The Palms gets the weekend started early with Ditch Friday

The Palms hopes to make live music and celebrity appearances as plentiful as the Las Vegas sunshine during this season's Ditch Friday pool parties.

"We are being more aggressive with our promotions for the summer," says Ditch Friday spokeswoman Melanie Salas. "We're going to have a lot of big-name DJs, short music performances, a lot of celebrities and rock stars coming out."

Of course, the pool will still offer the amenities and events that have earned Ditch Fridays a solid following; about 3,000 people flow through the venue on an average Ditch Friday.

Local women always get in free; men pay $25. Captains of Industry will serve as resident DJs during the day with special events throughout the summer. DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Pauly D are among the scheduled celebrity DJs.

Cabanas have a $2,500 minimum while daybeds cost $750. But there's an abundance of complimentary chaise lounges, too, Salas says.

The Palms will host its annual Bunny Hunt on June 25, where women are invited to come to Ditch Friday and audition to be a Playboy Bunny.

Guests can expect some new things, as well. The Palms Pool Cafe will now serve food poolside. On Sundays, the pool will be open with no cover charge. Resident DJ Scotty Boy will spin music.

Ditch Friday starts at 11 a.m. every Friday with the pool closing at 7 p.m. For more information, call 938-9999.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.