Top Things To Do In Las Vegas This October

Looking for the top things to do in Las Vegas this October? This is an exciting month to be visiting Vegas, that’s for sure!

Las Vegas is packed with SO many exciting events and festivities in October.

When you think of October, you’re probably picturing Halloween. Yes, Vegas does it big for Halloween! Get ready for some of the coolest Halloween parties around, where you can dress up and celebrate in true Vegas style.

But the rest of the month is speckled with fun stuff to do.

Aside from the MANY epic residencies taking place at various Las Vegas Strip hotels, don’t miss the Downtown Brew Festival, the Reggae Rise Up Music Festival (featuring a great lineup this year), or the When We Were Young music festival (perfect for reliving your alternative, punk, and emo days).

Plus, with the weather finally cooling down, the Pride Festival will be in full swing, celebrating love and diversity with parades, performances, and more.

Read on to discover all the amazing events happening in Las Vegas this October.

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October Weather In Las Vegas

• Average Temps in Oct: high of 83° F, low of 54° F
• Average Rainfall: 0.3 inches
• Humidity: 27%

Yay, things are finally starting to cool off in October! The weather in Las Vegas in October is pleasantly warm and breezy, with average highs of 81°F (27°C) and typical lows of 54°F (12°C). The temps rarely fall below 65°F or exceed 97°F.

The beginning of the month may still require you to incorporate indoor activities and even some pool time in your itinerary — but it starts to get chilly by the end of October. Halloween is often warm during the day and light jacket weather at night.

Las Vegas Residencies Happening This October

• Metallica at Sphere (Oct 1-31)
• New Kids on the Block: The Right Stuff at Park MGM (Oct. 2-17)
• Carlos Santana at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay (Oct. 1-31)
• Donny Osmond, Harrah’s (Oct 1-31)

Concerts Happening This October

• October 1, 3: Scorpions, Planet Hollywood
• October 1-31: Metallica, The Sphere
• October 2: Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, & Starset, Mandalay Bay
• October 2: Jack White, Fontainebleau
• October 2-3: Engelbert Humperdinck, Westgate
• October 2-10: Josh Groban, Caesars
• October 2-17: New Kids On The Block, Park MGM
• October 3: Wu-Tang Clan, T-Mobile Arena
• October 3: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Palms
• October 3: The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight, Virgin Hotels
• October 3-4: Air Supply, Westgate
• October 4: Roger Clyne And the Peacemakers, Brooklyn Bowl
• October 6: Julieta Venegas, The Cosmopolitan
• October 7: Ludovico Einaudi, Wynn
• October 8-17: Barry Manilow, Westgate
• October 9: Empire of the Sun, Planet Hollywood
• October 9: TLC, Fontainebleau
• October 10: Undertale Live: The Determination Symphony, Resorts World
• October 10: Juanes, Palms
• October 10: Brit Floyd, The Orleans
• October 11: Max Amini, Wynn
• October 16-17: Keith Urban, Fontainebleau
• October 16-31: Earth, Wind and Fire, The Venetian
• October 17: Rise Against, Palms
• October 23: Weezer, The Shins, & Silversun Pickups, T-Mobile Arena
• October 24: Tucker Wetmore, Virgin Hotels
• October 24: 1970 LIVE! That’s The Way It Was, Westgate
• October 25: Jim Henson’s Labyrinth – In Concert, Palms
• October 25: The Dream Awards, The Orleans
• October 31: Three Dog Night, Westgate
• October 31: Doja Cat, T-Mobile Arena

Sporting Events Happening This October

• October 2: Anaheim Ducks, T-Mobile Arena
• October 3: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Focused Health 302, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• October 4: NASCAR Cup Series: South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• October 4: Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Cheifs, Allegiant Stadium
• October 8: Toronto Maple Leafs, T-Mobile Arena
• October 10: Los Angeles Kings, T-Mobile Arena
• October 15: Calgary Flames, T-Mobile Arena
• October 17: Pittsburgh Penguins, T-Mobile Arena
• October 18: Las Vegas Raiders vs Buffalo Bills, Allegiant Stadium
• October 20: Tampa Bay Lightning, T-Mobile Arena
• October 25: Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Rams, Allegiant Stadium
• October 27: Ottawa Senators, T-Mobile Arena
• October 30: New Jersey Devils, T-Mobile Arena

