Even if you are not into gambling or shopping, there are still lots to do and have fun in Las Vegas … and for free!

Most of the casinos offer free entertainment of some sorts from free lounge access, no cover charge to clubs to bigger scale performances such as pirate fighting, volcano eruption and fountain displays.  2 of the most exciting performances are at casinos which are just side by side of each other – Mirage and Treasure Island (TI).

1. Sirens of TI (at Treasure Island)

Here, you will see a band of pirates battling the sirens at in Sirens’ Cove.  This musical show takes place at the front entrance of the popular TI hotel and casino.  The best part of this performance is that regardless of where you stand, you will be able to catch quite a good part of the action as the performance area is quite vast from the stationary Siren’s Cove and the mobile pirate ship.  There is also a generous dose of pyrotechnics performances e.g. fireworks.

The Sirens of TI performances begin 5:30 p.m (fall/winter only), 7:00 p.m, 8:30 p.m, 10:00 p.m, 11:30 p.m (spring/summer only) weather permitting.  Check at TI for the latest show timings.

After the performances, there is a meet the crew session where you can take pictures with the performers for the Sirens of TI.  Here are the hunky male performers!  I think some of the lead characters are not here – might be drying up; yes there are some parts of the performance involving people jumping into water from the pirate ship (see picture above).  I will leave it as that so as not to provide spoilers! 🙂

The “Sirens” – the hot babes of the Sirens of TI performance.

2. Volcano at The Mirage

There is a volcano in the middle of Las Vegas Strip and it is not a dormant one – it erupts every night! but there is nothing to worry about as the worst it can do is to create a Traffic Jam along Las Vegas Boulevard as drivers slow down or pause their vehicle to gawk at the great display of fire, lava and smoke spewing from the volcano to the tunes of classical music!

The 54-foot-tall (16.5-meter) volcano in front of the Mirage wows audiences with an audio and visual spectacle featuring fire and sound effects.  It erupts every hour on the hour from dusk – midnight for the crowds of curious Strip onlookers.

Shows occur nightly on the hour beginning at 7 p.m. in the spring, 8 in the summer, and 6 in the winter. The last show is at midnight.  Check at Mirage for the latest show timings.  As with the Sirens of TI, expect a huge crowd to gather in front of the volcano – we were only able to see the back of the volcano (as seen in the picture below) due to the large crowds (most of them tour groups from all around the world – the peak period is typically 8pm and 9pm when the tour groups return from the tours from Grand Canyon or had just finished their dinners.  The crowds around 11pm & midnight are probably thinner but you never know – the night is always young in Vegas!

3. The Bellagio Fountains

Considered one of the best free attractions on the Strip, the Bellagio Fountains is a breathtaking union of water, music and light.  Immortalized in the remake of Ocean’s 11, the choreographed display comes to life every 30 minutes and move in time to a variety of songs.

Show Times: Monday – Friday, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., every half hour. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, noon – 8 p.m., every half hour. Nightly 8 p.m. – midnight, every 15 minutes.

Step outside of Bally’s to see the light, water, and sound show. The show takes place on Las Vegas Boulevard just outside the hotel entrance.  Check at Bally’s for the latest show timings.  See video below for a sample of the Bellagio Fountain show is like.

There are other free performances in other casinos along and out of the Strip (for example Masquerade in the Sky at Rio’s).  Ceasars Palace offers its own versions of light, sound and water show e.g.

4. Ceasars Palace Fall of Atlantis

The gods unleash their wrath in this animatronic extravaganza of epic proportions. Fire, water,smoke and special effects tell the tale of Atlas, Gadrius and Alia, who struggle to rule the legendary undersea city. Surrounded by a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, the mythical sunken continent rises and falls before your eyes. Shows are daily on the hour beginning at 10am till 11pm

Caesars Palace’s version of the water show uses lifelike animatronic figures to act out the myth of Atlantis in the Fall of Atlantis Fountain Show. The shows take place every hour from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until midnight. on Friday and Saturday. After the show, check out the 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium behind the fountains that is home to more than 100 species of fish.

5. Ceasars Palace Festival Fountain

Experience the morning sun and evening stars in a sky that changes from day to night and back again. Then see Bacchus, Venus, Apollo, and Plutus regale visitors with a magnificent sound, light, and laser show daily. Shows are daily on the hour beginning at 10am till 11pm

6. Fremont Street Experience at Downtown Las Vegas

Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas on the historic street that started it all, this one-of-a-kind entertainment venue is home to Viva Vision, the biggest big screen on the planet. Enjoy the musical video show on the ceiling of the canopy covering Fremont Street. Hourly light-and-sound show nightly at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm and midnight.   You can also enjoy free open air concerts and special events along Fremont Street throughout the year. Shows appear nightly on the hour beginning at dusk and are free and open to the public.