Fireworks to light up Southern Nevada

It’s that time of year again, the day most kids love and many dogs fear: the Fourth of July.

And as always, there are plenty of options to celebrate Independence Day, whether people want to watch from the comfort of their home and backyard grill or out in the community with their neighbors.

From Boulder City to Pahrump, Southern Nevada cities are hosting July Fourth celebrations.

The 67th annual Damboree Celebration in Boulder City returns with an early start at 7 a.m. Saturday with a pancake breakfast at Bicentennial Park, 1100 Colorado St.

“It’s a nice event where you can hang out and have fun with your family,” says Jennifer Spinkelink, who works with Boulder City’s parks and recreation department.

Spinkelink has attended the free daylong event for 20 years. “My kids always come home for the event,” she adds.

A high point is the Damboree Parade, which starts at 9 a.m. at Colorado Street and heads along Nevada Highway to Fifth Street and on to Broadbent Memorial Park via Avenues A and B. As an extra feature likely to be welcomed amid the soaring temperatures and by those fond of water fights, a Water Zone (minus water balloons) will stretch along the parade route from Avenue A to Avenue B and Avenue B to the end of the route on Sixth Street.

After the parade, there will be food, drinks, games and other entertainment at Broadbent Memorial Park, 1301 Fifth St.

Activities continue from 6 to 11 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 1650 Buchanan Blvd. Along with food and games, local disc jockey Mike Pacini will provide the music. A fireworks show is set for 9 p.m.

“(In the 67 years), I think the nighttime entertainment is how this event has grown,” Spinkelink says.

Free Fourth of July festivities in Henderson take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Mission Hills Park, 551 E. Mission Drive. The Randy Anderson Band opens the entertainment, which also includes an 8 p.m. performance by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra.

Festivities conclude with an 18-minute display of rockets, sparklers and firecrackers at 9 p.m.

For those interested in a road trip during the long holiday weekend, the Pahrump Fourth of July celebration stretches from Friday through Sunday at Petrack Park, 150 N. Highway 160.

Salli Kerr, Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO, said the town has held an Independence Day celebration for more than a decade. The Liberty Festival &Fireworks Show, in name, has been around for seven years.

“It’s not always a three-day festival,” she says. “It just depends when the Fourth (of July) falls.”

This year, because the holiday is on a Saturday, the festival is multiple days. From noon to 8 p.m. Friday, there will be food, entertainment and arts and crafts vendors. At 9 p.m., the Pahrump Nugget plans a fireworks show. There are also water attractions, Kerr adds.

Saturday features a pancake breakfast at 6:30 a.m. at Calvada Eye, followed by a veterans parade at 9 a.m. and a horseshoe tournament at 10 a.m. — the tournament is open to anyone. A kids bicycle and wagon parade — with prizes on the line — takes place at noon. Music will continue for hours; many local bands will perform.

That night, Pahrump is hosting another fireworks show at the park.

Sunday features a community worship service at 8 a.m.

Back in Las Vegas, the Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade is celebrating its 20th anniversary with more than 70 parade entries, including marching bands and floats. The parade starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive. It will travel south on Hills Center Drive to the entrance of Trails Village Shopping Center on Trailwood Drive.

On the Strip, The Linq Promenade, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is scheduled to have a variety of family-friendly activities starting at noon Saturday. There will be face painting, balloon animals and entertainment, followed by a flag ceremony by the Nellis Honor Guard at 9 p.m., among other activities.

Around town, Clark County will offer free swimming at county pools, including Cambridge Water Park, Desert Breeze Water Park, Hollywood Water Park, Paradise Water Park, Parkdale Water Park, Sunrise Pool, Walnut Water Park and Whitney Pool.

For those who are staying in to celebrate at home or at a house party, they don’t have to miss out on a fireworks display. Several casinos plan their own fireworks shows.

Starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, the Stratosphere, 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will set off a display by Grucci, a fireworks company, from the top of the tower.

On the opposite end of the Strip, Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will set off fireworks following performances from 311 at Mandalay Bay Beach Friday and Saturday. Performances will start at 9 p.m. each day.

Station Casinos will have two displays, one at Green Valley Ranch Resort, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway in Henderson, and another at Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., starting at 9 p.m.

Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will have its own show starting at 9:15 p.m.

Information on more Fourth of July activities will be available in the Neon section of Friday’s Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Contact reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5201. Follow @mjlyle on Twitter.