A&E

Your Las Vegas Memorial Day Weekend party guide

Image

Memorial Day Weekend simply didn’t happen last year. Las Vegas Strip casinos weren’t permitted to reopen until early June, and those that did were focused on getting as many employees as possible back to work and providing a decent experience for hotel guests, with gaming, dining and swimming pools as the primary offerings. Daylife wasn’t a thing, not until a handful of club venues reopened as lounge-style experiences under tight restrictions.

That’s all in the rearview now. Las Vegas won’t be 100% reopened until June 1, but venue capacities are way up, masks are mostly off and many thousands of visitors are ready to return to the Strip and let us know the definition of “pent-up demand.” Welcome to the summer of the revenge party.

Whether you’re back in town for the first time in a long time or a local ready to return to the Strip, we’re happy to provide a good old-fashioned Las Vegas Weekly weekend party guide. Remember, there are still some new rules, and if reservations at clubs, bars and restaurants aren’t required, they’re definitely a good idea, so get in touch with your destination in advance to ensure you’ll make the most of your holiday and maximize convenience.

Most importantly, know that this is just the beginning. Many more big DJs, concerts, shows and events are coming back soon. Ease into it. Dip your toes. Exhale. Things are going to get crazy next month … and the month after that. Be ready.

Dayclubs

Marquee Dayclub

Marquee Dayclub

THE BACKYARD Non-hotel guests can still reserve a cabana at GVR’s 8-acre pool complex, but the latest experience is outdoor pop-up lounge the Backyard at Sundown, featuring bespoke cocktails and snacks just outside the hotel lobby Friday and Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Green Valley Ranch, 702-617-7744.

BARE Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mirage, 702-791-7416.

CITRUS The 35,000-square-foot rooftop event space kicks off Old School by the Pool this weekend, featuring live R&B every Friday at 8 p.m. DJs spin Friday and Saturday starting at noon, and Seany Mac, Sam I Am, Presto One and Mark Mac are on the decks for the long holiday weekend. Daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Downtown Grand, 702-280-0532.

CRIMSON POOL Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Red Rock Resort, 702-797-7875.

DAYLIGHT The MDW lineup at the south Strip dayclub institution includes longtime resident DJ E-Rock, along with DJ Drama, DJ Infamous, DJ E-Feezy and DJ Envy. Also, Daylight Beach at Night runs Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4700.

DRAI’S Hip-hop legend DJ Franzen has been holding it down with marathon virtual sets on Twitch throughout the pandemic, and the time has finally come for Franny to return to his residency at Drai’s. The club will be open day and night, bringing in Maria Romano, Baddies Only and Patrick Cornett, plus a Blueprint Sound Takeover on May 31. Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Cromwell, 702-777-3800.

ENCORE BEACH CLUB Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 10 p.m.-close. Encore, 702-770-7300.

GO POOL Daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Flamingo, 702-697-2888.

INFLUENCE Daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Linq, 702-835-5713.

LIQUID Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aria, 702-590-9979.

MARQUEE One of the most prominent dayclubs to shift to a lounge format during the pandemic, Marquee is ready to fire it up again with DJs Mike Attack and Lema, plus Eric DLux taking over for Drenched After Dark starting May 30 at 10 p.m. Friday-Monday, 11 a.m.-close. Cosmopolitan, 702-333-9000.

MOOREA BEACH CLUB Some things didn’t change; Moorea remains top-optional for 2021. Thursday-Monday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4760.

STADIUM SWIM Daily, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Circa, 833-247-2258.

WET REPUBLIC When COVID closed the Strip, it stole our first chance to experience the wholesale renovation of Wet Republic, which added new plunge pools, a larger performance area, elevated cabanas and bungalows, and new technology to enhance the DJ booth and overall performance production. Now’s the time to revisit one of the city’s biggest dayclubs, with Jeff Retro, DJ Shift, Fergie DJ and Loud Luxury getting the summer started. Thursday-Monday, 11 a.m.-close. MGM Grand, 702-891-3563.

Nightclubs

Omnia

Omnia

THE BARBERSHOP Live bands have kept the hidden saloon stage rocking for a while now at the Barbershop, and Memorial Day Weekend brings performances from Luna Park featuring Ari Day and house band The 442s. Tuesday-Sunday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7473.

CHATEAU After weeks of pop-up nights at Alexxa’s Bar downstairs, Chateau is back in action, with returning resident DJs ShadowRed, Bayati and P-Jay on for the holiday weekend. Friday-Sunday, 10 p.m.-close. Paris, 702-776-7770.

DRAI’S AFTER HOURS Thursday-Sunday, 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Cromwell, 702-777-3800.

ELECTRA COCKTAIL CLUB Thursday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Palazzo, 702-607-1950.

FOUNDATION ROOM A classic Vegas experience never goes out of style, and coming out of COVID, the vibey, House of Blues-run lounge on the 63rd floor might be just what the doctor ordered. Greg Lopez, Mark Mac, Sam I Am and DJ Sincere will be spinning this weekend. Wednesday-Sunday, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7631.

