Go 4th and celebrate

Las Vegas will be crackling with excitement this weekend, as thousands of visitors are expected to pour into town to celebrate the nation's birthday.

How to mark the Fourth of July is up to you: salute the flag at Boulder City's 50th annual "Damboree" celebration; give three cheers for the red, white and blue at Summerlin's Patriotic Parade; or sing "The Star Spangled Banner" along with the newly-formed Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra at the city's annual concert in Hills Park.

To end your evening with a bang and a boom, there are numerous fireworks displays taking place around the valley Saturday night -- with nary a hotel implosion to accompany them.

Here's a sampling of events sure to keep your holiday weekend full of the Independence Day spirit:

ACTIVITIES

Pahrump's Fourth of July Freedom Festival -- Friday and Saturday at Petrack Park, Highway 160 and Basin Road. Vendors booths will be open and crafts will be on display both days; fireworks and ground display at 9:15 p.m. Saturday. Call 727-5658.

Jazz Under the Stars -- Friday, 7:30 p.m. concert with Craig Chaquico, Fattburger and Kilauea, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Tickets: $31.50; call 228-3780.

Harrah's Fourth of July Party -- Friday through Sunday, 5-11 p.m. at the hotel's Carnival Court. Music provided by Kokomo Beach; food available for purchase. Call 369-5000.

Alexandra Nechita -- On Friday, 7-9 p.m., the preteen prodigy artist, known as the "petite Picasso," will make an appearance at the MGM's "Art of Entertainment Gallery." Her work will be shown through Monday. Call 891-3935.

Champions on Ice -- Friday, 8 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center. Performers include Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinksi, Nancy Kerrigan, Nicole Bobek, Oksana Baiul, Todd Eldredge, Victor Petrenko and Alexei Urmanov. Tickets: $30, $40, $55. Call 895-3900.

Boulder City 50th Annual "Damboree" -- Saturday, 7 a.m. pancake breakfast at Bicentennial Park; 9 a.m. parade on Nevada Highway; 11 a.m. national anthem and flag raising ceremony at Central Park; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. band concert featuring Music For Hope; 2-4 p.m. games and contests; 7-11 p.m. festivities at airport; 9 p.m. fireworks. Call 294-1499.

Kaibigan Foundation's 6th Annual Concert in the Park -- Saturday, 12-8 p.m. Jaycee Park. Food, entertainment and games to celebrate Independence Day, as well as Filipino-American Friendship Day. Call 438-9648.

Weekend Barbecue -- Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Mount Charleston Lodge. Cost is $9.50 per person, $6.50 children 12 and under. Call 872-5408.

Summerlin Council's Patriotic Parade -- Saturday at 9 a.m. at Hillpointe and Hills Center Drive, continuing to Trails Park. Call 341-5500.

North Las Vegas July 4 City Breakfast Celebration -- Saturday, 7-10 a.m. at Eldorado Park, 5900 Camino Eldorado Blvd. Light breakfast foods, a musical program and childrens' activities are free. Call 633-1174.

Fremont Street Experience -- Saturday, 7-11 p.m. Free concert by Lil' Elmo and the Cosmos and Boogie Knights, as well as Edison Brothers light bulb changing team's bungee show. Call 678-5600.

Flying Dragon Acrobats -- Sunday, 2 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets: $12, $16, $22. Call 895-3900.

FIREWORKS

Cashman Field When: Today and Friday, immediately following the Las Vegas Stars' 7 p.m. game. Length of show: About 22 minutes. Display by: Las Vegas Display Fireworks, Inc. Cost: Tickets are $10; a portion of the proceeds from tickets purchased at area fire stations benefit the Fireman's Benefit Association. Call 226-4670.

Texas Station and Fiesta Casino's "Sky Concert" When: 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Length of show: 20 minutes. Display by: Lantis Fireworks. Cost: Free. Call 631-1000.

Desert Breeze Park's "Red White & Boom" When: Saturday; music and games begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 8:45 p.m. Length of show: 18 minutes. Display by: Fireworks West. Cost: Free. Call 455-8200.

Morrell Park, Henderson When: Saturday; Food and games from 5-11 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. Length of show: 15-20 minutes. Display by: Fireworks by Grucci. Cost: Free. Call 565-2121.

Sun City McDonald Ranch When: Saturday; Music at 7 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Length of show: 20 minutes. Display by: Lantis Fireworks. Cost: Free. Call 270-7000.

Stratosphere hotel-casino When: Saturday, Party at 8 p.m.; fireworks at 10 p.m. Display by: Fireworks by Grucci. Cost: Admission to party is $4 for Nevada residents. Call 380-7777.

Santa Fe hotel-casino When: Saturday. KKLZ 96.3-FM live remote from 7-9 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30. Length of show: 15 minutes. Display by: Lantis Fireworks and Lasers. Cost: Free. Call 658-4950.

Boulder City, Central Park When: 9 p.m. Saturday. Length of show: 45-60 minutes. Fireworks West International. Cost: Free. Call 294-1499.

Summerlin, Hills Park When: Saturday; Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; music by the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks and light show at 9:15 p.m. Length of show: 10 minutes. Cost: $20, if purchased by phone; $25 at the gate; $10 for children 12 and under; $40 for Pavilion seating with food and drink. Call 477-0739.

Pahrump's Freedom Festival When: Saturday, 9:15 p.m. Length of show: 25-30 minutes. Display by: Zambellie International. Cost: Free. Call 727-5658.

ENTERTAINMENT

Kenny Rogers -- 9 p.m. Friday, 7:3O and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Flamingo Hilton's Sunset Ballroom, 733-3333. Tickets: $40.

Penn and Teller -- 9 p.m. through July 29, Ballys Celebrity Room, 739-4567. Tickets: $35.20.

David Copperfield -- 8 and 11 p.m through July 20, Caesars Palace Circus Maximus, 731-7333. Tickets: $77.50.

Dennis Miller -- 9 p.m. through Sunday, Desert Inn Crystal Showroom, 733-4566. Tickets: $50.

Carrot Top -- 9 p.m. through July 15, MGM Hollywood Theatre, 891-7777. Tickets: $30.

World Classic Rockers -- Former members of Toto, the Eagles, Wings, Moody Blues, the Knack and Steppenwolf, 8:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Maxim, 731-4514. Tickets: $22, $27.45.

The Wallflowers -- 8 p.m. Saturday, Hard Rock Hotel's The Joint, 693-5066. Tickets: $37, $52.

Chuck Berry and Guests -- 9 p.m. Friday, 10 p.m. Saturday, Las Vegas Hilton Theater, 732-5755. Tickets: $35, $45.

Righteous Brothers -- 8 p.m. through Tuesday, Orleans Theater, 365-7075. Tickets: $36.95.

Pat Cooper -- 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Boulder Station's Railhead Saloon, 432-7575. Tickets: $15, $20, $25.

Sean Morey -- 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunset Station's Club Madrid, 547-7777. Tickets: $15.

Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" -- 9 p.m. today, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, New York-New York's Broadway Theatre, 740-6815. Tickets: $50 (today), $60 (Friday and Saturday).

Tap Dogs -- 8 and 10:30 p.m., Stratosphere's Images Cabaret, 380-7711. Tickets: $24.95.

Verne Byers's Big Band -- 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Vacation Village's Koo Koo Lounge, 897-1700. Tickets: Free.

American Legion Concert Band -- 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Showboat's Mardi Gras Room, 385-9123. Admission: Two drink minimum.

Steve Wariner -- 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunset Station, 547-7969. Tickets: $15-$38.50.

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