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City Cast Las Vegas

Rob Kachelriess

, 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

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

Las Vegas History

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

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

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

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.

Things to Do in Las Vegas April 2026

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 

Miss the days of renting movies and showing your parents how to work the VCR? Well, the old-school video store is back — with a twist (to garnish your cocktail). 

 is a pop-up speakeasy, running from March 25 to May 17 in Las Vegas.

Back 2 The Video Store takes over part of PKWY Tavern on the corner of Flamingo and Decatur. Admission is $17.80, which includes your first cocktail, a 90-minute window, and open seating. Just like a real video store, you get a membership card. Browse the selection and pick out a “movie,” which represents a cocktail, and bring it to the bartender to place your order.

The cocktails are movie themed, fruity, and reflect the era. (In other words, they wouldn’t look out of place at TGI Fridays.) Highlights include the Titanic with mezcal, vodka, and a rose-shaped ice mold, Happy Gilmore (a boozy take on an Arnold Palmer), and an Indiana Jones punch bowl. The drink prices, between $8 and $16, border on “throwback” status as well. The NBA Jams Fireball-Rumchatta shot includes a toy basketball net presentation. Royale with Cheeseburger Sliders and Mighty Ducks Mini Corn Dogs headline a menu of small bites.

The experience includes a few photo stations, from movie posters and cutouts to a throne worthy of the “Fresh Prince” and a “Clueless” backdrop. You may even get a chance to test your skills with an arcade-style video game, bowling, bingo, or karaoke. A DJ plays throwback hits on weekends.

The pop-up is presented by Bucket Listers, the same event company behind 

, which came to the Park MGM last year and other licensed concepts like the 

, which wraps up its Vegas run at AREA15 this weekend.

with a look at today’s best food 😋 Philip Tzeng (also known as 

, one of the most popular foodie Instagurus in Vegas) joins 

The Ultimate Guide to Ramen in Las Vegas

Back 2 The Video Store serves alcohol-fueled nostalgia without late fees.

Back 2 The Video Store Pop-Up Bar in Las Vegas

Be Kind, Rewind to the Video Store Era with a Pop-Up Speakeasy

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

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

, but a full-fledged, stand-alone, accredited art museum has yet to show up. So, it was something of a surprise when the 

 suddenly opened near Main and Charleston last week.

The museum takes over what used to be the Burlesque Hall of Fame and JRNY Gallery (for digital art) with the two spaces separated by a courtyard that will have a Hawaiian Tiki theme. The museum was designed with private events in mind, from silent disco sessions to artist receptions. The Silent Muse is an in-house bar and lounge that won’t be open for at least another month or two.

🤔 Is This Really Just Another Gallery?

Galleries sell art, while museums are strictly for viewing. And the Southern Nevada Art Museum is exhibiting more than 500 pieces by nearly 90 artists over a combined 10,000 square feet, none of it for sale. The idea is to have as much variety as possible, from 15th century manuscripts to clay pottery by Picasso and the expansive “Stairway to Heaven” set of paintings by Salvador Dalí, which depicts Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy.” Local artists like 

Founder and executive director Chris Davin says the pieces, bought from galleries, as well as auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, are all originals, “authenticated and appraised.” A full, official museum accreditation is in the works, but takes up to 14 months.

The price is $30 for nonresidents or $20 for Nevada residents with discounts for seniors and students. Admission is just $5 for anyone during First Friday. You can also buy an annual membership for $100, which covers unlimited visits for two people.

Davin says he isn’t concerned about getting mixed up with the long-awaited Las Vegas Museum of Art, which was 

 in Symphony Park, but got pushed back at least another year. “There are so many different ways museums can do art,” he says. “We've got a little of everything. We don't know what type of art museum they're going to be.”

Davin concedes that if the name wasn’t already taken, he would’ve called his own project the Las Vegas Museum of Art, but is happy with how things turned out, noting the opportunity to emphasize local art that extends to places like Mesquite or Laughlin.

Davin, who’s also the executive director of the 

, says a corner exhibit dedicated to The Stonewall Inn and LGBTQ culture will evolve on a monthly basis. The museum functions as a nonprofit, and money from admission fees, donations, and sponsorships will be reinvested into the community via scholarships, artist-in-residency programs, and other efforts.

The Southern Nevada Art Museum just opened in the Downtown Arts District. So, what's the difference between a gallery and a museum?

