Irish eyes are smiling as St. Patrick’s Day descends on downtown Henderson

By Paul Takahashi

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.

Las Vegas may be in the middle of a desert, but valley residents will be sure to see a lot of green this week at St. Patrick’s Day festivities in downtown Henderson.

Residents are invited to the city’s Water Street district starting Thursday to celebrate the 45th annual Southern Nevada Sons of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.

About 50,000 residents are expected to visit Henderson’s Water District during the four-day Irish celebration, which will be capped off by a parade starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

As the parade’s grand marshal, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation will lead the 100-strong procession of floats, dance groups, horses and marching bands along a mile-long route on Water Street from Ocean Avenue to Victory Road.

The charity for children’s cancer research will also host a head-shaving event at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St. Donations collected at the event, as well as a portion of the proceeds from the entire weekend, will benefit the nonprofit foundation.

“We want to give back to the community,” said Dona Brown, a trustee and entertainment coordinator with the local chapter of Sons of Erin, a nonprofit group that promotes Irish heritage and community. “There’s nothing better than to help children who can’t help getting cancer or other diseases.”

St. Patrick’s Day in Henderson is, however, more than just the parade. This year, the city worked with Sons of Erin to showcase traditional Irish culture.

“We wanted to bring in culturally-insightful programming this year,” said Nicole Johnson, spokeswoman with Henderson’s Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism. “It’s huge for the city and the community to experience what it’s like to be Irish.”

To that end, festival organizers have scheduled Irish music concerts throughout the weekend from artists such as Killian’s Angels and Finnegan’s Wake. In addition, participants can try their hand at traditional Irish games, such as toss the shillelagh (wooden cudgel).

Visitors can also partake in Irish jig lessons, clothing explanations and demonstrations on how to make Irish soda bread, sausage rolls and colcannon. There’s even an Irish stew cook-off and a performance on Sunday by the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company.

“We really have a heritage … It’s not all about drinking,” Brown joked. “We’re not some poor people come over on the famine ship. We’ve made good now; we’re living the American dream.”

Admission to the festivities is free, but some activities such as carnival rides require tickets, which cost $1.25 each or $25 for an all-day unlimited ride pass.

“It’s going to be just a grand, grand party,” Brown said. “This is what the Irish are all about.”

Johnson agreed.

“We’re really excited for this event,” she said. “When this thing comes around, everybody’s Irish.”