Las Vegas "Free" Entertainment
 

My husband & I will be visiting Las Vegas in June & would like to hear from those of you who are experienced at finding the "Free" entertainment, or spots for where, for the price of a few drinks, one can sit and listen to music and/or other entertainment.
We are not into really dark comedy or strip clubs. Just want to wander & have fun without spending too much $$!
Thanks!

The Tropicana is a haven for all kinds of free entertainment. Bally's has a really nice lounge that usually serves up a good show and excellent drinks. Harrah's has an out-in-the-open bar that is hopping most of the time at the Mac King show at that hotel is a hoot (and half-price tickets are usually available). There is always the fountain at the Bellagio, the "pirates" show at Treasure Island, the gondoliers at the Venitian. The Conservatory and the glass ceiling in hotel reception at the Bellagio are worth checking out. The Hard Rock has a good display of music memorabilia. Have fun.

Frankly, in my opinion you usually get what you pay for in Las Vegas, so free entertainment rarely amounts to much. On the other hand, one of LV's greatest pleasures is sitting by the fountains at the bar inside Bellagio watching the show. Sure beats standing out on the sidewalk to see it.
And sometimes you'll pass a casino bar with a really talented piano player and/or singer -- but rarely.

check out cheapovegas.com for some great ideas.

imperialpalace.com has a coupon for free admission to the classic car museum atop the hotel...it's great. I saw a JFK car there, one of Elvis' cars and the Popemobile.

Caesar's usually has good entertainment at Cleopatra's Barge lounge.

If you like Country Music, the Gold Coast has a Honky Tonk Angels impersonation show that is worth the price...I think you can get dinner and the show for around $30.

Everyone should see the Sunspots at the Plaza on Fremont Street at least once in their lives. The $1 cocktails are an added incentive.

The car museum at the Imperial Palace is pretty cool, but if you go, you should know that the best Bloody Mary in the entire world is made right there.If I remember correctly, I think they charge about $5.00 for it, and I certainly remember it better than the museum!!

What are the Sunspots???? We go to LV every year, going again in a few weeks and I really want to know!

They are billed alternately as the "World Famous Sunspots" and the "The Worst Louge Act in the World"

They are a Filipino group, mostly family, and they have been performing at the Plaza for as long as I can remember. They are a classic, old-school Vegas lounge-style act, complete with matching sequined vests. They are both cheesey and sincere. I love the grand finale when the singer appears in an oversized ten-gallon hat and sings a medley of patriotic songs, ending with the Star-Spangled Banner. Maybe it is the $1 cockatails at the lounge, but we always leave feeling entertained.

"Big E" at the Barbary Coast is an afternoon show that we thought was good, if you like Elvis music.We went,not expecting much. Thinking we wouldn't stay very long. Ended up staying for the whole show.It is free. I did buy a drink,but not really sure I would have had to.The Barbary Coast website would have info on times and days.

Sounds great here_today_gone2Maui! My in-laws will be with us this time (their first time in vegas) and we will make a point to see the act. Maybe we've been spendingh too much money on shows! -- Oh and of course drinks!

The lounge at the MGM is always crowded and very popular, especially on weekend nights. The acts vary, but are typically high energy.

NY NY has a bar with dueling pianos which was fun. Go early so you can get a table- I think they have a cover after they start playing.

The lounge acts vary greatly, but just walk around and sit and have a drink or two when the band sounds good. I agree that the MGM lounge usually has some fun acts.

Legends in Concert at the Imperial Palace was a blast. We were skeptical at first but had read great reviews about it. Really great impersonators of famous singers. I think tickets were around 35 dollars and included a couple drinks.

For 'free entertainment' the Rio has the Masquerade show in the sky. The theme changes a bit with each show. Pick a place with a good view on the balcony about 15 minutes before the show starts.
The balcony railing gives you a place to lean on, while you can make eye contact with the entertainers and catch the mardi gras beads they throw to the crowds.
Rio Rita walks around during the pre-show and hands out 2 for 1 discount cards to buy Rio theater tickets.

The last time I was there, the MGM had a free Elvis show at their lounge. If you wanted to sit at one of the tables or at the bar, you had to buy a drink. But I stood at the bottom of the stairs (on the gambling floor) and saw the whole show. It was really very good!

How about the Fremont St. Experience downtown? It's the nightly light show projected onto a metal canopy which was built over Fremont street. They have a different one every hour highlighting a different type of music.