Las Vegas Weekly

Michael Jackson’s birthday celebration continues throughout the rest of the year

Cirque du Soleil and Michael Jackson’s Immortal.

Cirque du Soleil

Michael Jackson would have turned 53 today.

His birthday, August 29, serves as the preferred date of remembrance for diehard fans of the controversial yet undeniably influential pop musician, who died June 25, 2009 in his Los Angeles home. The Michael Jackson’s United Nation International Fan Club held its sixth annual fan convention—appropriately titled “Come Together”—at the Alexis Park resort this weekend. The event, endorsed by the Jackson family and held yearly around Michael’s birthday, brings together fans to swap stories, share home movies and watch professional and amateur impersonators.

Meanwhile, Madame Tussauds at the Venetian is doing its part to honor Jackson’s legacy. On September 8 they will debut The Michael Jackson Experience, which features three wax statues highlighting different stages of the prolific singer’s career, from the Jackson 5 years to the Invincible era and onto This Is It. Together, the figurines are valued at more than $1 million, but visitors can see, touch and take photos with the wax Jacksons for the regular price of admission to Madame Tussauds. Or, if you are lucky enough to have an August 29 birthday, you can receive one free ticket with the purchase of one adult general admission ticket. The limited engagement display will run until December 27.

On December 3, the touring version of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson production will touch down at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, with a Michael Jackson estate-organized Fan Fest to be held at the resort in conjunction with the debut. The Cirque show is scheduled for a permanent residency at Mandalay Bay Theatre starting 2013, replacing Disney’s The Lion King.

Jackson is no stranger to Las Vegas, having leased a home from 2006 to 2008 on Palomino Lane on the west side of town. The one-time home is occasionally the site of authorized—and unauthorized—tours.