Las Vegas was recently named the cheapest last-minute travel destination for Labor Day weekend. I guess that means if there’s nothing else better to do, you might as well end up here.
👷 Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day in the First Place?
It’s simple, comrade. President Grover Cleveland signed a law in 1894 that designates the first Monday in September as Labor Day. The move was pushed by labor leaders to celebrate the hard work by Americans that will soon be taken over by artificial intelligence.
🤑 Deals and Discounts
The season of summer specials on the Strip is carrying over to Labor Day weekend, especially at Resorts World, which has a loaded holiday lineup, including a Poolside BBQ (Aug. 29-31, $40+), Rose Rooftop party (Aug. 30, $40+ with one free drink for ticket holders with Nevada ID), Blood Bros BBQ food hall takeover (Aug. 30-31), and Redtail brunch buffet (Aug. 31, $50+).
Proper Bar at the Aria’s Proper Eats Food Hall has an “endless draft beer” special for $25 per person, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. Well, it’s only “endless” within a two-hour limit, but that’s still a decent deal — and it applies to all brews on tap.
The bowling alley inside Santa Fe Station is giving out a free game with every two purchased on Labor Day.
John Mull’s Road Kill Grill in North Las Vegas has a Labor Day party with music and BBQ specials.
Bel-Aire Backyard at Durango has a poolside pop-up Aloha Friday luau with Hawaiian street food on Aug. 29.
🎸 Free Concerts
The Downtown Rocks concerts series picks back up at the Fremont Street Experience, traveling back to the ‘90s with free performances by Toad the Wet Sprocket, Dishwalla, Vertical Horizon, and Nine Days on Saturday, Aug. 30, plus Our Lady Peace, Ugly Kid Joe, and Sponge on Sunday, Aug. 31.
Head to Mt. Charleston, where Lee Canyon introduces a new two-day country music festival, Mountain Top Honky Tonk, Aug. 30-31.
The Palms Pool hosts a free Labor Day party with DJs by day and a live set by country act Tigirlily Gold at night. Minimum spends for cabanas start at $300, which isn’t bad at all. The first 100 Nevada locals get a free Heineken 🍻
🏳️🌈 A Show of Pride
The White Party celebrates gay pride in two locations over two days: the Portal at AREA15 on Aug. 30 and the pool at Luxor on Aug. 31. The Sahara continues its summer Saturday Elevate parties with Las Vegas Pride at the Alexandria Pool with a holiday weekend version on Aug. 30, noon to 6 p.m. Admission begins at $25 with BOGO drinks until 2 p.m.
🎞️ Poolside Movies
The outdoor movie season comes to an end over the holiday weekend with a screening of “Frozen” at the Fontainebleau’s Oasis Cinema Club on Friday, Aug. 29 and “Good Burger” at the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool on Monday, Sept. 1 with interactive touches and themed snacks.
🚘 Holiday Road Trips
Take advantage of the long holiday weekend to get out of town. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area will have one of its largest crowds of the year for fun in the water, so be prepared and arrive early. If you have more rubber to burn, take a three-hour road trip north to Pioche for a weekend-long Labor Day Festival that takes over the small Nevada town with games, food, and other fun.
