Downtown Las Vegas is packed with exciting casinos that have some of the best odds in the city. However, whether you’re a high roller or play the penny slots, we all have budget limits. If you blew through your gambling allowance and need fun and affordable diversions to help you get your groove back, we’ve got you covered.
Check out these 25 fun things to do on Fremont Street for a good time that doesn’t break the bank.
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1. Root for Your Favorite Sigma Derby Horse
Just because you’ve spent your gambling allowance doesn’t mean you can’t have a blast in the casino. How? Sigma Derby at The D Las Vegas. Sigma Derby is a 1980s retro horse race game that brings players together as they root for their picks to win.
Head to the second floor at The D, choose your favorite horse or jockey and join in on the cheering as you watch the tiny mechanical horses circle the track. Similar to the craps tables, Sigma Derby is a fun communal experience that makes you feel like you’re in on the action even though you didn’t place a bet.
2. Explore Antiques at Main Street Station
Only a block from the Fremont Street Experience, Main Street Station is home to unusual antiques and impressive collections, including:
- Vintage slot machines
- Street lamps from Brussels’ Central Square
- The Louisa Alcott Pullman parlor car
- Chandeliers from the 1890s Coca-Cola Building
- Bronze doors and facade from the Kuwait Royal Bank
- Chandelier from the Figaro Opera House in Paris
- A portion of the Berlin Wall
The best part is that you can see all these unique pieces for free. Just ask the front desk for a brochure for a self-guided tour to explore the antiques sprinkled throughout the property.
3. Take in a Viva Vision Light Show
One of the best free things to do on Fremont Street is to watch the iconic Viva Vision screen in action. Viva Vision is the largest LED canopy screen in the world, stretching five blocks and towering 90 feet above the downtown crowds. In other words, you literally can’t miss it if you’re on Fremont Street.
Viva Vision light shows run nightly at the top of the hour, from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Experience the spectacle for yourself.
4. Soak Up the Sun at Stadium Swim
Circa Resort & Casino has raised the bar on Las Vegas pools with their impressive Stadium Swim experience. Featuring six pools that span three tiered levels, a massive 143-foot screen, private cabanas, swim-up bars and more, Stadium Swim is the ultimate relaxation destination.
While there is typically a cover to get into Stadium Swim, guests staying at Circa and their sister properties, The D and Golden Gate, can get free entry (excluding special events). If you’re on Fremont Street during the day, there’s no better way to cool off and recharge than Stadium Swim.
5. Check out the city’s first movie theater.
Opened in 1928, El Portal was the very first movie theater in Las Vegas, and it’s still standing. Well, sort of. The building’s exterior remains, while the interior has changed quite a bit. What used to be a 700-seat auditorium that served as the city’s cultural center is now In the Game arcade.
However, you can still check out the historic building with the neon El Portal sign and exterior balconies still intact. Find it across from The D at 310 Fremont Street.
6. Get Your Photo With a Million Bucks
Even if you don’t feel like a million bucks after blowing your gambling allowance, you can still get a picture with it. Head to Binion’s Gambling Hall for a free digital picture with $1 million in cash. Just pose, press the button to snap the picture and get the image sent to your email or phone. The display is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
7. Time Travel at Golden Gate
When it comes to vintage Vegas casinos, the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is the oldest one in town. How old is it? Well, the address is literally 1 Fremont Street. That should tell you something. After opening their doors in 1906, the property has evolved with the city through the roaring ‘20s, Prohibition, the Rat Pack era and beyond.
With so much history packed within their walls, here are a few things you can see at the Golden Gate today:
- Pictures of Frank Sinatra and other Vegas icons
- Antique 1940s slot machines
- Real game ledgers from 1907
- 1900s whiskey bottles discovered during renovations
- The original wooden arches from the property’s 1906 construction
- A small viewing window that shows the original concrete wall
- A 1909 fountain with original tiles that’s still in operation
Book a room at one of the iconic downtown Las Vegas hotels.
8. Pose With Vegas Vic and Vegas Vickie
Vegas Vic has stood as a symbol of Vegas hospitality since he was placed on top of the Pioneer Club in 1951. The neon cowboy welcomed patrons with a “Howdy, Partner” and waving arm for decades. While he doesn’t talk or move anymore, you can still find him standing strong above the Pioneer Gift Shop near the Golden Nugget.