What’s Up With that New Art Museum in Downtown Vegas?

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

 where to find wildflowers by listening to 

 of City Cast Las Vegas 👍 The superbloom will be around for another week or two, so retrace my route for an efficient and effective day trip.

Set your GPS for the “Ashford Mill Ruins” — a two-hour route from Vegas that bypasses the park’s main entrance for the “back way.” You’ll cut through a corner of Pahrump and drive through Shoshone, a former mining town with a semi-historic saloon and diner (

 👀) was super cool, supplying a free map, advice, and time expectations. Check out the exhibits, including mammoth and mastodon bones, and leave some moolah in the donation box.

The bloom becomes more apparent between Jubilee Pass and Ashford Junction on CA-178. Here’s my advice: If it looks cool, pull over. Snap photos and enjoy the scenery. If you move on and keep driving, don’t panic. You’ll see more flowers in due time as the vast, mountainous landscape opens up. The crumbling remains of 

 and its office building date back to 1910. It’s a popular spot to see wildflowers and rare evidence of civilization in the park.

, the lowest point in North America. (During my visit, quite a bit of real water was on the flats — somewhat rare without rainy weather.) The official parking lot fills up quickly during wildflower season. Save time by parking safely on the side of the road and explore at your own pace. From there, detour to the jagged salt formations of 

, (easy to view without leaving the car) and 

, a nine-mile scenic route where the terrain takes on pastel color tones. You’ll see more purple wildflowers here, contrasting nicely with the more common yellow ones.

 is a historic property that’s been around almost 100 years. The 

 takes a break between lunch and dinner, but you can order food and drinks in the lounge, beginning at 3 p.m. Just a mile away, the 

 sells surprisingly good burgers as of 3 p.m. and the 

 has a full menu ready by 5 p.m. The ranch is near the 

, which has a free museum and the famous digital thermometer out front.

👀 If You’re Down for One More View …

, a short but steep roadside hill before exiting the park via CA-190. You’ll pass by Death Valley Junction (and the 

) before driving through Pahrump, where you can always stop for dinner — maybe at the new 

Cell phone service is spotty in Death Valley and the park’s 

 operates on a trust system — paid at the visitor center or at kiosks near Badwater Basin or the main entrance. Enforcement seems rare, but you could be fined if visiting the park without paying. I was warned about large crowds slowing down traffic during wildflower season, especially on weekends, but didn’t have too much trouble getting stuck behind other cars.

See the wildflower bloom, visit some of Death Valley's most popular destinations, and be back in Vegas by dinner. 

How to See Death Valley Wildflowers: Your Day Trip Itinerary

Get to know the natural side of Las Vegas: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Las Vegas Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

Drive around Downtown Las Vegas for a little while and you may come across a dusty relic of adobe-crafted history, built more than 170 years ago. The 

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

 is a quiet place, but one that ties together a wide variety of threads that helped shape Southern Nevada.

The fort, on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Washington Ave., is in the heart of the Las Vegas Cultural Corridor, which also includes the 

Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum

The fort wasn’t for the military. It was built in 1855 for Mormon missionaries traveling a segment of the Old Spanish Trail between Salt Lake City and San Bernardino. The location was chosen for its spring-fed creek — and a replica of it trickles through the site today. Construction took seven months. When complete, the fort 

spanned 150 square feet with 14-foot-high adobe walls

, making it the largest building for at least 100 miles.

The fort was around just two years before resources were stretched and tensions escalated with native Paiute tribes, prompting the church to recall the settlers from their mission. California entrepreneur Octavius Decatur Gass 

 in 1865, supplying goods to workers and travelers. He also developed orchards and wine vineyards while employing Paiute workers. Pioche businessman Archibald Stewart took control of the ranch over a loan dispute — and was later killed at Kiel Ranch, which is a 

 — before widow Helen Stewart took over the ranch for 20 years and established her own identity as the 

Ownership of the fort passed through the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad company, Bureau of Land Management, and City of Las Vegas before preservationist groups campaigned for it to become an official state park in 1991.

The site includes part of the original adobe structure with some parts recreated in the style of the era. You can browse artifacts and equipment, walk past pioneer wagons, and hang out at the picnic tables. The admission fee is the best three bucks you’ll spend in Vegas. (Kids 12 and under are free.)

The oldest non-native settlement in Las Vegas set the stage for the community we know today. 

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