Category Archive: Conventions

  1. March 2013 Events in Las Vegas

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    Temperatures are finally starting to pick up (with an average high temp of 69 F and average rainfall of less than half an inch) and so are the hot activities going on at the Riviera and around town! Plus, we’ve already got our eyes on summer, and we’ve got a scorching deal for you: read below about a special room rate we’re offering for early birds.

    At the Riviera

    They’re Back! The Original Pranksters Comedy Duo

    March 14–17, 2013 at 10:30 p.m.
    Steve-O & Tom Green

    Two true icons of comedy, the Riviera is proud to present Steve-O and Tom Green as “The Original Pranksters” in a hilarious show in March. Get your tickets now!

    All Month: March Madness

    How could we not start with March Madness: we love this exciting time in basketball! (It’s also a bettor’s paradise, what with 16 games per day for the first two days.)

    • March 11 – Selection Sunday, where the brackets are revealed
    • March 19 & 20 – First Four, where four teams duke it out for the final spots in the tournament
    • March 28 to 31 – Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, as the tournament really gets going
    • (April 6 & 8 – Final Four, when the last teams fight for survival to play for the National Championship)

    Join us at the Riviera’s own sports bar, Le Bistro Bar, to catch all the action on our jumbo HDTVs.

    March 14–17: Saint Patrick’s Day in Las Vegas

    http://hendersonlive.com/

    Neighboring Henderson, NV will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, beginning on March 14, at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 Water Street. This year’s parade theme will be The Harp and the Shamrock. Altogether, the festival will offer a carnival, car show and live entertainment in addition to the parade.

    If you’d rather celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with a pint, try hitting some local Irish pubs.

    • Hennessey’s Tavern – www.hennesseyslasvegas.com – at 425 Fremont Street. Try the “World’s Largest Pint” at a great pub that favors the “traditional cozy or clubby feel indigenous to Irish pubs.” For the special occasion, you might try their Southern Irish Tenders, or signature seasoned, breaded chicken.
    • McMullan’s Irish Pub – www.mcmullansirishpub.com – at 4650 W. Tropicana. This award-winning pub features an amazingly extensive selection of Irish Whiskeys and Scotches, just the perfect way to celebrate the holiday.

    March 19–21: Annual International Pizza Expo

    http://www.pizzaexpo.com/

    We just featured the best pizza in Las Vegas last month; now, Vegas will be hosting the Annual International Pizza Expo. While the event is aimed at pizzeria owners and operators, it features several events that draw crowds – like the World Pizza Games ® and the International Pizza Challenge ®. The latter challenge is divided into four divisions: traditional, non-traditional, American-pan and Italian-style. Competitors must use ingredients from a common table, including one mystery ingredient.

    At its heart, this is the event that inspires many pizzerias in developing and offering new flavors, recipes and presentations. And if you think pizza is just pizza, obviously you’ve never gotten into an impassioned argument about the key differences between Roman, Neapolitan, New York, Chicago, and other style pies!

    Bank of America Museums on Us® (Free)

    March 2 & 3, 2013
    Various museums
    http://museums.bankofamerica.com

    Are you a Bank of America debit or credit cardholder? Then you have automatic free admission the first full weekend each month to several museums and attractions in the Las Vegas area.

    Participating museums in the BofA program include:

    First Friday Art Celebration (Free)

    Friday, March 1, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
    Downtown Arts District
    http://www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/faq.htm

    Vegas celebrates its arts community the first Friday of every month. It’s a fun and family-friendly event that includes artists, vendors and activities. It’s also free, but you may want to bring along some cash if you plan on purchasing any art or taking advantage of the many, many food trucks. The celebration also usually features multiple live bands and live performance “paintings.” It’s one of our favorite events to take the family, get away from the Strip for an evening and discover a cornucopia of artisans specializing in all kinds of media, like painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and more.

    For more information about getting there and what it includes, visit their website.

    Heads Up: Electric Daisy Carnival

    June 21 to 23, 2013

    Four months might seem awfully far in advance to mention this stellar event, but considering the EDC is the largest dance music event in the nation, you don’t want to delay making your travel arrangements. The Riviera is offering added incentive to make your plans early: 25% off our already unbeatable room rates. Book now.

  • November Events in Las Vegas

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    November is a wonderful time to visit Vegas. The falling temperatures are perfect (with an average high of 67 F, low 42 F, rainfall 0.43”), and tourist crowds are beginning to thin. Combine those two facts, and you’re in for a relaxed, comfortable trip.

    In addition to hitting the Strip, this is a great time of year for outdoor day trips, like visiting Springs Preserve (see below to find out how you can do that for free this month), or outdoor sports like golfing. We recommend packing and dressing in layers to accommodate the range of temperatures you’ll encounter.

    Icons of Comedy: Natasha Leggero ($)

    Nov 2–4 at 10:30 p.m.

