With Dead & Company setting up shop at Sphere for their 24-show (and potentially growing) Dead Forever residency, Las Vegas has become Deadhead Mecca for spring, and whether you have Sphere tickets or are hoping for a miracle, there are plenty of fun and free Grateful Dead-related activities worth checking out including the Dead Forever Experience and Shakedown Vegas.
Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Dead Forever Experience is like a Deadhead museum offering a variety of immersive exhibitions and interactive activities. The exhibition was curated by Activist Artists Management‘s Kristina “Red” Tanner and Vibee, a new Live Nation company that creates immersive fan experiences, and is located in The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort, just a short walk from Sphere. Outside the exhibit, the Palazzo Waterfall Atrium is festively decorated with dancing bear statues beckoning Deadheads from near and far, and the spiral “bear stairs” take fans up to a second floor of exhibits.
Fans can take a close look at a 1:4 scale functioning recreation of the Dead’s famous Wall of Sound sound system and stroll through a gallery of photos spanning 1965-1995 curated by Jay and Ricki Blakesberg in the American Beauty photography exhibit, as well as a full gallery of art by Mickey Hart (with prices available upon request). After walking around, attendees can stop at the bar for a Grateful Dead-themed cocktail, including non-alcoholic options, and grab a seat in the cinema, which will be playing Dead & Company’s 2023 show at Cornell University. They can also watch a live broadcast on SiriusXM’s Grateful Dead station and check out different photo activations and other interactive activities. Before leaving, you’ll want to marvel at band archivist David Lemieux‘s massive cassette collection and make a stop at the merch area to pick up official Dead Forever merch and select Grateful Dead merch collabs. And don’t forget to visit Participation Row, where you can get involved with causes important to the band.
Even with the wide range of offerings, the best part of the Dead Forever Experience is really just being around a bunch of beaming Deadheads—strangers stopping strangers, etc.—which also applies equally to Shakedown Vegas. Also located within walking distance from Sphere at the Tuscany Suits & Casino, Shakedown Vegas is pretty much your regular pre-Dead-show carnival, with multiple rows of vendors selling crafts, tie-dyes, lot merch, and more, plus bands performing live sets throughout the day. Note that Shakedown Vegas is outside, so dress for the heat, and there are no food vendors. Entry is free and the lot is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each show day, with many vendors starting to pack up closer to 6.
For more information on the Dead Forever Experience, head here, and additional Shakedown Vegas details are available here.
Photos courtesy of Vibee.
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