Las Vegas, "Check Points" - SUMMER

Summer begins in earnest in mid to late June as temperatures climb steadily beyond the 32oC (90oF) mark. This is also festival time for Las Vegas with two food and one film festival to look forward to. For racing enthusiasts, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a treat, while gaming lovers enjoy the annual World Series of Poker tournament.


JUNE


World Series of Poker (Jun 2–Jul 15), Rio. More than 20,000 players match wits in this annual tournament. Buy- ins range from $1,000 for the ladies’ game to $10,000 for the No-limit Texas Hold ’em World Championship. Cine Vegas Film Festival (second week). An exciting and hugely popular film festival, with the chance to see great movies as well as many Hollywood stars. Several seminars are held for budding screenwriters and producers.


JULY


Fourth of July (Jul 4). Fireworks, drinking, gambling, barbecues, and outdoor concerts, as well as high temperatures mark the celebration. Local parks sponsor sports contests, pancake breakfasts, and other events.


AUGUST


Men’s Apparel Guild in California (MAGIC) (third week). The latest in men’s and women’s fashion apparel is showcased twice a year – in February and August. Some celebrities also display their own latest lines of clothing.


SEPTEMBER


San Gennaro Feast and Street Fair (mid-Sept). The centerpiece of this famous festival is the Italian cuisine feast with over 60 ethnic food vendors. The four-day event also features a carnival midway, Miss San Gennaro beauty pageant, rides, games,Live bands, and several stalls of arts and craft.


Greek Food Festival (mid- Sept), St. John’s Orthodox Church. Luscious pastries and lip-smacking Greek foods and specialties are available at this festival, which is held in celebration of the Greek Indepen- dence Day. Events include authentic Greek music, folk dancing, a huge shopping bazaar, and many other forms of entertain- ment that take place on the lush grounds of this massive church, which is located near Hacienda Road and Jones Boulevard.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (late Sept), Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This special NASCAR event is held for trucks. More than 70 Chevy, Ford, and Dodge pick-ups race at speeds of up to 160 mph (257 km/h) in this exciting competition.

Las Vegas, "Check Points" - SPRING

Las Vegas enjoys an average of more than 312 days of sun-shine each year, allowing for the enjoyment of various outdoor activities almost every day of the year. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons as World Series visitors and residents alike revel in of Poker chip the pleasantly warm days, filled with several sporting events, including golf and boxing championships, baseball tournaments, and NASCAR races.

SPRING

The spring months are usually very mild. The days are virtually cloud-free, and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the parades, carnivals, and numerous sporting activities that take place during these months.

MARCH

ShoWest Convention (early Mar). This huge, motion picture industry event lures several celebrities to town. NASCAR Weekend (early Mar), Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Busch Series and the Nextel Cup races are held over three days. This is the largest sporting event of the year, and attracts more than 150,000 racing fans.

Mayhem (mid-Mar– early April). College basketball season takes off as teams compete in a lead up to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Cham- pionship finals.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
(Mar 17). More than 100 entrants and colorful floats set off on the city’s biggest parade. Resorts use the occasion to run specials on corned beef and cabbage and green beer.

Big League Weekend (late Mar or early April), Cashman Field. Baseball season swings into action with gusto as six major league teams compete against each other.

APRIL


Native American Arts Festival (first weekend), Clark County Heritage Museum. Presents dance, drama, and musical performances. An outdoor craft market features over 40 vendors with Native American arts, crafts, and food.
Mardi Gras (early Apr). The Fremont Street Experience and several hotels gear up for special Mardi Gras festivities with live Dixieland jazz, street carnivals, and Cajun cuisine.

LPGA Takefuji Classic (mid-Apr), Las Vegas Country Club. Top women golf professionals compete at this international golf tournament. The championship holds
an impressive cash prize of $1.1 million.

MAY


Cinco de Mayo (Sun closest to May 5). Annual Mexican celebration with fun-filled activities at parks throughout the city. Casinos and hotels offer food and drink specials, as well as free giveaways.


Memorial Day Weekend (last weekend). The city comes alive during three days of parties, outdoor concerts by international performers, sizzling shows, sports events, and appetizing cuisines.