As Councilwoman Peggy Leavitt said, “There’s no place like Boulder City for the Fourth of July,” and this year was no different, as people from all over Clark County came to enjoy the 69th annual Damboree.
The theme of this year’s celebration was “Volunteers, the Foundation of Community,” and its festivities and events ran from Tuesday morning until well after dark.
The Rotary Club of Boulder City started the day at 7 a.m. serving up a pancakes and sausage breakfast in Bicentennial Park.
Sandy Johnson, president of the club, said they have been providing the free breakfast for at least 40 years and expected to serve more than 1,200 sausages and pancakes to about 800 people.
“It’s hometown America,” said Boulder City resident Bill Bruninga as he waited in line for his pancakes. “It’s an annual tradition.”
”We spend every Fourth of July here,” said Rolonda Johnson of Henderson. “It’s our favorite place.”
She said the community atmosphere and variety of events that are included in the Damboree are similar to the festivities in her hometown in Utah.
“You celebrate like we do,” she added.
Following the pancake breakfast, the Boulder City Veteran’s Flying Group did its annual flyover to start the parade, which traveled from Colorado Street to Nevada Way and then down Fifth Street through the ever-popular water zone.
For the Lopez family of Henderson, it was their first time seeing the parade, and they enjoyed it.
“It’s awesome,” Rubin Lopez said. “We love it.”
Lopez and his wife, Tracy, heard about the Damboree from their pastor, and they decided to give it a try. They planned to stick around and see what else they could do.
Following the parade, there were different activities, games and contests at Broadbent Park for adults and children.
“We’ve had an absolute blast,” said Darlene Yanez of Las Vegas. “It’s been our best Fourth to date.”
Yanez and her sons enjoyed the dunk tank hosted by the Boulder City United Methodist Church, with each of them getting soaked.
In addition to the games and activities for the kids, Belinda Merchant of Henderson said she and her family like to come because of the small town aspect of the Damboree.
“We come every year,” she said.
The Rutterbush family of Henderson is another that makes the Damboree an annual event.
“We do the parade in the morning and then all the rest,” Cory Rutterbush said. “It’s our ritual.”
The day was capped off with more games, entertainment and fireworks at Veterans’ Memorial Park.
The fireworks show lasted more than 20 minutes and brought plenty of oohs and aahs from the crowd.
Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.
Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.
Parade Winners
■ Overall: Boulder City Garden Club, first place; Fighting for Homeless Vets, second place
■ Best Theme: Boulder City Democratic Club, first place; Boulder City Senior Center, second place
Parks and Recreation Games Winners
Potato Sack Race
4 years old and younger: Cannon Bohanan, first; Christian Giron, second; William Haygood, third.
5-6 year olds: Ehren Conrad, first; Zia Fisher, second; Whesley Haygood, third.
7-8 year olds: Wyatt Newburn, first; Konner Boyle, second; Emmie Broadbent, third.
9-11 year olds: Morgan Folks, first; Erin Velez, second; Grace Velez, third.
12-15 year olds: Matthew Felsenfeld, first; Branden Velez, second; Jake Trone; third.
16 and older female: Sarah Fisher, first; Brandy Sandoval, second; Maria Houck, third.
16 and older male: Alan Giron, first; Jansen Harris, second; Mike Rothman, third.
Spinning Bat Race
4 years old and younger: William Haygood, first; Cannon Bohanan, second; Rayson Trujillo, third.
5-6 year olds: Noah Huttle, first; Wesley Haygood, second; Ehren Conrad, third.
7-8 year olds: Connor Boyle, first; Hayley Haygood; second; Caiden Bohanan, third.
9-11 year olds: Grace Velez, first; Erin Velez, second; Logan Smith, third.
12-15 year olds: Jake Trone, first; Nichole Velez, second; Mackenzie Haygood, third.
16 and older female: Christa Harris, first; Shaena Haygood, second; Heide Wade, third.
16 and older male: Tauran Watkins, first; Ron Anderson, second; Jansen Harris, third.
Sprint/Foot Race
4 years old and younger: Liam Haygood, first; Cannon Bohanan, second; Rayson Trujillo, third.
5-6 year olds: Noah Hustle, first; Wesley Haygood; second; Ehren Conrad, third.
7-8 year olds: Jacob Loosbroock, first; Caiden Bohanan, second; Hailey Haygood, third.
9-11 year olds: Grace Velez, first; Erin Velez, second; Morgan Folks, third.
12-15 year olds: Jake Trone, first; Branden Velez, second; Mitchell Engelhart, third.
16 and older female: Brandy Sandoval, first; Sarah Fisher, second; Shaena Haygood, third.
16 and older male: Alan Giron, first; Jansen Harris, second; Tauran Watkins, third.