Helldorado Days sets up downtown

For the first time in nearly 12 years, a rodeo will be at the center of Helldorado Days.

And it will be right in the middle of downtown Las Vegas.

The city and the Las Vegas Elks Lodge were scheduled to kick off Helldorado Days Wednesday night, with the five-day celebration of the Old West continuing through Sunday.

A local tradition since 1934, Helldorado Days, featuring a parade, rodeo, carnival and other events, looked like it was done for in 1997. That's when the Elks Lodge realized it could no longer afford to stage the event, says Duane LaDuke, executive director of Helldorado.

The city resurrected part of it in 2005 as a way to mark the centennial, La Duke says, but a rodeo wasn't to be. The venues were too expensive.

Last year, the city formed a committee to figure out how to stage Helldorado with a rodeo, notes Esther Boyter, Helldorado production coordinator and a city employee.

The biggest challenge was finding a place for the rodeo, Boyter says, but they found a spot downtown. Some parking meters were removed from the area between Stewart and Mesquite avenues and Sixth and Seventh streets, LaDuke says. Local companies donated 2,700 tons of dirt for a temporary rodeo arena that holds 5,300 people.

A carnival is staged around that area, as well. Though it is on city grounds, the city didn't spend any money on the arena, Boyter says.

The rodeo, which started in 1944, means a lot to the Elks Lodge, which has used the proceeds from Helldorado Days to fund local nonprofit organizations, LaDuke says. Without that major event anchoring all of the entertainment, it was difficult to raise money, he adds.

"It's a real shot in the arm. The membership is increasing because old timers are coming back," LaDuke says of the rodeo. "Everyone has their own reasons for joining the Elks and one of those reasons used to be the rodeo."

LaDuke says he remembers when he was a kid and sold peanuts at the rodeo to earn money to get into the carnival. There are a lot of locals who have those memories and will be happy to have the rodeo back, he adds.

This year, LaDuke hopes the Elks can raise about $100,000 to give out in college scholarships, support for nonprofits and a summer Santa program for kids at Child Haven.

In addition to the carnival and rodeo, the Whiskerino contest is scheduled for Friday with the parade planned for Saturday.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.