LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Las Vegas only had a hundred days to find a way to steer F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race fans and locals downtown and they argue there’s one word that will do the trick—”free.”
Derek Stevens, owner of Circa Resort & Casino, basked in the sound of the Neon City Festival performers from the Main Street Stage, one of four locations for the event. The event was founded by Stevens who explained what it took to start the party.
“We were able to pull 13 casinos and work together to do something like this,” Stevens said. “Obviously, F1 weekend, that’s the big event. We’re trying to bring some alternative programming that’s good for tourism but also great for our locals.”
Each stage boasted a different musical genre, according to Stevens, who pointed to the wide array of food available, like Project BBQ.
“One of the great things we really try to focus on now with the Neon City Festival is to try to increase tourism on this weekend before Thanksgiving,” Stevens said. “We really want to celebrate something special for locals, having a festival Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that’s free all weekend.”
Two blocks down from the Fremont Street Experience stages Jeff Victor, CEO of Neon City Festival, watched as the pop-up vendors assembled their stands and crews readied for the fireworks. He defended the event as something that pairs well with Formula 1, not something that competes against it.
“F1 in Las Vegas was a wonderful experience, and so that’s great, but not everybody’s a race fan like me,” Victor said. “We thought we’d add an additional layer.”
Victor said he was surrounded by free entertainment visitors can enjoy, but admitted the sheer scope of the festival might be easy to miss if you don’t make a pitstop.
“The funny thing is we’ve had a hard time communicating that there’s a festival with 50 bands, plus art and culture and food,” Victor said. “Free, it’s just that simple.”
The Neon City Festival begins at 1 p.m. every day from Nov. 22 to 24 at four stages including Downtown Las Vegas Event Center and the Fremont Street Experience.
