LV visit to Rose parade considered

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

The Las Vegas Centennial Committee has been invited to take part in the Tournament of Roses parade, a first for the city, Stacy Allsbrook, the event's executive director, said.

Allsbrook said the presentation made to committee members Monday by Tournament of Roses officials was well received, although the committee did not commit any funding.

"They (the committee) told me to search for alternative funding," Allsbrook said.

She said she plans to present alternatives in September. The nationally televised parade is Jan. 1 before the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, Calif. Floats typically cost between $120,000 to $200,000.

The committee on Monday also heard plans to tie the city's centennial to Aviation Nation, the Nellis Air Force Base's annual air show, and other community events next year.

The centennial celebration will last all year, but the official observance will be May 15.

Allsbrook said the Elks Lodge presented a plan to bring back Helldorado Days, a tradition for more than 70 years that ended in 1996. She said that the centennial organizers would handle the parade and the Elks would take over the rodeo, trail ride, a Western village and a carnival. The events are to take place in May.

During the annual air show at Nellis Air Force Base in November, the centennial committee will be able to use two hangars to set up displays about the history of Las Vegas and Nellis, Allsbrook said. In 2005 the entire show will be themed around the centennial, she said.

Meanwhile, the committee has awarded $316,700 in grants to 58 local nonprofit groups to host their own centennial events. The grants ranged from $500 to $10,000.

Some of the groups that received grants and their events: