There are many fun things to do with kids at National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Ride around the Strip for free, cowboy Christmas shopping, rodeo events in Las Vegas and more makes the National Finals Rodeo one of the best times to be in Las Vegas! Here is a list of things to do in NFR Las Vegas with kids and tips and tricks to get the most out of your experience!
If you don’t have an NFR ticket, you can still get in on the NFR experience with events and things to do and check out the viewing parties around town!
We try to answer the questions, like where to buy official NFR merchandise online and NFR performance schedule for December, best places to eat near the Thomas & Mack Center during NFR, how to watch the national finals rodeo live stream.
I have a list of top 10 Things to do in town holiday edition for scoping out local treasures. There are also many NFR events and activities in the Las Vegas Events calendar.
If you are driving into Las Vegas from California, stop by Calico Ghost Town for a truly spooky and really historical experience. Flying into Las Vegas with kids can be a lot. Ease your travel pains with this airport activity kit and trivia about the Las Vegas airport.
Kid-Friendly NFR Events in Las Vegas
Cowboy Christmas Village sponsored by National Finals Rodeo NFR is a must-see for every family. This year the festive area will include Christmas trees, daily appearances by Santa Claus from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Check out the special area for kids to write a letter to Santa and drop it in a special mailbox.
The Lion Habitat is a wild afternoon where you can see rescued majestic lions and meet, feed and get a painting from Ozzie, the very friendly and talented giraffe!
If you have a rodeo fan in your family, Horses 4 Heroes can help them learn to ride a horse and more!
What to Know about NFR Location in Las Vegas
The NFR is at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, about 2.5 miles from the Vegas strip. The closest hotel is MGM Grand, where you can pick up the Las Vegas Monorail. Take Bus 108 and 201 across from the MGM Grand to get to the Thomas & Mack and back.
A taxi ride from Harry Reid International Airport to the Thomas & Mack is about $20. Parking fees at the Thomas & Mack during NFR is $20 per car.
Get Around the Las Vegas Strip for Free
Depending on where you want to go, you can hop on a monorail and walk to and from the tram and across the many pedestrian bridges that are conveniently situated along the 4.2-mile-long famed street. The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas attendees can get exclusive fare discounts for the Las Vegas Monorail here: https://tix.lvmonorail.com/cxmas23.
The monorails have wide doors and are pretty easy to get strollers on and off. Car seats for kids are not required. It will whisk you to where you want to go!
You can get around the Las Vegas Strip for free by using the system of monorails connecting hotels along the west side of the Strip and a few well-placed stops and pedestrian bridges. There are three free tram lines provided by the casinos that run every 4-5 minutes and are at no cost to you.
If you want to make a day of it, start at South Point and
Affordable Ways to Get Around the Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Monorail is a ticketed train that will take you along the east side of the Strip. It stops at all the major resorts and is easy to use.
We have a pretty good bus system that goes up and down the Strip. If you are visiting, ask the hotel to help you plot your bus route. Locals tend to park at one end of the Strip and take a bus to hop down the length of the Strip, check out the shopping, holiday exhibits (don’t forget Bellagio!) and eateries to make a day of it in Las Vegas. You don’t need a car seat for littles on local public transportation.
Shopping
You don’t want to rush through these fun places. Grab a coffee and some sippies for the littles and meander through all they have to offer. You can definitely find some great deals and unique items for gifts for family and friends.
Roper Cowboy Marketplace at the Horseshoe
December 5-14, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
This is right next to Shark Reef and has incredible shopping for NFR fans.
Cowboy Christmas at LV Convention Center
December 5-14 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily.
This is the only official gift show of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo! It has been a local tradition since ’86 and features more than 350 exhibitors. You can find unique products including custom-made jewelry, western wear, boots and spurs, furniture, original art, handmade crafts and home goods and check out the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage and the YETI Junior World Finals.
CINCH Western Gift Show at South Point
December 3-15
9 a.m.-6 p.m.
NFR Viewing Parties
NFR Viewing Party at the Palms
Dec. 5-14
Free meet and greets, concerts and parking, too!
Free
Virgin Hotels
Dec. 7-16
Live feed begins at 5:45 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.
VirginHotelsLV.com
Free
At 5:00 p.m. — RMEF Calcutta and Free Live Concerts
NFR After Dark at Westgate Las Vegas
Dec. 5-14
Doors open at 4 p.m.
westgatelasvegas.com
Free entertainment in International Bar and 6 p.m. viewing parties in International Bar and Cabaret Theater
and at 9 p.m. — 11 p.m. there ayr free concerts in Cabaret Theater Presented by Black Rain Ordnance.
What to Do with Kids in Las Vegas During NFR
If your kiddos are into nature and animals, check out shark feeding at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum or nature classes or a ranger class in the Spring Mountains, a short drive from the Las Vegas Strip or one of the other nature-inspired free activities listed here.
Got a gamer in the family? Head over to HyperX ESports Arena for an afternoon of gaming beyond belief! It offers so much more than mere gameplay. Get in on Xboxes and PlayStation 4s at the front for some classic gaming or peruse the aisles and aisle of PCs for individual or group play. They have the usual and a few we had yet to be able to play, which was awesome!