Las Vegas is jumping these days (translation: lots of traffic); the National Finals Rodeo returned to Las Vegas December 2-11. With the rodeo came a myriad of gift shows meant to help rodeo participants and attendees fill the empty spots under their holiday trees.
One of the places that most enjoys the presence of the rodeo is the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa. The South Point hosts a team roping event; their entertainment boasts a Western flair; they renamed their big casino bar “Let’er Buck Lounge” AND they have a world-class gift show.
Photo by Diane Taylor
A friend and I attended the Cinch Western Gift Show at South Point and spent about two hours walking the aisles and listening to the on-stage music. Incidentally, one of our favorite stops was at a booth featuring a coat make of buffalo hide. The coat cost more than $3000 and two of the coats had already been sold when we visited. The couple offering the coat has no retail store; they just go from gift show to gift show to sell their wares.
So many cowboy hats are seen at the gift show that a visitor might think he or she is naked without one. I admire the well-dressed Western ladies and LOVE seeing the jeans-clad well-built cowboys with broad shoulders, Western shirts, boots and hats. Masks are mandatory, making some of the cowboys look like stage coach robbers, but that added to their masculinity. A bunch of folks visiting the show and needing breathing room, shall we say, let their face masks “slip” down to their necks.
The mood at the gift show was upbeat. People were polite and helpful and obviously very happy that the rodeo was back I town.
For folks wondering what the South Point gift show was all about, I present the following video.
I feel like I might have been living under a rock the past few years. In addition to the Arena, that most of us have seen, did you know that the resort has two OTHER venues that can accommodate livestock? They are the Farnam Arena, located on the western side of the property, this opened in October 2021 and is an outdoor covered arena, adding another 40,000-square feet.
The other “arena” is the Priefert Pavilion, which was completed in 2014. This added more than 100,000 square feet to the existing South Point Arena and Equestrian Center.
Guess I’ve only gambled and gone to the Dennis Bono Show at South Point. Thanks for the tour of the Rodeo and Gift show! I can’t go to any indoor animal shows because of my allergies, so it was a pleasure to watch your video!