Henderson celebrates its heritage with parade and festival

By Kyle B. Hansen

Saturday, April 17, 2010 | 6:23 p.m.

Hundreds of people lined Water Street in downtown Henderson on Saturday for the city’s annual Heritage Parade and Festival.

Sandra and Gordon Kunaschk sat in folding lawn chairs in front of the Eldorado Casino to watch as more than 70 groups took nearly two hours to walk the one-mile parade route.

“We’re Henderson residents, and we love coming to the parade,” Gordon Kunaschk said.

The couple has been coming to the parade since they first learned about it shortly after moving to Henderson 14 years ago, he said.

“It’s a real hometown parade; it’s not a commercial thing,” Sandra Kunaschk said.

Participants in parade included politicians, local businesses and community groups.

“I love the high school marching bands and the expressions on the little kids’ faces when they see things,” Gordon Kunaschk said.

Two of the children watching the parade belonged to Billy and Tiffany Spielberg.

The family recently moved to Las Vegas from Henderson but returned for the parade with 1-year-old Madden and Marley, 4.

“We came for the kids, but we grew up in Henderson. We love the parade,” Tiffany Spielberg said.

Madden got especially excited whenever a marching band went by and would dance to the music.

The parade started with UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger, who was the parade’s grand marshal, and was followed by Mayor Andy Hafen, who rode on top of a fire engine.

Melanie Lehoux said she was going to check out the food and entertainment as well as the car show, but the parade was the main draw.

“I grew up in Henderson. It’s something we always come and do,” Lehoux said. “It’s a tradition; it’s fun.”

The parade is scheduled to be rebroadcast on Cox Channel 96 at 3 p.m. April 24, 8 a.m. April 26, 3 p.m. May 1, 11 a.m. May 4, 8 p.m. May 7 and 2 p.m. May 10. It will also be available On Demand beginning April 26.