one well cocktails.

 more dayclub fun? Locals get free admission and drink specials Wednesdays at 

As always, deals can change at any moment 🤑

Vegas resorts aren't just for tourists. Have fun and save a few bucks with the best pools deals and discounts for locals.

The Best Vegas Hotel Pools for Locals

free performances by the Nevada Shakespeare Festival

, but what else is there to do in April — besides taxes, of course? 💸 We have a few ideas.

Forget Coachella. (It’s sold out anyway.) The Beverly Theater has 

 — a series of music-focused movies throughout the month. Highlights include the 50th anniversary edition of “The Song Remains the Same" (April 5, 8), which captures Led Zeppelin at their peak in 1973, and Disney’s “Fantasia,” a visual feast for classical music that ages incredibly well. The Beverly Theater is also honoring the late, great Rob Reiner with 

 by the director: “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Misery.” It’s the best 15 bucks you can spend in Vegas.

Poolside tastings are making a comeback in Las Vegas. Check out the inaugural 

 at the Red Rock Resort, showcasing bites from Station Casinos’ restaurants under the stars on April 18. We’re also excited about the return of 

, which puts local, neighborhood chefs front and center, offering one-night-only dishes at the Palms Pool on April 26.

April is full of big events that celebrate music, culture, and sometimes, maybe a little bit of both:

🧑‍🎨 Chalk One (or Two) Up For Art

Two events are celebrating the beauty of chalk art in different ways. The 

 festival returns to the Arts District for the third straight year, inviting local artists to decorate sidewalks in conjunction with Market in the Alley on April 18. A week later, the 

 comes to the Summerlin Library on April 25, showcasing art along with a day of live music.

Arbor Day falls on the last Friday of April to celebrate the importance of trees. The message resonates strongly in our desert climate. Clark County has teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation, 

 to local residents who qualify. The City of Henderson is 

 to those who plant trees and convert their yards to desert landscaping — and organizing an 

 to explore nature along the Pittman Wash.

 is open from April 4 to May 25. It’s beautiful and zen-like, but draws big crowds. Our own Sonja Cho Swanson shares a hot tip 🔥 for how to get in early and beat the rush during the latest episode of 

best activities and recommendations for April

Your Guide to April 2026 in Las Vegas

April is a busy month in Las Vegas. Here's your guide to festivals, dining, art,  and more.

What To Do in Las Vegas in April 2026

 at his North Las Vegas warehouse studio to publicly unveil his latest work: a 70-foot-tall steel dragon named Golspar. And yes, it breathes fire 🔥

3011 Coleman St., North Las Vegas, Nevada 89032

“ We want everybody to bring their families and kids,” Stone says, noting the celebration runs from 4 to 10 p.m. with two open bars 👀, complimentary charcuterie spreads, and food sold by the 

, a new medieval-themed resort in the Wisconsin Dells. It took 20 months to complete and will be dismantled and shipped to the Midwest following Saturday’s event. When it arrives, the sculpture will overlook the hotel parking lot, standing atop a concrete platform containing two thousand-pound propane tanks that allow the dragon to shoot fireballs up to 35 feet long.

“Golspar is about 17,000 pounds, the largest steel dragon in the world,” Stone says. “It had to be engineered to handle 150 mile-per-hour windstorms, snow, and other kinds of weather.

The sculptor’s career began as a welder by trade in Canada, working on commercial buildings and bridges before turning to art. He’s built big steel creatures before, including a 50-foot-long 

 near British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, a 10,000-pound 

eagle at the entrance of a roller coaster

More jumbo-sized sculptures are on the way, including a tree for the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami and an eagle for an Independence Day celebration in Seattle at the Port of Kalama.

Stone has lived in Vegas for more than two years. He says it’s much easier to transport his art throughout the country now. (Imagine trying to cross international borders with a giant steel dragon.)

“My work is so detailed and so big, people think it's AI or something when looking at pictures,” Stone says. Come see the real thing for yourself 

An artist welcomes the public for a free party with open bars, charcuterie, food truck munchies for sale, and a 70-foot dragon.

