Thanksgiving in Las Vegas 2026: Things to Do Over the Long Weekend

1. Swap the turkey for a food tour

Not cooking this year? A guided food tour is a fun way to eat your way across the city with family or friends, and makes a great alternative to a sit-down holiday dinner the day before or after Thanksgiving. These tours from Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, a local Las Vegas company, take small groups to several restaurants in one outing.

Downtown Lip Smacking TourLip Smacking Foodie ToursFrom $135 · 2.5 hrsCheck dates & book → Vegas Sights Worldly Bites (Strip)Lip Smacking Foodie ToursFrom $199 · 2.5 hrsCheck dates & book → Chinatown Speakeasy TourLip Smacking Foodie ToursFrom $125 · 2 hrsCheck dates & book →

If you’d rather have a traditional dinner, many Strip and off-Strip restaurants serve Thanksgiving menus. The popular ones fill up weeks ahead, so reserve as soon as your plans are set.

2. Get out of town for a day

Cool, sunny November days are perfect for exploring the desert around Las Vegas. A guided day trip lets everyone relax while someone else drives.

Red Rock Canyon, Seven Magic Mountains & Nelson Ghost TownMarvit ToursFrom $159 · 7 hrsCheck dates & book → Private Ghost Town Explorer Day TourBindlestiff ToursFrom $249 · 9 hrsCheck dates & book →

3. Turn the long weekend into a national parks trip

With four days off, an overnight trip to the Grand Canyon or Zion and Bryce is very doable. Late November is quiet in the parks compared with summer, but nights get cold, especially at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, so pack warm layers. These small-group trips leave from Las Vegas.

Grand Canyon National Park 2-Day Tour (camping)Bindlestiff ToursFrom $410 · 2 daysCheck dates & book → Zion & Bryce National Parks 2-Day Walking Tour (camping)Bindlestiff ToursFrom $410 · 2 daysCheck dates & book →

4. Work off the feast with something wild

Just outside the city, Adrenaline Mountain packs off-road driving, shooting and heavy equipment into one stop. It’s a crowd-pleaser for families with older kids and groups of friends.

Off-Road UTV Experience (two-seater)Adrenaline MountainFrom $329 · 1 hrCheck dates & book → Drive a Monster TruckAdrenaline MountainFrom $275 · 15 minCheck dates & book → Outdoor Shooting ExperienceAdrenaline MountainFrom $160 · 1 hrCheck dates & book →

5. Catch the first holiday lights

Thanksgiving weekend is when Las Vegas starts to glow for the holidays. Two favorites:

• Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: the free holiday display usually opens in mid-November and stays up through New Year’s. It’s open around the clock, so go early in the morning to beat the crowds.
• Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Garden (Henderson): thousands of lights strung through a desert cactus garden, lit nightly from early November into January.

Dates and hours can change from year to year, so check with each venue before you go.

6. See a show and hit the Black Friday sales

Most major Strip shows, including Cirque du Soleil productions and the big magic shows, perform over the holiday weekend, and Thanksgiving night is often easier to get tickets for than Friday or Saturday. On Black Friday, the Forum Shops at Caesars, Fashion Show, the Grand Canal Shoppes and Las Vegas North Premium Outlets are the main shopping stops.

Planning tips

• Book tours early. Holiday weekend departures fill up, especially Friday and Saturday.
• Reserve dinner now. Popular Thanksgiving menus sell out weeks ahead.
• Thursday and Sunday nights are usually the cheaper hotel nights of the weekend.
• Dress in layers. Warm afternoons can turn into chilly desert nights.