So, who is Vegas Vickie? Poor Vic was looking a little lonely, so Vegas Vickie was added across the street in 1980 to keep him company. When the property she sat above was torn down to make room for Circa Resort & Casino, Circa’s owners took good care of her. Fully restored, she now has a home near the hotel’s lobby where she continues to dazzle visitors.
9. People-Watch
Looking for fun things to do in Vegas that don’t involve gambling? People-watching in downtown Las Vegas is top-notch entertainment. Just hear us out.
People from around the world and all walks of life come to the Fremont Street Experience for a good time. If you sit and watch the crowds, you won’t believe some of the awesome, romantic, crazy and debaucherous things you’ll see. Be sure to check out the best places for people-watching on Fremont Street.
10. Walk Around Downtown Container Park
If you feel like stretching your legs after spending time in the casinos, Downtown Container Park is only a few blocks from the Fremont Street Experience. What makes Downtown Container Park worth a visit is the boutique shops and restaurants housed in repurposed shipping containers. Take a walk around the outdoor entertainment complex to explore.
11. Find Cool Places To Eat on Fremont Street
There is no shortage of unique restaurants in downtown Las Vegas. Whether you want something quick and easy or a little more indulgent, here are some cool places to check out that are easy on the budget:
- Project BBQ at Circa
- American Coney Island at The D
- Whiskey Licker Up Saloon at Binion’s
- Cadillac Mexican Grill at Golden Nugget
- Triple 7 Restaurant & Microbrewery at Main Street Station
- 8 East at Circa
- Market Street Cafe at The Cal
12. Dance in the Street
Fremont Street Experience is the place to be for free live music that will have you rocking out in the pedestrian mall all night. Starting at 6:00 p.m., check out nightly performances on the 1st Street Stage, 3rd Street Stage and Main Street Stage under the Viva Vision canopy.
If you visit Las Vegas during the summer, you’re in luck. The Downtown Rocks summer concert series features some of the biggest names in music at Fremont Street Experience with no cover charge. See the events calendar for upcoming musical artists and dance it out like nobody’s watching.
13. Rub a Piece of the Blarney Stone
Need a little extra luck after blowing through your gambling budget? The D has a small piece of the Blarney Stone on the casino’s second floor, taken from the famous Blarney Castle in Ireland. Legend says that kissing the Blarney Stone while upside down gives you the gift of eloquence, and the ability to get whatever you want through persuasion.
While that sounds awesome, we think the Blarney Stone will understand if you just give it a little rub instead of a kiss because, you know, germs.
14. Enjoy Flair Bartenders
While any bartender can make a drink, not many can turn it into a full-blown show. In Las Vegas, flair bartending is an art that we take seriously. Visit The D, Golden Gate and Circa Resort & Casino to see the best of the best do their thing.
With bottles and bar tools flying through the air, you get a little entertainment for the price of your drink. Even if you’re not partaking, you can check out the flair at OneBar or Circa Bar in the pedestrian mall as the bartenders serve the crowds at the Fremont Street Experience.
15. Weigh Yourself at Heart Attack Grill
The Heart Attack Grill on Fremont Street is an irreverent restaurant that is not afraid to reward heavier patrons for their appetites. In fact, there’s a scale outside the restaurant advertising a free meal to anyone weighing more than 300 pounds.
Check out the scale to watch others take the weight test, or if you’re feeling particularly brave, try it for yourself. If anything, you can see if you put on any vacation pounds.
16. See Sharks at the Tank Pool at Golden Nugget
The Tank Pool at Golden Nugget Las Vegas is an award-winning pool for multiple reasons. First, the impressive 200,000-gallon aquarium in the middle of the pool is home to several species of sharks and exotic fish. Second, there is a three-story water slide that shoots right through the middle of the shark tank.
If that wasn’t enough, the pool features comfortable cabanas, daybeds, chaise lounges and a full bar. If that’s not Vegas enough for you, we don’t know what is.
