Henderson will bring holiday events to neighborhoods

Daniela Mohor

Friday, Dec. 7, 2001 | 4:20 a.m.

1-5 p.m. at Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St.: Performances by Vegas City Kids and Rice & Rene, "The Cowgirls Take a Holiday"; make-and take holiday decorations.

6-9 p.m. at Clark County Museum: Vegas City Kids; horse-drawn wagonette ride; Santa visit; Carol-oki; strolling puppet tent; make-and-take holiday decorations.

7-9 p.m. at Gibson Library, 280 S. Water St.: Strolling puppet tent; storyteller, Binnie Tate Wilkin.

6-9 p.m. at the Clark County Museum: strolling puppet tent; storyteller Binnie Tate Wilkin; Santa visit; Carol-oki; horse-drawn wagonette ride; make-and-take holiday decorations

5-7 p.m. at the Henderson Farmers Market, 200 Water St.: Strolling puppet tent; storyteller Binnie Tate Wilkin; Santa visit; make-and-take holiday decorations.

7-9 p.m. at the Valley View Recreation Center: Holiday Songfest.

7-10 p.m. at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 Water St.: Holiday Hoe-down with the Randy Anderson Band.

Call the city of Henderson, 565-2367, or the Clark County Museum, 455-7955.

Henderson's residents this year will be able to celebrate the holidays in their own neighborhood.

The city, in collaboration with local organizations, has prepared a series of events designed to entertain families and foster Henderson's sense of community over Christmastime.

Dubbed "Henderson for the Holidays," the festival will take place Saturday through Dec. 15.

It is organized around a Western theme and will feature a variety of daily events, including rides on horse-drawn wagons, storytelling and a puppet show.

The activities will take place at the Clark County Museum, the Valley View Recreation Center, Gibson Library and Farmers Market.

The purpose of the festival is to bring new life to the older part of Henderson, organizers say.

"The community is growing so quickly that people who live in Green Valley or Las Vegas don't come to the old part of Henderson and don't know what it's about," said Sally Ahlstedt, assistant recreation coordinator at the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department. "We want to celebrate and bring people to old Henderson to remind them that there are some very special things going on here."

The Henderson Children's Christmas Parade, which has been staged for more than 20 years, will kick off the weeklong festivities at noon today on Water Street.

More than 4,000 children from local community groups and high school bands will march, sing and dance. There will be holiday floats, and Santa Claus will make a special appearance at the end of the celebration.

The parade will also feature a food drive. Ten to 15 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson will walk along the parade route collecting canned food from spectators.

The festival will close on Dec. 15 in the evening with a hoe-down featuring the Randy Anderson Band at the Henderson Convention Center.

Tickets giving access to all of the events are $3 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens. They can be purchased at all Henderson recreation center locations, the Clark County Museum, Sunset Park and Henderson City Hall, suite 105.