Las Vegas

Where to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks in Las Vegas This Year

Your Sin City guide to watching the rockets' red glare this Independence Day.

Photo courtesy of Palace Station
Photo courtesy of Palace Station
Photo courtesy of Palace Station

Great news: The Fourth of July falls on a Monday this year, which means you get to wrap up a long holiday weekend of booze, food, and other summer fun with a spectacular display of fireworks. Independence Day celebrations have been relatively limited over the past few years due to the pandemic, but things are getting back to business as usual in 2022. Check out our comprehensive guide to fireworks shows and viewing parties in Southern Nevada.

Can you Shoot Off Your Own Fireworks in Las Vegas?

It happens every year. Las Vegas looks like a war zone on Independence Day, with countless fireworks shot off from parks, streets, and backyards all over the valley. It’s quite the spectacle, especially if you’re watching from an elevated vantage point or happen to be flying into Harry Reid International Airport at the time. Is this do-it-yourself approach legal? Well, kinda. Clark County (which includes Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, and Laughlin) only approves the sale and use of certified “Safe and Sane” fireworks June 28–July 4. These are usually limited to sparklers and that kind of stuff. Booths selling “Safe and Sane” fireworks are easy to spot all over town, especially in grocery stores, gas stations, and shopping centre parking lots. Their use is limited to private property.

More intense fireworks like Roman Candles, Cherry Bombs, and Bottle Rockets are legally sold outside Clark County in Pahrump (Nye County) and on Native American reservations. Lots of people make the drive to buy these items only to return and set them off in Vegas, where it’s against the law to do so. (It’s even against the law to set them off in Pahrump-with the exception of a single fairground launch site.) It’s also against the law in Clark County to launch fireworks of any kind after midnight. Does that stop it from happening? Not really. So be smart, use your best judgment, and if nothing else, make sure your pets are in a safe, contained space. The Animal Foundation always reports a spike in stray dogs and cats who run away after getting spooked by firework noise.

Las Vegas Fireworks Shows

Las Vegas Ballpark
Saturday, July 2–Sunday, July 3
Summerlin
The Las Vegas Ballpark will have fireworks two nights in a row following games between the Las Vegas Aviators and the Round Rock Express (worst name ever) from Central Texas. Both games begin at 7:05 pm with tickets starting at $15. The fireworks should also be visible to those in or near Downtown Summerlin and the Red Rock Resort.

Night of Fire
Sunday, July 3
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Bullring at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway welcomes the annual Night of Fire with NASCAR short-track racing at 5 pm, followed by a fireworks display after dark. General admission tickets are $15. Kids 12 and under get in free and can enjoy raffles, big wheel racing, and other activities.

Boulder Station
Monday, July 4
Boulder Strip
Boulder Station hosts a fireworks extravaganza at 9 pm. Admission is free and the general public is welcome to view the show from the parking lot.

Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau
Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau
Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau

Caesars Palace
Monday, July 4
The Strip
Caesars Palace is hosting the only fireworks celebration on the Strip this Independence Day. Fortunately, the resort is centrally located and should be easy to view from up and down Las Vegas Boulevard. The best sightlines are from the fountains, Roman Plaza, and Spanish Steps outside the front door of the resort, as well as The LINQ promenade across the street. The fireworks are scheduled to shoot off from the rooftop of the Julius Tower at 8:30 pm.

Damboree
Monday, July 4
Boulder City
Boulder City welcomes back Damboree, named after the town’s proximity to the Hoover Dam. A full day’s worth of activities get underway at 7 am with the long-running Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Bicentennial Park, followed by a jet flyover and parade throughout downtown at 9 am. Visit food and beer vendors at Broadbent Park (beginning at 10 am) with more festivities at Veterans Memorial Park at 4 pm. Fireworks take place at 9 pm. Parking is $20 per car.

Photo by David Becker
Photo by David Becker
Photo by David Becker

Green Valley Ranch
Monday, July 4
Henderson
Green Valley Ranch is shooting fireworks off the resort’s rooftop at 9 pm. A viewing party gets underway at the Backyard pool deck, starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets ($25 for those 12 and older, $10 for kids 2 to 11 years old) are available at the hotel’s two gift shops. Live entertainment is scheduled all weekend long throughout the property’s bars, restaurants, and pool.

