Summerlin planning biggest Fourth of July parade in Nevada

Las Vegas has always been known as a party city, drawing millions of people each year to its dynamic selection of entertainment.

Fourth of July will be no different, with celebrations, including fireworks and parades, planned across the valley and beyond.

What is being called the biggest July Fourth parade in the state is expected to draw more than 30,000 people in the master-planned community of Summerlin in the Western Las Vegas Valley.

Parade coordinators and volunteers were busy putting on the final touches Wednesday to the creative floats of the more than 70 entrants that will be rolling on Hills Center Drive in the Trails Village for the 21st annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade.

“We love the idea that we celebrate our nation’s birthday this way, but ours has grown to more than 35,000 people,” said Tom Warden, senior vice president of Summerlin, which is developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation.

“In size alone, it’s definitely the biggest Fourth of July celebration in the state of Nevada.”

The parade, which is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and last about two hours, will feature many new additions including Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride float, a Jurassic Adventure with a 30-foot tall T-Rex balloon and the house from Disney Pixar’s “Up,” Warden said.

It will begin at the corner of Hills Center Drive and Hillpointe Road and will be introduced by an “escort division, which is your elected leaders led by Mayor (Carolyn) Goodman in a pink Cadillac convertible,” Warden said.

But attendees should be wary of the heat as June’s average temperature was the hottest on record and July is expected to be much the same, according to the National Weather Service.

Summerlin is expected to reach a high of 106 Saturday, said Weather Service meteorologist John Salmen. Throughout the valley, the chance of rain will be 10 percent with south winds at 10 mph, he said.

Warden advised attendees to be wary of the weather and bring water, sunglasses, sunscreen and hats. He also suggested that people carpool as parking is limited.

BOULDER CITY PARADE

Boulder City will host its own celebration that begins at 7 a.m. with the 67th annual Boulder City Damboree Celebration’s free Rotary Club pancake breakfast at Bicentennial Park, 1100 Colorado St.

“We have a big day planned for everyone in Boulder City,” said Roger Hall, director of parks and recreation for the small city 26 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

The parade, which begins at 9 a.m. on Colorado and is expected to last one hour, will be introduced by Boulder City’s Veteran’s Pilot Group. The planes will fly above Main Street before and during the parade, said Hall.

Temperatures in Boulder City are expected to hit 105, according to the National Weather Service.

To combat the heat, the city’s Fire Department will staff a medical tent to ensure attendees are safe, Hall said.

After the parade, the fun will continue at Broadbent Memorial Park, 1301 Fifth St., until 4 p.m. with games, contests, music and an assortment of food.

The party will move at 6 p.m. to Veteran’s Memorial Park, 1650 Buchanan Blvd. The flagship park will be brimming with entertainment including a live band and an array of games and contests for the whole family, Hall said.

“We just want to have a nice day and have everyone enjoy our country’s birthday,” Hall said.

To conclude the night, a fireworks display that is free and open to the public will light up the sky at 9 p.m. The show is expected to draw about 10,000 people and last about 30 minutes, said Recreation Program Coordinator Patty Sullivan.

But parades aren’t the only type of celebration happening around the valley.

FIREWORKS ABOUND

Warden encourages attendees at the Summerlin parade who want to continue celebrating to head over to Downtown Summerlin at 9 p.m. to enjoy Red Rock Resort’s fireworks show.

The best public viewing areas for the fireworks will be at the resort in the south parking lot off Summerlin Centre Drive, according Station Casinos spokeswoman Lori Nelson.

In Henderson, the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino will have its own display. The best spot to catch the show is at the top of the Paseo Verde Parking Garage, Nelson said.

Both of these shows are produced by Grucci’s of New York and are open to the public, Nelson said.

Residents of the city of Mesquite and Pahrump can enjoy fireworks in their own parts of town at the Eureka Casino Hotel and Petrack Park, respectively. Both shows will begin at 9 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

The Strip has its own form of Fourth of July fireworks for tourists and locals.

The Stratosphere will fire off fireworks at 9 p.m. and Caesars Palace will begin its fireworks show at 9:15 p.m.