Annual Henderson Heritage Parade and Festival returns on Saturday

By Paul Takahashi

Monday, April 11, 2011 | 1:45 p.m.

The City of Henderson will be celebrating its 58th birthday on Saturday with its annual Heritage Parade and Festival.

The celebration, which falls on the date of the official incorporation of Henderson, will kick off with a complementary breakfast served by Mayor Andy Hafen and City Council members at 8 a.m. in front of the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

The Heritage Parade will begin at 10 a.m. and feature more than 100 parade entries – from floats and marching groups to special interest vehicles and equestrian participants – traveling a mile-long route on Water Street, from Ocean Avenue to Victory Road.

Leading the parade will be grand marshal Ethel M Chocolates, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Henderson this year. The parade theme – “Henderson – Chocolatiers for 30 Years” – will celebrate the local chocolate factory. The Henderson location has a smaller version of the Las Vegas Strip's M&M’s World and the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden, which features more than 300 species of plants.

“We’re honored to have Ethel M Chocolates as this year’s parade grand marshal,” Andrea Primo, director of the city’s cultural arts and tourism department, said in a statement. “Their commitment to the community, dedication to educating the public and strong family values are invaluable to the growth of Henderson as one of the greatest cities in America to live, work, play and raise a family.”

For the second year in a row, fans watching the parade will be able to vote for their favorite entry to determine the 2011 People’s Choice Award winner.

Each float and marching group will display a special text code on their entry. The codes will also be shown on the bottom of the television screen on Cox Channel 96, for those watching at home. To vote for a favorite participant, fans can text HLIVE followed by the parade entry number to 269411 between 9 a.m. and noon. Standard text messaging and data rates may apply.

The People’s Choice Award winner will be announced at 12:30 p.m. during a ceremony at the Henderson Events Plaza. The winner will receive $500.

“We want to encourage community involvement at all of our events,” Primo said. “We strive to create a variety of unique opportunities, such as the People’s Choice Award text message campaign, to engage our citizens year after year.”

Other parade entries will be judged on three categories: Incorporation of Theme, Creativity and Overall Appeal. The first-prize winner will receive $1,000; second will receive $750; and third prize will get $500.

The event will also include a festival featuring world cuisine, craft and cooking demonstrations by the international Food and Folklife Association from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Henderson plaza. There will also be a classic car show on Water Street from noon to 6 p.m., with trophies and awards given to car show participating in a variety of categories.

Admission to the day’s festivities is free. For more information about the parade and festival, visit www.hendersonlive.com or call the city of Henderson’s cultural arts and tourism department at 702-267-2171.