Heritage Park
Monday, July 4
Henderson
Heritage Park is celebrating America’s birthday with a free evening of country music. Lonestar performs at 7:30 pm, followed by a holiday fireworks show at 9 pm. Doors open at 6 pm. Look for the stage in the southwest corner of the park near Racetrack Road and Newport Drive.

Photo courtesy of Lake Las Vegas
Photo courtesy of Lake Las Vegas
Photo courtesy of Lake Las Vegas

Lake Las Vegas
Monday, July 4
Henderson
Watch fireworks erupt over the water at Lake Las Vegas in a spectacle designed to coincide with the show at Heritage Park. The fireworks are free to watch with the best vantage points from The Village, Westin, Hilton, and Reflection Bay Golf Club. You can even watch the extravaganza from the 320-acre lake while paddling on a kayak or sipping on a cocktail during a yacht cruise.

The M Resort
Monday, July 4
Henderson
The M Resort is bringing back its annual fireworks show at 9 pm. The best views are from the hotel’s pool deck. Admission is $10 (or free for hotel guests) with a live performance by Cover Lane at 8 pm.

Photo by David Becker
Photo by David Becker
Photo by David Becker

Palace Station
Monday, July 4
Off the Strip
Palace Station celebrates Independence Day with a fireworks show at 9 pm. The casino resort is just west of I-15, which means most hotel rooms on the Strip should have a great view of the show. However, you can get an up-close look with free viewing from the parking lot. Tailgate Social will have a Red, White & Brew special with a cheese pizza and Bud Light draft for $20. The newly opened Tacos & Tequila will offer a special holiday Freedom ‘Rita with Cazadores Reposado Tequila, Aperol, watermelon liqueur, and watermelon juice on the rocks for $10.

Petrack Park
Monday, July 4
Pahrump
The annual Freedom Festival is 9 pm at Petrack Park in Pahrump. Expect one of the largest fireworks displays in Southern Nevada, lasting more than 20 minutes with a four-minute finale. The show is synced to music on 103.1 FM. About a mile away, the Bounty Hunter Saloon will host a viewing party with drink specials.

Photo courtesy of The Plaza
Photo courtesy of The Plaza
Photo courtesy of The Plaza

The Plaza
Monday, July 4
Downtown
The Plaza continues an annual tradition, hosting the only Fourth of July fireworks celebration in Downtown Las Vegas. The show will erupt from multiple locations on the hotel rooftop at 9 pm, with explosions high above the west end of the Fremont Street Experience (which happens to be hosting free concerts by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Mackenzie Porter, and Molly Hatchet the same night). The Plaza will throw a pool party with a DJ, barbecue, and cocktails from noon to 6 pm and then reopen at 7:30 pm for a private party for hotel guests with close views of the fireworks. Book a weekend room package at the Plaza and receive a $50 food and beverage credit, up to $50 in free slot play, and $50 table game match play.

Photo by David Becker
Photo by David Becker
Photo by David Becker

Red Rock Resort
Monday, July 4
Summerlin
The Red Rock Resort will shoot off about ten minutes of fireworks from its rooftop at 9 pm. Wristbands for general admission viewing on the pool deck are on sale in the gift shop. Adults are $25. Kids 12 and under are $10. Doors open at 7:30 pm with cocktails and other drinks for sale. Live entertainment takes place at the resort throughout the weekend at casino bars, restaurants, and at the Rocks Lounge. Stop by Side Piece for a special Red, White & Blue pizza with pepperoni and blue cheese on a New York-style crust.

Photo by Joe Buglewicz, Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau
Photo by Joe Buglewicz, Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau
Photo by Joe Buglewicz, Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau

Rockets Over the Red Mesa
Monday, July 4
Mesquite
A holiday tradition continues 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Mesquite. The Eureka Casino Resort hosts “Rockets Over the Red Mesa” with fireworks erupting over the mesa behind the property at 9 pm, set to a patriotic playlist broadcast over 88.1 FM. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chair and tailgate. An All-American Buffet will serve food at Town Square 4-8 pm.

Photo courtesy of Rockets Over the River
Photo courtesy of Rockets Over the River
Photo courtesy of Rockets Over the River

Rockets Over the River
Monday, July 4
Laughlin
If you need a good excuse to visit Laughlin, this is it. Located on the southern tip of Nevada by the Arizona state line, the small gaming town hosts the annual “Rockets Over the River” fireworks celebration at 9 pm. The show is seen over the Colorado River, creating a colourful reflection in the water while synchronized music plays from nearby hotels and on 104.9 KISS FM. The show is easy to see no matter where you’re standing by the river.

