Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
down, go to
www.worldseriesofpoker.
com
. The 2006 World Series was held at
the Rio; as we go to press there's no
definite word on where it will be held in
2007, but that should be disclosed on the
website.
September
Oktoberfest:
As in many parts of the
U.S., the German Oktoberfest is a big
deal—or at least an excuse to listen to
oompah music without embarrassment
and drink copious amounts of beer. It's
celebrated with verve at the Hofbräuhaus
(p. 104), a perfect re-creation of the
famous Munich beer hall of the same
name, where the motto is “Every Day's
Oktoberfest.” When the actual holiday
rolls around they ramp up the merriment a
notch, with keg-tapping festivals, folk art
celebrations, music performed by groups
brought over from Germany, and, of
course, beer. Lots and lots of beer. In
nearby
Mount Charleston
(p. 296) there
are similar festivities but with the bonus
of a spectacular view.
October
Vegoose:
The weekend before Halloween,
Vegas throws its own “Lollapalooza,”
booking the top names in rock and pop
music for a multihour, multinight concert
(how many nights depends on where in
the week Halloween falls). In 2006, head-
liners included the Black Crowes, Fiona
Apple, Dave Matthews, The Killers, and
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This
being Vegas, it doesn't end with the
music, of course. The crowd comes in cos-
tumes, there's a blackjack tourney, wed-
ding opportunities, an impersonator cafe,
a burn-your-own CD booth, and tons of
other extras add to the fun. For more info,
go to
www.vegoose.com
.
Halloween:
Beyond the music, Vegas has
dozens of other special events for
Halloween itself, including multiple
haunted houses at the Orleans Arena, and
the Adventuredome (p. 135); costume
parties at all the major dance clubs; the
Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball; and a
number of other events. Any excuse for a
party is welcomed in Vegas, of course, and
Halloween is no exception. The website
www.halloweenlasvegas.com
lists all of
the various happenings.
November
The National Finals Rodeo:
Yee-haw!
This 13-day event, which usually starts
the last weekend in November, is the be-all
and end-all in everything cowboy, a must
for those who take their roping, wrangling,
and bull riding seriously. Nearly 170,000
people show up to watch the competi-
tions, with $5 million in prize money dis-
tributed over the course of the events. For
the top 15 male rodeo stars there are six
events—calf roping, steer wrestling, bare-
back riding, saddle bronco riding, team
roping, and bull riding—that might net
them the title of “Cowboy of the Year.” The
top 15 women compete in barrel racing.
All of Vegas goes western for the event,
with a cowboy gift show at the Convention
Center, and there's an invasion of country
music stars who might include Vince Gill,
Tanya Tucker, Brooks and Dunne, and
Charlie Daniels. To order tickets (you'll
need reservations long in advance) or find
out more, go to
www.nfrexperience.com
or call
%
702/895-3900.
December
The Las Vegas Marathon:
A relatively
new event but growing in popularity, the
marathon attracted 15,000 participants its
first year (2005), some of whom sweated
their way through a jog-through wedding
at the Special Memory Chapel (p. 156). A
loop run, the marathon starts in front of
Mandalay Bay, where the hotel blasts the
song “Viva Las Vegas” as a starting gun,
and indulges in a major laser light show.
Go to
www.lvmarathon.com
for complete
information.
