David Becker/Las Vegas News Bureau
People display the Mexican flag at the official El Grito ceremony to kick off the the Mexican Independence Day festivities at The Forum Shops at Caesars Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in Las Vegas.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 | 2 a.m.
It could be argued that every weekend in Las Vegas is a party, but this weekend is extra special and annually is one of the heaviest for visitor traffic.
That’s partly because Mexican Independence Day is being celebrated all over the Las Vegas Valley with sporting events, concerts and more.
Mexicans around the world celebrated the holiday — known by many as “El Grito de Dolores” or “El Grito” — on Friday, though different festivities and events will take place all weekend.
Perhaps the most anticipated event is tonight at T-Mobile Arena, where superstar Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez will battle Gennadiy Golovkin in the third meeting between the rivals.
And then Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders — one of the most popular U.S. pro sports teams within the Hispanic community — host the Arizona Cardinals for the team’s home opener at Allegiant Stadium.
On Friday, the Raiders posted a Tweet with the Mexican flag and the message “viva Mexico” to mark the holiday.
“This is going to be a huge weekend in Las Vegas,” said Paul Davis, senior vice president of entertainment booking for MGM Resorts International, which is a partial owner of T-Mobile Arena. “This is an important holiday for our resorts, and a big few days for Las Vegas, which has come back roaring (from pandemic closures in 2020).”
In 2019, the last calendar year not disrupted by the pandemic, Las Vegas welcomed over 42 million visitors, or about 3.5 million per month, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Last year, the city welcomed close to 2.7 million visitors per month, though it’s widely expected that the visitor total for 2022 will be closer to the 2019 figure.
Through July, according to LVCVA statistics, Las Vegas has attracted just over 22 million visitors so far in 2022. If the city continues welcoming visitors at that pace through the end of the year, it would record over 37 million tourists for 2022.
The occupancy rate is high at hotels this weekend, and whatever rooms that are left aren’t cheap. As of Friday, the most affordable room in downtown was $333 at Four Queens; on the Strip it’s $399 at New York New York.
Davis said the big fight “adds to the buzz” around Mexican Independence Day this year in Las Vegas, but there are plenty of additional events around the valley.
Among many different concert offerings in Las Vegas this weekend, international superstar Enrique Iglesias will finish his two-night concert stand tonight at Resorts World, and Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez will play tonight at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mexican-born rocker Carlos Santana, a longtime Las Vegas resident artist, is set to play at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, and Christian Nodal will rock out Sunday at Grand Garden Arena.
Mexican band Bronco is set to entertain tonight at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Mexican tourists have always been important for Las Vegas’ tourism.
In 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic showed up in America, Las Vegas welcomed 1.1 million visitors from Mexico, according to the LVCVA.
That was slightly down from 2015 and 2016, which each saw about 1.2 million travelers from Mexico show up.
“Mexico has long been one of Las Vegas’ top international markets, and we’re delighted to once again welcome visitors to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day holiday as well as Hispanic Heritage Month,” H. Fletch Brunelle, vice president of marketing for the LVCVA, said in a statement.
Brunelle said there were 40 weekly nonstop flights from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey into Las Vegas.
“The resorts do a fantastic job of celebrating Mexican Independence Day through concerts, comedy and sports events featuring Latin America’s top talent,” Brunelle said.
It’s not just on the Strip where Mexican Independence Day is being celebrated.
Clark County officials hosted a gathering Friday, which was attended by Commissioner Jim Gibson, and the occasion will be marked all weekend at the Grand Canal Shoppes, at the Venetian, with performances by mariachi bands, dancers and Latin-themed artists.
Las Vegas attorney David Lopez-Negrete, who sits as a director on the Nevada Latino Bar Association board, called the celebration of Mexico’s independence “hugely important” for Mexican Americans living in Southern Nevada.
Lopez-Negrete was born in Mexico, but his family later came to the U.S., where he established citizenship.
“This is our home, even though lots of us have immigrant roots,” Lopez-Negrete said. “We’re a huge part of the community here in Clark County. In Nevada, Mexicans comprise about 40% of all immigrants who come to the state, so this is a big opportunity for the Mexican community to celebrate our heritage.”
Lopez-Negrete said he proudly celebrated both the Fourth of July and Mexican Independence Day.
“I love how all the properties on the Strip host all these different events, from concerts to food and just the celebration of culture,” Lopez-Negrete said. “I know lots of people, not just Mexicans, are excited about Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month.”
The Mexican Independence Day celebration isn’t all that’s bringing visitors to town this weekend.
The three-day Life is Beautiful festival in downtown Las Vegas is expected to bring 170,000 attendees, officials said. The festival includes musical acts, art exhibits, comedians and culinary talent.
