Every evening through Dec. 13, the Thomas & Mack Center is the epicenter to catch all the action of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. But after the roping and riding ends, it’s time to party. Concerts take place all over town, with some of country music’s biggest stars taking the stage. You can also find laughs with a number of blue-collar comedians. So once that arena dust settles, get ready to kick it up again!

Rodeo Vegas

You can’t beat free, but it’s nice when free is also really, really good. Starting at 10:30 p.m. each night, The Mirage’s sports book turns into a concert venue for Josh Thompson (Dec. 7), Brit Stokes and Kimberly Dunn (Dec. 8-9), Frankie Ballard (Dec. 10), Jon Pardi (Dec. 11), Craig Campbell (Dec. 12) and Randy Houser (Dec. 13), with no cover. If you’re there during the day, you can also enjoy live feeds of the NFR action and a variety of drink specials. MGM Grand, call 800.398.1245 or visit mgmgrand.com/NFR

Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard

It’s been a winding road for Merle Haggard, from a troubled youth to the Country Music Hall of Fame and multiple Grammys, but once he gained his footing, it’s been nothing but hit songs. When he began recording, Haggard’s style broke away from the polished country that was then popular. Since 1966, Haggard has seen nearly 40 singles become No. 1 country hits, from the politically charged “Okie From Muskogee” and folk favorite “Mama Tried” to “A Place to Fall Apart,” a duet with popular ’80s country-music singer Janie Fricke. Golden Nugget, 10 p.m. Dec. 7-8, starting at $97.90 plus tax and fee. 866.946.5336

Travis Tritt

Success came to Tritt in his 20s, but it’s in his 50s that he’s truly become a well-rounded musician. The country star now has his own record label and recently released The Calm After… The album takes Tritt in a new musical direction, incorporating his knack for some serious soul-and-blues singing, while for the first time giving his impressive guitar-playing skills the proper attention it deserves. “To still have a career and be able to surprise people with music—I’m humbled and very thankful. It’s a God-given gift,” he says. Golden Nugget, 10 p.m. Dec. 9, starting at $64.90 plus tax and fee. 866.946.5336

Rodney Carrington

Rodney Carrington

Rodney Carrington

He’s crass, he’s vulgar and he can ... sing? Although Carrington’s got some family friendly material under his belt, this guitarist/comedian is about all pushing boundaries with jokes and jingles alike. What do you expect from a guy whose CD tracks have titles like “Show Them to Me,” “Morning Wood” and “Burning Sensation”? And those aren’t even the stand-up bits! MGM Grand, Dec. 7-13, starting at $59.99 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster

Ron White

Of the original Blue Collar Comedy quartet, comedian Ron White is arguably the one to have grown, even refined, his stand-up material the most. While the others have built brands around their personas or taken to TV and film, White’s just better than ever at chomping his cigar, sipping his scotch and telling his stories. These days you might not even hear the phrase “tater salad,” but that’s only because he has something far more interesting to talk about. The Mirage, 10 p.m. Dec. 12-13, starting at $59.99 plus tax and fee, 16+. 702.792.7777

Bill Engvall

About the only genre of TV show left for Bill Engvall to conquer is broadcast news. Since premiering with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour in 2000, Engvall has starred in his own sitcom (The Bill Engvall Show), hosted a game show (Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?) and competed on Dancing With the Stars, where he finished as third runner-up last year. His live performances have spawned a long line of stand-up albums for Warner Brothers, who released the best-of compilation Ultimate Laughs earlier this year. Treasure Island, 9 p.m. Dec. 12, starting at $59.95 plus tax and fee. 702.894.7722

Cole Swindell

Although he’s a relative newcomer to the country scene, Cole Swindell has done an awful lot in that short time, including writing songs for some of the hottest young singers around, such as Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Craig Campbell and Scotty McCreery. Last year, Swindell took a chance and released his own single, “Chillin’ It,” and it was a success. This year, he’s really started taking off as a singer, releasing his debut album on Warner Music Nashville and opening for Luke Bryan on tour. Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq, 8 p.m. Dec. 8, starting at $15 plus tax and fee. 702.862.2695

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Thanks to a shout-out from Brad Paisley on his 2011 hit “Old Alabama,” one of country music’s longest-running bands is back in the spotlight. Not that Alabama ever really went away. For 17 of 18 years in the ’80s and ’90s, they were voted Favorite Country Group at the American Music Awards. They’ve continued to put out records, including this year’s Alabama & Friends at the Ryman, featuring cameos from Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Trisha Yearwood and Florida Georgia Line. Golden Nugget, 10 p.m. Dec. 11-12, starting at $163.90 plus tax and fee. 866.946.5336

Gary Allan

The Gary Allan you get in person is the same Gary Allan you get onstage. “What I found is, the bigger the arena … the more transparent you are,” he told the Toledo Blade in 2008. That transparency carries over to hits like his 2012 country No. 1 “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” which epitomizes all that fans love about Allan: honest, heartfelt lyrics, a rough-hewn persona and recordings that alternate between hard-edged and atmospheric, sometimes within the same song. House of Blues, 9 p.m. Dec. 11-12, starting at $46.50 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster

Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels Band

What if the devil never went down to Georgia? Most likely the Charlie Daniels Band would still be pioneers in Southern rock, but the fiddle might not have the legendary, bad-ass reputation that it does. Southern rock might not have gone as mainstream either, crossing over genres and garnering a larger fan base thanks to the band’s music. Daniels has also been praised for his patriotism as much as his guitar and singing chops—his unwavering, tireless support of America’s troops makes him perhaps the most patriotic country act around. The Orleans, 8 p.m. Dec. 12-13, starting at $29.95 plus tax and fee. 702.365.7075