Showroom: Annual Festival brightens holiday at Lakes

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005 | 8:39 a.m.

Get into the Christmas spirit Saturday at The Lakes' annual Festival of Lights, where there will be an afternoon of entertainment followed by a boat parade on Lake Sahara.

The festival lasts from noon until after sunset.

The Lakes is at West Sahara Avenue and Durango Drive. The activities will be at the intersection of Lake East Drive and Lake Sahara Drive, near the Lake Town Center commercial plaza.

The street will be blocked off and parking will be available in the Citibank parking lot.

John Fredericks, KVBC Channel 3's chief meteorologist, will host the event. He will be accompanied by his dog, Jordan.

Entertainment will include, among others, comedian/singer Stephen Sorrentino with Genevieve, Louis Velez, Celena Miller and Bill Fayne and the Las Vegas Tenors.

A number of choirs and bands will perform, including the ICLV Church Choir, Hyde Park School Choir, M.J. Christensen Choir and Lawrence Junior High School's jazz band, choir and orchestra.

A highlight of the entertainment will be the Marine Corps Color Guard.

Among special guests will be Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

The Lakes Festival of Lights began in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Sorrentino, a spokesman for the festival, said he became involved in the event shortly after moving to The Lakes more than a year ago.

"This is a real nice family event," said Sorrentino, an Elton John tribute artist.

In addition to entertainment there will be a car show, a crafts show, a visit by Santa Claus, pet adoption sponsored by The Pet Sanctuary, Toys for Tots (bring an unwrapped toy) and food concessions.

The festival closes with a parade featuring about 30 boats owned by The Lakes' residents.

The parade begins about 5 p.m.

Knapp book signing

KLAS Channel 8 investigative reporter George Knapp will sign copies of his book, "Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah," at 7 p.m. today at The Reading Room at Mandalay Place.

Knapp, who co-authored the book with scientist Colm Kelleher, delves into unexplained events that have taken place over a 50-year period at Skinwalker Ranch.

A team of research scientists, led by Kelleher, spent several months at the ranch investigating the events.

Knapp was the only journalist allowed to observe the team's work.

Funny Business

Angela Sampras, producer of the adult revue "X" at the Aladdin, is branching into comedy.

Sampras and Matt Stabile debut their new venture, Funny Business Comedy Club, at 7 p.m. Dec. 17.

The club will be part of the lineup of entertainment at the Krave theater/nightclub at the Aladdin.

Comedians will be showcased nightly at the comedy club. Admission is $34.95 to $39.95.

Gordie Brown extended

Impressionist/vocalist/comedian Gordie Brown, who debuted at the Golden Nugget in May 2004, has been extended through March.

Brown performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays through Wednesdays, with a second show at 9:30 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets are $45.

Before turning to entertainment, the Canadian was a political cartoonist.

"Air Play" closing

"Air Play," the free variety show inside the Tropicana's casino, will close Dec. 31.

The show premiered in September 2002 and has had almost 7,000 performances.

Usual Suspects

The improv trio The Usual Suspects will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Community College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus in the Back Stage Theatre.

The cast includes Finley Bolton, a professional actress and voice-over artist (she is the voice for the Las Vegas Monorail); Rick Ginn, an actor who recently completed a national tour of "Oklahoma!"; and Jeff Granstrom, who has been performing in various plays in Las Vegas for 25 years.

Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

For information, call 651-5483.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.