    Starlite Theatre

    http://newsite.rivierahotel.com/events/natasha-leggero/

    We’re so excited to be hosting Natasha Leggero at our own Starlite Theatre this November! There’s a good chance you already recognize this celebrated comedienne from her appearances on Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Last Call with Carson Daly and multiple stand-up shows on Comedy Central. This is one fun show that’s sure to tickle your funny bones.

    First Friday Art Celebration (Free)

    Friday, November 2, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
    Downtown Arts District
    http://www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/faq.htm

    Vegas celebrates its arts community the first Friday of every month. It’s a fun and family-friendly event that includes artists, vendors and activities. It’s also free, but you may want to bring along some cash if you plan on purchasing any art or taking advantage of the many, many food trucks. The celebration also usually features multiple live bands and live performance “paintings.” It’s one of our favorite events to take the family, get away from the Strip for an evening and discover a cornucopia of artisans specializing in all kinds of media, like painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and more.

    For more information about getting there and what it includes, visit their website.

    2012 Dinosaur Ball – End of the World Party! ($)

    Saturday, November 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

    Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV

    http://www.lvnhm.org/

    Will this be the party to end all parties? For the 2012 Dinosaur Ball, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum drew inspiration from the Mayans, whose calendar ends (yeah, right!) on December 21.

    Details haven’t been announced yet, but the Dinosaur Ball is typically a high-class fundraising affair for the museum, including cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and live entertainment. Last year, tickets started at $250.


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    Aviation Nation 2012 (Free)

    November 10–11, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Nellis Air Force Base, 4700 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Nellis AFB, NV

    http://www.nellis.af.mil/aviationnation/

    One of the largest and most diverse aviation events in the nation, Aviation Nation shines a spotlight on America’s military achievements around the globe. The event includes approximately 100 ground aircraft displays as well as aerial demonstrations. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the two-day event.


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    Motor Trend International Auto Show – Las Vegas ($)

    November 23–25, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV

    http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/lasvegas

    Events this November are going to give you vertigo. Coming down from the high of Aviation Nation 2012, we look forward to being firmly grounded at the Motor Trend International Auto Show, which will showcase hundreds of current and upcoming car and truck models. Tickets start at $7.

    The Las Vegas Convention Center is about a ten-minute walk from the Riviera:


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    ZOPPÉ – An Italian Family Circus ($$)

    November 1–4, 2012, show times vary by day
    The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV
    http://zoppe.net/

    Napoleone and Ermengilda Zoppe’ founded Circo Zoppe’ in 1842, and the modern incarnation manages to capture all the charm and magic of an old-school circus brought into the modern world. Audiences in the small arena will be treated to acrobatics, equestrian showmanship, clowns and more. This circus provides an intimate experience – rife with audience participation! – that’s often missing from bigger productions, without losing any of the thrills or humor. Tickets start at $28.


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    Bank of America Museums on Us® (Free)

    November 3 & 4

    Various museums

    http://museums.bankofamerica.com

    Are you a Bank of America debit or credit cardholder? Then you have automatic free admission the first full weekend each month to several museums and attractions in the Las Vegas area.

    For example, we’ve already told you about the lovely Springs Preserve. This program offers a great opportunity to explore it at no cost.

    Participating museums in the BofA program include:

    • Las Vegas Natural History Museum
    • Lied Discovery Children’s Museum
    • Springs Preserve

  • SPOTLIGHT ON THE CONVENTION CENTER

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    The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Center, a two-minute drive from the Riviera Hotel and Casino, is one of the largest and most popular convention centers in the world. With 3.2 million square feet to spare – including two million square feet of exhibit space and 144 meeting rooms, the center hosts a constant stream of fascinating exhibits, showrooms and conventions. And it’s surrounded by some of the best golfing, gambling, and entertainment around: It’s no wonder that conference attendance increases by an average of 13 percent when an event is held in our fair city!

    When planning a trip to Las Vegas, it’s often a good idea to check whether an unusually large convention is happening.

    January, for instance, brings an annual stream of about 120,000 souls into Sin City for the International Consumer Electronics Show. That enormous number of people can make it difficult to find an inexpensive hotel room, so we recommend planning a January Vegas trip well in advance (and checking our site first, as we offer some of the best deals in town, even during the heavy convention season).

    Keep in mind that you yourself can take advantage of the convention center’s vast array of meeting spaces. Let’s say you want to have a family reunion in Vegas. If, for some reason, our hotel’s meeting spaces are booked solid, the convention center is reasonably enough located that it might make sense to hold your reunion there.

    For corporate meetings, showcases and other events requiring feats of technical brilliance, the convention center has, in its leaders’ own words, “robust fiber backbone (that) links attendees, exhibitors and organizers.” Lots of cutting-edge stuff there.

    Check out some of the convention center’s success stories here, then make sure to book your room at the Riviera as soon as possible. You’ll get the best of both worlds, Vegas-style.

    To Reach the Las Vegas Convention Center from the Hotel:

    Las Vegas Convention Center
    3150 Paradise Rd
    Las Vegas, NV 89109
    (702) 892-0711