Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas suburbs ready to light fuse on fireworks shows

Boulder City fireworks

Sam Morris

Fireworks explode over Veterans Memorial Park as part of Boulder City’s Damboree festival Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Boulder City fireworks 2009

Sebastian Zavila marches around Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City with an American flag before the start of fireworks Saturday, July 4, 2009. Launch slideshow »

Complete with plenty of patriotic fanfare, Las Vegas’ suburbs are expecting tens of thousands of people for their Fourth of July fireworks this year, even in the down economy.

Boulder City’s 62nd Damboree Celebration will include several events throughout the weekend, starting with a concert at 7:30 p.m. July 2 by the Red Mountain Music Company at the Community College of Southern Nevada, 700 Wyoming St.

On Saturday, the Damboree Committee will host a parade that begins at Colorado Street and ends at Broadbent Memorial Park, said Damboree Chairman Roger Hall. He said he expects about 4,000 to 5,000 attendees.

“I think with the economy the way it is, people are looking for something to do with their families,” Hall said.

Sunday will feature a water park and games starting at 6:30 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Park, 1650 Buchanan Blvd. The fireworks show will start at 9 p.m.

The Damboree Celebration’s fireworks cost about $25,000 this year, Hall said. About $15,000 of that came from the city, he said, while the other $10,000 came from money collected in jugs around town and sponsors.

Henderson officials expect about 20,000 people for its 20th annual Independence Day Celebration on Sunday at Basic High School, 400 Palo Verde Drive.

The event, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., will include family-oriented activities, including face painting, a rock tribute band and bounce houses, said Nicole Johnson, communications specialists for the cultural arts and tourism department at the City of Henderson. Fireworks start at about 9 p.m., she said.

This year, Henderson spent about $45,000 on Fourth of July events, Johnson said. About $30,000 went for fireworks while the other $15,000 paid for security, entertainment and other rentals.

As in years past, the City of Las Vegas won’t hold any publicly funded fireworks shows, said Las Vegas Fire Department Spokesman Tim Szymanski.

North Las Vegas spent about $50,000 this year on its 11th annual Independence Day Jubilee at Seastrand Park, 6330 Camino Eldorado, according to Recreation Coordinator Anessa Snowden. North Las Vegas holds its fireworks on July 3, she said.

Snowden said she expects 30,000 people to come this year because July 3 is a Saturday. City officials usually expect about 25,000 guests at the event, she said.

This year’s event will be a “tribute to our armed forces,” Snowden said, and will include poetry readings to commemorate those who have served in the U.S. military.

Events before the fireworks will include food vendors, children’s activities and music, Snowden said.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and the event will begin at 6 p.m., Snowden said. The fireworks will start at about 9:45 p.m. and will last about 11 minutes, she said.

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