With all there is to do in Las Vegas, you can sometimes forget that the best things in life are free…Well, some of them including the free shows in Las Vegas. Save a few bucks and check out some of the amazing city’s free entertainment.
Bellagio Fountains
Starting out our list of shows is something that could be considered non-traditional. Rather than performers or dancers, this is a show where water is the star. Once the site of the famed Dunes Casino and golf course, the Fountains of Bellagio were constructed alongside the Bellagio casino proper, both opening in 1998. When it comes to “live” shows, it doesn’t get much bigger than this! Coming in at a whopping $40 million, this 8.5-acre lake features over 1200 water nozzles (shooting water a dizzying 460 feet in the air) and more than 4700 lights.
The result? A signature attraction for Las Vegas as well as one of the most iconic photo ops in the country and an amazing free show in Las Vegas. Shows rotate on a regular basis but count on something happening every half-hour between noon and midnight every day. The fountains are computer-controlled and synchronized to more than 100 speakers. Some of the amazing shows you’ll see include music by artists such as Elvis, BTS, and Tiesto!
Fall of Atlantis
Next up is another show that features things instead of people. The Fall of Atlantis, located inside Caesars Palace Forum Shops, is the part audio-visual display, part audio-animatronic, and totally over the top! Fall of Atlantis tells a tale as old as time. A king must choose which of his descendants will inherit his kingdom. This particular story is told with pyrotechnics, color-changing fountains, and transforming LED displays that really set the stage. Shows run 11 am-11 pm Sunday through Thursday and from 11am-midnight on Friday and Saturday. Get there early to get a good spot!
World’s Largest Permanent Circus at Circus Circus
If the big top is more your style, then make sure to check out one of the best free shows in Las Vegas, the World’s Largest Permanent Circus at the Circus Circus hotel and casino. All your favorite circus acts are there: acrobats, jugglers, unicycle riders, and so much more. There’s also a midway featuring dozens of games. Shows start at 11:30 am daily and continue until after midnight. If you want a good seat, make sure to arrive early, although there are plenty of great viewing options if you don’t mind standing up.
Streetmosphere
Looking for something with a little more international flair? Look no further than Streetmosphere. Located within the Venetian, Steetmosphere will give you a taste of Italy and dazzle your senses. Listen as talented opera singers regale you with hits from your favorite shows, amazing dancers tell a tale based on movement, and other top performers take part in something akin to an ever-evolving talent show.
From stilt walkers to living statues, to traveling musical troupes, you will hear an array of music from Italian folk music to famous opera songs. Everything is sung in its original Italian but you’ll definitely be able to pick out your favorites based on the music. Throw in the surrounding shopping area and you’ll have hours of fun.
Fashion Show Mall
When you hear the word mall, you’re probably thinking of the collections of shops, people everywhere, and endless noise. Well, Las Vegas malls are not like the malls you are used to! At Fashion Show Mall, there are plenty of shopping opportunities, but you’ll also be treated to fashion shows every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, between noon and 5 pm. Past shows have featured such hits as Barbie’s 50th Anniversary Show, an annual salute to New York Fashion Week, and many more. Make sure to check out “the Cloud,” a 400+ ton steel disk that rises more than 120 feet above the mall for sunshade as well as a projection surface for special events.
Aquarium Mermaid Show
Had enough of the desert heat? Why not head under the sea to the Aquarium Mermaid Show? Located in the Silverton Casino, the Silverton’s aquarium has been called one of the best free attractions in Las Vegas. Stop by and you’ll quickly understand why. Holding more than 100,000 gallons of water, the aquarium is home to a multitude of tropical fish. There are even interactive feeding shows daily from 1:30-4:30 pm. The time it just right and you might just see mythical creatures from the deep as well. Thursday through Saturday, you can catch interactive mermaid shows from noon to 1:15 pm, 2-3:15 pm, and 5-8:15 pm. Sundays are 10:30am-12:45pm, 2-3:15pm, and 5-6:45pm.
Fremont Street Experience
Less of a traditional show and more of a collection of entertainment, considering spending a day at the Fremont Street Experience. One of the oldest streets in Nevada (1905) and the first street to be paved in Las Vegas (1925), Fremont Street was once home to some of the biggest casinos in the youth of America’s Playground. Today, that honor may belong to The Strip (i.e. – Las Vegas Boulevard South) but Fremont Street still has plenty going for it.
The Fremont Street Experience is the westernmost five blocks of the actual street itself. To see just how far its come since 1905, simply lookup. Overhead is “Viva Vision,” a canopy of 130,000 square feet that features 12 million LED lights. All kinds of scenes shows, and other special features are displayed. There’s also the SlotZilla zip line. Two levels are featured, one 77’ up that runs half the length of the FSE and one 114’ up that runs the entire 1750’ length. There’s also shopping, food, nightly free concerts on three separate stages, and plenty of people watching.
Downtown Container Park
When you’re done at the Fremont Street Experience, head on over to the Downtown Container Park. At the corner of Fremont Street and Seventh Street, you’ll find more than 19,000 square feet of entertainment, refreshments, and so much more. Local artwork abounds, such as the giant, fire-shooting Praying Mantis, originally built for the Burning Man Festival, it now stands guard over the entrance to the park. There’s plenty of food and shopping and there’s almost always a local band playing each weekend.
Mirage Volcano Show
Want to get up close and personal with a volcano? Head to the Mirage Volcano Show. In 2008, water feature design firm WET, the same designers of the famed Bellagio Fountains among other famous projects used a $25 million budget to redesign the Mirage Volcano Show into the amazing experience you can see today. The upgrade included a new water system, as well as upgrades to the lighting and sound systems. Now guests are treated to a two-volcano setup in the midst of a lagoon with waterfalls and fireballs.
A special musical score was created by former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and famed Indian composer Zakir Hussain. The pair studied all kinds of lore surrounding volcanoes, including historical tales, cultural mythology, and legendary tall tales, before producing a mesmerizing soundtrack. Shows start at 7 and 8 pm Sunday through Thursday and add an additional 9 pm show for Friday and Saturday.
Swarovski Starburst
Relive the excitement of New Year’s Eve with the Swarovski Midnight Celebration! Located near Bally’s Casino, this monument to crystal lights up the night sky every day at 9 pm and midnight. This 2-ton Swarovski Starburst measures 14’ in diameter and is comprised of more than 900 custom-cut Swarovski crystals, illuminated by 1800 LEDs. The result: a rainbow of unceasingly changing light patterns, synchronized to an eclectic soundtrack, selected from music found all over the world.