Video Music Awards 2007

Sep. 08, 2007 | 10:55 PM EDT

VIP Tables & Pool Parties: VMA Stars Take Vegas

Nelly Furtado, Eve, Ludacris, Pete Wentz and more make the scene on the Strip

By Brian Orloff

Nelly Furtado Photo by: Denise Truscello / WireImage

They've come for Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, but early celeb arrivals mean one thing: Las Vegas's party scene is exploding with stars.

With Britney Spears already making a splash and Kanye West and Christina Aguilera hosting bashes Saturday night, here is a look at how the rest are celebrating so far ...

• Nelly Furtado – with newly blonde hair – hosted a pre-VMA party Friday night at Jet with friends and backup dancers by her side. Still, the singer only had eyes for one person: her fiancé Demacio Castellon. In a short, flowing pink gown, Furtado spent most of her evening dancing with her beau. She did take a break to greet rapper Eve and the two chatted until Eve headed to her own VIP table on the other side of the club. The party continued well past 2 a.m. – with the arrival of Timbaland and his entourage.

• Rapper Ludacris celebrated his 30th birthday at Rio's Cafe Martarona with five birthday cakes and weighed in about the weekend's most buzzed about performer: Britney Spears. "It's either going to be really good or really bad," he told PEOPLE of the singer's anticipated opening performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, adding, "Nothing in between." For the occasion, the rapper-actor sported a purple suit jacket, and partied inside with his mother and grandma – and fellow rapper Chingy.

Eve Photo by: Scott Kirkland / INF

• Pete Wentz (sans girlfriend Ashlee Simpson) played deejay at new hot spot LAX Nightclub (which Britney Spears opened the previous weekend). He hung with his Fall Out Boy bandmates and VMA-nominated rockers Gym Class Heroes and spun for a crowd that included Brody Jenner and Ryan Cabrera. The next night at the Hard Rock Ashlee's dad Joe Simpson gave Wentz his own spin: "He's a good kid. I like him. He's a great businessman."

• Snoop Dogg took the stage for a pre-VMA concert at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Rolling Stone pool Friday night and, in true VIP style, the rapper had the entire cabana area roped off for his posse – including rapper Akon. The crowd went crazy during his lengthy set, and he even covered 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P." before taking the to the Hard Rock's Body English nightclub.

Reported By REAGAN ALEXANDER, JENNIFER GARCIA and MARK GRAY