Family Fun
It’s midnight somewhere," we often say whenever the time comes to raise a glass and make a toast.
And if you prefer the glass filled with something nonalcoholic, New Year’s can ring in anytime between noon at the Summerlin Library and 9 p.m. at Lake Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is, of course, the city where the debauchery is in plain site and the early or family-friendly activities are harder to find. There are alternatives to pricey nightclubs or crowds on the Strip if you know where to look, but it has been tough to establish well-known traditions.
Boulder City’s attempt to join the nationwide celebration known as First Night has been an uphill climb, says Maribeth McLay, one of its organizers.
The third annual celebration in 2005 was hindered by low funding levels and stormy weather. Combine that with last New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday and "we decided to take a break and see if we could come back bigger and better," she said.
After a year off, Monday promises to deliver just that, McLay says, adding that "people missed it," based upon comments she has fielded.
This year’s First Night starts at 4 p.m. and goes into full swing with a 5:30 p.m. Mardi Gras-style parade downtown. A $5 button buys your way into several craft, art and entertainment choices in the downtown area, including roller skating, a petting zoo and pony rides.
The event wraps up with a "burning man" bonfire and a modest fireworks display in the downtown park. Not to be confused with the Burning Man festival in Northern Nevada, this one gives families a chance to "get rid of all the bad things, and leave all the good things for next year," McLay says.
More early fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. at Henderson’s Lake Las Vegas development. The gathering will be in the commons area of the MonteLago Village retail shops, which also afford views to those dining in the surrounding restaurants and hotels. Those who get there by 8 p.m. can watch "Celebrations on Ice," a skating show on the floating ice rink.
The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District offers three children’s story times on Monday morning. "New Year’s Eve Around the World" will be the focus of group sessions at 11 a.m. at the Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave., and 11:30 a.m. at Sahara West, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. The Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, has a "Countdown to Noon" at 11:30 a.m.
And the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, concludes its "Bean Bag Film Festival" Saturday and Sunday with a short film series, "Where in the World Is it New Years?" portraying family life in places such as India, Puerto Rico and Vietnam. The films start at 11 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday and are included in the regular museum admission.
Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0288.