What To See And Do In Las Vegas in February + Super Bowl Weekend Tips

^{It seems like only yesterday a year ago that the Super Bowl was in Las Vegas. Its signage was recently located to the Neon Museum just north of downtown. (Image: Neon Museum)}

There aren’t many slow months in Las Vegas, but February is one of the quieter times. The major convention of note in Las Vegas for the month is MAGIC, which runs Feb. 10–12 and attracts about half the visitors of CES, which took place earlier in January.

If there’s a big event during the month, it might be watching and wagering on the Super Bowl. Sportsbooks and parties will be packed across town as visitors watch, wager and celebrate during the Big Game.

Restaurants will be busier than usual on Valentine’s Day, with the holiday falling on a Friday this year. Anyone planning to celebrate in Las Vegas should make a reservation as soon as possible, as the most popular eateries will fill up quickly (if they’re not full already).

I first learned about Las Vegas casino “holiday prices” a few years ago when I ordered a drink at the Cosmopolitan sportsbook on Presidents Day, only to find the price was double what it was the week before. More casinos have adopted this policy, so don’t be surprised to see higher prices over Presidents Day weekend, Feb. 14–17.

The Rock n Roll Marathon on Feb. 22 and 23 is a unique way to experience Las Vegas. There are three races including one where participants can run on the Vegas Strip at night. Just like the F1 race, right?

According to the long-range Accuweather forecast the temperatures during the night race should be cool and crisp, in the mid-40s.

February is a month that shows flashes of warmth coming -- and can be quite beautiful in the daytime -- but the nights are still close to frigid. (Image: Accuweather)

February Las Vegas Residencies and Limited Engagements

There are changes to a couple of Las Vegas limited engagements that were planned for February at Planet Hollywood. Black Eyed Peas canceled their shows while the Scorpions pushed theirs to August.

• Styx at The Venetian: Feb. 1
• Tears For Fears at Fontainebleau: Feb. 1, 5, 7
• Shania Twain at Planet Hollywood: Feb. 1, 5, 7, 8
• Mariah Carey at Park MGM: Feb. 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15
• Janet Jackson at Resorts World: Feb. 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15
• Blake Shelton at Caesars Palace: Feb. 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15
• Nas & The Las Vegas Philharmonic at Wynn: Feb. 5, 7, 8
• New Edition at Wynn: Feb. 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22
• Barry Manilow at Westgate: Feb. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
• Keith Urban at Fontainebleau: Feb. 14, 15, 19, 21, 22
• Babyface at Palms: Feb. 14, 15
• The Eagles at Sphere: Feb. 14, 15, 21, 22
• Garth Brooks at Caesars Palace: Feb. 21, 22, 23, 28
• Anyma at Sphere: Feb. 27, 28
• Chicago at The Venetian: Feb. 28

Reminder, there’s plenty of free live music on the Vegas Strip.

Lookahead: Chicago, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, and Anyma will end their current engagements with a few shows each in March.

Las Vegas Live Sports In February

Similar to conventions, the February sports calendar is light. There are only a couple of hockey games, a boxing match, and two non-traditional sporting events during the month. The biggest game in Las Vegas will be the Super Bowl which takes place in New Orleans.

The month kicks off on Feb. 1 at T-Mobile Arena with a boxing match between Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David Benavídez and WBA Light Heavyweight Champion David Morrell Jr.

Vegas Golden Knights Home Games

• Feb. 22 vs. Vancouver Canucks 
• Feb. 27 vs. Chicago Blackhawks 

Pickleball on the Strip

The Pickleball Slam 3 is taking place at Mandalay Bay on Feb. 16. The event begins at 1 pm and features Las Vegas locals Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf defending their Pickleball Slam title against Andy Roddick and Eugenie Bouchard.

Lookahead: Rugby League Las Vegas takes place all day on March 1. 

Super Bowl In Las Vegas

Las Vegas has embraced the Super Bowl for decades regardless of where it’s played. The Big Game is the most wagered-on event of the year in the Silver State. As such, Super Bowl watch parties are held everywhere casinos, bars and restaurants can put a TV.

There are a few things to consider when visiting Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend.

Sports betting has always been central to Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas. However, wagering on the game works a bit differently here.

Unlike most states, setting up a mobile sports betting account in Nevada requires in-person registration. While the process typically takes 5 to 10 minutes on a normal day, Super Bowl weekend is busy, and the wait could be longer due to the influx of tourists without established accounts.

In-person registration is required even if sportsbook apps allow players to link their non-Nevada wallet, such as BetMGM. 

Pro tip: Place your Super Bowl bets and open accounts sooner rather than later, as lines grow longer closer to game time.

There are numerous Super Bowl watch experiences, including ballrooms, bars and restaurants. While none of these are bad per se, they remind me of being anywhere else in the country. 

If that’s your thing, have a blast. Most of these parties cost $100-$200 per person and usually include a combination of food, drinks and a seat to watch the game. The latter is important since walk-up seats may not be available with so many people in Las Vegas.

Watching the Big Game in Las Vegas can also be a unique experience. No other state offers such a massive sportsbook experience, where hundreds of people have money riding on the line. 

Circa, Westgate, Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch are just some of the top sportsbooks. Reserving a seat is recommended if it’s available.It beats arriving hours before the game and sitting around to save a spot.

Even in winter, Las Vegas is relatively warm, and watching the Super Bowl outdoors is always an option. Stadium Swim at Circa and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, across from The D, are excellent choices.

Lastly, budget-conscious visitors should look beyond the Strip and downtown Las Vegas for cheaper options. The free ballroom party at South Point is general admission, with seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. Since this isn’t an all-inclusive party, food and drinks are available at very reasonable prices.

The Vegas Big Game Facebook group is a great resource for parties, prices, betting apps, previous experiences, and more. The Las Vegas tourism board has a list of Super Bowl events worth checking out.