Conventions Happening This October

• September 28 – October 1: G2E: Global Gaming Expo 2026, The Venetian
• September 30 – October 2: ULC 2026 Annual Leadership Forum, AC Hotel
• October 1-3: Smile Together – Co-located w/Vet Together 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 1-3: Vet Together Annual Conference 2026, Resorts World
• October 4-7: National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Convention & Trade Show, Mandalay Bay
• October 5-8: Wireless Internet Service Providers Association-WISPAPALOOZA 2026, Caesars Forum
• October 6-9: Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 7-9: National Association of Convenience Stores, Inc. – NACS Annual Meeting & Exposition 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 7-9: The Fence Show & Security Expo, South Point
• October 7-11: AMMG Clinical Applications for Age Management Medicine Conference, M Resort
• October 8-9: CME Science MSK MRI: Approach and Interactive Case Review with an Orthopedic Surgeon 2026, Wynn
• October 8-10: Vegas Tiny Homes 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 11: Nevada Bridal & Wedding Expo – October 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 13-15: IMEX America 2026, Mandalay Bay
• October 13-15: NAWA – 2026 Annual Gathering, South Point
• October 15-18: Immunoglobulin Nursing Society (IgNS) – 2026 National Conference, Red Rock Casino
• October 16-19: 2026 NAMB Annual Convention, Caesars
• October 19-21: CPCU Society In2Risk Conference 2026, Resorts World
• October 20-22: HR Technology Conference 2026, Mandalay Bay
• October 20-22: National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) – Convention and Exhibition 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 21-23: FABTECH 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center
• October 22-23: CME Science Advanced Breast Imaging: Current Diagnosis & Work Up of Problematic Breast Cases, Wynn
• October 22-23: CME Science (CMES) Advanced PET Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, and Therapy: From Diagnostics to Theranostics 2026, Wynn
• October 22-25: AOA Osteopathic Medical Education Conference OMED 2026, Caesars Forum
• October 25-29: AI World/Suite World 2026, The Venetian
• October 26-29: SuiteWorld 2026, Caesars Forum
• October 26-30: Supplyside Global 2026, Mandalay Bay

The Annual San Gennaro Feast

September 30 – October 4, 2026

The San Gennaro Feast is one of Las Vegas’ longest-running cultural festivals, celebrating all things Italian.

This fall, the 46th annual San Gennaro Festival returns to Rio Las Vegas for five days of Italian food, live entertainment, carnival rides, games, and family fun! Bring the family and enjoy everything this beloved Las Vegas tradition offers.

Expect classic eats like sausage and peppers, cannoli, and zeppoles, plus carnival rides, games, and live entertainment straight from Italy and the Vegas Strip.

It’s part food festival, part street fair, and totally worth a visit if you’re in town.

Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival

October 10, 2026

If you’re a foodie, the Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival may just be the highlight of your October weekend.

Savor an unforgettable weekend at Rio Las Vegas featuring exceptional cuisine from celebrated culinary talent, along with an impressive selection of wines and spirits. Gather your fellow food lovers and experience one of Las Vegas’ most indulgent culinary celebrations, with special room packages available to make a weekend of it.

Wizard of Oz at Sphere

Follow the Yellow Brick Road and get yourself tickets to the highly anticipated The Wizard of Oz at Sphere. Before you brush this off as just a ‘remastered’ screening of the 1939 classic… let me stop you right there.

What you’re actually gonna get? A fully immersive journey that makes you feel like you’ve stepped inside the movie. Imagine apples literally falling from the sky, your seat rumbling as the Tin Man creaks to life, or eerie tones vibrating through you as Dorothy and friends wander into the haunted forest.

Thanks to Sphere’s groundbreaking audio and haptic seat technology, you’ll hear and feel every moment in a way no theater has ever attempted. The film’s beloved score has been completely re-recorded with an 80-piece orchestra to sound fuller and richer than ever, while Sphere’s 167,000 speakers make it seem as if voices and instruments are swirling all around you.

With environmental effects, custom scents, and visuals stretching across 160,000 square feet, you’ll travel from Kansas to Oz with Dorothy and Toto right by your side.

Universal Horror Unleashed

If you’ve ever wished Halloween lasted all year, Universal Horror Unleashed at AREA15 is your new Vegas playground. Built by the same masterminds behind Universal Studios’ legendary Halloween Horror Nights, this new attraction drops you into four fully themed haunted houses: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Universal Monsters, The Exorcist: Believer, and Scarecrow: The Reaping.

Each house has Hollywood-quality sets, jump scares around every corner, and live actors who make sure no two runs are ever the same.

