Where the past meets the present, pedestrian-only Fremont street covers five blocks and is a captivating mix of vintage Vegas and modern-day fun. Flashing neon signs provide the classic backdrop to light shows, live bands and wandering street performers.
Fremont Street shot to fame in the 1950s when, as the first paved street in the city, it became the location of many of the top casinos of the day, including the Pioneer Club and the Eldorado Club. It was on Fremont Street that the Northern Club became the very first to receive a Nevada gaming licence in 1931, and since then, the area has been drawing visitors from all over the world to come and gamble in its casinos. Fremont Street has also featured heavily on the silver screen, as it was the setting for the 1964 Elvis hit “Viva Las Vegas” and the 1971 Bond Movie “Diamonds Are Forever”.
These days, one of the biggest attractions in the area is the Viva Vision light show, a six-minute long extravaganza set to music and which occurs nightly. A steel canopy stretching the length of five football fields hangs overhead and displays state-of-the-art LED technology using over 12.5 million light bulbs and accompanied by 550,000 watts of surround sound. The shows take place every evening and are themed around annual events – try and catch the Lucky Vegas show, a popular show that takes you through the city’s iconic past.
You can catch plenty of free live entertainment here, including tribute bands and street performers who roam the streets performing tricks and dressed as celebrities. When the sun goes down, the street vendors come out and set up shop alongside the permanent shops, restaurants and casinos, giving it a lively night market feel.
Just east of Fremont Street is the Neon Museum which houses a collection of vintage neon signs taken from hotels, business and casinos old and new.
You can get to the Fremont Street Experience by taxi or bus, or by catching the trolley that journeys between the Strip and downtown. If you come by car, then you can park at the Fremont Experience Parking Plaza located at 4th Street and Carson – parking is free here for up to five hours.
