Preview of Summerlin’s grandest tradition returns this Independence Day hosting their 30th Anniversary Summerlin Patriotic Parade with special feature floats coming out of the parade vault in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, July 1, 2024.
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Jordyn Doyle, 24, was a choir student at Palo Verde High School when she first performed in the Summerlin Patriotic Parade atop a float based on the musical “Hamilton.” The former Summerlin resident, who now lives in Henderson, had a friend in that same choir group who volunteered with the annual Independence Day celebration to build the glittering floats that roll down the 1.25-mile route that starts at the corner of Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive in The Trails village.
Six years later, Doyle hasn’t missed an opportunity to put her own hands on these floats, spending hours throughout the year stapling or screwing elements onto the sometimes-elaborate structures.
In honor of the Summerlin Patriotic Parade’s 30th anniversary, the Summerlin Council has brought old favorites “out of the vault,” including a sweet Candyland-themed float — based on the classic board game — that Doyle said has been one of her favorites to work on.
Though it’s a big milestone for the parade, Doyle is just excited to again be one of over 500 volunteers taking part in the event that she says really brings the community together.
“I just love doing this and giving back to the community, being involved with all this float-making process,” Doyle said. “I just think it’s a great thing for everybody to see and come and just be together and just be one community to celebrate the Fourth of July.”
More than 2,500 people are expected to appear in the two-hour parade, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday led by an escort division of local leaders and community groups before the floats take over at 9 a.m.
Gov. Joe Lombardo and Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony will help kick off the parade. Col. Nicholas Pederson, commander of the 432nd Wing and the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, is this year’s grand marshal.
With an expected 50,000 attendees, officials said this year’s Summerlin Patriotic Parade is going to be “grander than ever.” About 70 entries will be making their way down the parade route Thursday morning, with elements like a giant American Eagle, a Mario Kart spinning its wheels and special appearances from guests such as Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud.
The Summerlin Patriotic Parade began 30 years ago in 1995 as a small neighborhood event where kids would decorate their bikes and Red Flyer wagons, then ride down the street to The Trails Community Center, Tommy Porrello, spokesperson for the Summerlin Council, explained. It has since grown to be the largest Independence Day in the Las Vegas Valley, according to officials.
In honor of that 30-year history, Porrello said the Summerlin Council — the nonprofit arm of the Summerlin Community Association— decided to bring back some of the best and most well-loved floats from parades past.
“There are kids that attended as children that are now bringing their children, and they’re still bringing their parents and their grandparents, so we have a great appreciation for the fact that it is a community event that the community has embraced and continues to embrace and we’ve been able to incorporate very patriotic entries with some fun pop culture entries, with some performance entries and bands and singers,” Porrello said.
Parade goers can look forward to the return of Stars and Stripes Forever, a dazzling red, white and blue display from 2006 that was one of the first “elevated” floats in the parade; Visions of Candyland, which debuted in 2010 and will feature the original players — only 8 years old at the time — in new roles.
And who could forget about Ferris Bueller’s Independence Day Off, a float from 2016 based off the 1986 film starring Matthew Broderick and one of the parade’s first-ever performance floats? The actor who played Ferris during the float’s original parade run in 2016 will be returning to perform again this year, Porrello added.
Some of this year’s new floats include Chillin’ with the Villains, a pirate ship with Captain Hook from the Peter Pan series at the helm, and Spiderman Saves the City along with more patriotic displays like the All-Star Salute to the Military.
“It’s amazing to see how these floats go from, kind of like a base, and then they get turned into these beautiful things,” Doyle said, noting that she has worked mainly on the Candyland, Ferris Bueller and Chillin’ floats this year.
Throughout the parade there will be performances from the Danza Del Carrizo Native American group and the Bonanza High School marching band among others, as well as appearances from various veterans and military organizations.
For those farther south in the Las Vegas area, Boulder City is making sure people can start their Independence Day off sweet at their 76th annual Boulder City Damboree. This Hoover Dam-inspired patriotic party begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, followed by a flyover from the Boulder City Veterans Flying Group.
The Damboree parade starts at 9 a.m. on Colorado Street, then travels down Nevada Highway to Fifth Street and ends on Broadbent Park off Avenue B and Sixth Street, where visitors can enjoy various food vendors and a beer wagon. A water zone will be set up from Avenue A to Avenue B and Sixth Street for those looking to cool down and splash around, though water balloons are not allowed.
More festivities kick off at 4 p.m.,at Veterans Memorial Park, 1650 Buchanan Blvd., with music by DJ Mike Pacini along with food, games, a waterpark and 9 p.m. fireworks. Cost for the Veterans Memorial Park Festivities is $20 per vehicle.
Those looking for the best place to watch the Summerlin Patriotic Parade can start claiming their site along the parade route today, but no earlier than 7 a.m., organizers said
With an excessive heat warning in effect from Wednesday to Monday, organizers are encouraging parade goers in all parts of Southern Nevada to arrive early, find or bring shade, hydrate and slather on that sunscreen. And most importantly to some, have lots of fun.
“It’s just a really fun, energetic, patriotic way to start your Independence Day holiday before you go off to your barbecues and fireworks with just community and family and friends and patriotism,” said Porrello. “You don’t have to worry, everything in the parade route is a good seat … (but) get here as early as you can and find what works best for you and enjoy the day.”
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