Between houses, you can wander through four immersive scare zones packed with twisted carnival performers, haunted props that come to life, and creepy characters waiting to jump out at you (and yes, half the fun is laughing at your friends when they get spooked).

Not a horror movie fan? Not a problem! You don’t need to be a horror buff to enjoy it; his place is more about adrenaline and shared laughs than the pure terror you’d get from sitting through a scary movie.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics

October 30, 2026

Wanna get spooky in a classical music kind of way?

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Las Vegas. For two days only, discover Halloween-inspired music at The Industrial under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Catch all your Halloween favorites like Thriller by Michael Jackson, the Stranger Things theme song, and songs from Halloween classics such as Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Halloween, Psycho, Ghostbusters, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and so much more.

Candlelight shows are unique as heck — where venues are illuminated by hundreds of warm and atmospheric candles — but mix it with Halloween songs? We already know it’s going to be a spectacularly magical time.

Reggae Rise Up Festival

October 10-11, 2026

Where are all my reggae music lovers at? Don’t miss the Reggae Rise Up Festival this October!

Taking place at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, this 3-day reggae music festival features a legendary lineup stacked with talented artists like Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Wiz Khalifa, Dispatch, Atmosphere, Sammy Johnson, and more.

Besides the music, you can expect food trucks and unique vendors offering everything from handmade crafts to festival fashion.

RiSE Festival

October 3–5, 2025, TBD for 2026

RiSE Festival returns to the Jean Dry Lake Bed in the Mojave Desert with live music, food trucks, drinks, and of course… the release of thousands of bright lanterns into the night sky!

Last year was the milestone 10th anniversary of RISE Festival and they did it big with the lineup to celebrate, featuring artists like Rufus du Sol, Ben Böhmer, John Mayer, Calvin Harris, Disclosure, and Oliver Heldens.

With your admission, you’ll receive two lanterns upon which you can write your hopes, dreams, fears, and intentions. And twice per night, there will be the chance to light ’em and let ’em go.

The lanterns are 100% biodegradable and are collected after the event to leave no trace in nature. Upgrade to VIP for shaded seating, bites, and a private bar.

Las Vegas Pride

October 9, 2026

National Pride Month may take place in June, but Las Vegas’ celebration of Pride actually kicks off in October (when the weather’s a bit cooler to be outdoors).

While there are events taking place all month long, the main event in Las Vegas is the annual Pride Night Parade, which runs through Downtown on Friday, October 10. A block party with food trucks and drink stations gets underway an hour earlier near the main stage.

Age Of Chivalry Renaissance Festival

October 9–11, 2026

The Age Of Chivalry: Renaissance Festival, held at Sunset Park, is an annual celebration of medieval times, offering a full weekend of entertainment and activities for all ages.

Expect to witness thrilling jousting tournaments, costumed performers, and interactive guilds showcasing traditional skills like sword fighting and blacksmithing.

Stroll through a bustling marketplace filled with artisans selling everything from handcrafted jewelry to intricate costumes. Along with the fun, indulge in hearty medieval-style food and drink while enjoying live music and dance performances. Don’t skip on those juicy turkey legs!

Looking to elevate your experience? They even offer camping opportunities for the weekend!

When We Were Young

Taking a break for 2026, will be back in 2027!

The When We Were Young music festival is a nostalgic celebration for fans of emo, punk rock, and alternative music. Taking place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, this 1-day festival brings together the best bands from the early 2000s and today, creating an unforgettable experience for music lovers.

Over the last two years, headliners and lineup artists have included Panic! At The Disco, My Chemical Romance, Simple Plan, Paramore, Blink-182, Green Day, Avril Lavigne, Jimmy Eat World, A Day to Remember, The Maine, Cobra Starship, Taking Back Sunday, and The Used. Basically… all the music we millennials used to listen to as angsty teens!

Attendees can look forward to high-energy performances, sing-alongs, and a trip down memory lane with their favorite anthems.

Because this event is so popular, they recently added a second day–with the same lineup each day. Snag your tickets while you still can.

ComplexCon Las Vegas

October 3-4, 2026

Part music festival, part shopping playground, part culture lab—ComplexCon is where streetwear, music, art, and hype collide. After a record-breaking debut in 2024, it’s back at the Las Vegas Convention Center with an even bigger lineup and more exclusive drops.

Previously held in Long Beach and coined “Streetwear Disneyland” by The New York Times, ComplexCon has hosted icons like Pharrell, Kid Cudi, and Virgil Abloh, with past panelists including Kobe Bryant, Issa Rae, and Kendrick Lamar.

