What’s the best time not to come to Las Vegas?
When’s the Best Time to avoid Las Vegas?
The worst time to come to Las Vegas, if measured by crowds, high demand, and high prices, is New Year’s Eve. There’s barely a close second. Nearly 350,000 people clog the city, with 200,000 of them jamming the Strip and another 25,000 or so packed downtown. The lines for everything are ferocious and hotel-room rates hit the moon. In short, it’s one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the country and if don’t care for massive crowds, stay far away.
The two three-day weekends that bookend the summer are also ferocious for crowds and prices: Memorial Day and Labor Day. Expect to compete with upwards of 200,000 other visitors during those. July Fourth, if it falls on a Thursday, Friday, Monday, or Tuesday, can be added to those two long weekends.
Super Bowl weekend can attract upwards of 175,000 visitors.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January is one of the largest conventions in the world and the 2015 show was the largest to date: 170,000. “Normal” attendance is more like 130,000, which is 130,000 reasons to stay away then.
World of Concrete Expo bounces around between mid-January and early February and sees upwards of 70,000 attendees.
MAGIC (the men’s apparel show) takes place in February and August and attracts 85,000 people to both.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convenes every April with more than 100,000 attendees.
The National Finals Rodeo, though not technically a convention, is still one of the city’s largest events, taking place the second week of December and attracting 175,000 spectators from all over the world.
A new category here includes the several annual music festivals that now play Vegas. Electric Daisy Carnival averages a nightly attendance of 140,000; it’s usually held in June. Life Is Beautiful takes place downtown in April; the 2016 festival also attracted nearly 150,000 (though a lot were locals). The Academy of Country Music Party for a Cause takes place this week and 60,000 are expected.
