When it comes to a holiday weekend, Vegas pulls out all the stops. The three-day Memorial Day weekend is no exception. New pools, hot entertainment, bouts between UFC fighters and nightlife abound. Take your pick of these exciting events taking place all over Sin City this weekend.
I Like The Nightlife, Baby
The nightclub scene has its fair share of live performances and appearances this weekend. Surrender, the new nightclub at Encore, opens with weekend (look for a full report on this behemoth this Friday), and nothing short of three days of live performances will do. DJ Steve Aoki kicks off the party Friday night. Then on Saturday, Vegas native Ne-Yo performs live at the club. The party doesn’t stop on Sunday when LMFAO plays.
You can check out Snoop Dogg at the Venus Pool Club, part of the Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace, during the day on Saturday, or wait until that night to see him at LAX at the Luxor. Or go with reggae sounds when Shaggy performs at Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace on Saturday.
If four days of celebration are in order, kick off Memorial Day tomorrow when the Nine Group and the Palms host the Second Annual Love Festival through Sunday. Look for a special performance from Jason Derulo on Saturday and DJs Keith Evan, Miguel Migs, Armin Van Buuren and more on Sunday.
Maybe a little more skin is in order for the weekend. Playboy Playmates Kelly Carrington and 2007 “Playmate of the Year” Sara Jean Underwood host Eve nightclub’s Bunny Bash on Friday while fellow Playmate DJ Tamara Sky spins mash-ups.
Over at Vanity at the Hard Rock Hotel, DJ Victor Calderone takes over the turntables on Saturday.
A Dip in the Pool
A gaggle of new pools have opened this season, from the Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace and Liquid at Aria to the HRH Beach Club and Skybar at Hard Rock Hotel. This weekend, Encore Las Vegas debuts its newest pool, Encore Beach Club. Look for three pools, daybeds, cabanas and bungalows (plus a full report on Saturday).
Add a little sizzle to your summer kick off when actor Gilles Marini hosts at Azure pool at the Palazzo to launch Moët Ice Impérial, the first champagne designed to be served on ice. Marini will be at Azure on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Over at the Palms Pool & Bungalows, reality TV star and New Jersey’s favorite DJ Pauly D spins on at 9 p.m.
Make it Special
Whether you want to catch a fight or check out music, Vegas has something to fill your needs. On Saturday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pairs Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, former UFC light heavyweight champion, against “Suga” Rashad Evans, former UFC light heavyweight champion. UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with doors at 4:15 p.m. You can check out a pre-party Friday night at Studio 54 at the MGM Grand when UFC executives UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, one of the world’s top Light Heavyweight Fighter Lyoto Machida, knock-out king Wanderlei Silva and more prepare for the fight. After the fight, join Forrest Griffin, Josh Koscheck and Cain Velasquez for the UFC 114 post-fight party at Studio 54, or head to Tabu Ultra Lounge at the MGM Grand for a night hosted by Rashad Evans.
If the music of the 1970s is more your speed, head down to the Fremont Street Experience to check out the Summer of the ’70s festival and free concert series. The 102-day promotion kicks off this weekend and runs through Labor Day weekend. Disco diva Gloria Gaynor performs on Saturday.
The Joint at the Hard Rock features Angels and Airwaves Friday night and Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley Saturday night. Over at the Orleans, you can see Air Supply in concert Friday through Sunday, or renew your love of Star Wars with Star Wars: In Concert during two shows on Sunday.
You can take your party outdoors when Mandalay Bay Beach brings the Barenaked Ladies on to the pool Friday night and Pitbull on Saturday. Rusted Root performs poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday. Red Rock Casino kicks off its summer concert series at the pool with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on Friday night, Loverboy on Saturday night and OK Go & The Cab on Sunday night.
Or check out some comedy this weekend when Lewis Black brings his rants to the Mirage on Saturday at 10 p.m. and Sunday at 9 p.m. Chelsea Handler from Chelsea Lately hits Caesars Palace Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and Russell Peters plays the Joint at the Hard Rock Sunday at 9 p.m.