This year’s Artistic Directors reflect the festival’s ongoing legacy as a global stage for the pioneering creatives who shape today’s culture. Together, Playboi Carti and Hiroshi Fujiwara & Fragment Design will guide the creative direction of the 2026 festival, designing a vision that spans product, programming, and experience, while honoring the past, present and future of ComplexCon.

If you want to experience what’s next in culture, this is the festival to be at!

Head Downtown for Miss Behave’s fabulous variety show

If you missed it at Fremont Street’s Cheap Shot, get ready for your second chance: Miss Behave’s Mavericks has found a new home at Plaza Hotel’s historic showroom!

This quirky variety show blends circus, comedy, burlesque, and vaudeville. Because of its always-changing acts and reliance on audience participation, no two shows are ever the same.

“It’s gonna be like the Muppet Show running riot round this beautiful ol’ Dame. We can’t wait,” said Miss Behave (Amy Saunders) in a media release. “It’s a marriage made in heaven. This beautiful showroom has been looking for an excuse to show off, and Mavericks is perfect for that. Let’s make Las Vegas Vegas again!”

Tickets range from $35 to $99 (no pesky ticket fees!) and are now on sale.

Celebrate Halloween… Vegas style!

During late October, Las Vegas hosts a number of fall celebrations, costume balls, and spooky events to celebrate Halloween!

For starters, you could head to AREA15’s Halloween event, scAREA15, or maybe party it up at Halloweekend at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas. Slightly off-strip, there’s the Sin City Halloween Ball taking place at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Halloween weekend.

For a more casual experience (though dressing up is still highly encouraged), The Fremont Street Experience hosts a massive Halloween celebration with live music, costume contests, and a spooky light show.

Las Vegas is also home to some incredible ‘haunted house’-type experiences. The Asylum & Hotel Fear is a super popular choice, offering a terrifyingly immersive experience for people who love having their pants scared off their butts.

Here are some other year-round attractions that we think are perfect for this time of year:

• Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum:  the guy who hosts Ghost Adventures (the TV show) curated this museum to house his extensive collection of haunted objects and oddities.
• Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood: the quirky and oddly funny zombie-themed show taking place at PH!
• EscapeIT: an IT-themed escape room… the clown pops up from time to time to apply more pressure on you to escape!
• SAW Escape Room: an escape room perfect for those who indeed “want to play a game”!

Shadows of Sin City – Walking Ghost Tour

While we’re on the topic of Halloween, why not celebrate the spooky szn and explore the Strip at the same time?

Ghost City Tours hosts a super unique walking tour in town, where chilling tales and haunted spots come alive under the neon lights. Led by expert storytellers, this walking ghost tour promises an unforgettable night of spooks and thrills. Perfect for those who love a good ghost story!

Locations you’ll visit during this 90 minute tour include The Mob Museum, Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel, and El Cortez Hotel.

I don’t know about you, but ghost stories are always much scarier with a couple of drinks in you!

See a Las Vegas show

Las Vegas has a world-class theater scene. It’s not NYC or London, but their shows are next level in their own way. And the best part is, there’s a show happening every single night in Vegas.

A few shows that we think are perfect for October include:

Awakening – The Wynn’s brand-new spectacular production featuring fantastical creatures, dazzling visuals, compelling narrative, and a touch of lighthearted comedy. We were so wowed by this show that we’ve got tickets to see it AGAIN!

Absinthe – Caesars Palace’s daring and provocative Las Vegas show that combines jaw-dropping acrobatics, risqué comedy, and awe-inspiring feats of strength and agility in an immersive circus-style setting.

“O” at Bellagio: Another mesmerizing Cirque du Soleil show, “O” combines water, acrobatics, and theatrical performances to create a unique and romantic experience.

Walk the Strip and see the iconic sights

Cooler weather means you’ll last longer when walking the Strip. After all, you won’t have 100-degree sunlight beating down on you during the month of October!

This is the perfect time to see and do all the iconic Las Vegas attractions you’ve had on your list, such as seeing the Bellagio Fountain show, cruising on an outdoor gondola ride at The Venetian, ziplining on Fly LINQ, and more.

If you’re daring enough, head to the north side of the Strip to try out the hair-raising SkyJump at The STRAT. This heart-pumping open-air bungee jump will see you hurtling at speeds of up to 40mph from a height of 855 feet!

Explore AREA15

When night falls, it’s time to get immersive at AREA15. AREA15 has got to be one of the coolest additions to Las Vegas, like ever!

