Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Viva Vegas! Weekend options for locals

Viva Las Vegas: Here in Vegas, Mexican Independence Day is mas grande than Cinco de Mayo. Mexicans celebrate their 1810 independence from Spain, and thousands of Mexican visitors head north for Vegas for a big weekend-long celebration with most of the biggest names in Latin music — Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias, Marco Antonio Solis, Alejandro Fernandez, Jaguares and the world's top mariachis, for starters — at nearly every marquee room in town. With a mariachi festival and many of the restaurants and clubs getting in on the action, it’s practically a Mexican Woodstock.

Band Aid: Sure she can write a mean prescription, but can your M.D. carry a tune? Find out Friday night, when local doctors and medical professionals with musical skills team up for a concert called “Serenades of Life – Doctor’s in Concert,” the 14th annual benefit evening for the Nathan Adelson Hospice. 7-9 p.m. at Artemus Ham Hall on the UNLV campus; Tickets $50; 895-2787, www.pac.unlv.edu.

Neon Reverb: Sadly, the Vegoose music festival isn't happening this fall, but something called Neon Reverb has popped up in its place. "We hope both to build more community among local promoters, venues, and musicians, and to help highlight Las Vegas as a place where bands from around the country (and around the world) should stop and play while on tour," say the festival's founders, and they are showcasing local and touring bands Friday through Sunday at Jillian's, Beauty Bar, the Bunkhouse, the Brass Lounge and the Griffin. Day passes are $10-$13, individual shows are free-$10 at the door. Visit Neon Reverb's MySpace page for more info.

Multi Culti:African American, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific-Island cultures are celebrated at the third annual Las Vegas CultureFest, a free three-day event serving up music, dance, food and arts and crafts at the downtown Fremont Street Experience. 2 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday; visit www.lasvegasculturefest.com.

And Henderson goes Hawaiian with the free 18th annual Prince Jonah Kuhio Ho’olaule’a Pacific Islands Festival, with more than 100 food and craft vendors, plus hula groups and music from Las Vegas’s own Ho’omanawanui. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water Street. 267-2171, www.hendersonlive.com.

Home advantages: The Las Vegas homegrown theater season continues to roll out with Friday’s opening of the Ken Ludwig farce “Moon Over Buffalo” at the Las Vegas Little Theatre. The comedy is about a second-rate drama troupe trying to get through a production of Noel Coward’s “Private Lives.” 8 p.m. Friday, through September 28. Tickets are $21-$28; 362-7996, www.lvlt.org.

And the Henderson Symphony Orchestra opens its 22nd season Sunday with a free outdoor concert offering Aaron Copland’s “Quiet City,” Richard Strauss’ “Wind Serenade” and two works by Mozart. 2 p.m. at Henderson Pavilion; 267-2171, www.hsorch.org.

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