Who Spends Thanksgiving in Las Vegas? You Might Be Surprised

If you re spending Thanksgiving in Las Vegas this weekend, there s plenty to do. Celine Dion is back on stage tonight and Saturday. (Image: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas might not sound like the most ideal destination for the wholesome family holiday. But as may expect, Sin City doesn t shut down for turkey day and actually provides an assortment of activities and dining options for travelers.

While than normal over Thanksgiving, the reality is that an expected 300,000 people will flow into town during the four-day holiday weekend.

If you re part of that statistic and find yourself in the Mojave Desert this weekend, here s a winning strategy to keep your belly full, and your mind entertained.

New York City might be the city that never sleeps, but Vegas is the city that never stops playing. If you re looking to place a wager or two, you won t need to venture far from your hotel.

Nearly every casino floor on the Strip and surrounding areas remained open yesterday on Thanksgiving.

With the action more subdued the next three days compared to normal weekends, is the perfect time for the novice gambler to become accustomed with formats. Because tables are largely unoccupied, players have the chance to interact more with dealers and play at a slower pace.

Now armed with a little extra dough in your pocket, make your way to the theatre. Most high-profile casino shows didn t go dark on Thanksgiving, but kept the lights on.

It s an opportune time to catch some of the hottest shows on the Strip.

Cirque du Soleil s The Beatles at The Mirage played two shows yesterday. However, Cirque du Soleil s Michael Jackson One at Mandalay Bay Resort took the day off, but has shows scheduled for today. MJ diehards can also go check out MJ Live: Michael Jackson Tribute at the Stratosphere to get their thrill.

Celine Dion also took Thanksgiving off, but is performing on Friday and Saturday.

Regardless of whether you re escaping a nagging aunt, forced to be away from family due to work, or perhaps just single or not the family type, you can t do Thanksgiving right without stuffing your tummy.

Luckily, Vegas has you fully covered, and the spread continues Friday through Sunday. The smells of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie are still emanating throughout casinos around town.

Like nearly every other shopping mall in the United States, Black Friday in Las Vegas is a raucous occasion where both locals and visitors rise early in the wee hours and rush to stores and retail shops for one-day only deals.

In 2016, televisions and appliances are once again expected to be hot items with drastically lower tags than regular retail prices. Numerous prime shopping centers will open hours earlier than normal including Downtown Summerlin, The Boulevard, and Town Square.

Retailers will hope to capitalize on Black Friday and outperform total sales figures from last year.