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The Vantage LV #28
This Weekend in Vegas: Food, Floats, and Fairy Dust
Matthew Prindiville
May 08, 2025
Your locally curated guide to to the best brand-new eats, events, and hidden gems
[Issue #028 | May 8th, 2025]
Together With:
Good morning, Vegas! After a weekend of record-breaking rain, flash flood warnings, and even hail in Henderson, May 2025 has already become the wettest May on record in Las Vegas. Harry Reid International Airport recorded 1.44 inches of rain, surpassing the previous record set in 1969.
But now, the skies have cleared, and the city is drying out just in time for a weekend packed with events. Vegas has a short memory and a full calendar, and this week, both are working in our favor.
🍟 A deep-fried fever dream in broad daylight
🐾 A dog party with people allowed
🛍️ Night markets are the new nightlife
Here’s what’s worth your time this week:
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Great Food Awaits at the Great American Foodie Fest
Great American Foodie Fest
📍 May 9-11 @ Desert Breeze Park
A deep-fried playground for the food-obsessed. The Great American Foodie Fest is one of Vegas’s most indulgent traditions, back this weekend with its signature lineup of over-the-top eats, carnival rides, and local vendors slinging everything from birria ramen to Oreo-stuffed churros. But beyond the spectacle (and there’s plenty), this festival still knows how to deliver big flavor without pretense. Whether you're going for the lobster fries, the backyard barbecue vibes, or just to say you tried the “world’s hottest” wings, it’s a reminder that food can be fun, even when it takes three napkins to survive it.
Beltane Fairy Festival
📍 May 10 @ Fergusons Downtown
What do you get when you mix spring renewal, downtown grit, and a touch of cosmic whimsy? The Beltane Fairy Festival—an enchanting one-night celebration of the season’s shift into light and growth, told through music, movement, and myth. Hosted on the block at Fergusons, this isn’t just a craft fair in elf ears. Expect ritual performances, storytelling, interactive altars, and a vendor lineup that leans more handmade incense and vintage cloaks than flower crowns and face glitter. It’s dreamy and deeply rooted in community and intention.
Mother’s Day Immersive Brunch
📍 May 11 @ Illuminarium
If your mom’s got a soft spot for flowers but a hard pass on crowded buffets, this one’s for her. Illuminarium is flipping the traditional Mother’s Day playbook with an immersive brunch experience set inside its Georgia O’Keeffe floral universe: wall-to-wall projections of blooming petals, ambient sound, and high-design visuals. It’s part digital art installation, part daytime celebration, with a curated menu (yes, there’s mimosas) and a vibe that’s more “enchanted escape” than strip-mall scramble. Sweet, stylish, and genuinely surprising, this one’s a solid option if you’re aiming to impress without overdoing it.
Great Northwest Country Fest
📍 May 10 @ Lone Mountain Equestrian Park
A little bit country, a little bit community cookout. This low-key local festival is one of those hidden gems that feels more backyard hangout than commercial concert. Hosted in the far northwest, the Great Northwest Country Fest brings together live country acts, a farmer’s market, games, free barbecue (until it runs out), and family-friendly attractions like petting zoos and climbing walls. The crowd? Chill. The parking? Easy. If your idea of a Saturday well spent involves smoked meat and steel guitars, consider this your sign.
Graffiti Park Foundation Fest
📍 May 10 @ 401 Drake St (Henderson)
Henderson’s most colorful corner is throwing a party for the people this Saturday, and it’s all about street-level creativity. The Graffiti Park Foundation Fest brings together muralists, musicians, vendors, and food trucks in a celebration of community expression and public art. Think of it as part paint jam, part family-friendly block party, with a backdrop that keeps evolving throughout the day. Whether you're coming to support the cause or just soak up the vibe, it’s a genuine, ground-up kind of event with plenty of heart.
The Biggest Dog Meetup in Las Vegas
📍 May 10 @ Barx Parx
There are dog events, and then there’s this. Billed as the biggest canine meetup in the city, Barx Parx’s annual celebration of Dog Parents is basically a furry free-for-all with vendors, giveaways, photo ops, and more happy tails than you can count. It’s open to all breeds, all sizes, and all humans who think their pup deserves to party. Expect live demos, treat samples, and a sea of very good boys and girls doing their best to behave. (Spoiler: they won’t, and that’s the charm.)
Cars, Cigars, and Tequila!
