How to ring in 2009, Henderson-style

By Mandy Walton

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 | 1:41 p.m.

Hmmm, Henderson and New Year’s Eve. The two don’t seem to quite go together. Usually, anyone in Henderson and the surrounding areas flock to Las Vegas to party the night away. However, I have a few ideas for you if you’re going to stay in town.

Movies: You can always catch a movie before midnight. And with a new cinema open, it’s even easier than before! The Fiesta Henderson has a brand new theater and it is quite impressive. You can also check out a movie at the Green Valley Ranch resort, Sunset Station, or Cinedome 12.

Concerts: Green Valley Ranch will be hosting New Year’s Eve with Steel Panther in concert. The concert begins at 11 p.m. Tickets are $50 and limited to those 21 and older. Call Green Valley Ranch for details at 617-7777. Also at Green Valley Ranch: Royal Purple Rockers and Darby O’Gill and the Little People will be playing at 7 p.m. in Quinn's Irish Pub.

Evenflow, a Pearl Jam tribute band, will play at 9 p.m. at Cerveza Cantina at Fiesta Henderson. Call 558-7000.

Cash: If you’re feeling lucky, the Eldorado Casino on Water Street will be hosting $20,009 of New Year's Eve Cash Drawings. There will be over 40 winners. The drawings start at 9 p.m. You can also eat pretty cheap at the “Eldo” (as us townies like to call it). Spend New Year's Eve in The Café and get an 8 ounce prime rib and shrimp scampi for $10.99 or 8 ounces of prime rib and crab legs for $10.99. Both specials include endless soup and salad bar and are available from 11 a.m. to close.

Fireworks: There are some great lookout points in Henderson, but we’ll have to see if this year they work as well. The fireworks will not be launched from the tops of the casinos on the strip this year. Instead, fireworks displays will be located in parking lots and on parking garages. Great lookout points in Henderson include Horizon Ridge Parkway at Gibson Road, Carnegie at Horizon Ridge Parkway (why not go inside La Collina and dine while you watch?), or on the rooftop of a Henderson home.

“We always watch the fireworks from the roof of my parents’ house,” said Rob Erekson, a longtime Henderson resident.

There will also be a fireworks show at Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas. The show starts at 9 p.m. Call 564-4766 for more details.

Stay Home: There definitely is no place like home. Dorothy wasn’t kidding. It’s the safest place for you if you don’t want to be on the road at the same time as everyone else. Even I’ve tried the Las Vegas Strip on New Year’s Eve before, and I’d rather stay at home -- it’s just not my style.

“I’ve heard of so many people that are not venturing out to the Strip because of all the chaos (driving, parking and so forth). Many are staying back and throwing parties at their homes,” said Henderson resident Melva Byington.

If you do opt to stay home, you can catch the Las Vegas fireworks on the local television stations.

And for a ride from a house party or wherever you’ve been, please, don’t drink and drive. Call Designated Drivers at 456-RIDE (7433) for a free ride home.

“These services will last until 5 p.m. on New Year’s Day,” said Cinnamin Stephens, a driver in the program.

No matter how you decide to spend your evening, be safe and have a wonderful time.