Summerlin’s 4th of July parade over the years — PHOTOS

From left, volunteers Jennifer Wright, a teacher at Bonner Elementary School, and Kelly Cawood, ...

The 28th-annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade is planned for July 4 at 9 a.m., starting at Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive, according to the parade’s website.

The parade, which anticipates over 35,000 attendees, 70 parade entries, 2,500 participants and more than 500 volunteers, had humble beginnings.

Kids bike in the 1995 Inaugural Patriotic Parade from Summerlin Library to Trails Park. (Courtesy of Summerlin Council)

Summerlin residents organized the first parade in 1995. The parade consisted of bicycle riders, residents in pull-wagons and a man dressed up as Uncle Sam on stilts. These residents, now known as the Patriotic Peddlers, traveled from the Summerlin Library to the Trails park, according to the Summerlin Council’s Patriotic Parade website.

The first motorized parade float at the Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade in 1997. (Courtesy of Summerlin Council)

Floats and performances from community members became the norm within two years of the parade’s beginning.

“An American Favorite” built by the staff and families of Pulte Homes in 1998. (Courtesy of Summerlin Council)

Notable Las Vegas figures have made appearances in the parade over the years, including then-Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval waves to the crowd during the 2013 Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade on July 4, 2013.

Former Mayor Oscar Goodman and current Mayor Carolyn Goodman made their first parade appearance in 2003.

Mayor Oscar Goodman and wife Carolyn Goodman appear in the Patriotic Parade for the first time riding on City of Las Vegas’ “Big Red” in 2003. (Courtesy of Summerlin Council)
Outgoing Mayor Oscar Goodman walks with his wife, Mayor-elect Carolyn Goodman, as they march in the 2011 Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade in Las Vegas. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Aviators have also participated in the parade.

Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland waves to cheering fans from the City National Bank and Vegas Golden Knights float during the 2018 Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade in Las Vegas. (Richard Brian/ Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Golden Knights cheerleaders look in shock after seeing a float go up in the air during the 2019 Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade in Las Vegas (Michael Blackshire/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Las Vegas Aviators mascots wave at spectators during the 2019 Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade in Las Vegas. (Michael Blackshire/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade was held virtually and featured personal messages from Jimmy Kimmel, Golden Knights players Nate Schmidt and Alec Martinez and others. The coverage of the event received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Special Events Coverage.

The parade is free and open to the public. The 2022 parade grand marshal is Col. Joshua DeMotts, commander of the 99th Air Base Wing at Nellis Air Force Base. KLAS-TV, Channel 8 anchors Sherry Swensk and Brian Loftus will host the parade, along with Mix 94.1 radio hosts Mercedes Martinez and JC Fernandez.

Road closures on parade day start before 3 a.m. and continue until noon, according to the Summerlin Council Patrotic Parade website.

David Bailey, a Summerlin Council employee, decorates the "Viva Las Vegas" float for the Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade on July 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Contact Taylor Lane at tlane@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tmflane on Twitter.

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