Pool Party Day Guide
Las Vegas Pool Parties on Thursday
The insider day. Three venues, smaller crowds, lower prices, and the same desert sun. Thursday is when locals and early arrivals have the pools to themselves.
Why Thursday Is the Pool Party Insider Move
Most visitors fly into Las Vegas on Friday and leave Sunday. That compresses 80% of pool party demand into a 48-hour window, which is exactly why Thursday is the smartest day to go. Three venues open their doors on Thursday — Tao Beach at The Venetian, Tailgate Beach Club at Mandalay Bay, and Stadium Swim at Circa — and each operates at a fraction of its weekend capacity.
The result is a fundamentally different experience. On Saturday at Tao Beach, you are competing with 2,000 people for lounge chairs, drinks, and attention. On Thursday, you are sharing the pool with maybe 600-800 people who are either locals, industry workers on their day off, or travelers who arrived early specifically to avoid the weekend rush. The drinks are the same, the sun is the same, the pool is the same — but the stress level drops by half.
Tao Beach: The Thursday Flagship
Tao Beach
The Venetian · 11 AM – 6 PM · March – October
Tao Beach is the only traditional dayclub that operates on Thursday. The Asian-inspired design at The Venetian creates a resort atmosphere that feels more like a luxury retreat than a party destination — which is exactly what Thursday delivers. The 2,000-person capacity venue runs at roughly 40% on a typical Thursday, making it easy to grab a prime poolside spot near the DJ booth. Peak hours are 12:30 PM to 4 PM. Resident DJs spin open-format and house sets that keep the energy up without overwhelming conversation. If you are staying at The Venetian or Palazzo, you are a 5-minute walk from your room.
Tao Beach on Thursday is particularly strong for couples and smaller groups who want a premium pool experience without fighting for space. Cabana minimums drop to $500 — nearly half the Saturday rate — and daybed availability is high enough that walk-ups can often secure one without a reservation. The connected Tao Nightclub opens Thursday evening, giving you a natural day-to-night pathway without changing hotels.
Tailgate Beach Club: Sports Meets Pool
Tailgate Beach Club
Mandalay Bay · 11 AM – Close · Year-Round
Tailgate Beach Club is the Strip's first sports-themed pool club, sitting directly across from Allegiant Stadium at Mandalay Bay. Three heated pools operate year-round, and 125+ feet of LED screens broadcast every major game. Thursday is when Tailgate comes alive for TNF (Thursday Night Football) during NFL season — the only dayclub in Vegas where you can watch the game poolside with bottle service cabanas that include gaming consoles, beer pong, and foosball. Even outside football season, Thursday at Tailgate draws a social, interactive crowd that is more interested in games and conversation than EDM drops.
Tailgate is the standout Thursday pick for groups, bachelor parties, and sports fans. The cabanas with gaming consoles are a unique experience you will not find at any other dayclub in Las Vegas. General admission starts at $20-30 (free with guest list), and the year-round heated pools mean Thursday pool parties are not limited to the March-October season.
Stadium Swim: The Downtown Year-Round Option
Stadium Swim
Circa Resort, Downtown · 10 AM – Sunset · Year-Round
Stadium Swim at Circa is a pool amphitheater, not a traditional dayclub. The 143-foot HD LED screen dominates the rooftop, six pools span multiple levels, and the vibe is closer to a premium sports bar than a DJ-driven pool party. Thursday at Stadium Swim is ideal for visitors who want a chill pool day with sports on the big screen. It is also the best Thursday option if you are visiting outside pool season (November through February), since the heated pools and year-round schedule mean it operates every day regardless of weather. Located downtown on Fremont Street, it is a 10-minute rideshare from the Strip.
Thursday Pool Party Pricing Breakdown
Thursday pricing is the lowest of any day that dayclubs operate. Here is what you can expect:
General Admission: $20-30 at Tao Beach and Tailgate (free with guest list). $20-40 at Stadium Swim depending on events.
Daybeds: $500 minimum at Tao Beach. $500 at Tailgate. $500 at Stadium Swim.
Cabanas: $1,500 at Tao Beach (vs $2,500 Saturday). $1,200 at Tailgate. $1,200 at Stadium Swim.
Drinks: $12-18 poolside at all venues. Bottle service starts at $500 for a standard bottle.
Total budget estimate: With guest list and no bottle service, a Thursday pool day runs $50-80 per person in drinks. With a daybed split 4 ways, add $125 each.
Thursday Timeline: Pool Day to Night Out
Thursday offers the smoothest day-to-night transition in Vegas because both the pool and nightclub sides are manageable:
10 AM – 11 AM: Arrive at your venue. Stadium Swim opens at 10 AM, Tao Beach and Tailgate at 11 AM. Early arrival guarantees the best poolside spots.
