The sixth annual Las Vegas Pizza Festival returns Nov. 14 to The Industrial Event Space at 2330 S. Industrial Road, and Yukon Pizza is among the Southern Nevada pizzerias slinging slices for the crowd. The downtown Las Vegas spot has built a reputation around a crust made from a sourdough starter its owners say is 125 years old, a detail that's become central to the shop's identity since it opened in December 2022.
Yukon Pizza co-owner Alex White joined Arc Las Vegas and reporter Evan Schreiber at KSNV to help get festivalgoers ready for the event, which organizers describe as a day built around pizza craftsmanship and community. White previously took first place in the Non-Traditional Pizza category at the International Pizza Challenge, according to Las Vegas Weekly, a credential that's helped put the young restaurant on the map alongside more established names in the city's pizza scene.
A Starter With Generations of History
What sets Yukon Pizza apart, according to the outlet, is the sourdough itself: a flavorful crust built from a starter the restaurant says is 125 years old. The family traces the starter back even further, describing it as passed down from their great-great-great-grandfather Gilbert, according to Pizza Today. The same account notes the restaurant opened in December 2022 following a nine-month build-out that included installing a wood-fired oven in the main dining room.
Yukon Pizza's lineup leans artisanal Neapolitan-style pies alongside New York-style slices, per the trade publication's reporting. That range gives festival attendees a taste that stands apart from some of the other styles represented at the event, where organizers have promoted unlimited samples spanning Detroit, Sicilian, New York and a dozen other styles, according to the Las Vegas Pizza Festival's own chef page.
Familiar Names Return to the Lineup
Yukon Pizza joins a roster that includes some of the city's most established pizzerias. This year's lineup features local favorites including Metro Pizza, Pizza Rock and Good Pie, alongside new local pizzerias, according to FOX5 Las Vegas. The festival's chef page further credits those shops to specific pizzaiolos, naming Vincent Rotolo of Good Pie, Tony Gemignani of Pizza Rock and John Arena of Metro Pizza among its featured chefs.
More pizzerias could still be added before the event, with additional vendors to be announced through the summer and fall, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The festival features top pizza makers from across Southern Nevada along with unlimited pizza tasting, interactive experiences, photo opportunities and festival merchandise, the same report noted.
Ticket Tiers and Timing
Guests have two ways into the Nov. 14 event. VIP admission runs from noon to 4 p.m. and is limited to those 21 and older, including early entry plus complimentary beer, wine, signature cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, according to the Review-Journal's report. General admission runs from 1 to 4 p.m., giving a shorter window for those who skip the VIP perks but still want a shot at the unlimited tastings from Southern Nevada's pizza community.
