More than almost any other city in the U.S., Las Vegas depends on tourism for its very survival. The city has probably experienced more booms and busts than just about anywhere, except perhaps San Francisco.
Now, once again, Las Vegas is facing a steep tourism slump in 2025 — making the news of the Neon City Festival’s return this November all the more significant.
This will be the second annual free multi-day event.
“There’s nothing like the energy of Neon City Festival, and this year’s headliners bring something for everyone,” said Jeff Victor, CEO of Neon City Festival in an announcement. “From pop-punk and alternative rock to hip-hop and indie pop, this year’s lineup is stacked with talent that will light up downtown Las Vegas.”
The “festival without fences” will span across the Fremont Street Experience and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, creating an immersive footprint that fills downtown with music, food, art, and entertainment at every turn.
Daniel Kline/TheStreet
Why music matters more than ever in Vegas
In a city built on spectacle, live music has become a performer’s and promoter’s ace in the hole. Las Vegas ranked as the U.S.’s second-biggest concert market in 2022 with more than $518 million gross on 3.4 million tickets sold, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Casinos and resorts have responded by transforming themselves into major live-music destinations — building cutting-edge venues, booking residencies, and shifting from gambling to immersive experiences.
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On any given night, visitors have their choice of live music, whether it’s country, K-pop, or rock.
For Las Vegas, music is a strategic lever that helps attract visitors, extend stays, diversify audiences and drive ancillary spending (rooms, dining, nightlife), especially since a growing number of visitors skip the gaming tables and opt to go to professional sporting events or concerts instead.
Neon City Festival hits downtown Las Vegas
The Neon City Festival is set to take over downtown Las Vegas from November 21-23, and the lineup is designed to pull across age groups and genres.
Headliners announced include Good Charlotte, deadmau5, Breaking Benjamin, Two Friends, Fitz and The Tantrums, Bowling for Soup, and De La Soul.
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The three-day festival, free and open to all ages, will span downtown’s Fremont Street Experience, offering music, food, art, and neon-lit ambiance.
What: Neon City Festival
When:November 21, 22, and 23, 2025
Where:Fremont Street Experience
The concert may be a signal that entertainment executives believe live-music festivals can plug some of the tourism hole. With visitation down, pulling a major event downtown helps downtown hotels, transit, restaurants, and nightlife.
The festival could draw in out-of-market visitors (not just locals) to move the needle on occupancy and spending. The festival may even serve as a template for more free or lower-cost large-scale events aimed at mid-market travelers, not just high rollers.
Data point to a downturn in Las Vegas
- Visitor traffic in September was down approximately 9% year over year, with about 3.1 million visitors compared with September 2024.
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) - The number of visitors coming through Harry Reid International Airport is down almost 5% when compared to last year.
Source: LVCVA - Hotel occupancy and gaming revenue are showing cracks, too: in September, occupancy was about 79%, a drop of around 4%.
Source: LVCVA
Those numbers spell trouble for a city whose economic engine relies heavily on tourists, hotels, gaming, and big-ticket entertainment.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a trip.)
Please make a free appointment with TheStreet’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
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