A few of Urban's honors include winning 10 Country Music Association Awards, having 11 Academy of Country Music Awards (CMA), and being nominated for a Golden Globe. The 2015 CMA Awards brought this member of the Grand Ole Opry his third win for Vocal Event of the Year (“Raide ‘Em Up featuring Eric Church”). It was the first time any artist received the award in three consecutive years. He is also a former “American Idol” judge.

Being a premier songwriter, vocalist and virtuoso guitarist has given Urban opportunities to collaborate with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Steven Tyler, Miranda Lambert, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, and Vince Gill, to name a few. In 2013, he introduced his new URBAN™ Guitar Collection, with proceeds benefiting both Grammy Foundation and Mr. Holland's Opus Fun.

The 27^th annual classic car show presented by River Cruizers will return for another three-day event in the Parking Lot at the Riverside Resort Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 27-29. The event features a car show and contest, vendors, pinstriping, a car corral area with vehicles for sale, an auto parts swap meet, and more. The Show & Shine judging will be Saturday 10 a.m. to noon, with the Awards Ceremony and Beach Party from 8 to 10 p.m. Go online to register a vehicle; proceeds are distributed to local charities.

The Viva Tropicana Celebration & Car Show will be held at various property sites at the Tropicana Friday-Sunday, Sept. 28-30. Free on Friday and Saturday, there will be Latin-inspired live music, vendors, and a wide variety of custom hot rods and low riders in the North Parking Lot. Lucha Libre Voz wrestling will take place at the Pavilion Theater on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20. On Sunday, there's Sopas from 8 a.m. to closing.

The 3rd Annual Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic presented by Polaris will be held Oct. 11-14. On Thursday, The Parade of Champions down Casino, Drive, time trials, Method Race Wheels Welcome Party, and UTV Night Race will take place. Friday will be registration and drivers meeting at the Tropicana, and Tech & Contingency at a location TBD. Saturday and Sunday will be the two days of racing.

Usually an event has a focus and Horsepower Fest at the Avi on Saturday, Oct. 20 gives meaning to a wide array of vehicles with and engine. This family-friendly outdoor free event showcases custom boats, hot rods, dragsters, rat rods, off road trucks, motorcycles, vintage restorations, and other vehicles. There will also be big-ticket raffle prizes, automotive vendors, food trucks, and more.

The Tropicana will add a seasonal twist with the Haunt & Glow Car Show being held in the North Parking Lot Friday-Sunday, Oct. 26-28. The Halloween themed car show will feature a costume contest on Saturday at 6 p.m. followed by a light show at 7 p.m. The awards ceremony will be Sunday at 10 a.m. It is free to view the cars.

The second Classic Car Show will be held at the Laughlin River Lodge in the Parking Lot Friday-Saturday, Nov. 2-3. This event showcases cars, hot rods, lowriders, and motorcycles. Plus, there is music, food, spirits, etc. It's free to view the vehicles and $25 to enter one; call Nancy at 562-458-0118 to register.

The UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) World Championship will return to Laughlin next year April 4-7.

Lou Gramm, a founding member of Foreigner, will be center stage at the Edgewater's E Center on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

Gramm's musical career began in his teenage years. He was the front man for the band Black Sheep, and in 1976, auditioned for lead singer with the band which became Foreigner. Gramm became one of the most successful rock vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s. He was the lead vocalist on all of Foreigner's hit songs, including: “Cold as Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” “Long, Long Way from Home,” “Blue Morning, Blue Day,” “Head Games,” “Double Vision,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero,” naming a few.

Gramm co-wrote most of the songs for the band. Two ballads were huge hits, “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” which spent 10 weeks at No. 2 on the 1981-82 American Hot 100, and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which was a No. 1 international hit in 1985.

In 1997, Gramm was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. The surgery and recovery affected his stamina and voice, yet he continued to work throughout his illness. Gramm was back touring in 1999 with Foreigner playing summer festivals and smaller markets. Gradually, when his health rebounded, he left Foreigner in 2003, and has been touring steadily since January 2004.

Gramm's autobiography, “Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock ‘n' Roll,” was released in May 2013.

A popular show in Downtown Las Vegas is “Marriage Can Be Murder.” The dinner show will take place at the Avi on Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $50.

The interactive comedy murder mystery show is a who dun it for laughs with two intermissions allowing time for a family-style served dinner. Seating is at tables with 10 seats. During the first intermission, a salad will be served at the table, and the second intermission will provide the main course, spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. The show highlights the cop and the hostess, who are like a George Burns-Gracie Allen duo, along with the integral sound man.

Comedian and actor Felipe Esparza will headline The E Center at the Edgewater on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $28.

Esparza with his signature wild hair is best known for his relatable raw, real-life material and phrase, “what's up, fool?” He is from the streets of Boyle Heights/East L.A. and much of his material is the result of trying to find humor in everyday life struggles.

The 17-year stand-up veteran has made various television appearances and been in two movies. In 2010, he won the title prize on NBC's “Last Comic Standing.” In 2012, Esparza produced and released his first one-hour stand-up special, “They're Not Gonna Laugh at You,” for Showtime. In 2014, Esparza launched a “What's Up Fool?” podcast on the All Things Comedy network. In its first week, it was in the top 15 comedy podcasts and the top 70 podcasts in all categories.

Some of Esparza's other television appearances include a national Honda campaign, national Target commercial, regular segments on TruTV's “World's Dumbest…,” “Comics Unleashed,” and Comedy Central's “Premium Blend,” to name a few.

This year 10,414 registered Laughlin River Regatta participants helped to bring back the popular Colorado River float event. Carefully planned to reduce and eliminate trash and keep participants safe, host Marnell Gaming employed a vast number of people and organizations for the event's success. Hundreds of people were involved in the operation.

Prior to event day, three Marnell-hosted river clean-ups yielded 3.25 tons of trash. Marnell plans to host additional river cleanups later in the year as part of his commitment to the river's environment. Marnell has pledged $100,000 annually to improve and maintain cleanliness of the river, river banks and islands.

Aquarius Casino Resort Team Members raised $48,406 for River Fund, Inc. for the 2018/2019 campaign. River Fund, Inc. is a local nonprofit agency providing direct emergency and crisis services for individuals and families in the Tri-State area. Team members choose to either contribute through payroll deductions or make a one-time contribution.

For the ninth year in a row, Aquarius Team Members spent July collecting notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, and more in a property-wide School Supply Drive to help three local schools start the year off with needed resources. Collecting more than last year, 21,886 items were collected, counted, divided and delivered by the Aquarius employees.

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) World Strength Sports Championships are scheduled at Harrah's Ballroom and Rio Vista Amphitheater Friday-Sunday, Sept. 28-30. Drug free athletes will compete in both indoor and outdoor events including powerlifting, weightlifting, bodybuilding, strongman and MAS strength events. The spectator fee is $10 per day.

The WFC 95 fights will be held Sept. 8 in the Avi Grand Ballroom at 8 p.m. The best combat sports athletes will be showcasing their talents. Tickets start at $30.