Vegas has plenty of free entertainment and art for those on a tighter budget. Although most things to do off the Strip are cheaper, there are many free things on the Strip.
The Bellagio is home to some of the best free attractions in Las Vegas. Regular crowds go to see the spectacular shows in the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and the mesmerizing Fountains of Bellagio have entertained visitors for years.
A stroll around the Strip or Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas is one of the greatest free performances you can see, thanks to the constant stream of street entertainers that work in both areas. Showgirls and shirtless Magic Mike impersonators may be willing to pose for photographs with you, but know that they will want payment. So before taking any images, be sure you know what the cost will be.
Leaving the city to discover the nearby desert is a great way to enjoy inexpensive or free entertainment. The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge offers a free bird’s-eye view of Hoover Dam from the highest point in the United States and the second tallest in the country. Even if you’re afraid of heights, visiting Seven Magic Mountains’ neon rock towers is a must. There is a vast desert with the Jean Dry Lake Bed in the distance, and the bright rocks of this public artwork stand out against the gray.
Learn more about the top free activities in Vegas by reading on.
Visit the Pinball Museum and Hall of Fame
One museum that contributes to Las Vegas’s amazing weirdness is the Pinball Hall of Fame. It relocated to a 25,000-square-foot building on the Strip in 2021, where it currently exhibits classic pinball machines and the occasional arcade game. With a focus on pinball’s golden decades of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, this is the world’s biggest collection of its type. A quarter or a half dollar will get you in the door, but the machines cost a minimum of that to play. Since the museum is a non-profit, all proceeds will be donated to the cause.
Visit the Art District of Downtown Las Vegas
Arts District is the place to go if you want to see art that extends beyond paintings and sculptures, meet artists, and peruse several galleries and stores. The space is a modern art museum with many buildings that display works in various media.
Art Square, a restoration project including three historic buildings, has contemporary architecture, an outdoor art garden, internal office/gallery spaces, and much more. At the same time, The Arts Factory is home to studios and performing arts facilities.
At 1st & Main, tourists may dine at the restaurant and bar Taverna Costera, shop in the florist and cultural events venue Stinko’s, and learn about the history of burlesque dancers at the museum-like Burlesque Hall of Fame.
Mirage Volcano
The Mirage puts on fantastic music and a light spectacle that thrill-seekers can’t miss when in Vegas. A free seat at the artificial lagoon is waiting for you to take and watch the sky light up with explosions that reach heights of up to 3.6 meters from the edge of the volcano. The concert features music by Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.
The location is easy to find since The Volcano is set against The Mirage Hotel and Casino, located right on Las Vegas Boulevard. The free 10-minute performance begins at sundown and runs on the Las Vegas Strip many times each evening.
See the Hoover Dam
You may save money by forgoing the guided tours of the Hoover Dam and instead appreciating this incredible engineering work from various vantage points.
First, cross the dam on the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The world’s tallest concrete arch bridge replaced the need for vehicles to go over the top of the dam. Walk over the bridge on a free walkway, and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Hoover Dam. There’s a free parking lot near the bridge but get there early since it fills up fast.
Rejoin your vehicle and go to one of the Arizona side’s free higher parking areas. In your mind’s eye, the distance from here to the dam is around half a mile (for those with accessibility issues, parking is complimentary in the parking garage right next to the dam). Walk over the dam’s top to obtain up-close looks at the structure and Lake Mead.
Spend Time Having Fun In A Container Park
Downtown Container Park, located at Fremont and South 7th, is another fun place to check out in the recently revitalized downtown Las Vegas neighborhood. It’s an enormous open-air mall, amusement park, and concert venue made almost entirely of recycled metal shipping containers.
Over the day and into the evening, visitors to Container Park may enjoy a wide variety of free musicals and other acts on the park’s several stages. Outside movies, magic acts, and community adventures are all great options for little or no cost entertainment. In addition, you can enjoy free activities like huge checkers and LEGO bricks on the large grass area.
In addition to its many interesting eateries and boutiques, the Downtown Container Park also has a free, family-friendly, interactive play area. The huge Treehouse has features including a NEOS electronic play system, an obstacle course, and a 33-foot curved slide. Playground equipment in NEOS is equipped with electronic sensors that allow it to communicate with and respond to the players and other pieces of playground equipment.
In this age of rampant inflation, a single dollar goes much farther in Las Vegas than it formerly did. As a result, free beverages and inexpensive buffets in casinos are a rarity, although they sometimes pop up. After all, there is a wide range in prices among the Strip’s dining establishments. However, there is one price that wins the hearts of all: zero. So even though it’s a city renowned for its lavish lifestyle, there are plenty of free things to do and see. Lastly, read more about travel around the world here.