GOLD SPIKE Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. 217 Las Vegas Blvd. N, 702-476-1082.

HAKKASAN Thursday-Sunday, 10:30 p.m.-close. MGM Grand, 702-891-3838.

MARQUEE Friday & Saturday, 10 p.m.-close. Cosmopolitan, 702-333-9000.

OMNIA Looks like one more weekend of lounging on the terrace and at Heart of Omnia before big-room action returns with Steve Aoki on June 4. Friday & Saturday, 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. Caesars Palace, 702-785-6200.

TAO The legendary Worship Thursdays party returns to kick things off with DJ Javier on May 27, then Romeo Reyes, Mike Attack and a special performance from Mustard on May 30 will make Tao one of the hottest tickets on the Strip this weekend. Thursday-Sunday, 10:30 p.m.-close. Venetian, 702-388-8338.

TEMPO ULTRA LOUNGE Thursday, 11 p.m.-5 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, midnight-6 a.m.; Sunday, 11 p.m.-5 a.m. 1000 E. Sahara Ave., 702-575-7954.

TERRACE AFTERHOURS See page 28 to get the goods on this sunrise hot spot, partying into the wee hours on the rooftop of Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club. Friday & Saturday, 2 a.m.- 8 a.m. (Saturday & Sunday mornings) 6007 Dean Martin Drive, 702-625-2644.

XS Friday-Sunday, 10:30 p.m.-close. Encore, 702-770-0097.

Other Events & Entertainment

Atomic Saloon Show

Atomic Saloon Show

AREA15 The buzzy experiential art and entertainment spot just off the Strip will host the Neon Dream party featuring DJs Marques Wyatt and Ray Kash, more sounds from Soul in the Machine and live bands outside in the A-Lot. Roaming performers and “psychedelic spectacles” are planned, and costumes are encouraged at this modern rave-up. May 29, 9 p.m.-close, area15.com.

ATOMIC SALOON SHOW One of the latest Strip production show reopenings, the wild and woolly Atomic is back in its vibrant venue at the Grand Canal Shoppes at Palazzo doing 10 shows a week Wednesday through Sunday at 7 and 9 p.m. Spiegelworld.com.

COMEDY WORKS, COMEDY CELLAR & LAUGH AFTER DARK Also recently reopened are the stand-up spots at the Plaza, Downtown Comedy Works (702-386-2110), which stars Augie T. this weekend, and the Rio’s Comedy Cellar (212-254-3480), which hosts Chris Clarke, Michael Yo, Kathleen Dunbar and Dennis Blair, At Neonopolis entertainment hub Notoriety Live (702-472-7514), the new Laugh After Dark brings the funny Saturday nights with host Charlie Wilson and The Fremont Funk band.

MAT FRANCO The America’s Got Talent champ upgraded and renovated Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly for a return to the stage at the Linq on April 29, and the affable illusionist is ready to make your boredom disappear with shows Thursday through Monday. Matfranco.com.

KASSI BEACH HOUSE The somewhat secret grand opening of the Wish You Were Here Group’s European-influenced restaurant and lounge at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is set for May 28, so when you’re checking out the renovated resort, duck into this central spot to see what kind of fun you can get into. Kassibeach.com.

JEN KRAMER & SOUL OF MOTOWN The Westgate Cabaret recently reopened two of its shows, The Magic of Jen Kramer and the musical tribute Soul of Motown. Both are worth at least one night on your MDW itinerary. Westgateresorts.com.

LEGENDS IN CONCERT & PURPLE REIGN May 27 is the night live entertainment comes back to the Tropicana with two of the longest-running and most beloved tribute shows in the history of the Strip. Legends hits the stage at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Prince-centric Purple Reign at 9:30.

Put these super summer pool parties on your calendar now

Élia Beach Club grand opening (June 10)

The sprawling outdoor pool complex is expected to become the beating heart of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and that energy amps up soon, when the resort’s new dayclub debuts. Forget about Rehab and get ready for Mykonos-inspired décor, multiple genres of house music and two levels of luxury.

Moonbeam at Ayu Dayclub (July 11)

Resorts World and Zouk Group are pulling out all the stops to make the splashiest debut possible when the new hotel and casino opens on June 24, and Zouk has already lined up a stellar roster of talent for its afternoon-to-night Sunday party at its pool club. Moonbeam kicks off with Disclosure, then hosts later summer shows with ZHU, Jamie Jones, Green Velvet, The Martinez Brothers and more.

Art of the Wild (July 23-25)

Wynn Nightlife grabbed headlines with the announcement of its Allegiant Stadium end zone nightclub and kept our interest with residency renewals including Diplo, Kygo, The Chainsmokers, David Guetta and Dillon Francis. The game-changing house mini-fest, canceled in 2020 as Wynn Resorts was closing to fight the spread of the coronavirus, is already selling tickets for its comeback. Expect Art of the Wild 2021 to break even more ground in the Vegas scene.

Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!

Share
Photo of Brock Radke

Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

Get more Brock Radke
Top of Story