Here's a Halloween article sent to my inbox today. I didn't write this, but thought you might be interested too. Thanks to CDC gaming reports and Mike Heuer for telling us why people flock to Vegas for Halloween. Enjoy.
While New Year’s Eve draws more people to Las Vegas than any other event, Halloween is proving to be possibly the second-most popular date on the calendar.
Immersive Halloween Experience on Fremont Street
Mike Heuer, CDC Gaming Reports ·
While New Year’s Eve draws more people to Las Vegas than any other event, Halloween is proving to be possibly the second-most popular date on the calendar.
The past two years, Halloween fell on a Friday and then Saturday. Anyone who went anywhere near Downtown Las Vegas and the Fremont Street Experience last year witnessed packed streets and casinos. Halloween falls on a Monday this year, but that’s not stopping people and Millennials in particular from making an extended weekend of it and planning to have a great time
This year, the Fremont Street Experience’s lengthy celebration, OktoberFrightFest, runs from October 5th through Halloween with nightly free shows by Frank and the Steins and other Halloween-themed performers on Fremont Street’s free stages. A Zombie Apocalypse Shooting Gallery offers fun and prizes for people of all ages, while the Slotzilla zip line ride is certain to remain exceptionally busy with costumed riders throughout the extended, upcoming Halloween weekend.
Friday heralds the start of Sin City Halloween with a free welcome party starting at 10 p.m. Friday at 700 East Fremont Street. Live bands, costume contests, classic Halloween movies and more are offered from Oct. 28-31.
Saturday the 29th is the annual Halloween Parade at 7 p.m.; anyone in costume can participate in the parade. More than 12,000 already have indicated they will attend or are interested in attending the annual parade, according to the Sin City Halloween Facebook page.
On Halloween, the Fremont Street Experience hosts a giant block party that starts at 8 p.m. and runs virtually all night. Estimates suggest the crowd will be around 25,000 people.
A Time Warp Zone offers interactive artworks, music and a special Viva Vision Halloween show, and those taking selfies for their Instagram accounts can use #FremontStreet and see their photos appear on the Viva Vision screen.
The result is one of the most entertaining and inclusive events in Las Vegas, and one that is particularly popular among millennials. Halloween is a very social event, and Millennials are highly social individuals.
The UNLV Center for Gaming Research found that Millennials (between ages 18 and 34) prefer traveling in groups to attend immersive events that they can share with their friends via social media and other channels.
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That’s exactly what the annual Halloween festival on Fremont Street provides. But the popularity of the annual event doesn’t necessarily translate into greater play at the slots and gaming tables, likely due to Millennials being risk-averse.
Last year, the October win total for Downtown Las Vegas was $44.64 million, down from $47.75 million from October 2014. But that shortfall was most likely made up for by full hotels, higher room rates, and a fondness for food, drinks, and memorabilia among Millennials and other Halloween revelers.
The National Retail Federation says that more than 171 million Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, with average spending of about $83. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $8.4 billion, up from $6.9 billion spent last year.
It’s safe to say those who come to Las Vegas will spend far more, with room rates hitting premium prices on Halloween. And those who come to Fremont Street will quite possibly enjoy their best Halloween experience ever.
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