There’s still plenty of room for local residents to participate in Saturday’s Independence Day Parade according to co-organizer, Nye County Commissioner Butch Borasky.
The 5th annual event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., in the newly renovated Calvada Eye.
At present, 20 entrants have signed up, while Borasky said he’s looking for additional entries.
“We only charge a one fee of $25 for a group,” he said. “We will take last-minute entries but it will put you in the back of the parade. People can join the parade the day of the event because we don’t turn anybody away.”
Borasky noted that those who do participate should be aware that adorning their respective vehicles with patriotic flair, is what the judges will be looking for, as there are prizes for the top entrants.
Trophies will be presented to Most Enthusiastic entry, Most Patriotic, Judges Choice, Most Friendly Float and the Bicycle/Other category.
Just about any kind of mode of transportation can participate in the parade, including horses, go karts, dirt bikes and even electric golf carts.
Borasky encouraged participants to be creative.
“We’d love to see a unicycle or two because that could definitely earn a trophy, I would think,” he said. “If not, I would probably give them one myself. Even though it’s the Fourth of July Parade, the vehicles do not have to be decorated in a patriotic theme but they’re going to look kind of foolish if it’s an Independence Day Parade and they don’t have some red, white and blue decorations on their vehicle of choice,” Borasky said.
The commissioner noted there’s one thing parade officials will not allow, which is a regular tradition seen commonly during Pahrump’s Fall Festival parades over the years.
“We can’t allow people who are in the parade throwing out candy to the parade watchers,” he said. “I am totally against it because if it hits the ground and the kids pick it up it’s not very sanitary or clean. Those who do want to give candy can just walk out and hand it to the kids rather than throwing it on the ground because it’s a health hazard.”
Borasky said the parade route is the same as it has been for the past fouryears.
“It begins at the corner of Honeysuckle and Calvada where they just put the new sidewalk in,” he said. “It will then leave that point and come down around the Calvada Eye and back to that point again. We will have our usual Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue group, but we’re not going to have a Nye County entry because they are committed to other areas. There are a number of different organizations participating in the parade.”
Borasky also said both parade watchers and participants should be mindful of the weather, as temperatures are expected to exceed triple-digits throughout the holiday weekend.
“It’s going to be very warm on Saturday so I would suggest possibly bringing an umbrella or some type of shade,” he said. “Folks can set up a small tent and bring along a few lawn chairs and an ice cooler if they want. This is just something for the community to kick off our weekend of patriotic activities.”
Prior to the parade, Borasky urged residents to attend the annual pancake breakfast at the site beginning at 7:00 a.m.
“It’s all being done by the veterans themselves and it’s a great breakfast,” he said. “I get it every year myself and it’s very reasonable in terms of price because it’s only four dollars.”