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City Cast Las Vegas

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

Cinco de Mayo just seems to get bigger every year in Las Vegas. Yet the celebration is about more than margaritas — although there’s plenty of that too 🍋‍🟩

 doesn’t celebrate the founding or independence of Mexico as a nation. (That comes later in the year on 

). May 5 marks the anniversary of Mexico’s military victory over France in the 

The Chicano social movement of the 1960s 

 with Cinco de Mayo, raising the profile of the holiday while identifying with Indigenous resistance to foreign oppression or influence. Over the years, Cinco de Mayo became a more generalized celebration of Mexican food, culture, and heritage as it grew in acceptance throughout the United States.

Cinco de Mayo is usually a weekend celebration (especially this year with the holiday falling on a Monday) with festivals, parades, decorations, food, and drink. Las Vegas traditionally hosts a big boxing extravaganza too. This year, unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez defends against undefeated two-division world champion David Benavidez on May 2 

 at Bob Price Park | May 1 | Sunrise Manor

Gritos Y Guitarras Cinco de Mayo Celebration

 at West Las Vegas Theatre | May 1 | Historic Westside

 at Fremont Street Experience | May 5 | Downtown

 at Cabo Wabo Cantina | May 2-5 | Planet Hollywood

 at El Segundo Sol | May 1-5 | Fashion Show Las Vegas

cool stuff happening in Las Vegas throughout May

 in today’s episode. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Learn the history behind Cinco de Mayo and the best ways to celebrate in Las Vegas.

Cinco de Mayo Events in Las Vegas 2026

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Las Vegas. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Las Vegas Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Nevada is full of ghost towns. We actually have 

. You can thank a boom-and-bust mining legacy, which left behind a few spooky but historic sites to visit within driving distance of Las Vegas.

Located between Beatty and Death Valley, 

 began as a small camp in 1904, then exploded in size when gold was discovered. It quickly became a full-blown town with street lights, hotels, an opera house, stock exchange, schoolhouse, and dozens of saloons. At its peak, there were 10,000 residents. It all went belly-up by 1920 and the town cleared out. Today, Rhyolite is a fascinating place to see the crumbling remains of a bank, jail, and railroad depot while taking some impressive photos.

 isn’t nearly as well known as Rhyolite, but just an hour or so northwest, making it a relatively easy stop on a ghost town road trip — or 

 🎰 The town was known as Lime Point and Hornsilver before Gold Point stuck. It grew from a cozy mining camp to a town with more than 200 tin and wood structures before fizzling out around World War II. Investor Walt Kremin 

 in the 1980s with a partner who contributed winnings from a Vegas slot machine to the effort and now you can book a night in an old mining cabin, order whiskey from a saloon, and send mail from the original post office.

The place known as “Nelson Ghost Town” southeast of Vegas is actually 51 acres of private property outside Nelson’s official boundaries. Nestled within Eldorado Canyon, it includes the historic 

, which was once the richest place to dig for gold in Nevada — and attracted all sorts of criminals and riff raff hoping to get rich. Today, you can 

 and walk among historic structures. A lot of the “ghost town” elements — like vintage vehicles and gas station pumps — were added over the years. You’ll also spot old planes, including one filmed in a crash scene for the movie “3,000 Miles to Graceland.”

 has the unique distinction of becoming a ghost town twice. Once when left behind by native tribes and another when Mormon settlers were forced to clear out — or risk being flooded by the rising waters created by the construction of the Hoover Dam. Now that Lake Mead is receding, St. Thomas has become visible again, revealing what’s left of old buildings and foundations. Getting there is a little tough, due to a rocky, unpaved access road in Moapa Valley.

Nevada's boom-and-bust mining legacy produced hundreds of ghost towns. A few of them are within driving distance from Las Vegas. 

Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

The Coolest, Creepiest Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

It’s not uncommon to find a coffee joint inside a bookstore, mall, or even a casino here in Las Vegas. But we uncovered a few more secret-ish spots, tucked away inside unlikely local businesses.

, a Summerlin hair salon. Whether you have a hair appointment or not, you’ll appreciate the fresh-brewed coffee, featuring Onyx beans with fun creations like a PB&J Latte, made with peanut butter espresso and apricot syrup. A few options are more health conscious with protein powder, monk fruit, or date syrup.

 is a Southwest Valley bicycle sales and service shop with its own coffee counter. Java nerds will love the pour-over option. Just pick your own beans (locally roasted by Vesta) and give it a few minutes. The pastries, made exclusively by MG Patisserie, are excellent. So try a croissant or brownie. 

, which rents exotic cars and three-wheeled slingshots off the Strip. Guests are welcome to sip away on lattes and espressos while checking out high-performance vehicles on display. The menu is also big on matcha and “Red Bull infusions” 😳 Come by on Sundays when the party picks up with vendors, a DJ, and sports viewing parties.

 is a coffee shop inside a thrift store near Flamingo and Buffalo. Browse discount clothes, home goods, vinyl while saving a few bucks on coffee, which, like everything else in the space, is priced on the affordable side. (The Cuban Coffee is less than three bucks.) Those on the run can place an online order for pickup.

 inside Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall. Sure, you can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino, but the champagne list actually dwarfs the coffee menu. Cocktails and lunch bites are available too. No matter what you order, the best seats are on the patio overlooking Las Vegas Boulevard.

 is a mobile coffee bar that now has a location inside the 

 on the corner of Decatur and Oakey. Just look for space D-61 to enjoy a pan dulce and horchata latte while shopping for anything and everything from hundreds of merchants.

