Veterans Day Free Meals and More in Las Vegas

Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11. I want to send a digital salute and wish a happy Veterans Day to all who have represented our county in uniform, including my father Wayne, who served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam 🙏

🇺🇲 Why We Celebrate Veterans Day

While Memorial Day honors those who died in service to their county, Veterans Day is a celebratory day of recognition for all who served in the military. It was first recognized by President Woodrow Wilson as Armistice Day in 1919, marking one year since the treaty that ended World War I. It was declared an official federal holiday in 1938. Following World War II and the Korean War, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to honor all who served.

🎉 A Parade and Celebrations

The Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. at 4th Street and Garces Avenue on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Billed as the largest Veterans Day parade west of the Mississippi, the event begins with a flyover and travels eight blocks to Stewart Avenue, wrapping up by noon.

Downtown Summerlin is welcoming veterans to showcase their businesses on The Lawn at the 3rd Annual VETFEST on Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A Veterans Day Ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Water Street Plaza in Downtown Henderson. The event includes a performance by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra and a presentation adding names to the Henderson Veterans Memorial Wall.

The Pentagogical Brass Quintet presents “A Salute to Veterans” at the West Charleston Library on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m.

Opera Las Vegas performs “Voices Raised For Vets” at the Windmill Library on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.

🎭 Free Fun for Veterans

Glittering Lights opens Friday for the season at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The drive-thru holiday lights display is hosting Veterans Appreciation Night, giving free admission to current and former military members and their families 5 - 9 p.m. on Veterans Day.

The Museum of Illusions on the Strip is giving veterans and active-duty military free admission for a full week, Nov. 11-17.

Veterans and service members can get a workout in at all UFC Gym and UFC Fit locations with free entry throughout the entire month of November.

All who’ve served get a free max car wash (the best one!) at any WOW Car Wash location, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

All veterans with a valid military ID receive a free bingo blue pack at Arizona Charlie’s on Decatur and Boulder Highway.

Admission fees will be dropped on Veterans Day for everyone at national parks, including Death Valley and Great Basin. The ones in nearby Utah are doing a good job of making up for staffing shortages during the government shutdown.

🍔 Free Food For Veterans

NORMS near Charleston and Decatur is giving all military service members and veterans a free Four Deuces meal of two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausage links, and two hotcakes.

The brand-new SMKD BBQ in Henderson is giving a free lunch to anyone with a military ID from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an entree, side, and a slice of apple pie.

Lazy Dog Restaurants (known for large doggie-friendly patios with fire pits) is honoring veterans and active military with a free Fireside Favorites entree with a s’more brownie sundae included. Lazy Dog has Vegas locations in Town Square, Downtown Summerlin, and Henderson.

The Garden Buffet at South Point has a “free buffet for two” offer for veterans and active military between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. (My advice: come early for the breakfast buffet, which includes bloody marys 👀)

STK Steakhouse at the Cosmopolitan is honoring all who’ve served in the military with a free entree up to $69 🤯

Kona Grill in the Boca Park shopping plaza has the same deal — a free entree up to $69 for past and present military members.

Head to your nearest In-N-Out Burger, where veterans and service members get a meal of burger, fries, and drink on the house.