Thousands expected for Spring Jam

As the weather heats up and April turns to May, the Boulder City Spring Jamboree kicks off the new season for thousands of residents ready to leave winter in the dust.

And for Boulder City Chamber of Commerce CEO Jill Rowland-Lagan, the yearlong process of putting it all together, a process that includes 75 volunteers, is well worth the work.

“Here in Boulder City, everybody knows when Spring Jam is,” she said. “We’ve all been under the cover of winter, blossoms are out and everyone just seems to have a lighter lift to their step. And we all feel like we can’t get out fast enough to do things.”

This year’s Spring Jamboree, the 37th in Boulder City’s history, will run from 8:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The event will spread out to Bicentennial Park, Wilbur Square Park, North and South Escalante parks, and on Colorado Street.

Traditional events include Antiques in the Park, the Arts and Crafts Show, the Pan Draggers Rod Run Car Show and the Little Miss and Mister Pageant will be on hand. But new events such as the Gem and Mineral Show, the Rocky Mountain Gun Show, and Zoo To You, a petting zoo that features snakes, lizards and hedgehogs, will give the regular Jamboree-goer the opportunity to experience something different.

Rowland-Lagan continues to try to spice things up at Spring Jam. An event, she said, should never be static.

“If it is, then you’re in trouble. You always have to reach out there and find what works and what’s a good fit,” she said.

Spring Jam has grown by leaps and bounds since she began organizing it 13 years ago.

“We used to have 85 booths, now we’re up to 275 booths. We’re adding other components that allow other special interest groups to come in and be a part (of Spring Jam),” she said.

Thirteen food vendors will be on hand with a variety of options to choose from, including barbecue, pizza and tacos.

Jamboree-goers also can bungee jump, climb a rock wall, jump in a bounce house or go down a dragon slide that is 32 feet wide and 37 feet long. A paint ball cage, face painting and a human-hamster ball also will be available for people of all ages to enjoy.

As the Chamber of Commerce’s lone fundraiser for the year, Rowland-Lagan said Spring Jam allows the chamber to pay for maps, brochures and other handouts to tourists who help pump up the local economy.

“Spring Jam welcomes people into Boulder City, and that’s exactly what we need. It helps drive our local economy,” said Mayor Roger Tobler. “It seems to be getting bigger every year. People are realizing how fun of a place Boulder City can be.”

With the Boulder City bypass project of Interstate 11 set to break ground later this year, events like Spring Jam are key to building successful local commerce and will hopefully keep people coming back to Boulder City, according to Tobler. Because Spring Jam provides a community-oriented atmosphere, it gives all residents from Southern Nevada the opportunity to experience something they can’t over the hill, he said.

With an expected 30,000 people in attendance for the weekend’s event, Rowland-Lagan encouraged people to come to Spring Jam to build an even greater sense of community.

“Neighbors can get out and meet neighbors. Connections are happening on the friend level, business level and resident level,” she said. “There’s a lot happening and everyone gets to come out and be a part (of it).”