📍 May 10 @ Downtown Grand Hotel
Classic rides, high-proof pours, and a breeze of cigar smoke in the air. This annual event at the Downtown Grand takes over 3rd Street with vintage cars, tequila tastings, live bands, and lounge vibes that lean more Havana than hoedown. There’s an old-school cool to the whole thing that feels surprisingly rare these days. Whether you're a car person, a tequila enthusiast, or just tagging along with someone who is, it’s worth a lap around the block.
Helldorado Days Parade
📍 May 10 @ Downtown Las Vegas
A Vegas tradition with spurs on. The Helldorado Days Parade is one of the city’s oldest ongoing celebrations, originally started in 1935 and still rolling with civic pride, cowboy pageantry, and hometown charm. Saturday morning, the streets downtown will fill with floats, marching bands, and community groups showing off everything from roping skills to baton twirls. It’s historic, it’s wholesome, and it’s a reminder that before we were the city of neon, we were a desert town with a very loud marching band.
Holoholo Market
📍 May 10 @ Fergusons Downtown, 11am-4pm
This Saturday, the Holoholo Market returns to Fergusons Downtown, offering a curated selection of local vendors, live music, and community vibes. It's a perfect opportunity to support small businesses and enjoy the creative energy of the area.
Market in the Alley Night Market
📍 May 10 @ UnCommons, 6-10pm
After last week’s wild weather, experience the actually first of the summer night edition of Market in the Alley. Discover unique finds from local artisans, enjoy live music, and savor delicious bites in a vibrant, community-focused atmosphere.
Cosmic Closet Swapmeet
📍 May 9 @ Fergusons Downtown, 6-10pm
On Friday evening, Fergusons Downtown hosts the Cosmic Closet Swapmeet, a unique event where attendees can buy, sell, or trade rave and EDM fashion items. It's a great chance to refresh your festival wardrobe and connect with fellow enthusiasts before EDC.
Tivoli Night Market
📍 May 10 @ Tivoli Village, 5-10pm
This Saturday, Tivoli Village lights up for its signature Night Market, blending European courtyard charm with a strong showing of local makers, musicians, and food vendors. We got boutique pop-ups, live acoustic sets, and a few unexpected gems tucked between the fountains and patios.
IN THE END: Linkin Park Tribute Band
IN THE END: Linkin Park Experience
📍 May 10 @ Fremont Street Experience
For those who still feel the pulse of early 2000s alt-rock, this tribute band delivers a performance that channels the raw energy of Linkin Park. Expect a setlist packed with fan favorites, capturing the essence of the band's iconic sound.
And That's Why We Drink
📍 May 9 @ House of Blues
Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer bring their hit podcast to the stage, blending true crime tales with paranormal anecdotes and a splash of humor. It's a live experience that promises laughter, chills, and perhaps a few unexpected twists.
Mojo Juju
📍 May 9 @ Red Rock Casino
This band offers a dynamic mix of rock, pop, funk, and soul, ensuring a night of high-energy performances that keep the crowd engaged from start to finish. Their versatility makes them a standout act in the local music scene.
Brad Paisley
📍 May 9-10 @ Encore at Wynn
Country music star Brad Paisley takes the stage solo, showcasing his guitar prowess and storytelling abilities. This intimate performance offers fans a chance to experience his hits in a stripped-down, acoustic setting.
Oddyssey Noir
📍 May 10 @ Area15
The dark carnival warehouse rave that combines immersive environments with pulsating beats is back this weekend. Oddyssey Noir offers a multi-sensory experience, blending art installations with dance floors curated by VIBE FM. This event has a limited run, so be sure to catch it at least once!
Your voice matters! The local residents of Las Vegas are the number one best source of what’s good, great, and amazing here in this ever-evolving city. Every week we are going to feature the best recommendations tips, and shout-outs we receive!
As a southern transplant, y’all have to try Zaxbys. It knocks Cains into the gutter. The chicken is better and the Zax sauce is way more flavorful. I’m excited to have it again.
McMullan's Irish Pub has the best wings in Vegas! I swear they have the best lemon pepper wings I've ever had. They brine their wings for over 24 hrs and they're amazing. I suggest going during happy hour when they are half off. Get the triple: bbq, lemon pepper, & buffalo.
Our DMs are open, both via email and over on Instagram, so if you got some spicy news, hidden secrets, or just have a place you can’t get enough of, let us know!
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