Santa Fe Station
Monday, July 4
Northwest
Santa Fe Station has a fireworks show at 9 pm for those in Centennial Hills, Lone Mountain, and other Northwest Valley neighbourhoods. Viewing from the parking lot is free and open to the public.

Sunset Station
Monday, July 4
Henderson
The fireworks don’t start until 9 pm at Sunset Station, but the celebration starts early with a free viewing party with live entertainment inside the Sunset Amphitheater. Doors open at 7 pm.

Photo by Anthony Mair
Photo by Anthony Mair
Photo by Anthony Mair

Las Vegas Fireworks Viewing Parties

AREA15
Monday, July 4
Off the Strip
AREA15 has an Independence Day block party at Liftoff lounge (where you can enjoy a cocktail strapped to a seat that rises 130 feet into the sky) in the south parking lot. Enjoy views of the Caesars Palace fireworks (and possibly the ones at Palace Station too). AREA15 will also celebrate with specialty drinks at The Beast and glow-in-the-dark axe-throwing at Dueling Axes.

Cabo Wabo Cantina
Monday, July 4
Miracle Mile Shops
The tequila will flow at Cabo Wabo Cantina’s Fourth of July party on the restaurant’s newly renovated Stripside patio. Order Mexican food, beer, and cocktails, including the holiday-themed All-American, made with a red-white-and-blue combination of Absolut Citron, grenadine, and blue curacao for $15.20.

Legacy Club
Monday July 4
Downtown
One of the best rooftop bars in Las Vegas, the Legacy Club will have a patriotic party with 360-degree views from the 60th floor of the Circa resort. That means you can check out Strip and Downtown fireworks at the same time. Tickets are $100, standing room only, with an open bar of beer, wine, champagne, and select cocktails from 8-10 pm. Email the Legacy Club to upgrade to a table or VIP seating.

The Strat
Monday, July 4
The Strat
The 1,149-foot-tall Strat isn’t throwing an official Independence Day party, but a ticket to the SkyPod viewing deck (beginning at $30) on the 108th floor is one of the best ways to spot fireworks throughout the valley. Try free samples of Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co.’s sparkling rum cocktails (by Sammy Hagar, who’s performing at the resort July 1-2) at REMIX Lounge, View Lounge, and 108 Drinks from 7-10 pm. The Top of the World restaurant on the 107th floor has a special holiday menu with a Watermelon and Feta Salad, Braised Beef with Whiskey Molasses Glaze and Mustard Potatoes, and a Vanilla Sponge Cake dessert with Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

Copy: Get the latest from Thrillist Australia delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.

Rob Kachelriess has been writing about Las Vegas in Thrillist for more than seven years. His work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, Trivago Magazine, Sophisticated Living, Modern Luxury, Leafly, Las Vegas Magazine, and other publications. He’s watching the fireworks from his backyard patio. Follow him on Twitter @rkachelriess.

Las Vegas

A Fresh Take on Italian Dining Opens in Southwest Las Vegas

A first look at Basilico Ristorante Italiano.

Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano

You can’t be all things to all people. Yet a new Italian restaurant strikes an intriguing balance between authenticity and inventive touches while helping to shape the identity of a new community in the booming Southwest Valley of Las Vegas.

Basilico Ristorante Italiano is now open at Evora, a master-planned apartment development still under construction that won’t be finished for at least five years. The 160-seat restaurant follows the vision of chef Francesco Di Caudo, a Sicily native who draws on his heritage and experience throughout Italy to build a compelling menu based on traditional techniques and modern ingenuity.

“I come from a country where farm-to-table is nothing new,” says Di Caudio, while emphasizing the importance of ingredient sourcing and simple, straightforward flavor combinations.

Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano

Just look at the appetizers. Americans are used to eggplant parmesan that’s breaded and fried without restraint. Di Caudo sticks to a traditional Sicilian recipe with the vegetable sliced thin, sizzled in a pan, and layered with tomato and basil. No mozzarella. On the other hand, the Smoked Cigar is destined to be a signature showstopper. Duck, foie gras, and porcini mushrooms are packed inside a thin, cracker-like shell, presented in a box, and dipped into a glass ashtray. The “ash” in the centre is a black sesame and truffle mix. Don’t be shy about double dipping.

