Special Events in Las Vegas

Where else but at the International Food and Folklife Festival can visitors sample authentic food from over 20 countries without setting foot on foreign ground? At the Clark County Amphitheater in late April, vendors serve fare from such countries as Germany, Philippines, Hawaii, Japan, Colombia and Greece. Craft demonstrations, music and dance round out the bash.

If you have a hankering for some music for your soul, the Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz and Rhythm and Blues Festival features jazz artists that will quiet that need. This event, held in Desert Breeze Park in late April, presents a multitude of first-rate musicians; an admission is charged.

The Snow Mountain Pow Wow is held at the Las Vegas Pauite Snow Mountain Indian Reservation over Memorial Day weekend. The 3-day event includes traditional Indian dances, a drum contest, and arts and crafts.

Las Vegas has been featured in numerous motion pictures--ranging in quality from "Leaving Las Vegas," which captured a best-picture Oscar, to "The Las Vegas Hillbillys," which did not. But quality is consistently outstanding at the annual CineVegas film festival in June at The Brenden Theatres in the Palms Casino Resort. In addition to featuring U.S. and world premiers, the festival annually bestows on an actor or a director its Marquee Award for creative excellence in and dedication to film art. Past recipients include Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman.

Horse enthusiasts have the opportunity to see the world's best jumping and dressage horses and riders compete in the International Equestrian Federation World Cup. For 5 days in June, competitors vie for the prestigious title of world champion in the Thomas and Mack Center.

If you're Italian--and even if you're not--you'll love the San Gennaro Feast in September. The festival honors St. Gennaro, patron saint of Naples, and celebrates Italian culture with food, music and a carnival.

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway plays host to four racing events: the Sam's Town 300 and the UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, both in early March; and the Champ Car World Series and Craftsman Truck Series Las Vegas 350 in September. Gentlemen, start your engines!

If you think chivalry is dead, think again. At the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival romance and magic are very much alive. The October festival in Sunset Park includes 3 fun-filled days of jousting and sword-fighting demonstrations, strolling entertainers, re-enactments of ancient times and age-old crafting traditions. There's even a fire-breathing dragon.

Summerlin Art Festival features street painters, ballet performers, ice- and pumpkin-carving demonstrations by Le Cordon Bleu chefs and students, plus food and entertainment. Local and national artisans also display and sell their creations including paintings, glasswork, pottery, jewelry, apparel and handmade soaps. Students from the Las Vegas Conservatory of the Arts perform each day. The festival is held in early October at the Summerlin Centre Community Park.

Las Vegas Invitational ensures that golfing enthusiasts are not left out of the special events picture. Top professional players compete for a purse worth millions. The 6-day competition takes place in October at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin.

Come December, there might be more Texans in Las Vegas than there are in Amarillo. For 20 years now professional rodeo cowboys like Trevor Brazile, Joe Beaver and Rope Myers have bare-backed and steer-wrestled for major money at the Purses for All-Around Cowboy and most individual events are worth upwards of a quarter-million dollars. And that's no bull.

Runners from around the country gather to participate in the New Las Vegas Marathon on the first Sunday in December. The race starts in front of the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on the Strip and goes through the Fremont Street Experience on a flat loop course within the city limits. Participants and spectators may arrive two days early for the expo and stay on a day after the race for the Post Marathon Concert.