Fun on the Fourth

Fireworks, music and entertainment are on tap around the valley to celebrate Independence Day.

One of the biggest events, the annual "Red, White and Boom" at Desert Breeze Park, has been canceled and replaced with "Red, White and Splash" activities at Clark County pools.

David Itkin conducts his first concert as music director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic at the ninth annual "Star Spangled Spectacular" show Wednesday at Hills Park, 9002 Hillpointe Road.

Along with associate conductor Richard McGee, Itkin and the orchestra will perform patriotic songs and marches.

The event's finale, beginning with the "1812 Overture," will kick off a fireworks display by Zambelli Internationale.

The event starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 4:30.

Picnics are allowed, but food and beverages will be available from vendors.

Advance tickets are $25, $20 for children 6-12. At the gate, tickets are $30, $25 for children 6-12.

For more information, call 895-2787.

• The City of Henderson will celebrate the holiday Wednesday with family-friendly events at the new Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St., next to the Henderson Convention Center.

The event, scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m., will feature three stages of entertainment, a water play area, food and children's activities, including a splash park, bounce house, giant slide, obstacle course, train rides, a sand play area and paddle boats.

Local artist Steven Liguori will create a sand sculpture during the event. Children are invited to bring pails and shovels to create their own sand art. Live entertainment will include trombonist Walt Boenig, the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, saxophonist Paul Taylor and country entertainer Randy Anderson.

The event will close with a fireworks display. Admission is free.

• Tommy Rocker closed his cantina but resurfaces on the floating stage of MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas, 30 Strada di Villagio, Henderson. His Conched Out band plays from 7 to 10 p.m. with surrounding vendors offering food and drink specials.

• "Red, White and Splash" will have free swimming activities and refreshments Wednesday at select pools.

"The Parks and Recreation Department is going back to the neighborhoods to celebrate the Fourth of July in an old-fashioned community gathering at individual pool sites across the county," said Jane Pike, acting director for the department, in a news release.

All pools except Von Tobel are open for free swimming from noon to 4 p.m., but the Desert Breeze pool will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

Clark County water parks and pools that will be open Wednesday are Cambridge Water Park, 3930 Cambridge St.; Desert Breeze Water Park, 8275 Spring Mountain Road; Desert Inn Pool, 3570 Vista Del Monte Drive; Paradise Water Park, 4770 Harrison Drive; Parkdale Water Park, 3200 Ferndale St.; Sunrise Pool, 2240 Linn Lane; Sunset Pool, 2601 E. Sunset Road; Walnut Water Park, 3085 Cecile Ave.; Whitney Pool, 5700 E. Missouri St.; and pools in Laughlin, Overton, Logandale and Indian Springs.

• The eighth annual Independence Day Jubilee will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at James Seastrand Park, 6330 Camino Eldorado in North Las Vegas.

The free event will offer live music, fireworks, food vendors and children's activities.

• In Boulder City, the 59th annual Boulder Damboree will take place Wednesday starting with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. in Bicentennial Park. A parade is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Nevada Way, ceremonies and midway booths at Broadbent Park will open at 11 a.m. and fireworks are scheduled at Veteran's Memorial Park at dusk. The event is free.

• The Las Vegas 51's get into the act again this year with fireworks following their game Tuesday at Cashman Field with the Fresno Grizzlies, the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate.

The game starts at 7:11 p.m.

Admission is $13.

• Games, food and music will be featured at the Red, White & Pool event for all ages, noon-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center.

Admission is $3.

• Yankee Doodle at the Pool, an all ages event featuring competitions against lifeguards for prizes, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at local pools including Baker Pool, 1100 E. St. Louis Ave.; Carlos L. Martinez and Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Freedom Park, 889 N. Pecos Road; Doolittle Pool, 1950 J St.; Garside Pool, 300 S. Torrey Pines Drive; and Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

Admission is $1 for children 4-17; $2, 18-49; $1.50, 50 and older, and free for 3 and younger.