Being an adult is expensive. Between mortgages, bills, and other responsibilities, it can all add up and not leave much room in the budget for fun activities. Although Las Vegas often gets a bad rap for being an expensive place, there are some things to do in the city that won’t cost you a penny. Head to these neighborhoods in Las Vegas where you’ll find quite a few free activities to keep you busy and your budget in check.

Downtown

Arts District photo courtesy of Roman Eugeniusz

On the first Friday of every month, the Arts District holds its First Friday festival. This event is free to attend and features local vendors, music, live performances, visual art work, and lots of other activities throughout Downtown Las Vegas. For the kids, there’s Anderson Dairy—a dairy farm in the Downtown neighborhood that’s been around since 1907. They have a daily Barnyard Buddies tour for children that teaches them about the Anderson Dairy brand, and the interactive tour includes animatronic animals and scenery. 

If you’re looking for live music but don’t want to spend money on concert tickets, then you’ll want to check out the Free Summer Concert Series on Fremont Street. The Free Summer Concert Series includes a variety of musical acts like Halestorm, Molly Hatchet, and Melissa Etheridge. The Fremont Stage also hosts other popular local favorites like Zowie Bowie.

The Strip

KA by Cirque du Soleil photo courtesy of Loozrboy

There are surprisingly quite a few free activities do enjoy on the usually expensive Strip. KA by Cirque du Soleil hosts a complimentary theater experience on Tuesdays and Saturdays at noon and 12:30 p.m. This free event allows guests to come inside and see its behind-the-scenes details and rehearsals for this artistic and one-of-a-kind acrobatic performance. Guests can also view Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere rehearsals for free at Treasure Island every Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage Hotel & Casino also offers free showings of their rehearsals for the public to view on Fridays at 1:00 p.m. where they can catch a glimpse of the state-of-the-art technology and unique pieces used in the performance. The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo hotel is open daily and allows visitors to get up close and personal with exotic birds, turtles, fish, and other beautiful wildlife on 15 acres of the hotel’s grounds. Over at Circus Circus, guests can view the hotel’s largest permanent circus show throughout the day featuring jugglers, trapeze artists, clowns, and acrobats. Catch the circus acts daily at 11:30 a.m. on the center stage at Carnival Midway.

Other popular and free attractions on The Strip worth viewing include watching the fountain in front of the Bellagio light up and “dance” to music, walking through the 14,000-square-foot floral playground at the The Bellagio Conservatory& Botanical Garden, or seeing the volcano erupt at Mirage.

Henderson

The District at Green Valley Ranch photo courtesy of kennejima

In Henderson, you’ll find the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, which is not only a local favorite for its delicious treats, but it’s also well-known for its tours. Their free self-guided tours allow patrons to check out their newly remodeled viewing aisle, where they can catch a glimpse of chocolatiers and machines creating the famous Ethel M Chocolates.

The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson also hosts a Summer Concert Series that features free music in the courtyard off Main Street on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The shows include a wide range of musical guests such as Rein Garcia, Maral Vegas, TJ Gage, and Kailey Foster.

Paradise

Pinball Hall of Frame photo courtesy of Bobak Ha'Eri

The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History is a fine art museum that features a rotating calendar of exhibitions, events, and art workshops, and it’s located on UNLV’s campus in Paradise. Guests can view the museum’s exhibits for free and learn about a variety of visual arts. If you’re looking for something different, the Pinball Hall of Fame is your best bet. This 10,000 square-foot space offers free entry and houses the world’s largest pinball machine collection.

Summerlin

Red Rock Casino photo courtesy of kennejima

Summerlin residents who don’t want to drive downtown to see Zowie Bowie, can instead check them out at Red Rock Casino on Friday nights inside the Rocks Lounge. Downtown Summerlin also has its upcoming Festival of Arts the weekend of October 13. This free event will have food, music, and a variety of activities for children.

Active adults living within Trilogy in Summerlin also have a ton of events and activities to keep them entertained all year long. The community regularly hosts events for residents as well as prospective homebuyers looking to move into this 55+ neighborhood. Some of the free activities and events include a happy hour, Frozen Treats Party, Bike to Breakfast, and a Lifestyle Preview Event, which features music, food, and information about the amenities, homes, and lifestyle offered in Trilogy.