This 200,000-square-foot immersive art collective is buzzing with all things creative and imaginative. Throw an axe or two, play games at an arcade bar, wander through a ‘supermarket’ that makes you question reality, take in high-tech / colorful art installations, or explore one of the many virtual reality experiences.

From retro to futuristic to totally trippy, there’s an experience for everyone at AREA15. Engage with the exhibits, dive into virtual reality experiences, or simply wander through and take in the eclectic environment. The AREA15 world is your oyster!

Learn more about the current exhibits here (many of them require separate tickets). If special events and concerts are what you’re after, check out their events calendar to see what’s happening during the dates of your trip to Vegas.

Explore Red Rock Canyon

If you’re looking for the perfect outdoor adventure that’s not too hot, Red Rock Canyon is where it’s at. Red Rock Canyon is locally famous for its unique rock formations painted in shades of red and orange against a backdrop of clear blue skies.

Plus, with temperatures that warm up to just the mid-70s during the day, you can explore to your heart’s content without worrying about overheating.

We like to go there for the hiking. There are both easy and challenging trails to choose from, making this a great option if you want to burn off all those Las Vegas buffet calories. Some of the most popular hikes here include the Calico Tanks Trail (2.2 miles roundtrip), Turtlehead Peak Trail (4.6 miles roundtrip), and Ice Box Canyon Trail (2.3 miles roundtrip).

If you’d rather not deal with the logistics of how to get there (or want to visit the park without hiking), there are tour companies that will take you there and show you the park in all its glory.

Go hiking at Valley of Fire State Park

Another otherworldly park to hike at is Valley of Fire State Park. If you can imagine yourself hiking among towering sandstone formations glowing with fiery hues of red and gold under the warm sun, you’re going to love Valley of Fire SP. Personally, this is one of my favorite parks in all of Nevada — I love it even more than the Grand Canyon!

Again, the weather in October is perfect for exploring miles of hiking trails and marveling at ancient petroglyphs etched into the rocks. Just be sure to pack lots of water, lots of sunscreen, and a sunhat!

If you only have time to do one hike, make it the 3.2-mile Fire Wave, White Domes, and Seven Wonders Loop. If you love hiking, make time to visit Valley Of Fire SP – you won’t regret it.

Visit a national park or two

If you’re open to venturing out further, you’ll be glad to know that there are at least three national parks within driving distance from Las Vegas.

From Vegas, you can easily visit Grand Canyon National Park and explore the breathtaking landscapes of the United States’ most recognizable natural monument. Two best-selling tours we like to recommend include:

• From Las Vegas: Grand Canyon National Park Tour (South Rim)
• From Las Vegas: Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam Tour (West Rim)

If you’re up for a longer adventure, a 2.5-hour drive will bring you to the spectacular views of Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park.

These two parks showcase the wild landscapes of Utah, complete with orange-y red canyons, mountains, hoodoos (spindly rock formations), the world-famous Narrows hike and Angels Landing, and the famous Checkerboard Mesa.

Don’t have a car? Not a problem. There are lots of tour companies that’ll bring you out there as part of a full-day tour. They’ll take care of the driving and the itinerary so all you have to do is bring your camera, a comfortable pair of shoes, and your excitement.

Tips For Visiting Las Vegas In October

• Although daytime temperatures can be warm and pleasant, evenings can still get cool. Pack layers to stay comfortable throughout the day and into the night, especially if you plan to be out late.
• Even though the weather in October is not “blazing desert” hot, the sun will still be shining brightly during the day. Sunscreen is a must, especially if you’re doing outdoor activities.
• If you plan on doing a lot of paid attractions, Go City can save you money on multiple attractions with their All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass.
• October is the perfect time to explore The Strip on foot. The weather is nice and warm, but not heat-stroke-hot. Be sure to pack a pair of comfortable travel shoes that can handle lots of mileage and keep your feet blister-free.
• Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip is usually bad at all times of the year, so plan to leave earlier if you have reservations that require you to be somewhere at a specific time.
• Getting around by rideshare and taxi are equally as popular in Vegas. A taxi can even be cheaper than Uber/Lyft during peak hours, while an Uber/Lyft is cheaper during off-peak hours.

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Planning Your Trip To Vegas?

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• Here Are All The Absolute Must-Do’s In Las Vegas For First Timers
• 25+ Unique And Totally FREE Things To Do In Vegas
• Top Las Vegas Magic Shows That Will Knock Your Socks Off
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• 5 Cheaper Alternatives To Cirque du Soleil Shows In Las Vegas
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