City to keep parade tradition

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

With Henderson at risk of losing a tradition older than the city itself, City Hall has stepped in to back the annual Heritage Days Parade, which will continue under a new name: the Springsational Heritage Parade.

"This is something we want to continue and carry on," Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers said. "This has been a long-standing tradition for Henderson ... It makes our city a community and it's a fun tradition that all the families enjoy."

The April 24 parade will cost the city $25,000, and Cyphers said it's worth it.

"Sometimes you just can't put a price on tradition," she said.

For 55 years, the annual parade was part of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce-sponsored 10-day festival that included a beauty pageant and talent show, too.

The festival went by the name Industrial Days until about nine years ago, when its name was changed to Heritage Days. But the festival was a drain on the chamber's budget and kept chamber employees busy for much of the year, chamber officials said.

So two years ago the chamber board decided to stop funding Heritage Days and other community events it had organized, to instead focus on business development efforts.

Last year the city stepped in and put on a parade as part of the city's 50th birthday celebration. But city officials and residents worried that could have been the last of the parade.

Cyphers said that while the 10-day festival isn't returning, it's most memorable piece is.

"The parade was the largest gathering. That was the thing most people remembered," she said.

Michael Holland, 49, a Henderson resident and owner of Gold Casters Jewelry in downtown Henderson, said he's glad the parade will continue.

"It gives a sense of belonging and gets neighbors out to see neighbors," Holland said. "And anytime you bring people downtown they can see what businesses are there that they might want to use later."

Andrea Primo, director of sales and marketing for the Henderson Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the parade is "honoring the heritage and the city's history.

"It also gives a sense of community for our residents," she said.

The parade day festivities will start at 8 a.m. April 24 with a pancake breakfast with the mayor and council outside the Henderson Convention Center. The parade down Water Street, which will feature floats and marching bands, will begin at 10 a.m. and probably last about two hours, Primo said.

The parade theme is "My favorite thing about Henderson."

Applications to be in the parade must be submitted by April 16, Primo said. Call 267-2171 for more information.