Photos: Creativecommons.org/iwona_kellie
If you’re heading to Vegas this St Patrick’s weekend, you may find yourself doing a double-take at the iconic ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign.
In honour of St Patrick's Day, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and Tourism Ireland have created a very special Irish welcome by turning the famous sign green in honour of Irish saint.
As the world gears up for St. Patrick's Day, the famous Betty Willis-designed sign turned green on Thursday night, kicking off this weekend's celebrations and Tourism Ireland's ‘Global Greening' 2014 initiative.
Irish celebrity and host of Midday, Sybil Mulcahy, flew to Las Vegas to oversee the turning on of the green lights and to get the Vegas St Patrick’s Weekend party started. The sign will remain green until March 18.
Las Vegas is in great company this St Patrick's Day, as many landmarks and iconic sites around the world are going green in honour of the saint. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, the Sydney Opera House, the London Eye and the Pyramids of Giza are among the landmarks that are going green.
Sin City is a great place to celebrate St Pat. Here are our top picks for parties, events, pubs and restaurants in Las Vegas this St Patrick’s Day Weekend.
Party At O’Sheas
Located on the Strip between the Imperial Palace and Flamingo hotels, O’Sheas Casino is open 24 hours for Happy Hour (the average drink price is $8), beer pong competitions and regularly booked bands and DJs. The casino is also celebrating the return of St Paddy’s Day Block Party at The Linq this year. The party will take place all weekend long, from March 15 to 17.
Sons & Daughters Of Erin St Patrick’s Day
The city of Henderson hosts the 48th annual Southern Nevada Sons & Daughters of Erin St Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival until March 16 at Henderson Events Plaza. The festivities include a parade, car show, carnival, live entertainment and traditional Irish cuisine. Admission is complimentary, but some activities require paid admission. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10a.m. on March 15. Proceeds from the parade and festival go to the St Baldrick’s Foundation, a charity committed to funding childhood cancer research.
Liquor And Luck At Crazy Horse
Commemorate the holiday with shots of Jameson for $5 before midnight on March 17.
Celtic Feis Festival At New York-New York
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the annual Celtic Feis festival. New York-New York is inviting visitors to take part in the lively St Patrick’s Day Festival on the Brooklyn Bridge. There will be plenty of Irish style live entertainment to enjoy. Admission is $25, including one free pint of Guinness or a shot of Jameson.
Green Beer At PBR Rock Bar & Grill
Located at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino inside the Miracle Mile Shops, PBR is inviting partygoers to get lucky with special drinks, like the Irish Car Bomb shot for just $5. There will also be a $5 green beer special.
Firefighter Challenge At Downtown Grand
Downtown Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and its adjacent pedestrian friendly avenue, Downtown3rd, will host downtown Las Vegas’ first St Patrick’s Day parade and firefighter fun challenge on March 17. The parade begins at noon on Fremont and Main Streets and arrives via bagpipe procession at Downtown3rd at around 12:45p.m. At 1:30p.m., 32 teams of local firefighters will compete in a firefighter fun challenge on Downtown3rd. There will be wheelbarrow races, tricycle races, dummy throws, a hose toss relay and tug-o-war.
Celtic Feis Festival At Nine Fine Irishmen
Nine Fine Irishmen is hosting its annual Celtic Feis until 17 with Irish bites, celebratory cocktails and live entertainment. For the first time, the property’s fountain will be dyed green and green lights will shine on Lady Liberty, spreading Irish cheer to the entire resort. The event is free to guests 21 and over.
Luck Of The Irish at Brendan’s Irish Pub
Experience the luck of the Irish at Orleans’ Brendan’s Irish Pub when Machine Gun Kelly’s and Killian’s Angels perform starting at 4 p.m. on March 17. Enjoy $3 Jameson, Amsterdam Vodka and Camarena Tequila shots at the bar while you hang out with the Jameson Girls.
Rock Out At The Rockhouse
Located at The Grand Canal Shoppe at The Venetian, this bar is offering Patrick’s Day drink specials on March 17, including draft beers for $5, 64-ounce super beers for $27, 100-ounce super yards for $38, and 80-ounce beer guitars for $38. Rockhouse will also be serving Irish Car Bombs all night long for $5 each.
Go Green At Minus5
For St Patrick's Day, the ice bar at Minus5 in Mandalay Bay or Monte Carlo is offering each guest wearing green a free shot with entry.
Fremont Street St Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl
The 6th Annual St Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl on Fremont Street on March 17 is offering plenty of special deals for participants. As well as special drink offers in eight casino bars, there will be 12 hours of live music, shows and reveling, so you cannot go wrong when your spend your St Paddy’s Day on Freemont Street. It’s free to take part and live entertainment includes bands like the Celtic Rockers, Vegas U2 and 1916.
Get Lucky At Cabo Wabo Cantina
Until March 17, Cabo Wabo Cantina inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood is hosting a lucky patio party and giving Sammy Hagar’s signature margarita an Irish twist.
St Patrick's Day Specials At Margaritaville
Margaritaville at the Flamingo is serving several special cocktails for St Patrick's Day, including the Shamrocker, made with Margaritaville Silver Tequila, melon liquor, triple sec and orange juice; the Irish Boat Drink with Jameson Irish Whiskey, blue curacao, orange and pineapple juices; The Lucky LandShark Lager with Margaritaville Island Lime Tequila; and the Off To See The Leprechaun Marg O’ Rita, made with Melon Liqueur, Margaritaville Gold Tequila and Special Margarita Mix.
Rí Rá Las Vegas
This authentic Irish pub located in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place is celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a two-day festival, which includes live entertainment, giveaways, Irish dancers, traditional Irish menu items and a parade through Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Check out the traditional corned beef & cabbage, fish and chips and beef and Guinness stew.
Drink Specials At Rhumbar
To celebrate the Luck of the Irish, Rhumbar in the Mirage will be serving lads and lassies $4 green beers, $5 Guinness and Black and Tans, $3 shots of Jameson Irish Whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream as well as $6 Irish Car Bombs. A variety of festive green-hued hookah flavours, including Apple Martini, Safari Dew Melon, Spearmint and Irish Cream will also be available. Partygoers can toast to being green with DJs, hookah and drink specials from 4p.m. to close.