Sam Morris / Las Vegas News Bureau
Rick Springfield will perform on the 3rd Street Stage of the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas during a free concert on August 12, 2017. From Monday, May 31, 12:00 midnight through Tuesday, June 1, 4:00 am, Downtown Rocks Again! The event will feature eight acts on three stages as the city celebrates the reopening of the store.
Monday, May 31, 2021 | 2 a.m
The countdown is an annual tradition in downtown Las Vegas on New Years Eve. Three, two, one … “Happy New Year!”
And so, a new year of new opportunities awaits the tens of thousands of locals and visitors who flock to the Fremont Street Experience to celebrate.
Another, arguably more significant, countdown will take place in the city center tonight, as the calendar is set to 1.
The city will fully reopen after about 15 months of business restrictions. As part of the celebrations, live music performances begin Tuesday at 12:01 am on multiple stages within the six block Fremont Street Experience.
It only seems fitting that just before midnight, a recorded message from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is played on the Experience’s “Viva Vision” digital display canopy. Goodman is a staple of the downtown New Year’s Eve celebration.
In a statement sent to the Sun, Goodman said she was “excited” that Las Vegas was “completely open to business.”
“You can feel the enthusiasm and energy as more and more visitors come to our city,” said Goodman. “People are ready to travel safely and have a good time, and there is no better place to do that than Las Vegas.”
After a Deadmau5 concert at the nearby Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on May 21st – a performance that drew around 10,000 spectators – the “Downtown Rocks Again!” Eight acts on three stages.
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic last spring, live music is taking place along the popular pedestrian zone.
“We are very excited to be part of the much anticipated reopening of Las Vegas,” said Andrew Simon, president and CEO of the public-private company that oversees the Fremont Street entertainment district, in a statement. “In order to support our local artists, revitalize our community and enjoy the beauty of live events again, we decided to open our stages as soon as we got the green light.”
The band lineup on June 1 includes acts like Alter Ego, Zowie Bowie, Rock Steady, Velvet Elvis, Spandex Nation and Crush. There is no fee to enter the pedestrian zone.
Paul McGuire, a spokesman for Fremont Street Experience, said the return of live music to the downtown tourist corridor is an important step in the city’s recovery. Comments on the Fremont Street Experience social media accounts were loud about the return of live music, he said.
“The Fremont Street Experience is known around the world for its free nightly live music,” said McGuire. “We all wanted to open our stages as soon as we got the green light.”
McGuire said signs will be put up next week to warn visitors that vaccinated guests are welcome, but there will be no temperature or vaccination ID checks.
“We don’t estimate how many people will show up, but people are excited. It’s going to be a community party, ”said McGuire.
Downtown has been crowded with visitors for the past two months since the spread of the COVID-19 vaccine. June 1st will be another milestone.
“Every weekend (downtown) has gotten a bit busier for the past few months,” said Derek Stevens, who owns the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and three casinos, including Circa Las Vegas. “I think that reflects what is going on across the country. There are signs that we are leaving the pandemic behind and I think that will only add to the great desire people have to come to Las Vegas. “
Carolyn Wheeler, executive director of the Downtown Vegas Alliance, a nonprofit trading organization, said business owners in and around Fremont Street are looking forward to the event.
“The tourists are coming back, yes, but it’s also very cool that the locals are coming back downtown to support our small businesses,” said Wheeler. “There are more reasons to come downtown than ever.”
So it was on May 21st with participation in the concert in the event center. The scene looked like it did in pre-pandemic times, when the concert-goers enjoyed the show close together. The video went viral online.
“Deadmau5 was amazing,” said Stevens. “That was the first event that really meant Las Vegas was back. I think people show that they are excited to be outside and be with other people. “
The musical acts will be played until 4 a.m. on Tuesday, McGuire said.