11 AM – 4 PM: Pool party prime time. Peak hours at Tao Beach are 12:30 to 4 PM. Tailgate peaks noon to 5 PM.
4 PM – 7 PM: Return to hotel. Shower, nap, eat. Thursday nightclubs do not peak until midnight, so you have a generous rest window.
7 PM – 9 PM: Dinner. Thursday dinner reservations are easier to get than Friday or Saturday — less advance planning needed.
10:30 PM – 2 AM: Nightclub. Tao, Zouk, XS, Marquee, and Drai's all run Thursday nights with headliner-quality DJs.
The Thursday pool-to-nightclub combination is the most relaxed version of the Vegas marathon. No rushing, no line anxiety, and guest list entry is practically guaranteed at every venue.
Related Guides
Plan Your Pool Week
Common Questions
Thursday Pool Party FAQ
Which pool parties are open on Thursday in Las Vegas?
Three pool venues operate on Thursday in Las Vegas. Tao Beach at The Venetian runs from 11 AM to 6 PM during pool season (March through October) with a more relaxed, upscale vibe than weekend sessions. Tailgate Beach Club at Mandalay Bay is open Thursday through Sunday with its sports-themed pool experience and heated pools year-round. Stadium Swim at Circa downtown is open daily year-round with six heated pools and a 143-foot LED screen. The other five dayclubs — Encore Beach Club, Marquee Dayclub, Ayu Dayclub, LIV Beach, and Palm Tree Beach Club — do not open until Friday.
Is Thursday a good day for a pool party in Vegas?
Thursday is arguably the best value day for a pool party in Las Vegas. You get the same venues, the same pools, and the same sun with a fraction of the crowd. Tao Beach on Thursday operates at roughly 40% capacity compared to its Saturday peak, which means shorter waits for drinks, easier access to prime pool spots, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Cabana and daybed minimums are often lower on Thursday as well. If your priority is relaxation and value over high-energy DJ sets, Thursday delivers more for less.
Do Thursday pool parties have DJs?
Yes, but the programming is different from weekend headliner bookings. Tao Beach books resident DJs on Thursday who play open-format and house sets — the music quality is strong, but these are not the $100,000-per-set headliner bookings that Saturday draws. Tailgate Beach Club runs live DJs alongside its sports programming, making it a hybrid entertainment experience. Stadium Swim focuses more on sports viewing than DJ-driven pool parties, though it has ambient music and occasional live entertainment during major events.
How much do Thursday pool parties cost in Las Vegas?
Thursday pool parties are significantly cheaper than weekend sessions. General admission at Tao Beach on Thursday is typically $25 versus $40-60 on Saturday — and free with the guest list. Cabana minimums at Tao Beach start at $500 on Thursday versus $1,500 on a Saturday headliner day. Tailgate Beach Club charges $20-30 general admission (free with guest list), and Stadium Swim ranges from $20-40 depending on events. Bottle service pricing also drops on Thursday, with daybed minimums at Tao Beach starting at $500 — nearly half the weekend rate.
Can I do a pool party and nightclub on Thursday?
Thursday is one of the best days for a pool-to-nightclub transition because both are available without the weekend exhaustion. Tao Beach connects directly to Tao Nightclub at The Venetian — you can pool from 11 AM to 6 PM, rest and change at your hotel, then hit Tao Nightclub at 10:30 PM. Alternatively, Zouk, XS, Marquee, Tao, and Drai's all run Thursday nights. The crowd is large enough to feel energized but manageable enough that guest list entry is nearly guaranteed. Thursday is the night industry insiders and locals prefer for this exact reason.
What should I wear to a Thursday pool party?
The dress code is the same as any other day: swimwear is required at all dayclubs. For men, swim trunks and sandals or slides. No basketball shorts, athletic wear, denim, or work boots. For women, bikinis, one-pieces, or fashionable swimwear with cover-ups for walking through the casino. Thursday crowds tend to dress slightly more casually than Saturday — you will see fewer designer swimsuits and more resort casual. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a waterproof phone case. If you plan to transition to a nightclub later, pack a change of clothes.
Is Thursday pool party season the same as weekends?
Tao Beach runs its Thursday schedule from March through October, matching the standard pool season. Tailgate Beach Club and Stadium Swim are both year-round venues with heated pools, so they operate on Thursday regardless of season. During peak summer months (June through August), Thursday at Tao Beach draws noticeably larger crowds because extended-weekend visitors start arriving early. In March, April, September, and October — the shoulder months — Thursday is the quietest day available, ideal for visitors who want pool access with minimal competition for space.
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