Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Weekend best bets: Jeff Dunham, Def Leppard with Poison, Ribbon of Life

Night Ranger

Charles Sykes / AP

Members of “Night Ranger” attend the Broadway opening night of “Rock of Ages” in New York, Tuesday, April 8, 2009.

Beat the heat this weekend at Summer Splash — the grand opening of Mountain Edge's newest park. If you want a laugh instead, Jeff Dunham and Bill Engvall will both be in town. And if you're feeling charitable, head to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts for Golden Rainbow's Ribbon of Life fundraiser featuring the Strip's top performers. Here are our best entertainment bets for the weekend:

Follow Allison Duck on Twitter at @AllisonDuck.

    • Jeff Dunham at the inaugural American Country Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 6, 2010.

      Friday: Jeff Dunham at The Colosseum

      The Colosseum at Caesars Palace presents an evening with comedian Jeff Dunham. His current tour offers new laughs with his famed troupe of sidekicks that includes Walter the Grumpy Retiree, Achmed the Dead Terrorist and the beer-fueled redneck Bubba J. Tickets are $50-$90, and the show begins at 8 p.m.

    • Bill Engvall

      Friday: Bill Engvall at Treasure Island

      “Blue Collar Comedy” star Bill Engvall performs live at the Treasure Island Theatre. The star of TBS' “The Bill Engvall Show” will be doing his hilarious stand-up comedy routine. Tickets are $49-$6, and the show begins at 8 p.m.

    • Members of "Night Ranger" attend the Broadway opening night of "Rock of Ages" in New York, Tuesday, April 8, 2009.

      Friday: Rock of Vegas with Night Ranger at the Fremont St. Experience

      The Rock of Vegas summer concert series at the Fremont Street Experience continues with a show on the Third Street Stage featuring Night Ranger. Known for songs like "Sister Christian," "Sentimental Street" and "When You Close Your Eyes," the '80s band has experienced a resurgence as their music has been recently used in the Broadway musical "Rock of Ages." The concert is free and begins at 9 p.m.

    • Paul Rogers of Bad Company and Free fame performs at Eastside Cannery on Saturday, March 31, 2012.

      Saturday: Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival at Cannery

      John Lee Hooker Jr., The Official Blues Brother Revue, Sputzy & The Soul Providers and Ironing Board Sam perform at the Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival at the Cannery. Enjoy more than a dozen different microbrewed and craftbrewed beers and ciders plus barbecue and desserts from H&H BBQ, Austin Blues Bar-B-Q, Lone Coyote Smokehouse and Grill, and Sweet Treats Ice Cream. Entry is $5, and the event begins at 5 p.m.

    • Def Leppard.

      Saturday: Def Leppard and Poison at Red Rock

      Def Leppard and Poison share the stage at one of the summer's biggest shows. The two hair metal bands join forces with Lita Ford at the Red Rock Amphitheater. Tickets are $25-$150, and the show starts at 7 p.m.

    • The author has seen his fair share of electrifying moments inside the Thomas & Mack Center. This lightning strike came courtesy of a thunderstorm in August of 2001.

      Saturday: Scorpions at Thomas and Mack

      Though it has been rumored they'll keep on touring, after four decades and 100 million albums sold, the Scorpions bring their "Final Sting" concert to the Thomas and Mack Center. Enjoy hits like "The Zoo," "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "Still Loving You." Tesla opens the show. Tickets are $28-$88, and the show begins at 8 p.m.

    • Saturday: Summer Splash at Mountain's Edge

      Nathaniel Jones Park at Mountain’s Edge is hosting a Summer Splash event to celebrate its grand opening. The free event is at 8800 Sparkling Chandon Drive. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. will be held near the park entrance. Summer Splash activities include inflatable water slides and a tent for a squirt gun battle similar to a paintball war but with squirt guns. Squirt guns will be provided or attendees can bring their own. Other festivities include a DJ, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, petting zoo and pony rides. Several food vendors will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes and other cool treats. The event runs from 2-7 p.m.

    • Saturday: DjangoVegas! at the Historic Fifth Street School

      Enjoy a celebration of the music of Django Reinhardt and other gypsy jazz musicians at the Historic Fifth Street School’s DjangoVegas! event. The concert will feature bands such as the Gonzalo Bergara Quintet, Hot Club of Las Vegas and the Fishtank Ensemble. Cocktails and entertainment will be available in the courtyard at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10, and the concert begins at 6 p.m.

    • Golden Rainbow's 2011 "Ribbon of Life" fundraiser.

      Sunday: Ribbon of Life at The Smith Center

      Raising thousands of dollars for Golden Rainbow every year, the Ribbon of Life fundraiser has become one of the largest HIV/AIDS fundraisers in Nevada. Ribbon of Life is an original production featuring custom production numbers from the top singers, dancers and performers from shows on the Las Vegas Strip. This year, enjoy performances from Chippendales, Clint Holmes, Human Nature, the Las Vegas Men's Chorus and a capella group Mo5aic in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $38-$212, and the show begins at 1 p.m.

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