Four days of events, including Irish music and carnival rides, are scheduled in conjunction with Saturday's 39th annual Las Vegas Sons of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade in Henderson.
The parade, sponsored by the Henderson Convention and Visitors Bureau, will start at 10 a.m. and traverse a two-mile route along Water Street from Ocean Drive to Lake Mead Parkway.
This marks the first time the parade honoring the patron saint of Ireland will be held in Henderson. Previously, the parade was held in downtown Las Vegas and in unincorporated Clark County.
The celebration kicks off today with a carnival from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Timet Park, west of Lake Mead Parkway and Water Street.
Produced by Davis Amusement Cascadia Inc. of Portland, Ore., the carnival will feature a midway with 11 game booths, 15 rides and three food vendors, organizers said. Admission to the carnival is free, but there will be a charge for the rides and games, said Karina Milani of the Henderson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Also on Thursday, the Irish quintet Teada (pronounced tay-da) will perform at 7 p.m. at the Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youths and seniors. They can be purchased 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the Henderson Pavilion Box Office, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway.
The group has released two CDs. It's most recent, "Give Us a Penny and Let Us Be Gone," is "a priceless collection," according to Irish Voice magazine.
On Friday, the St. Pat's carnival will open at 4 p.m. and close sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight depending on the size of the crowd, Milani said. Also, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, the John Windsor Sing-Along Irish Band will perform a free concert.
On Saturday, the carnival will begin at the same time as the parade and end between 11 p.m. and midnight.
Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson will serve as grand marshal for the parade that will feature about 125 entries, including the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard. Tom Lally of the Sons of Erin is scheduled to portray St. Patrick.
KTNV Channel 13's weatherman Nate Tannenbaum and anchorwoman Cathy Ray will announce the entrants in the parade for spectators but there will be no television coverage of the event, Milani said.
An Irish-themed block party will begin about noon Saturday at Timet Park and will feature Irish bands throughout the day. The Brendan Boyer Irish Showband is to perform from noon-3 p.m.; The American Wake is on tap from 3-7 p.m.; and Irish Affair is slated from 7-10 p.m. All three shows are free.
Admission to the parade and block party also are free.
The carnival will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday and is to conclude at 5 p.m.
Parking for all events will be available at the City Hall parking garage at Lead Street and Basic Road, the parking lot at Basic Road and Water Street and Timet Park, Milani said.
archive