Things To Do in Vegas This Weekend: July, 18-20, 2025

Las Vegas packs a year’s worth of entertainment into one midsummer weekend. From July 18-20 2025 you can cheer on NBA hopefuls at Summer League games, rage at pool-party DJ sets, watch boxing legend Manny Pacquiao’s comeback, catch Lady Gaga’s arena spectacle, hear Nas perform Illmatic with a full orchestra, and still squeeze in world-class Cirque shows, free Fremont Street concerts, late-night neon history tours, and a sunrise hike in Red Rock Canyon. Below is a complete, time-blocked game plan so you can sample the city’s sports, music, nightlife, food and nature without missing the must-see moments.

All weekend, you can catch Backstreet Boys are at Sphere July 18-20, 2025.

Friday, July 18 - Hit the Ground Running

Dawn: Red Rock Wake-up

Beat the desert heat with a sunrise drive 25 minutes west to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, whose Scenic Drive opens at 6 a.m. in summer. Grab a timed-entry reservation the night before, walk the Calico Tanks or Moenkopi loops, and be back on the Strip by breakfast feeling smug that you saw sandstone glow before the thermometer hit triple digits.

Late Morning: Brunch & Chinatown Browsing

Slide into Spring Mountain Road (Vegas’s Chinatown) for ube pancakes at Guieb Cafe or xiao long bao at Shanghai Taste; the district was recently hailed as the city’s “true culinary heart” for round-the-clock eats.

Afternoon: Hoops or Splash

Sports option: The NBA 2K26 Summer League runs its final weekend at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, with six games tipping off Friday starting at 1 p.m. PT. Daylife option: Encore Beach Club lists rising producer ItsMurph as the special-guest DJ this afternoon, with doors at noon and a guest-list line if you RSVP early.

Early Evening: Choose Your Headliner

• Lady Gaga unleashes The MAYHEM Ball at T-Mobile Arena (8 p.m.) for the second of her three-night run.
• Across the Wynn complex, Nas teams with the Las Vegas Philharmonic at Encore Theater (8 p.m.) to celebrate 30 years of Illmatic.
• If theatrical spectacle is more your speed, Cirque du Soleil’s aquatic masterpiece O has a 7 p.m. show at Bellagio’s O Theatre.

Late Night: Downtown Energy

Ride a Lyft to Fremont Street Experience, where local and touring bands perform on three outdoor stages every night at no charge; July 18’s lineup kicks off early evening and rolls past midnight under the Viva Vision canopy. Grab a cheap craft brew at Circa’s Project Bar before calling it.

Saturday, July 19 - Big-Ticket Saturday

Morning: Poolside Recovery

Save your legs with a leisurely cabana at your hotel pool or nurse electrolytes over coffee; tonight will run late.

Mid-Day: NBA & Shopping Combos

More NBA Summer League double-headers stack the afternoon schedule, and tickets start at $35, making it the best value pro-ball experience in America. If you need AC, pop next door to the newly expanded Fashion Show Las Vegas for retail therapy between games.

Prime Afternoon: Combat Sports History

Doors open 12:30 p.m. at MGM Grand Garden Arena for Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios, his first bout after a four-year retirement. Even upper-bowl seats give you bragging rights to say you watched an eight-division world champ chase one more belt.

Cocktail Hour: Quick Turnaround

Not into boxing? MGM’s neighboring KA Theatre hosts Cirque’s martial-arts epic KA at 4:30 p.m.; the acrobatics and pyrotechnic battlefield stage wow first-timers and vets alike.

Night: Parallel Marquee Shows

• Lady Gaga closes her Vegas stand, again at 8 p.m.
• Nas repeats his orchestral hip-hop set for a sold-out crowd next door at Wynn.
• EDM fans can swap vocals for bass: Marshmello headlines Encore Beach Club’s night-time edition beginning 10 p.m.

After-Hours: Fremont or Drai’s

Downtown: The free Downtown Rocks summer series drops national bands on Fremont Street throughout July, continuing the no-cover party vibe until 2 a.m. Strip: Hip-hop devotees may drift to Drai’s Nightclub atop The Cromwell, where the rooftop breeze and 4 a.m. last call keep the momentum going (artist schedules post a month out on lavishvegas.com).

Sunday, July 20 - Wind-Down & Wander

Late Morning: Pool Brunch

Ease into Sunday at Marquee Dayclub’s Poolside Sundays with DJ Mike Attack (11 a.m. start) on the Cosmopolitan rooftop for relaxed house beats and recovery cocktails.

Matinee Shows & Attractions

Families or show hoppers can pick from an all-star carousel of matinees: Jabbawockeez dance crew (2 p.m.) or Mat Franco’s Magic Reinvented Nightly (7 p.m.) both run at convenient Strip theaters.

Golden Hour: The High Roller or Sphere Exterior

Ride the 550-foot High Roller wheel at LINQ Promenade for sunset, pairing Strip panoramas with an open-bar cabin upgrade if desired.

Dusk: Neon Museum Immersion

Vegas nostalgia glows brightest in the Neon Museum’s outdoor Boneyard. Summer hours extend to midnight with last admission at 11 p.m., perfect for photographing restored Stardust and Moulin Rouge signs without daytime scorch.

Final Nightcap: Penn & Teller or Free Street Beats

Penn & Teller’s 8 p.m. show at the Rio remains a mind-bending bargain after 20 years, leaving time to slip back downtown for more free Fremont beats if you like.

Practical Pointers

• Hydrate and shade-hop. Average July highs hit 106 F; keep a refillable bottle and plan midday indoor escapes.
• Transport. The free Downtown Loop shuttle connects Fremont attractions; the Las Vegas Monorail eases Strip traffic stress. See Getting Around Vegas for more.
• Tickets. Gaga, Pacquiao and Nas will sell out; buy in advance on official outlets to avoid resale markups.
• Dress codes. Dayclubs require upscale swim attire, and fight night enforces clear-bag rules comparable to NFL stadiums.
• Budget moments. NBA Summer League, Fremont Street concerts and Red Rock all provide under-$20 entertainment, proving Vegas fun is not only for high rollers.

Monday Morning Departure Tip

If your flight leaves late, squeeze in a last stroll through Bellagio Conservatory’s seasonal floral display or grab souvenirs at the Arts District’s retro boutiques (many open by 11 a.m.). Then head to Harry Reid International with at least two hours to spare; post-weekend TSA lines stack up fast, especially after fight weekends.

With smart pacing and strategic ticket buys, you can touch nearly every facet of Las Vegas culture in 72 hours - sport, art, music, nature, neon, and nonstop nightlife - then fly home with a camera roll and memory bank overflowing.