Las Vegas is full of culture, with thriving music, art and theater scenes. Check out our selection of arts and culture events this week and every week.

Arts & Culture
Here’s what’s on display at Las Vegas art galleries right now.
“We’ve built a world-class, state-of-the-art museum that will rival any children’s museum or science museum in the country. But we have to make this a bigger part of the fabric of the community,” says Tifferney White, president and chief executive officer of Discovery Children’s Museum.
The First Friday arts festival is scheduled from 5 to 11 p.m. Jan. 6 at venues throughout the Las Vegas Arts District, near the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Main Street. Live entertainment, artists’ booths, food vendors and more are planned. The event is set to include artists, the artisan bazaar, food trucks, music and a live painting exhibition. The streets surrounding the block that includes Art Square, 1025 S. First St., are set to close for tents and trucks with food, art and music.
The exhibit — at the second-floor Chamber Gallery — features paintings, photographs and ceramics, with portraits, landscapes and abstracts in the mix, curated by Clay Arts Vegas co-owner Peter Jakubowski.
Our arts picks this week include Nevada Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” and photographer Edward Burtynsky’s “Oil” exhibit.
| field | question | answer |
|---|---|---|
| i_1 | I'm staying on the Strip. What's a must-see attraction? | The Las Vegas Strip is full of iconic sights. We narrowed down the list to a handful that you can check out for free or at a (relatively) low cost. The attractions range from a free, 14,000-square-foot garden at Bellagio to riding a gondola through the Venetian, as well as The High Roller, Shark Reef, Sphere Experience, rides at the Strat and The Fountains of Bellagio. Check out the attractions. |
| i_2 | Where should I grab a drink in downtown Las Vegas? | As the downtown Arts District has grown in recent years, so has its bar scene. We highlight five of the best spots to grab a cold one or a high-end cocktail. This list has something for everyone, including a punk rock dive bar, a hidden experimental cocktail bar, locals' favorites and many more. Stop by Liquid Diet, Velveteen Rabbit, Berlin Bar, Rebar, Garagiste and others. Check it out. |
| i_3 | What are the most unique experiences in Las Vegas? | Plenty of gems throughout the Silver State await those who are willing to wander outside of the Las Vegas Valley. For those with desert wanderlust — or who would enjoy a skydiving free fall with views of Hoover Dam at 120 mph — the list is fodder for bucket lists and exploration. It also includes a hot spring in ghost town Gold Point, mining Nevada's state gemstone, climbing Mount Whitney near Reno, zip-lining the Fremont Street Experience and clear-boat canoeing on Lake Tahoe. Read the guide. |
| i_4 | What are some family-friendly things to do in Las Vegas? | The first day of school is fast approaching for K-12 students, but there’s still time for summer fun. Whether the family wants to get up close and personal with wildlife, explore nature, experience immersive art or cool off in a nice pool, Las Vegas offers something for everyone before school bells toll again Aug. 12. This includes seeing big cats at Lion Habitat Ranch, the Flamingo wildlife habitat, the "origins of Las Vegas" at Springs Preserve and more. See our guide. |
| i_5 | Which resort pools admit Las Vegas locals? | As the sun beats hotter and hotter on the Las Vegas Valley throughout the summer, locals without an easy way to cool down may find themselves jealous of the tourists relaxing on their poolside lounge chairs. But there’s no need for bad vibes. Several resorts around the Las Vegas Valley allow area residents into their resort pool areas — some even for free, like Palms and Park MGM. Get your swim on. |
| i_6 | I want to hit the club but don't know where to start. Where should I go? | Twenty-thousand-pound chandeliers, lighting rigs designed to look like spacecraft and $40,000 bottle service. No, there’s nothing quite like the nightlife scene in Las Vegas. But with so many high-end clubs vying for your dollar (dollars by the thousand, to be more accurate), where to begin? Right here with this guide to some of the biggest and best spots on the Strip: Drai's, Hakkasan, Marquee, Omnia and others. |