Each December, Las Vegas hosts the biggest names in the sport of rodeo; but the city also has so much more to offer throughout those two weeks, especially as far as the music scene goes! The 65th Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) will officially kick off December 7 and run through December 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center with performances starting at 5:45 p.m. PDT each night. If you’re making the trip to experience Vegas as a cowboy town, be sure to check out the entertainment schedule as well. There are concerts every single day that you won’t want to miss!
Starting the first week of December before the NFR begins, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert will begin performing, and they will have shows throughout the entirety of the event. You can catch Garth at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Carrie at Resorts World Theatre at Resorts World, and Miranda at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino.
Official Wrangler NFR Watch Party
Cowboy Lifestyle Network has teamed up with Wrangler and they are hosting the Official Wrangler NFR Watch Party. The party will be held at the Tropicana Las Vegas inside of the Havana Room. Doors open at 5:15 pm. As soon as the bucking is done there will be live entertainment at 9:00 pm by the Western Fusion Band on Saturday, December 9th, and Nathan Dean & the Damn Band will be performing on Friday, December 15th. Deck yourselves out by wearing your favorite Wrangler wear and come early due to limited capacity. You don’t want to miss out on the best viewing party in town.
Saturday, Dec. 9th, and Friday, Dec. 15th, 2023 Doors Open 5:15 PM Tropicana Las Vegas – The Havana Room
There is no shortage of exceptional live music in Vegas during the NFR, so there are plenty of opportunities to see some of your favorite artists! The hardest part is going to be deciding which concerts you want to attend while there; but to make it easier, we have a list of some must-see shows to look into.
Credit: Travel Nevada
Some Must-See Shows
Scotty Alexander:
When: December 6
Where: Westgate Las Vegas
Brian Childress from the Western Fusion Band (playing acoustic):
When: December 7th – 9th
Where: Robert Irvines from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Ryan Bingham:
When: December 7
Where: The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Ned LeDoux:
When: December 7 – 8
Where: Veil Pavilion at Silverton Casino Hotel
Rodney Carrington:
When: December 7 – 9 and 14 – 16
Where: David Copperfield Theater at MGM Grand
Aaron Watson:
When: December 7 – 10
Where: South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel Casino & Spa
Cody Johnson:
When: December 8
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand
Cody Jinks:
When: December 8 – 9
Where: Dolby Live at Park MGM
Gary Allan:
When: December 8
Where: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Turnpike Troubadours with Red Clay Strays & Tyler Halvers:
When: December 8
Where: Brooklyn Bowl
Mark Wills:
When: December 8
Where: The Showroom at Golden Nugget
Western Fusion Band:
When: Saturday, December 9
Where: Official Wrangler NFR Watch Party in Havana Room at the Tropicana Las Vegas
Jon Pardi:
When: December 9
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay
Hailey Whitters:
When: December 9
Where: BetMGM Sportsbook at Mandalay Bay
Ian Munsick:
When: December 9
Where: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Randy Houser and Tracy Lawrence:
When: December 10
Where: The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Pat Green:
When: December 10
Where: BetMGM Sportsbook at Mandalay Bay
Ray Wylie Hubbard:
When: December 10
Where: The Showroom at Golden Nugget
Toby Keith:
When: December 10, 11, & 14
Where: Dolby Live at Park MGM
Chancey Williams:
When: December 11 – 12
Where: South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel Casino & Spa
Charley Crockett:
When: December 12
Where: The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Lainey Wilson:
When: December 13 – 16
Where: The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Casey Donahew:
When: December 13
Where: BetMGM Sportsbook at Mandalay Bay
Randall King:
When: December 13 – 14
Where: South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel & Casino
Kevin Fowler:
When: December 13 – 14
Where: Gilley’s Saloon at Treasure Island/TI Hotel & Casino
Nathan Dean (playing acoustic):
When: December 14 – 15
Where: Robert Irvines from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Parker McCollum:
When: December 14 – 15
Where: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Bellamy Brothers:
When: December 14
Where: The Showroom at Golden Nugget
Nathan Dean & the Damn Band:
When: December 15
Where: Official Wrangler NFR Watch Party in Havana Room at the Tropicana Las Vegas
LeAnn Rimes:
When: December 15 – 16 at The Venetian Theater at Venetian
Chris Young:
When: December 16
Where: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Easton Corbin:
When: December 16
Where: BetMGM Sportsbook at Mandalay Bay
Wade Bowen with Jenna Paulette:
When: December 16
Where: Resorts World Event Center at Resorts World
Blackhawk:
When: December 16
Where: William-Hill Sports Book at Palms Casino Resort
Credit: Fremont Street Experience
And this list only includes some of our stand-out picks! There are so many other concerts and shows scheduled for this year’s NFR. To find a complete list and schedule of entertainment around the city, visit nfrexperience.com/entertainment_around_town.
When you’re not at each evening’s rodeo performance or singing along to your favorite musical artists live, you will still have plenty to do with numerous other equine/western sports events, shopping, delicious food, and excitement around every corner. Las Vegas will be the perfect one-stop shop for all the best entertainment in December, and we can’t wait to see you there!
Originally from Earth, Texas, a small town in the Texas panhandle, I was raised around rodeo, agriculture, and the western lifestyle. With a degree from Texas A&M University, I have found a passion for promoting the lifestyle that made me who I am today. I am an experienced writer, marketer, and event professional with a strong desire to share the stories of those in our industry. When I’m not busy seeking out ways to promote the western way of life, I enjoy following those I care about around to rodeos, hunting, and going on runs with my blue-eyed, blue-merle Australian Shepherd.
