LAS VEGAS — Downtown Las Vegas will be buzzing with live music, art displays and food-focused festivities this weekend as the inaugural Neon City Festival debuts across two of the area’s busiest cultural corridors.

The three-day event, running Friday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 24, brings free entertainment and activities to the Fremont Street Experience and the neighboring Arts District. Organizers say the new festival aims to showcase the rapid cultural growth unfolding in the city’s urban core.

At Fremont Street, music will anchor the weekend’s programming. The pedestrian mall — already known for its nightly light shows and free concerts — will host a rotating lineup of performers on multiple stages. Crowds can expect a mix of genres broadcast through a 600,000-watt sound system beneath the Viva Vision canopy, the massive overhead video screen that spans the length of the attraction. Street performers and popular features such as the SlotZilla Zip Line will add to the energy.

A short walk away, the Arts District will put its creative identity on full display. The area, often called “18b” for its original block count, will serve as an open-air art walk featuring local galleries, installations and the district’s well-known murals. The neighborhood has become a hub for small businesses, vintage shops and independent studios — all of which are expected to draw increased foot traffic as festival-goers explore.

Food will be a major part of the weekend as well. A wide range of vendors, breweries and restaurants throughout both districts plan to offer festival-friendly menus highlighting the city’s growing culinary scene. Visitors can expect everything from quick bites to chef-driven dishes that reflect downtown’s blend of old-school Vegas flavor and modern dining trends.

The festival arrives at a time when downtown continues to benefit from renewed investment and revitalization efforts, including initiatives tied to the Downtown Project. In recent years, the area has emerged as a destination for art, nightlife and community-driven events, separate from the glitz of the Strip.

City officials and local businesses hope the Neon City Festival will become a cornerstone of that momentum, drawing residents and tourists to experience the neighborhood’s evolving cultural identity.

With music echoing across Fremont Street and artwork lining the streets of the Arts District, organizers say the festival is designed to celebrate a side of Las Vegas that thrives on creativity, community and accessibility. The inaugural weekend is expected to draw large crowds eager to see downtown light up in a new way.