There’s almost no limit to the amount of shenanigans you can get up to in Las Vegas. You want zombie burlesque? You got it. Dying to see little people wrestle? You can find it. Just want to wander around and drown yourself in holiday cocktails? There’s definitely a place for you. Vegas has literally so much to do, you have to work to be bored here. Even with the Strip closed down for Formula 1, there’s an endless amount of options to lose yourself in the city.
Step inside the city of neon
One of the best choices, in a packed, stacked weekend, is the Neon City Festival, happening from November 21-23, 2025. In its second year, the all-ages, free “music and culinary experience” draws thousands to Fremont Street to explore art, good eats, and check out a surprisingly excellent line-up of performers across four stages.
A perfect fusion of music, food, and art
Artists are split across stages: Main Street, 1st Street, 3rd Street, and DLVEC. The concerts start at a family-friendly 6 p.m. all the way to 1 a.m. Friday’s performers included Good Charlotte, De La Soul, Gym Class Heroes, Knuckle Puck, Hoobastank, 3OH!3, and a slew of others. Saturday’s line-up was the most anticipated with Deadmau5, Waka Flocka Flame, Breaking Benjamin, Bowling For Soup, and ACRAZE all competing for attention. Rounding out the last day of the festival are Two Friends, Fitz and The Tantrums, Level Up, Skeez, and more.
But music isn’t the only thing worth checking out. Area15 has a really sick pop-up near the DLVEC stage, featuring beautifully weird, neon-lit art installations and a John Wick mini experience. Also inside DLVEC, is the Neon Market where artists, toymakers, and boutiques showed off their products for festival goers to shop.
There was also a ridiculous amount of amazing food to choose from. Barfly Bites, Domain Expansion, Empanadas 702, Golden Oven Pizza, Snowie Paradice, Sushito Sushi & Poke Bowl, Taco Ave, and, a personal favorite, Truk N Yaki were all spread throughout the event for food lovers to find.
Las Vegas is for everybody
Making the weekend even more of a thrill, most of the hotels in the area are involved in some way shape or form in making the weekend fun. Binion’s, Circa, El Cortez, Four Queens, Golden Gate, and Plaza all offer gaming, food and drink deals, and pop-ups.
Wandering around Saturday was an adventure and a delight seeing how many parents brought their kids, the sick outfits people were wearing, and the general good vibes all around. The growing crowds were vibrating (and moshing) for Deadmau5, Breaking Benjamin and Waka Flocka Flame in particular. The fireworks presented by Plaza Hotel and Casino were a nice touch too.
Whether you’re out on the town with the girlies or showing your teens the sights, there’s something for everyone of any age at Neon City Festival. No fences, no age restrictions, just a colorful good time.
Writer and editor