Looking to book your vacation in Vegas but can't get a good room rate or even a flight? Check out our calendar of yearly events in Vegas and you may find out how to avoid the crowds and get a good rate.

If it's still a mystery, check our calendar of events for boxing matches, conventions, concerts and other events that may draw additional visitors. Californians can expect the four-and-a-half-hour drive to take six to eight hours on these weekends.

January
New Year's Eve/Day
BOOK VERY EARLY
Room rates sometimes are doubled, so book early to get a good rate. Beauty salons will be booked to the hilt for the big night and many restaurants will be doing extravagant New Year's dinner packages. If you're driving back to California, expect the four-and-a-half-hour drive to take six to eight hours. You'd be better off sticking around an extra day if you can. For New Year's Eve events, click here.

CES - first week of January
BOOK VERY EARLY
The Consumer Electronics Show draws thousands of conventioneers for a week looking at the latest in gadgetry. Not quite as big as Comdex in November, but watch out for limited flights and corporate-booked room blocks.

Super Bowl Weekend
BOOK VERY EARLY
One of the bigger weekends in Vegas. The busiest weekend for spas and sports books. For Super Bowl parties, click here.

February
Valentine's Day
BOOK EARLY
If this day falls on or near a weekend, count on the hotels being busy. A huge number of people flock to Vegas every Valentine's Day to get married, so booking a chapel might be a challenge. Regardless of what day Valentine's falls on many restaurants will feature dinner specials for two. For Valentine's Day suggestions, click here.

Men's Apparel Guild of CA (MAGIC) - third week in February
BOOK EARLY
Once dedicated to just men's clothes, this convention that brings in over 110,000 people now includes women's fashion. Expect celebs galore either hawking their own clothing line, or just getting a sneak preview of what they'll be wearing to the next awards ceremony.

President's Day Weekend
BOOK VERY EARLY
This is one of the first holidays of the year. Plus, it's still freezing in many parts of the country. Many visitors book their late-winter vacations to take advantage of the extra days off.

March
NASCAR Winston Cup Packages - March 5-7, 2004
BOOK VERY EARLY
This event has been held in Vegas for several years and it draws an insane number of racing fans. The various driving experiences (CART Driving 101, Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Derek Daly racing school) have fewer track opportunities because of NASCAR's use of the track. Also, the race-related NASCAR Cafe tends to be packed this time of year.

ShoWest - First or second week
BOOK EARLY
A movie theater convention which brings a number of Hollywood stars to town. Get your autograph book ready.

St. Patrick's Day
BOOK EARLY
Perhaps not a recognized holiday in some circles, Vegas will look for any reason to celebrate. In this case, everyone's Irish for a day, or even a weekend, and the Irish pubs around town will be busting at the seams. For places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, click here.

March Madness - mid March-early April
BOOK EARLY
College Basketball fans go nuts for the finals and the opportunity to watch the big games on the massive televisions found in Vegas sport books. Expect sports books to be crowded, especially during the first week of April for the final games.

Con/Agg Expo - second or third week in March
BOOK EARLY
Who knew that concrete and aggregate rock would be so appealing? This convention brings in about 100,000 folks so the areas around the convention center will be busy, along with shows and restaurants around the Strip.

Spring Break / Easter - Varies
BOOK EARLY
College students and families, especially from the still cold East Coast, flock to Vegas to enjoy sunshine and Vegas entertainment. Expect the restaurants, hotels, shopping and entertainment to be busy but not unbearably busy.

April
National Association of Broadcasters
- first week in April
BOOK EARLY
For all things broadcasting, this convention keeps growing every year. Expect the fancier restaurants to stay packed for this week.

May
Cinco de Mayo
BOOK EARLY
Like anyone needs an excuse to drink margaritas and eat chips and salsa. This holiday is a time to celebrate with a Mexican flair. For places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, click here.

Memorial Day Weekend
BOOK VERY EARLY
This is a big one. The three-day weekend is an excuse for a non-stop party for many out-of-towners and locals. For Memorial Day events, click here.

June
CineVegas - usually second week in June
BOOK EARLY
Vegas' premiere film festival brings lots of celebrities which means many of the high-end hotels and restaurants will be packed. Great week for star-gazing and seeing some fabulous movies.

July
Fourth of July
BOOK EARLY
If this falls on a weekend the Fourth will be busy. Drinking, gambling, 100-plus degree heat and illegal fireworks -- what could be better? Stick to the hotel sponsored fireworks extravaganzas if you want to avoid trouble with the police. For Fourth of July celebrations, click here.

August
Men's Apparel Guild of CA (MAGIC) - usually the third week in August
BOOK EARLY
Once dedicated to just men's clothes, this convention that brings in over 110,000 people now includes women's fashion. Expect celebs galore either hawking their own clothing line, or just getting a sneak preview of what they'll be wearing to the next awards ceremony.

September
Labor Day Weekend
BOOK VERY EARLY
Any three-day weekend usually draws crowds to Vegas, and this one is no exception. For Labor Day weekend events, click here.

October
Columbus Day Weekend
BOOK VERY EARLY
See Labor Day weekend above.

Halloween
BOOK EARLY
Halloween can get pretty crazy in Vegas. Several of the nightclubs sponsor huge costume blowouts and with the risque nature of this town and the volume of professional dancers, well, let's just say leave grandma at home. If Halloween falls on or near a weekend, rooms may be harder to get or more expensive. For Halloween events, click here.

November
Columbus Day Weekend
BOOK VERY EARLY
See Labor Day weekend above.

Comdex - Second week
BOOK RIDICULOUSLY EARLY
A quarter of a million geeks, techies and their ilk descend on Vegas for a week of professional enrichment on their company's dime. Debauchery ensues and rooms and flights are booked in blocks several months in advance by corporations. Restaurants are overcrowded, everything is overcrowded. Consider yourself warned.

Thanksgiving Weekend - beginning the third Thursday
BOOK VERY EARLY
A surprising number of families use the four-day weekend as an excuse to hit the Strip and enjoy a fancy Thanksgiving dinner out, where the likelihood of being served dried-out turkey decreases dramatically. Many restaurants serve expansive and expensive Thanksgiving specials and discounted rooms and flights will be harder to come by. For Thanksgiving dinners and events, click here.

December
Billboard Music Awards - first week
BOOK EARLY
Usually held at the MGM Grand, this is a good opportunity for star watching. Though not a huge event, flights, especially from L.A., and discounted rooms may be harder to come by.

NFR - early December
BOOK RIDICULOUSLY EARLY
By the time the National Finals Rodeo is over, tickets for the following year will be just about sold out. A hugely popular event, country-western bars and strip clubs will be packed to the gills. Rooms and flights will be harder to get. Bring your cowboy hat!

Christmas
BOOK VERY EARLY
As with Thanksgiving, this is another holiday where many family members have additional vacation time and they plan to spend it attempting to double their holiday bonuses. Malls will be crowded with last-minute shoppers and many restaurants will offer elaborate Christmas dinners. Many Californians will drive in, so the traffic will once again be brutal and should stay that way until New Year's Day. Book very early if you're hoping to get good airfare and room rates. For holiday events, click here.