 The West Valley food scene is picking up in a big way. 

caught up with two of our favorite foodies, Al Mancini and Gemini Stevens of the Food & Loathing podcast, for a revealing look at why 

North Summerlin is booming with new restaurants

Can the Summerlin North Dining Scene Compete with the Strip?

We uncovered a few secret-ish coffee spots, tucked away inside unlikely local businesses.

Secret Coffee Houses Hidden Inside Las Vegas Businesses

Hey wrestlenerds. I used to be one of you — back when WrestleMania was about stuff like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper choking out “Adorable” Adrian Adonis in a sleeper hold. Teenage me would’ve loved what you get today: two nights of WrestleMania surrounded by days of official and not-so-official events. I'll let someone else 

 while I focus on what appears to be a new trend this year: booze-soaked drinking activities for wrestling fans.

🍸 One of my favorite cocktail lounges on the Strip, the 

 at 4 p.m. inside The Vault backroom speakeasy, April 16-19. You’ll learn how to make two specialty drinks (The Dirty Dom and Charlotte’s Flair) and customize a third one of your own. (Mine would just be an Old Fashioned, since that’s how I like my wrestling.) The price is $100.

 with WWE fans in mind (although anyone can appreciate this) April 17-19. No cover charge and no wristband necessary. Just roam between 10 bars and restaurants for $5 drink specials, which could ease the sting of those 

 💸 My advice: Start with a margarita at Cabo Wabo Cantina and take it from there.

 on Fremont Street has a $15 WrestleMania special that includes a slice of any specialty pie and a “Stone Cold Austin beer,” which I think means Steve Austin’s 

, but check with the restaurant for details.

🍷 Meet, mingle, and drink with former WWE faves during a 

 on April 17. The price of admission begins at $113 and includes a beer, wine, or cocktail at five stops inside 

at The Strat hosts a free meet-and-greet on Friday (6-8 p.m.) with Gunther. (For those unfamiliar, he’s the guy who 

). The event is sponsored by Wheatley Vodka and anyone who buys a bottle gets it signed.

 closes out WrestleMania weekend on April 20 with a viewing party for Monday Night Raw with DJ 

 spinning classic WWE entrance music. Cosplay as your favorite wrestler and get a free shot.

 will be packed with wrestling fans this weekend too. 

which local strip clubs serve surprisingly good food

 in between lap dances. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Is the Food at Vegas Strip Clubs Actually ... Good?

It's a big weekend for pro-wrestling in Las Vegas, and fans can maximize the fun with themed bar crawls and drink specials. 

Bar Crawls and Boozy Events for During WrestleMania Weekend

Drink Your Way Through WrestleMania Weekend

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

, a series of tours and events by the Nevada Preservation Foundation that celebrate and promote the need to protect everyday history within our community.

“O ur mission is to preserve and revitalize historic buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural landscapes across Nevada,” says Dr. Paige Figanbaum, the nonprofit’s executive director. “And how we do that is through education and outreach.”

It’s also a lot of fun. The four-day festival kicks off on April 15 with a 

 reception inside a 1930s Tudor style home. The party takes inspiration from the wild days of the Prohibition era with live jazz, cocktails, and bites from local chefs James Trees and Tood Harrington.

, a sunset soirée at the Spanish Oaks Tennis Club, modeled after the preppy spirit of the “greed is good” decade.

. Take a bus tour that showcases places of worship with timeless architecture, a bike ride past old motels on Fremont Street and Lawyer’s Row, or a cocktail crawl through the Water Street District. In an annual tradition that dates back to the start, a home tour invites participants to step inside seven older, historic houses and learn about not only the properties, but the surrounding neighborhoods.

“People are really surprised how closely connected these historic neighborhoods are,” Figanbaum says. “You can be at John S. Park and drive 10 minutes to Beverly Green.”

Maybe you live in a home that might qualify as historic? 

 is the lunch for you. “Sometimes people get a little intimidated when thinking about what it takes for preservation and just having the conversation of ‘What is a historic designation?’ and ‘What does that mean when I'm living in an older home?’ We're able to answer all of those questions.”

The festival effectively kicks off the year for the Nevada Preservation Foundation, which continues to offer monthly programming and an 

 that can be used anytime. Take a walking tour of historic Woodlawn Cemetery or a drive to see more of the great midcentury modern architecture that's throughout Southern Nevada.

 shares more insight with City Cast Las Vegas with discussions about the 

. Think of these episodes as just a preview of what 

 is all about. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Home + History Las Vegas returns with tours via walking, bus, bikes, and more. 

A Las Vegas Tour of Historic Homes and Neighborhoods

Back in Time: A Celebration of Vegas History Returns

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 

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

things to do

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas for Las Vegans

What To Do in Las Vegas in May 2026

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas

Latest articles

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas for Las Vegans

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Latest articles

The Coolest, Creepiest Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

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Drink Your Way Through WrestleMania Weekend

Tax Day Freebies, Deals, and Discounts in Las Vegas

Back in Time: A Celebration of Vegas History Returns

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