Valley to welcome Independence Day with a bang

There’s no shortage of Independence Day celebrations in the Las Vegas Valley. From parades and fireworks to car races, there’s something for almost everyone.

Henderson to sponsor fireworks, games

For the second consecutive year, the city of Henderson plans to host its Independence Day celebration on July 4 at Mission Park, 551 E. Mission Drive.

Admission is free, and the event starts at 6 p.m. Entertainment is set to include live music, activities and fireworks.

According to Debra Haskell, marketing and communications specialist for the city of Henderson, new to the celebration this year will be family games and a watermelon eating contest.

“We want to give the crowd something fun to do while they are waiting for the fireworks to start,” Haskell said.

Games include three-legged races, gunny sack races, water balloon toss and a water cup brigade. In addition, children can participate in face painting, sand art, bounce houses, henna tattoos and spin art.

Participants for the watermelon eating contest are to be randomly selected by picking names from a bowl. The contest is set to have three age groups: Those 12 or younger, those 13 to 17 and those 18 or older. The competition is set to start at
8:30 p.m.

Also new is the volleyball tournament, which will be split into two divisions: two coed teams of six-on-six and two female teams of three-on-three. Both are open to any age.

The event is also expected to include a three-on-three basketball tournament split into two divisions: adults 18 or older and those younger than 18. Sign-ups for the tournaments begin at 5:30 p.m., and registration is open the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis. The basketball tournament is $5 per participant, and the volleyball tournament is $50 per six-on-six team and $30 per three-on-three team.

Food is to be sold by local school clubs and groups from Foothill and Basic high schools and will include hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones, ice cream, pulled pork and wraps. Proceeds are to benefit each school’s student clubs and groups.

Live music will be performed by the country music group the Randy Anderson Band and the Henderson Symphony, which is set to perform before and during the fireworks display. Staging a comeback will be the Battle of the Bands, in which four local teen bands are set to compete for the chance to win a $1,000 gift certificate to Guitar Center and the opportunity to record in studio.

An 18-minute fireworks show by Lantis Fireworks and Lasers is scheduled for 9 p.m.

Parking is to be available at Foothill High School, 800 College Drive, and free continuous shuttle service is set to start at
5:30 p.m. For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com.

The Smith Center plans 4TH WITH THE PHIL

The Las Vegas Philharmonic has announced a new event, 4th with the Phil, set to bring an orchestral celebration to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., on July 4.

The orchestra is to be conducted by Matt Catingub, with guest vocalists Clint Holmes and Kristen Hertzenberg. This will be the first July 4 concert in three years for the orchestra and will mark its 15th birthday.

“The Las Vegas Philharmonic used to do Fourth of July events in Summerlin, and the community loved it,” said Jennifer Scott, communications manager for the Philharmonic. “We wanted to bring the event back to the community, but it’s a huge financial undertaking.”

The concert is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall with a live audio transmission into Symphony Park and a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Symphony Park is planning live entertainment and food and beverage stalls starting at 4 p.m. Concertgoers can watch the fireworks from the Reynolds Hall lobby, outside in Symphony Park or telecast onto a big screen in Reynolds Hall.

Concert tickets are $25, $50 and $75. Entry to Symphony Park only is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 or younger. Ticket holders to either venue also receive free entry to the Discovery Children’s Museum from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“We need the community to show support and buy tickets in advance,” Scott said. “This event is not like anything we’ve ever done before, but if everything goes well, we hope to put it on every year.”

For more information, visit lvphil.org.

NORTH LAS VEGAS to put on JUBILEE

An Independence Day Jubilee is set to begin at 6 p.m. July 3 at James Seastrand Park, 6330 Camino Eldorado. Live music is to be performed by Against the Grain, Kings of Rock (a tribute to RUN DMC) and Serpentine Fire (a tribute to Earth, Wind and Fire). A kids corner, teen zone, carnival midway games and food and beer vendors are planned.

Arlene Ramirez, program supervisor for the city of North Las Vegas, said this year participants will not be allowed to bring ice coolers or backpacks due to potential security threats.

Gates are to open at 5 p.m., and parking is on Revere Street and Centennial Parkway. A 15-minute fireworks show is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at vendini.com for $3 before July 3 or $4 at the gate. For more information, visit cityofnorthlasvegas.com.

KNICKERBOCKER PARK party planned

A Stars, Stripes & Sparks Independence Day celebration is set to begin at 6 p.m., and a 15-minute fireworks show by Pyrotecnico is scheduled at 9:15 p.m. July 4 at Knickerbocker Park, 10695 Dorrell Lane, in the Providence master-planned community. The free event is to feature contests ranging from hula hooping to pie eating and musical performances by the Tony Marques Band.

Brandon Exline, Capital Consultants Management Corporation’s community manager for the Providence Master Homeowners Association, said that last year, an estimated 5,000 people participated in the inaugural event, and this year, 5,000 to 7,000 people are expected to join.

Participants can bring picnic baskets, chairs and coolers. No alcohol or outside fireworks are permitted. For more information, visit providencelv.com.

SUMMERLIN TO HOST PATRIOTIC PARADE

The annual Summerlin Council celebration is expected to begin at with an escort division parade at 8:30 a.m. and a Patriotic Parade with 70 entries, including floats, giant helium balloons, live music and performance groups at 9 a.m. July 4 at the corner of Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive in The Trails village of Summerlin.

The parade is slated to include drum lines, marching bands, bagpipers, gospel choirs, Native American performers and jazz groups travelling south on Hills Center Drive toward the Village Center Circle roundabout, where the route will go west to end at the corner of Trailwood Drive and Spring Gate Lane.

Heritage and cultural-themed entries are also planned, including a Native American pow wow and a tribute to the U.S. military.

New entries to the parade roster include a Pocahontas-inspired float, a 30-foot inflatable Thomas the Tank Engine balloon and a 65-foot inflatable brachiosaurus. An inflatable Mr. Potato Head and the “Star Wars” Death Star balloon, accompanied by storm troopers are expected, too.

Debuting this year will be a float honoring injured police officers, sponsored by Country Financial. Col. Peter Ford, commander of Adversary Tactics Group, Nellis Air Force Base, has been chosen as parade grand marshal.

For details, visit summerlin.com.

Contact reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686.