Weekend packed with great holiday activities

Thanksgiving is in the books, Black Friday sales have been had, and the holiday season is in full effect as a slew of Boulder City Christmas events are slated for the weekend.

The lighting of the Christmas tree at Frank Crowe Park kicks things off at 6 p.m. Friday.

Residents can enjoy Santa’s Picture Party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday during the 40th annual Doodlebug Bazaar inside the Recreation Center at 900 Arizona St.

This year’s picture party will be inside instead of outside as in years past.

“It was so cold last year, and it was wet. It was just miserable for the kids,” Chamber of Commerce CEO’ Jill Rowland-Lagan said.

At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, about 85 participants will make their way down from Utah Street toward Nevada Way for Santa’s Electric Night Parade, a tradition first embedded in Boulder City’s culture in 1970, according to Rowland-Lagan.

The parade route, which is the same route as the Fourth of July parade, starts at the turbine at Wilbur Square Park. From there, the parade will head down Nevada Way, make a turn at Avenue G, and make a final right at Avenue B.

Although it’s difficult to gauge exactly how many people will be at the parade, Rowland-Lagan said she’s anticipating 2,500 to 3,500 people depending on the weather.

After a warm front came to town over the long Thanksgiving weekend, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s, according to the National Weather Service.

The parade also will be broadcast on Cox Cable, at 6 p.m. Dec. 12-31 on channels 96 and 1096, as well as streaming video on cox96.net. Mike Pacini, parade chairman, and Elizabeth Watts, weekend anchor on KVVU Fox 5, are providing commentary for the parade broadcasts.

Those taking in the parade can also make s’mores at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area headquarters from 4-7 p.m. where Lake Mead mascots will pass out hot chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate.

Rowland-Lagan said traditions like the Christmas parade are important to Boulder City, especially when the Interstate 11 project is finished.

“As we build on some of these longtime traditions, residents are going to realize how important it is to be a part of these local activities,” she said.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum also has plans for the holidays by offering train rides in train cars decorated for Christmas, where riders can have their picture taken with Santa Claus. The steam locomotive “Eureka,” which first ran in 1875, also will be on display as it makes demonstration runs.

The “Santa Train,” according to the museum, runs every weekend until Dec. 21. Trains depart every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

However, there will not be a 3 p.m. train running the first two Saturdays. Tickets are $5.

The museum will also feature the “Pajama Train” for the first time, where guests can ride the train at night. Museum officials said they strongly encourage those riding the night train to wear pajamas. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served. The “Pajama Train” runs Friday and Saturday, as well as Dec. 12 and 13. Trains depart at 5 and 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $14 to $20 and can only be purchased at www.NevadaSouthern.com.

Festivities also will be going on at Lake Mead Saturday when about 25 boats with holiday decorations and lights participate in the annual Lake Mead Boat Owner’s Association’s Parade of Lights. Decorated boats will be on display at Las Vegas Boat Harbor and Lake Mead Marina from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Once the display is finished at 6:30 p.m., boats will depart the marinas and parade across Boulder Basin. Visitors can watch the departure from the marinas or view the parade from Boulder Beach.

Hali Bernstein Saylor contributed to this report. Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.