17. Rub Buddha’s Belly at The Cal
The California Hotel & Casino, simply referred to as “The Cal” by locals and loyal patrons, has another good luck charm you may want to visit. The Happy Buddha statue near the hotel’s front desk is known to give good mojo to people who rub the belly. When you’re running on fumes with your gambling allowance, it can’t hurt to try.
18. Get a Tarot Reading at Binion’s
If you’re trying to stretch your budget, it’s always great to find affordable things to do in Vegas. Binion’s Gambling Hall offers one of those gems with tarot card readings every Friday and Saturday night. For only $25, you can get an in-depth tarot reading from a licensed medium and spiritual advisor for insight into your future.
While you may want to take it all with a grain of salt, it’s definitely a fun and unique thing to do that will make your Vegas trip that much more memorable.
19. View the Remodeled Golden Arm Wall of Fame
What is the Golden Arm Wall of Fame? On May 29, 1989, Stanley Fujitake rolled at a craps table for a record-setting three hours and six minutes, earning him the nickname “Golden Arm.” To honor others who could match Stanley’s luck in subsequent years, The California Casino created the Golden Arm Wall of Fame inside the bridge connecting The Cal and Main Street Station.
You may have noticed that the Golden Arm Wall of Fame that was once covered in plaques has now been digitized, making it more interactive and easier to add additional “Golden Arms” to the list.
20. Seek Out the World’s Largest Pint Glass
Right by the SlotZilla launch tower is Hennessey’s Tavern, an Irish bar that has been serving downtown Vegas patrons since 1976. Outside of their longevity, Hennessey’s has a truly impressive feature worth seeing.
The restaurant and bar is topped with the world’s largest pint glass. Go big or go home in Vegas, right? Get a picture of the 85-foot-tall pint glass on the corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.
Book a thrilling ride on the SlotZilla Zipline at the Fremont Street Experience.
Related: Five Things to Love at Golden Nugget’s Chart House Restaurant
21. Watch a Game on the Largest Sportsbook Screen
We know your gambling allowance is kaput. However, you can still enjoy a game on the massive screen at Circa’s sportsbook. The three-story sportsbook is actually the largest sports betting experience in the world. Take a seat in one of the comfortable armchairs and cheer for your favorite team with other sports-lovers.
22. Take in the Toys and Collectibles at Neonopolis
The Toy Shack at Neonopolis has been a staple in downtown Las Vegas since 2011, and for good reason. As featured in the reality TV show Pawn Stars, Toy Shack specializes in buying and selling vintage toys and collectibles from the 1980s. If you’re hankering for a good dose of nostalgia, pop into Toy Shack and peruse through the impressive inventory.
23. Explore Murals From the Life Is Beautiful Festival
Something you might not know about downtown Las Vegas is that it hosts several music and arts festivals throughout the year, including the Life Is Beautiful Festival. During these groundbreaking events, several artists created stunning street art and murals that became part of the downtown fabric that makes this part of town so unique.
People feeling down on their luck can boost their spirits by exploring the thought-provoking murals, installations and other street art displays found throughout the area.
24. Check Out 500 Gold Bars at Legacy Club
Located on the 60th floor of Circa Resort & Casino, Legacy Club offers the best view of the beautiful Las Vegas skyline. However, there is another view inside the Legacy Club that you must see.
In the middle of the lounge is a fantastic display of 500 gold bars, each minted with the Circa logo by Sunshine Mine. As if the gold wasn’t enough, there is a ticker on top of the display that shows the real-time value of the gold in dollars. It may even change multiple times while you finish your drink.
Related: Five Ways to Improve Your Mojo Before Gambling in a Las Vegas Casino
25. Drink
Well, why not? After all, your drinking allowance is totally separate from your gambling allowance. That’s what we tell ourselves, anyway. Grab a slushy drink, cold beer, craft cocktail, glass of wine or whatever else floats your boat at one of the bars in downtown Las Vegas.
Let the Good Times Roll in Downtown Las Vegas
Gambler or not, downtown Las Vegas has something for everyone. Swing by for free live music, the Viva Vision light shows, a ride on SlotZilla or the lively casino atmospheres. It’s always a good time at the Fremont Street Experience.