Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Weekend best bets: Halloween Parade, Vegas Valley Book Festival and Dia de los Muertos

Las Vegas Halloween Parade 2011

Gary Downe of Las Vegas, dressed in a homemade costume as Gene Simmons of KISS, walks in the Las Vegas Halloween Parade in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011.

Get our your costumes and light the jack-o-lanterns — Halloween is upon us!

There are plenty of options to celebrate the spooky happenings this weekend, as well as a number of other fall festivities for the whole family to enjoy.

Here’s a look at our weekend best bets:

    • Tonight: Las Vegas Halloween Parade

      The fourth-annual Las Vegas Halloween Parade hits Fremont East tonight with its array of fabulous costumes, floats, art cars and more. The event begins at 7 p.m. at East Fremont and 13th Street and will conclude at 7th Street with a party full of dancing, food and other celebrations, as well as a number of costumes contests. Attendance is free.

    • Tonight - Saturday: Vegas Valley Book Festival

      The Valley’s annual celebration of literature returns for a 12th year bringing together more than 165 authors for more than 100 events, including 45 panel discussions, four keynote speakers and dozens of readings, book signings, workshops, vendor exhibits, art exhibitions and other performances. Festival headliners include Catherine Coulter, Luis Alberto Urrea, Walter Dean Myers and Robert E. Hall. Most events are free and open to the public and take place at downtown’s Historic Fifth Street School. For schedules and more information, visit the VVBF website.

    • Colorful paper decorations and sugar-coated skulls are on display in many of the altars presented at the annual Life in Death: Day of the Dead Festival at the Winchester Cultural Center and Park, Nov. 1, 2009.

      Friday - Sunday: Dia De Los Muertos at Springs Preserve

      The Mexican holiday celebrating deceased family members is about far more than face painting and glamorous costumes. Visit Springs Preserve this weekend for an authentic celebration of the Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities, which include colorful altar displays, face painting, sugar-skull decorating and traditional music. The three-day event runs daily from 4 to 9 p.m. Entry is $5 to $8.

    • Tonight - Sunday: Zoppe Family Circus at Symphony Park

      The Italian family circus, founded in 1842, returns to Symphony Park for a second year with its authentic, old-school circus artistry. Expect to be thrilled by acrobatics, equestrian showmanship, clowns and “canine capers” inside an intimate 600-person tent where no viewer is more than 25 feet away. Tickets are $25 to $50. For showtimes and more information, visit the Smith Center website.

    • Sunday: Ward 5 Bluegrass Music Festival at Lorenzi Park

      Stop by Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza this weekend to take in the sounds of Appalachia at the Ward 5 Bluegrass Music Festival hosted by Councilman Ricki Barlow. The free event features local bluegrass groups Sagebrush Stringband, Red Rock Ramblers, Nevada Old Time Fiddlers, Just 4 Fun, Stuck in Reverse and Out of the Desert. The music starts at 11 a.m.

    • Comedian Jim Breuer.

      Friday - Saturday: Jim Breuer at the Orleans

      Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Jim Breuer brings his sharp impressions (his Joe Pesci is spot-on) and off-the-wall characters like “Goat Boy” to Orleans Showroom for two nights of stand-up. The actor and comedian has been named by Comedy Central as one of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. Tickets are $33 to $55. Shows start at 8 p.m.

    Follow Andrea Domanick on Twitter at @AndreaDomanick and fan her on Facebook at Facebook.com/AndreaDomanick.

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