When Formula 1 left town, Las Vegas didn’t miss a beat. Instead, the city filled the void with a three-day extravaganza: the Neon City Festival. November 22-24, 2024, 180,000+ people came downtown to see live music, immersive art and get their hands on some seriously cool pop-ups. Let’s get into how this festival turned downtown into a playground for music lovers, art lovers and foodies.
Image source: Tim-Quesenberry, Black Raven Photography
Music Across Four Stages
Imagine walking through downtown Las Vegas with music coming from every direction. That’s what the festivalgoers experienced with four stages of music all weekend. Big name acts like Neon Trees, Troyboi and Plain White T’s brought the heat, while a stacked lineup of emerging and local talent added to the atmosphere.
Here’s a quick rundown of who performed:
- Day One: American Mile, Bubba Sparxxx, Cassadee Pope, lovelytheband and more.
- Day Two: Adelita’s Way, Filter, Krewella, Plain White T’s, Violin on Fire.
- Day Three: Anabel Englund, Beauty School Dropout, Twista, The Kruse Brothers.
Even smaller acts like Pepe Orro had a big impact, performing multiple days. It felt like every corner of downtown was alive with sound.
Art That Glowed
Neon City wasn’t just about the music. Thanks to the creative team at Area15, the festival had amazing art installations that looked like something out of a dream. Here are some of the highlights:
- Aliume’s neon lit portals at Wink World: Portals Into The Infinite.
- Illuminarium’s immersive experience, tech meets storytelling.
- A sneak peek at Area15’s upcoming attractions: The Dopeameme Institute for Pleasure Research and the John Wick Experience.
One of the fan-faves? A life-size art car designed by local artist Henry Chang, which was a photo op for festivalgoers.
Shopping That Wasn’t Boring
No souvenir stands here—this festival’s pop-ups were full of personality. From alternative fashion to healing crystals, something for everyone. A few of the standouts:
- Recycled Propaganda: Art that made you think.
- Tristan Shearer: Photographer specializing in vintage collodion techniques.
- Essence Permanent Jewelry: Where you could get custom jewelry made on the spot.
- Krystal Kartel: Selling beautiful pieces made from healing crystals.
Whether you wanted skate merch, handmade crafts or a new piece of bling, Neon City had you covered.
A Foodie’s Paradise in the Desert
What’s a festival without food? Neon City didn’t miss a beat, serving up flavors from around the world. Vendors like Here’s the Beef, Medellin Empanadas and Taco Ave. were near Fremont Street, while the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center had its own food wonderland.
Best of all? The Omaha Steaks Culinary Experience. All you can eat whiskey-grilled steak, shrimp ceviche and filet mignon burgers. Yum.
