Las Vegas has spent decades tearing down its history and replacing it with something newer, taller and more expensive. Big Elvis is one of the performers who has survived all of it.
Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee has been performing Elvis Presley songs in Las Vegas since the 1990s. Today, you can find him inside the Piano Bar at Harrah’s Las Vegas, where he performs one of the longest-running Elvis productions in the city.
There is no elaborate theater, massive video wall or $150 ticket. Big Elvis performs inside an intimate casino bar, only a few feet away from the audience. The show is free, the crowd is encouraged to sing along, and Vallee regularly takes requests from Elvis fans who have traveled from around the world to see him.
In a city increasingly dominated by corporate residencies and overpriced attractions, Big Elvis still feels like the old Las Vegas.
Current Big Elvis Showtimes
Big Elvis currently performs at the Piano Bar inside Harrah’s Las Vegas on:
Monday: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
There is no cover charge or show ticket required. Harrah’s lists the Piano Bar as a 21-and-older venue. Show schedules can change, so check with Harrah’s before making a special trip.
Where Is the Big Elvis Show?
The show takes place inside the Piano Bar at:
Harrah’s Las Vegas
3475 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Harrah’s is located in the center of the Strip between The LINQ and The Venetian, directly across Las Vegas Boulevard from Caesars Palace.
The Piano Bar is a relatively small venue, and Big Elvis still draws a loyal crowd. Arriving early is a good idea, particularly for the Friday and Saturday performances. Seating is limited, and later arrivals may have to stand behind the seated audience.
What Is the Big Elvis Show Like?
This is not a traditional Las Vegas showroom production.
There are no backup dancers, giant stage sets or complicated special effects. Instead, Pete Vallee performs Elvis songs in a casual lounge environment where the audience is close enough to talk to him, make requests and sing along.
That intimacy is what makes the show work.
Vallee covers music from across Elvis Presley’s career, including early rock-and-roll songs, romantic ballads, gospel music and the larger showstoppers associated with Elvis’ Las Vegas years. Depending on the crowd, you may hear songs such as “Suspicious Minds,” “Burning Love,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me Tender,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and, naturally, “Viva Las Vegas.”
The show has long operated as an all-request Elvis performance, so the exact set can change from one appearance to the next. Vallee mixes the music with jokes, stories and interaction with people in the room. Audience members are encouraged to sing along rather than sit silently as though they are attending a formal concert.
Who Is Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee?
Pete Vallee moved to Las Vegas in 1997 and began performing at the now-closed Roadhouse on Boulder Highway. He later appeared at Station Casinos and the Barbary Coast, which eventually became Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.
He moved his show to Harrah’s in 2012 and has since become one of the most recognizable lounge performers on the Las Vegas Strip. By late 2025, Vallee said he had performed more than 7,000 shows at Harrah’s alone.
His connection to Elvis started long before he arrived in Nevada. Vallee has said that he grew up singing in church and performed “Jailhouse Rock” during a school talent show when he was a teenager. His ability to capture Elvis’ voice eventually turned from a talent into a career.
The “Big Elvis” name originally referred to Vallee’s enormous size. At his heaviest, he weighed more than 900 pounds and faced serious health problems. He later lost hundreds of pounds while continuing to perform, making his personal story about far more than being another Elvis impersonator.
More Than an Elvis Impersonator
Las Vegas has never suffered from a shortage of people wearing white jumpsuits and oversized sideburns. What separates Big Elvis from the average Elvis impersonator is that the voice comes first.
Vallee does not simply pose for photographs or lip-sync beside the casino entrance. He is a singer who has spent decades studying and performing Elvis Presley’s music.
The show can be funny, loud and slightly ridiculous in the best possible Las Vegas way, but Vallee also takes the slower songs and gospel material seriously. That combination has helped him build a following that includes locals, repeat visitors and dedicated Elvis fans.
His place in Las Vegas entertainment history became official in February 2017, when he received a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars outside Harrah’s. The star remains near the Strip entrance to the resort.
Big Elvis on Film
Vallee’s unusual life and career have also been the subject of documentaries.
The short documentary “Big Elvis” explored his career, health struggles and personal connection to Elvis Presley. A longer film, “Big Elvis: The Pete Vallee Story,” followed his journey as a performer and his induction into the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. The feature-length documentary was released in 2020.
Is the Big Elvis Show Really Free?
Yes. Big Elvis is presented as a free, no-cover performance.
You do not need to purchase a traditional show ticket. Drinks, food, parking, transportation and anything else purchased at Harrah’s are separate expenses.
Free entertainment has become harder to find on the Strip, which makes Big Elvis one of the better values in Las Vegas. You can walk into Harrah’s during the afternoon, grab a drink and see a performer who has spent nearly three decades entertaining Las Vegas audiences.
Tips for Seeing Big Elvis
Because the Piano Bar is small, do not wait until the scheduled start time to find a seat. Arriving approximately 30 minutes early should give you a better chance of getting close to the stage, especially on weekends.
The atmosphere is casual. You do not need to dress up, and audience participation is part of the experience. Elvis fans should come prepared with a song request, although there is no guarantee every request will make it into the show.
The venue is 21 and older, so this is not an option for families traveling with children or teenagers. Harrah’s also hosts other entertainment inside the Piano Bar, so make sure you are arriving for one of the specific Big Elvis performance times.
Is Big Elvis Worth Seeing?
Absolutely, particularly if you want to experience something that still feels uniquely Las Vegas.
Big Elvis is not a polished arena concert or an expensive celebrity residency. It is a veteran Las Vegas performer singing Elvis songs in a packed casino lounge while tourists and locals shout requests from a few feet away.
It is weird, nostalgic, entertaining and completely unpretentious.
You can see luxury hotels and billion-dollar attractions in almost any major tourist city. Sitting inside a casino bar at two in the afternoon while Big Elvis launches into “Suspicious Minds” is something you can only do in Las Vegas.
