14 things to do outside in Las Vegas after sunset

Las Vegas has extreme summertime sun and heat during the day, so save these 14 outdoor activities for nighttime.

Summertime in Las Vegas is hot, hot, hot. The temperature here barely deviates between scorching, blistering, and molten. 

Locals are used to the extreme heat (thank you, benevolent air conditioning gods), but that doesn’t stop the toughest among us from venturing outside. However, some activities are worth saving for nighttime when it’s slightly cooler, or at the very least, when you don’t have to worry about sunburn.

From movies by the pool to mini-golf, here are 14 things to do outside at night this summer when your patience for the daytime heat has gone up in smoke. You won’t need to bring sunscreen and a hat, but don’t forget to drink water.

Las Vegas Strip

Welcome to Las Vegas sign

5100 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Just because you live here doesn’t mean you can’t have a little touristy fun and snap photos at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign. This free local attraction makes for an even better photo at night when it’s lit and the sun isn’t in your eyes. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 25-foot-tall Las Vegas landmark was designed by Nevada artist Betty Willis in 1959. Today, the site on the south end of the Strip is equipped with parking, turf, traffic lights, crosswalks, solar power, and the occasional costumed character or Elvis impersonator.

A photo by the Welcome to Las Vegas sign is a great addition to any family album. (Ken Lane/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Fountains of Bellagio

Bellagio, 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd.

They’ve been seen globally in movies and on TV, but there’s nothing better than watching the free Fountains of Bellagio in person.  Choreographed to music, the fountains dance in the air, shooting as high as 460 feet from over 1,000 nozzles in an 8.5-acre, brightly lit artificial lake every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight (every 30 minutes before 8 p.m.). If you park in the Bellagio’s parking garage, walk through the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to see the free, 24/7 seasonal display before heading out front.

Linq Promenade

535 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Located between the Linq and Flamingo hotels, the open-air Linq Promenade offers dining, entertainment, bars, and attractions like a zipline and a giant observation wheel. Open until 11 p.m., there’s plenty of window shopping and people watching to be had. Located at the far end of the walkway, furthest from Las Vegas Boulevard, the High Roller observation wheel (from $25) reaches 550 feet at the top, offering 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Valley. Hop into your climate-controlled pod around sunset to see the whole city turn on when the sun goes down. If that’s too tame for you, a 12-story zipline (from $49) rushes 35 miles per hour through the air across the promenade.

Whether you walk around or hop on the High Roller, there’s plenty to see and do at the Linq Promenade. (LasVegasGuy/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Dive-In Movies

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Instead of sitting in a stuffy theater breathing recycled air, catch newish releases, cult classics, and fan-fave films while chilling outdoors at Dive-In Movies at 8 p.m. on Monday nights. The rooftop cinema at the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool (Level 3 in the Boulevard Tower) will screen films this summer, including Wicked, Captain America: The First Avenger, Top Gun Maverick, The Goonies, Happy Gilmore, Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Good Burger, and Elf. Concessions include movie-inspired cocktails and snacks. Tickets are $10 for Las Vegas locals at the door or on Ticketmaster.

Oasis Cinema Club

Fountainebleau Las Vegas, 2777 S Las Vegas Blvd

Fan favorite films will be projected on a poolside screen at Oasis Cinema Club through September. Enjoy movies like “Luca,” “Uncharted,” “Moana,” “Toy Story,” “Elemental,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Finding Dory,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “A Minecraft Movie” starting at 8 p.m. There’s also a special menu that puts a twist on movie concession classics. Tickets are $10, and Fontainebleau Rewards members are free.

Downtown Las Vegas

Fremont Street Experience

Five blocks of Fremont Street

You could explore this covered pedestrian-friendly mall during the day, but with live music and a technicolor light show, the Fremont Street Experience is much more exciting at night. From bar after liquor-laden bar to costumed entertainers, there’s something everywhere you look. Look around (and listen) for a free concert on one of three stages. Look up for an eyeful from the 1,375-foot-long, 90-foot-wide Viva Vision canopy, and zipliners soaring 12 stories above your head on the SlotZilla Zipline (from $49). When you need a break from the heat, head inside any of the surrounding casinos for a blast of air conditioning.

