NASCAR fans will have several opportunities to see their favorite Sprint Cup Series drivers when NASCAR Champion’s Week in Las Vegas kicks off this Wednesday with the popular fanfest, hosted by Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), at the Fremont Street Experience. Wednesday’s free fanfest will feature all 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, including 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. Beginning at 2 p.m., the drivers will walk a red carpet through the crowd in-route to the Third Street Stage. The highlight of fanfest will be a “Win, Lose or Draw”-style game show involving all 16 Chase drivers. They will be joined onstage by fans chosen through local media outlets and LVMS social media. The show will be hosted by two-time Daytona 500 winner and Dancing With The Stars contestant Michael Waltrip and Miss Sprint Cup Julianna White.
“Each year, the fanfest has been one of the highlights of Champion’s Week,” LVMS president Chris Powell said. “It not only gives the fans a chance to get close to the top drivers in NASCAR, but it also allows the fans to see them in a much more relaxed environment than they would during a NASCAR race. This event has grown into one of the best fan events in NASCAR and we’re very appreciative of our friends at Boyd Gaming, Sprint and Coca-Cola who make it possible for us to put on this show each year.”
In addition to the fanfest, the 16 drivers who qualified for the Chase also will participate in the traditional NASCAR Victory Lap on Las Vegas Boulevard beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday. The drivers also will take part in NASCAR’s “After The Lap” at 5 p.m. Thursday at The Pearl Concert Theater at The Palms Casino Resort. The week will culminate with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Friday at Wynn Las Vegas. For additional information, please call LVMS at (702) 644-4444 or visit www.LVMS.com. Make sure to follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.
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The 29th annual “Merry Christmas Las Vegas” fundraising live show will take place in the Railhead at Boulder Station on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at 2 p.m., and will be taped for television before a live audience. The holiday-themed program will be hosted by the show’s creator Las Vegas entertainer/TV host – Tony Sacca, and features a stellar lineup of Las Vegas’ finest entertainers. The performance is open to the public for a $25 donation per person to benefit The Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts and can be purchased by calling 702-364-8669 or paying at the door, which opens at 1:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Over the past 29 years, Sacca has accumulated a series of holiday television specials that include such stars as Charo, David Brenner, Gordie Brown, Lance Burton and his identical twin brother Robert Sacca and many more stars. Television shows will air for six weeks and be syndicated and air locally and nationally in more than 75 markets.
Entertainers starring in “Merry Christmas Las Vegas” this year will include: Tony Sacca; Zowie Bowie; The Coasters; Anthony Rais, master marionettist; Greg Austin & Second Wind; Anne Martinez, current principal singer in “Jubilee!”; Laurie Caceres, former principal singer in “Jubilee!”; The Cardinale Brothers: Thre3 Cards; Mariano Gonzales, harpist virtuoso; Las Vegas Young Entertainers, and musical accompaniment by the Michael T Orchestra.
“Merry Christmas Las Vegas” TV Specials were conceived by Sacca in 1986, when he moved to Las Vegas to engage the holiday spirit, and to raise money for the Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts. Originally the show was performed and filmed at the Mt. Charleston Hotel for about nine years. When the show went national, it was taped at Strip resorts starting at the Riviera Casino & Hotel and ending up at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower for 10 years. Two years ago it was taped at the LVH, and last year and this year at Boulder Station. Sacca and the Las Vegas Young Entertainers have been invited four times to perform at the White House, in the U.S. Capitol Building, and outdoors by the Washington Christmas Tree during the holiday season. Holiday shows will also be airing in Pahrump, Lake Havasu and on Retro TV and Soul of the South networks across the country in 75 markets. The Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts in association with the Showbiz Society a nonprofit 501 (c) is an organization that awards grants and scholarships to Las Vegas Youth Entertainers in the performing arts.
The Laugh Factory, located on the mezzanine level of the New Tropicana Las Vegas, will present an outstanding combination of stand-up comedy by featuring two headliners and a featured comedian as host again this week, Dec. 1-7. Headlining will be Rich Hall, and Blake Clark will handle the featured spot, with Harris Peet hosting the show.
Hall shot to prominence as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” and his fame in the U.S. increased with numerous appearances on “Not Necessarily the News,” “The David Letterman Show,” “Fridays,” “Sniglets,” and “The Johnny Carson Show.” Rich’s brand of humor spread across the pond and made him a top-selling, and in-demand comedian in England, regularly performing to sold-out crowds. Critics have hailed Hall as one of the best acts in comedy and David Letterman says, “Rich Hall is the real thing.”
For over 20 years, Blake Clark has been doing stand-up comedy on the club circuit, “The Tonight Show,” HBO comedy specials, “Late Night with David Letterman” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” In addition, he has been in over 50 feature motion pictures and hundreds of episodic TV shows. Clark is perhaps best known for his roles as Farmer Fran in “The Waterboy,” and Marlin Whitmore in “50 First Dates.” Blake is a warm, smart, funny, and innovative social commentator.
Harris Peet is not only a funny comedian and actor; he also took many pucks to the head as the practice goalie for the Los Angeles Kings for more than 10 years. Peet was one of the regular voices on the cult animated hit series “The Ren & Stimpy Show” and has appeared in countless films, including “The Five Heartbeats,” “Blankman” and “Reign Over Me.” Tickets for the 8:30 and 10:30 performances at the Laugh Factory are priced at $34.95 and $44.95. For information call 702-739-2411.
Well, gang, we’re closing in on the day every kid (and adults) really look forward to, I believe they call it Christmas. And, in my family, we still adhere to the great welcome, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” I’m looking forward to my 81st Christmas.