Yes, the Carnaval Court has been open for a few months now, after closing in January for a facelift. Toward the end of last year, when questioned directly on the subject CET promised that Carnaval Court would not be affected by neighboring construction on either The Quad or the Linq; they kept their word -- sort of -- because while those two projects did not impact the venue directly, on January 16 the popular outdoor party spot was closed down anyhow for a facelift, which is almost certainly attributable to the general upgrades going on thanks to the Linq (of which the Quad itself is the biggest).
The progenitor, you could argue, of all the new outdoor-oriented entertainment options on the Strip (the Linq, MRI's The Park, Bally's Grand Bazaar, etc.), Carnaval Court -- which is outdoor, but under a sensible canopy -- occupies the space between Harrah's and The Quad and has long been a tribute to the tackier-but-fun side of Vegas, with its world-famous flair bartenders, yard-long novelty drinks, blackjack tables, mardi-gras-bead and sunglass-vending kiosks, and live entertainment from the likes of veteran lounge lizard Cook E. Jar or the Spazmatics, plus events like the World Air Guitar Championships. The hotel's official website describes it as "a street party under the big top every day and night," which about sums it up.
The venue reopened March 1, minus the kiosks but plus a new VIP area, accommodated by the removal of a couple of go-go dancing platforms (fear not, there are more). Last month the new Carnaval Grill also opened, serving hearty calorific fare like nachos, street tacos, chicken wings, and something exotic called a "Meatball Pizza Cone" that we're intrigued to try, or at least look at. While it's located inside Harrah's, by the sports book, the Grill also caters to customers in need of some stomach-lining material at Carnaval Court. Carnaval Court is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. and is usually free, although sometimes there's a cover for special events.