The risotto is bound to be another conversation piece. The recipe uses Carnaroli rice, a starchy grain from North Italy that produces a creamy texture, balancing the saltiness of a parmesan broth with a sweet splash of chestnut honey. The real surprise is the inclusion of Lavazza espresso, manipulated to crackle in your mouth like Pop Rocks candy.

Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano

All pastas are made in-house, from a parsnip cavatelli to a lamb and thyme tortellini in a broth filtered from braised prosciutto. Some dishes have a subtle Asian influence, including a hamachi crudo with pomelo (similar to yuzu), Hokkaido scallops with oxtail, and a planned octopus braised in dashi. The flavours come to life inside a sharp, contemporary dining room with deep red chairs and stone, wood, and marble touches. The wine collection is dominated by Italian labels, with a few California and Oregon picks thrown in to round out the list. Bottles are on display near the front entrance and inside illuminated square shelves. “It looks like a fancy restaurant, but when you sit down, I want you to have fun,” adds Di Caudio.

Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano
Photo by Louiie Victa, courtesy of Basilico Ristorante Italiano

The bar is the heart of the restaurant, ready to serve up to 16 people inside and dozens more via accordion-style windows that open wide to a covered patio. The outdoor space, temperature-controlled with overhead fans and heaters, effectively extends Evora’s open-air plaza with dramatic water and fire features. It’s a natural spot for tastings and special events with a covered stage for live music. Evora is rolling out in four phases, with the first 342 apartments ready by fall. There could be as many as 1,400 when it’s all said and done. Rent begins at around $1,800 for studios and one-bedroom units and goes up to $4,000 for two-story top-floor residences with a loft and Strip views. The community will include swimming pools, pickleball courts, a putting green, a dog park, firepits, EV charging stations, and pavilions equipped with audio and video features.

“Basilico matches the demographic for our apartments,” says Danny Sorge of Digital Desert Development, the company behind the community. “The term ‘youthful sophistication’ has been thrown around about the restaurant and Evora as a whole. It brings something new to the area.”

Rendering courtesy of Evora
Rendering courtesy of Evora
Rendering courtesy of Evora

The development follows a deliberate strategy to have the commercial tenants in place before the first residents move in, occupying a stand-alone building that strikes a commanding presence on the corner of Patrick Lane and Buffalo Drive. Lemon Tree Cafe & Market is already open as a European-style grocery store with plenty of room to sit down with a sandwich and glass of wine. Keep your eyes peeled for Taps & Barrels (a self-service beer hall), Tachi Ramen, and EVOQ hair salon in the months ahead, with more businesses to come. The timing couldn’t be better. The Southwest Valley is on fire right now, with the Durango hotel and casino and UnCommons mixed-use development taking shape as new attractions in 2023. The Bend, a long-promised shopping and dining district, has been in a holding pattern for years but holds promise in an area where everything is getting bigger and better.

Meanwhile, the team behind Evora is staking a claim with Di Caudio running the kitchen at Basilico. The chef’s recent collaboration with Chef Oscar Amador helped Anima by EDO score a recent James Beard Award nomination and reputation as one of the best new restaurants in Las Vegas. Di Caudio first came to Las Vegas to work at Zeffirino at the Grand Canal Shoppes-a gig he expected to last about six months before returning home. Instead, he stuck around and continued to build his reputation at culinary destinations like Sinatra at the Wynn and Ferraro’s off the Strip.

Ultimately, Basilico will be a restaurant to keep an eye on as it develops under Di Caudio’s guidance. The menu will shift and evolve based on the chef’s preferences and the availability of seasonal ingredients. Di Caudio is also planning a smaller menu and social hour for the bar area and a reasonably priced tasting menu with around 10 dishes served family style.

Get the latest from Thrillist Australia delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.

Rob Kachelriess has been writing about Las Vegas in Thrillist for more than nine years. In addition, his work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Leafly, Supercall, Modern Luxury, and Luxury Estates International’s seasonal publication. Follow him on Twitter @rkachelriess.

Related

Our Best Stories, Delivered Daily
The best decision you'll make all day.