Any visitor to Downtown Las Vegas will attest to the fact that there is no shortage of high-spirited behavior afoot. Fremont Street Experience plans to amplify the high spirits during celebrations surrounding the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with Downtown Shenanigans, a corresponding party observing the halfway mark to St. Patrick’s Day that features flash mobs, dancers and 20 musical acts on Fremont Street Experience’s three stages. The weekend of free concerts culminates with country star Cole Swindell performing at the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Party on Saturday night, with racing personalities on hand to represent the NASCAR brand as well.
Activities leading up to Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway really kick off Thursday after 2 p.m. with Burnout Boulevard, when 16 of NASCAR’s best competitors drive their racecars north on the Strip, starting from Planet Hollywood Resort. Fans will be able to get a street-level view of rising stars such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon and Erik Jones in a procession that also features veterans Kurt and Kyle Busch, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and No. 1-ranked Kevin Harvick. They’ll stop north of the Spring Mountain Road intersection, where Fashion Show, Wynn Las Vegas, the Palazzo and Treasure Island are located, to demonstrate the victory burnouts one of them hopes to duplicate after the final lap.
Harvick and No. 4-ranked Clint Bowyer will then head to the Speedway to sign autographs before NASCAR’s next-generation dirt track race, the Star Nursery 100, while the 16 cars roll on to Fremont Street Experience, where they can be seen up close on Friday and Saturday. Irish music makers such as Celtic Rockers, Darby O’Gill, Brick Top Blaggers, Luck of the Spandex, The Angry Brians and Finnegan’s Wake will create the soundtrack for Downtown Shenanigans beginning Friday evening. The scene will be green, but whether leprechaun luck extends to the turn of a card or roll of the dice likely depends on how much Irish there is in you.
All ears will be listening for Cole Swindell, pictured, on Saturday night when the 2015 American Country Music New Artist of the Year headlines the NASCAR Playoffs Party. Blaney and Jones will be among the NASCAR personalities on hand for “conversations” before the concert, during which Swindell will play a mix of hits and new material. Swindell, who made his mark as a songwriter well before 2015, released his latest album All of It last month and saw it debut at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, becoming his third album to break the pop Top Ten.
Swindell played the entire album during his most latest tour, following the new songs up with fan favorites like “Chillin’ It,” “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and “This Is How We Roll,” a collaboration with Luke Bryan that was a hit for Florida Georgia Line. Expect a similar set Saturday night before it’s back to the Celtic sounds of Downtown Shenanigans, and more high-spirited behavior as can only be experienced on Las Vegas’ legendary Fremont Street.
Cole Swindell Fremont Street Experience, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 15, free. 702.678.5600
NASCAR Playoffs Party Fremont Street Experience, starts at noon Sept. 14-15, free. 702.678.5600
