27 Things to Do In Las Vegas After Dark

Cowboy Christmas, NFR and more after dark activities to partake in this weekend

Off The Strip is celebrating the holiday season with a 30-days of stories counting down to the big day Dec. 25! Our #WYD Holiday Guide features all the best places to go, experiences to have, festive displays, party destinations, holiday cocktails and dinners—plus where to shop local and cool ways to give back! Check out the features » 

That’s right, National Finals Rodeo is back in Southern Nevada, and with this annual showcase of human/animal bonding comes all the themed events and performances that you would expect to see on a classics Mandrell Sisters holiday special. 


Here are 27 things to do in Las Vegas this weekend. 

Thursday, December 2

GIDDY UP: NFR’s return to Vegas following last year’s temporary move to Arlington, Texas extends far beyond the fencing at UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center. There’s also the Cowboy Christmas event at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the transformation of the city’s newest attraction – Resorts World Las Vegas – into Rodeo World as it hosts the Bullfighters Only World Championship. Preview 

If you don’t have a ticket or don’t want to fight traffic around UNLV, the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center is hosting the Bucking Ball, with viewing parties and music from local country artists. Wolf Creek is tapped to perform Thursday night, followed by Steve Sturgis and the Rifleman on Friday and Saturday. 4:30 p.m., RSVP

Back on the Strip, “Must Be the Whiskey” singer Cody Jinks (and his beard) kicks off the first of three performances at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. He’ll perform Thursday, Friday, and Sunday night. 7 p.m., $99, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

And what a coincidence, Shania Twain picks tonight, of all nights, to resume her Let’s Go residency at Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood. 8 p.m., $45+, ticketmaster.com/shaniavegas

GIVE: Seize the spirit of giving early this month. 98.5 radio personality Chet Buchanan will be back on his perch in the NV Energy parking lot for the 23rd Annual 98.5 KLUC Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive presented by The Venetian Resort. You can drop your donations off at the parking lot and support HELP of Southern Nevada and their Holiday Toy Assistance program. audacy.com/kluc/toy-drive 

DANCE: Lest you think it’s all “Boot Scootin Boogie” on the Strip, NGHTMRE is back at Hakkasan Nightclub inside MGM Grand. 10:30 p.m., $25-$40, hakkasangroup.com 

Friday, December 3

CHEER: Allegiant Stadium hosts the PAC-12 Football Championship – Oregon v Utah — on Friday, and what better place to watch than Wynn Field Club. $75, 3 p.m., wynnsocial.com

GIDDY UP: As NFR rolls on, Brooklyn Bowl hosts the “Hooey Party” starring Shane Smith and the Saints and Ian Munsick. 9 p.m., $20, brooklynbowl.com

And one of the all-time country singers, George Strait, brings his “Strait to Vegas” (I get it) show to T-Mobile Arena for two nights (Friday and Saturday). 8 p.m., $50+, t-mobilearena.com

TASTE: Resorts World will see the debut of Michelin-starred Chef Shaun Hergatt’s Caviar Bar, featuring his personal brand, Caspy Caviar, and a menu of seafood selections, as well as Wagyu beef dishes, desserts, and more. caviarbarlv.com 

DANCE: DJ/producer/rapper London on da Track gets the spotlight at Drai’s Nightclub on the roof of The Cromwell. 10:30 p.m., $20-$30, draisgroup.com

And on the heels of his latest single, “Losing My Mind,” EDM star Party Favor returns to OMNIA at Caesars Palace. 10:30 p.m., $30-$50, hakkasangroup.com

Courtesy of Caviar Bar LV’s Instagram

Saturday, December 4

GIDDY UP: Cody Jinks gets the night off at The Chelsea so Modern Day Prodigal Son Brantley Gilbert can take the stage and wow the country crowd. 7 p.m., $29.50, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

And Nashville’s own Josh Turner goes at The Venetian Theatre. 8 p.m., $48, venetianlasvegas.com 

CHEER: If you’re tired of watching humans vs. livestock at the Thomas and Mack, you can watch two humans – WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney and challenger Jo Jo Diaz – trade blows at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Doors at 2 p.m., $58+, mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com

LAUGH: Daaaaaamn Gina, if you know what G-T-D stands for then you better be in line for Martin Lawrence and the Lit AF 2021 Tour when it arrives at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay. Martin will perform and serve as the emcee, bringing out special guests like Benji Brown, Michael Blackson, Rickey Smiley, and Barbershop star DeRay Davis. 7:30 p.m., $39, mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com

DRINK: Let’s get one thing straight: there are never enough holiday pop-ups. If you’ve tried the rest, get yourself to Topgolf Las Vegas for their Tinsel Town bar featuring drinks like the “Ambrose’s Ginger Snap” and a gingerbread recreation of the four-level Topgolf itself. topgolf.com/us/las-vegas 

HEAR: Those beloved NSFW 80s-inspired glam rockers Steel Panther are back in Vegas for a performance at The Cosmopolitan’s Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails. You won’t see them getting their hair cut before the show, that would take away their magic powers. 9 p.m., $69, thebarbershoplv.com 

And Drai’s Nightclub welcomes back Large Big Sean for an evening of hip-hop. 10:30 p.m., $40-$60, draisgroup.com

DANCE: If you’re bouncing around the Fremont East area of downtown Vegas, swing by DISCOPUSSY, where Hungarian house duo Crazibiza is taking over for the night. 10 p.m., $13, sevenrooms.com/events

Or, make your way to Resorts World for Jack Harlow (with an assist from DJ Ruckus) at Zouk Nightclub. 10:30 p.m., $30-$50, zoukgrouplv.com

And Diplo gets the call at XS Nightclub. 10:30 p.m., $45-$65, wynnsocial.com

Courtesy of XS Nightclub’s Instagram

Sunday, December 5

CHEER: The Raiders and Golden Knights are both playing at home on Sunday. The former goes against the Washington Football Team in another “must win baby” game. 1:05 p.m. raiders.com When that’s over, the Knights look to put out the Calgary Flames. 7 p.m., vegasgoldenknights.com 

DRINK: It’s Repeal Day in America, the anniversary of the 21st Amendment — ratified on December 5, 1933 — that got rid of that pesky Prohibition. We didn’t need Prohibition anyway, so let’s celebrate at The Mob Museum’s Repeal Day Party In the Underground. There’s an open bar and live music by The Moonshiners. 7 p.m., $115, themobmuseum.org

DANCE: SKAM artist Four Color Zack headlines the latest edition of Night Circus at The Cosmopolitan’s Marquee Nightclub. 10 p.m., marqueelvnc.taogroup.com

And since you’re staying up late anyway, check out Dillon Francis at XS. 10:30 p.m., $55-$85, wynnsocial.com


This post is part of Off The Strip’s 30 Days of Christmas series.

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