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Members of the Basic High School Marching Band play Saturday during the Henderson Heritage Parade.
By Kyle B. Hansen (contact) 
Saturday, April 17, 2010 | 6:23 p.m.
Hundreds of people lined Water Street in downtown Henderson on Saturday for the city’s annual Heritage Parade and Festival.
Sandra and Gordon Kunaschk sat in folding lawn chairs in front of the Eldorado Casino to watch as more than 70 groups took nearly two hours to walk the one-mile parade route.
“We’re Henderson residents, and we love coming to the parade,” Gordon Kunaschk said.
The couple has been coming to the parade since they first learned about it shortly after moving to Henderson 14 years ago, he said.
“It’s a real hometown parade; it’s not a commercial thing,” Sandra Kunaschk said.
Participants in parade included politicians, local businesses and community groups.
“I love the high school marching bands and the expressions on the little kids’ faces when they see things,” Gordon Kunaschk said.
Two of the children watching the parade belonged to Billy and Tiffany Spielberg.
The family recently moved to Las Vegas from Henderson but returned for the parade with 1-year-old Madden and Marley, 4.
“We came for the kids, but we grew up in Henderson. We love the parade,” Tiffany Spielberg said.
Madden got especially excited whenever a marching band went by and would dance to the music.
The parade started with UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger, who was the parade’s grand marshal, and was followed by Mayor Andy Hafen, who rode on top of a fire engine.
Melanie Lehoux said she was going to check out the food and entertainment as well as the car show, but the parade was the main draw.
“I grew up in Henderson. It’s something we always come and do,” Lehoux said. “It’s a tradition; it’s fun.”
The parade is scheduled to be rebroadcast on Cox Channel 96 at 3 p.m. April 24, 8 a.m. April 26, 3 p.m. May 1, 11 a.m. May 4, 8 p.m. May 7 and 2 p.m. May 10. It will also be available On Demand beginning April 26.
This is a shame, the parade used to have almost 200 entries but the chamber of commerce has totally disgraced the whole celebration ever since they took away the Industrial Days title of it all. It used to be a 2 week event with talent contest, beauty pageant, car show/chili cook off, and of course the carnival and the parade wrapped it up. What a crying shame , thank you chamber of commerce for destroying Hendersons' Heritage. 70 entries? stop and think about that
Huh ???? Sun Why was my comment removed, Henderson has no history worth celebrating, thats a fact. Get real
olden golden days celebration of 2 weeks a tab long i would think. olympics are shorter than that. now 2 days or a 3 day weekend tops, maybe, as most towns across U.S. do that for whatever their founding celebration entails. anyway, keep it going.
What an education I am getting. I didn't even know Henderson had Heritage. My life's strategy has always been to avoid Henderson.
My life peeked when the freeway opened allowing me to drive right past on my way to the lake.
I remember when the chlorine plant blew up, is that what they are referring to as Henderson Heritage? Anyway, any excuse for a parade, but Henderson Heritage?
Why its even there is a mystery to me. Oh the chlorine plant, I get it now.
Henderson is a police state. Avoid going there.
For everyone who hates Henderson and thinks there is no history, just stay away and keep to Las Vegas
All you Henderson haters need to stay in your crime infested Las Vegas.
I love my Henderson just the way it is! =)
I lived in Las Vegas for 15 years. Last year, I made the decision to buy a house in the Anthem/Seven Hills area. One of the best decisions I've made. The area has the best schools (test scores,teach-to-student ratio, extracurricular activities for kids). It boasts the lowest crime rate in the Las Vegas Metropolitan area (to include NLV, LV, & Henderson).
Yes, please do continue to avoid Henderson, that way it stays the way it is...quiet, peaceful, and void of the Vegas Vices.
Lastly, I love that people view Henderson as a "Police State" that way the Vegas thugs don't think twice about doing something stupid here. God bless the Henderson Police.
Ok Cactusdan, a little education for ya, the chlorine plant didn't blow up it had a chlorine leak. The rocket fuel plant blew up in 1988 you probably weren't around then or else you would know that. Hendersons heritage is industry , period. The BMI complex is what started Henderson back in WWII. A big thank you for staying clear of Henderson on the way to the cespool you call the lake. Your life strategy as you call it is working well. Hdsidecar I stand corrected it was a 1 week celebration with all the different events happening on different days and ending on saturday, but ya won't see that anymore. Henderson has become tooooo big.
fedup2here, thanks for the clarification. Industry, yes, ok now I am beginning to dislike it even more. Of course I was around. There was no Green Valley back then, which isn't so bad, It sure was a loud bang, yes, '88 sounds about right. Rocket fuel plant? I stand corrected.or maybe were talking about 2 different explosions. I knew I would get your goat. Henderson makes Mayberry look like a think tank, you know? It really does have dumb people, who else would live there? You have to be really dumb to live in Henderson, I think. And to have a heritage day, well, maybe next year, I will show up. I might even go visit the old chlorine plant, or what's left of it.
Whose to say I don't live in Henderson? Come on over, I will buy you a cup of coffee, introduce you around, and make sure you feel welcome.
For 38 years I have lived all around the greater Las Vegas valley as well as Boulder City. With my many community involvements, I have led groups in every parade in Clark County from the Martin Luther King parade in downtown Las Vegas to the Boulder City Christmas parade. As a current resident of Tuscany Village in Henderson, Saturday was the first time in over 10 years that I have had the experience of participating in the Henderson Heritage parade. It is still my favorite and remains the most organized parade of my recollection. Our multi-generational entry, "Chocolate Energy" gave tribute to the solid tradition of the Mars family for their grandfather's original creation of the M & M while interpreting my mission on fitness for all ages. Once again, Henderson event planners put on a fun, exciting event for both the spectators and those of us participating. There were smiling faces and waving hands in the air from locals of all ages. I'm just glad that Cox will be rebroadcasting this so I can see it a few more times. Extra thanks go to Annette Mullins at City of Henderson Cultural Arts for the huge project of coordinating such a terrific community event.
Here is our video clip on YouTube in case you didn't get to see us at the parade! Lots of smiles, cute kids and happy people...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83tf9aeHA......
Access our video clip on YouTube in case you didn't get to see us at the parade! Lots of smiles, cute kids and happy people...
http://www.youtube.com/user/hendersonboo...