The five-block Fremont Street Experience is a feast of sights and sounds. (Bernard Spragg)

Downtown Container Park

707 E. Fremont St.

A 40-foot metal praying mantis shooting fire and a heart-shaped sculpture are your first indication that this isn’t your typical shopping mall. Family-friendly and open until at least 11 p.m. (9 p.m. for kids), the open-air Downtown Container Park is made from metal cubes and shipping containers. Located in the vibrant Fremont East District, it houses three stories of locally owned retail shops and restaurants, a playground with a treehouse, and an outdoor stage for musical performances. 

Neon Museum

770 N. Las Vegas Boulevard

The lights on Las Vegas signs will never go completely dim, thanks to the Neon Museum. This boneyard for old iconic signs is a nonprofit museum and educational institution that tells the story of the city and changes in sign design and technology dating back to the 1930s. Even the visitor center is iconic, housed inside the lobby of the former La Concha Motel. Open until midnight, arrive around sunset or after dark to see the signs on full, illuminated display. Nighttime cost is $30 for Nevada residents.

The signs are illuminated at night at the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas. (Gilda/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Summerlin 

Las Vegas Aviators

Las Vegas Ballpark, 1650 S. Pavilion Center Dr.

Las Vegas is home to a Minor League baseball team, the Las Vegas Aviators (formerly Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars). You can catch the Triple-A affiliate as they swing for the fences in a game this summer at the Las Vegas Ballpark. A baseball game is fun for the whole family, and it’s cheap, sometimes as low as $7 per ticket. You can roam around, buy snacks and drinks, and take in the atmosphere. And when you’re seated, you’ll stay a little cooler thanks to breathable mesh seating. The ballpark is the first in sports history to manufacture all of its seats with the extreme heat in mind.

Downtown Summerlin

1980 Festival Plaza 

It’s a mall, but it’s so much more. Downtown Summerlin has more than 100 shops and restaurants in a 400-acre, open-air, walkable area. It’s also a hub for entertainment and events with activities like yoga on the lawn, a farmer’s market, festivals, holiday parades, and evening concerts. Just thinking about the ice skating rink that pops up in the winter may help cool you off. The mall closes at 8 p.m., but concerts and events sometimes go later.

South Las Vegas & Henderson

PopStroke

Town Square, 6617 South Las Vegas Blvd.

Golfing legend Tiger Woods’ PopStroke is home to two original 18-hole mini-golf courses, designed for players of all ages and levels. You can putt-putt outside in Las Vegas on an easy or challenging course with professional TaylorMade equipment.  Best of all, you can order drinks and food from the hole on the PopStroke app. An all-day pass starts at $35 on weekends.

Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden

2 Cactus Garden Dr., Henderson

Available to enjoy year-round, the 3-acre Botanical Cactus Garden at the Ethel M chocolate factory has over 300 different species of cacti and plants, all specifically selected for their beauty and ability to thrive in the Mojave Desert. The gorgeous public garden is especially magical during the holidays when it’s decorated with lights and other decorations. The Botanical Cactus Garden is free and open for exploration until 9 p.m. You can also head inside for a free factory tour to see how the chocolates are made until 7 p.m.

Cowabunga Bay

900 Galleria Drive, Henderson

Family-friendly Las Vegas waterpark Cowabunga Bay isn’t usually open at night. But the Henderson location is offering a couple of adults-only after-hours events this summer, including Adult Swim and Country in the Cove. Guests (21 and over) enjoy live music, food, drinks, rides, and no kids.

Multiple locations

Stargazing

Outside the city limits

The bright lights of Las Vegas are nothing compared to the stunning stars and constellations in the night sky. All it takes is a short road trip away from the light pollution and beyond the city limits. Camp beneath the stars at Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, or Valley of Fire. Or better yet, attend a Las Vegas Astronomical Society star party at Mt. Charleston (where it’s about 20 degrees cooler than Las Vegas).

Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is only 20 minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip, but it feels like millions of miles. (Bureau of Land Management Red Rock Canyon)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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