Summerlin Fourth of July parade to symbolize unity

As Nevadans prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday, the Las Vegas Valley’s largest Fourth of July parade is preparing to honor the people and moments that shaped American history.

The organizers of the Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade estimate that more than 35,000 people will attend the Saturday parade. The nearly mile-long parade begins at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive before rounding Village Center Circle and ending near the corner of Trailwood Drive and Spring Gate Lane. Attendees can start saving spots along the parade route at 7 a.m. Friday.

The Summerlin parade will feature more than 70 floats, including Star Wars and Super Mario floats, helium parade balloons, and musical groups including the Palo Verde High School Marching Band.

The parade will also feature eight new historically themed floats to honor the United States’ 250th anniversary, including floats that symbolize the Mayflower voyage, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, the sacrifices of veterans during World War II, the Declaration of Independence and the women’s suffrage movement.

Summerlin Council spokesperson Tommy Porrello said the historically themed floats are a first for the parade and symbolize unity.

“Even though we’re all very different, and we have different cultures and different experiences, Independence Day is a time for us to show pride and gratitude in unity for our community and our country,” Porrello said. The historically-themed floats “go from all the way to the founding fathers all the way through pop culture entries to things that are current right now” like Star Wars and Super Mario.

Humble beginnings

Porrello, who has been involved in the organization of the parade for 20 years, said that the parade has grown from a parade that mostly consisted of children dragging wagons and riding their bicycles a couple of blocks when it first began in 1995.

Even as the parade has evolved, Porrello said, it has not forgotten its humble beginnings. He noted that there will be an escort section before the main parade begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, when children still ride their bikes.

“We also have an acknowledgement and appreciation that the kids who rode their bikes in that original parade were like 8 years old and are now 40 years old. If they still live in this community and are part of this community, they’re likely bringing their children and experiencing it together,” Porrello said. “And if they’re lucky enough to have their parents here who can join them, multiple generations can enjoy the parade and appreciate the history.”

Finishing touches

Under a tent in Trails Park on Wednesday morning, many of the parade’s roughly 500 volunteers were hard at work, as they added finishing touches to floats.

One of those volunteers, Jordyn Doyle, has lived in Summerlin for nine years and volunteered with the parade for eight years. She said that the work to build new floats and renovate existing floats began months ago, when a designer proposed designs to her and other volunteer float builders.

“I really enjoy seeing the floats come to life from a piece of paper. It literally starts like that, and then it turns into this grand thing. It is just crazy and so amazing to see,” said Doyle, who started volunteering with the parade after she was featured on a Hamilton float in her senior year of high school.

Summerlin isn't the only option for parade fans. Boulder City's 78th annual Damboree Parade and Fireworks Celebration begin at 7 a.m. Saturday with a pancake breakfast in Bicentennial Park and continues at 9 a.m. when the parade steps off on Nevada Way from Colorado Street, turns left on Fifth Street and finishes at Broadbent Park.