I’ve Got a Dragon Warehouse Party to Tell You About

 is here to command your attention. The nonprofit theater organization just kicked off a new season, putting a new twist on the poet and playwright, whose works remain timeless — with an adjustment here and there.

“We are an adaptive festival, so we adapt the scripts, we twist the scripts,” according to founder and executive director Matt Morgan. “We try to make them current in their presentation while at the same time, maintaining the integrity of the stories, characters, and relationships that William Shakespeare wrote about.”

The season is already off to a strong start with “Henry V,” presented in a series of free park performances and adapted to just 80 minutes. The story follows a young English king who leads an invasion to seize the French throne.

“Our version moves lightning fast,” Morgan says. “The action is always moving forward. We hit the highlights, we hit the characters, we hit the relationships, but you don't have to sit and listen to poetry for three and a half hours.”

The season continues with “The Taming of the Shrew,” a larger-scale production inside a temperature-controlled tent at Henderson’s Cornerstone Park, April 23-May 2. Running more than two hours (including intermission) and set in the Italian Renaissance, the production is presented in the context of a play-within-a-play that goes wrong. Don’t be surprised to see set pieces collapse and understudies replace actors in the middle of the show.

The Nevada Shakespeare Theater also partners with local libraries and schools, giving generations of all ages a fresh look at Shakespeare via short, stripped-down performances.

“I'd like to think that Shakepeare had a punk rock sense about himself,” Morgan says. “He was pushing, he was provocative. He was daring, he was making bold choices. He was making political statements.”

independent theater can thrive in a city of spectacle

A nonprofit exposes a new generation to William Shakespeare with a series of performances at Southern Nevada parks. 

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks 

Time to cheer, scream, bet, and eat chicken wings. March Madness gets underway this week and Las Vegas is loaded with viewing parties.

As the weather heats up, enjoy March Madness from the comfort of a temperature-controlled pool or cabana. Stadium Swim, the rooftop pool deck at Circa, has 

 viewing parties throughout the month with the action easy to watch on a massive 78-million-pixel video wall.

 that’s hard to refuse at UnCommons in the Southwest Valley. Anyone dressed in support of their favorite team gets a free draft beer or dessert.

The Fontainebleau is staking its claim as a top spot for NCAA basketball tournament viewing with 

, transforming the BleauLive Theater into one big party March 19-21. Depending on your ticket, a buffet and at least two drinks are included. You’ll get to watch games on high-def video walls and place bets at an on-site sportsbook.

The D has done a good job establishing itself as one of the best places for March Madness viewing in Downtown. 

 runs March 18-21 with cocktails, concessions, satellite betting stations, and more. Best of all, it’s free! Unless you want to act like a baller and book your own 

 at Boulder Station is one of my favorite sports bars in Henderson. It operates 24 hours a day, the layout is wide open with plenty of seats, and food and drink specials begin at just $5.

 from the premises, Bottled Blonde is one of the best places to watch sports on the Strip. The multi-level bar and restaurant is promising to crank up the sound 

 with table reservations available and open seating by the bar.

Concert residencies are in short supply at Resorts World these days, so it’s nice to see the hotel’s theater put to good use as a 

 viewing party. Admission is free with plenty of food and drink to buy. You can also upgrade to couches and other VIP seating options.

Resorts World and Fontainebleau both offer locals 

Between sports bars and viewing parties, Las Vegas has fun spots for cheering on your favorite teams during March Madness.

Best Restaurants and Viewing Parties for March Madness in Las Vegas

The Best March Madness Viewing Parties in Las Vegas

, setting us up for a hot and sunny spring. Enjoy the weather while you can. There’s lots of stuff to do.

 has a free St. Patrick's Day party on March 13. The event includes drink and pizza specials on the open-air Terrace Overlook, 6-8 p.m. with a drone show finale.

Sons and Daughters of Erin St Patrick's Festival and Parade

 hits Water Street in Downtown Henderson for three straight days, March 13-15. There’s a parade Saturday at 10 a.m. and a car show Sunday at 8 a.m.

The Fremont Street Experience is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for four straight days with the 

, featuring live music on multiple stages March 15-17.

Our Vegas roundup of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, beer festivals, book events, and more.