New traffic procedures in place following fireworks show

Pahrump Chamber of Commerce officials want to address the issue of gridlock following Saturday night’s Liberty Festival fireworks show at Petrack Park.

The chamber, along with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, has implemented a plan to relieve the traffic congestion once the firework display is over.

Commerce CEO Salli Kerr said the Sheriff’s Office plan will allow motorists to exit the venue more quickly than in previous years, as there will be sheriff’s auxiliary personnel directing traffic.

“Anyone coming out of the park on Basin Avenue can only turn right onto Highway 160,” she said. “Those who are leaving the back lot from the rodeo grounds and coming on to Basin they can only turn right on the highway.”

Kerr said those who are parked near the fire station can only make a left on Highway 160.

“It’s a much smaller parking lot so it won’t take as long to get out,” she said. “We will have auxiliary at all the spots and they will tell people which way they can go. It will clear the parking lot out three times faster than what we’ve seen in previous years.”

Attendees who park just south of Petrack Park in the Albertson’s Plaza, can also expect to see auxiliary personnel giving directions.

The best alternative Kerr said, would be using the Walmart exit on the south end of the property.

“We will not be letting traffic out of the parking lot where Albertson’s is, onto Basin,” she said. “They will have to exit in a different location in that parking lot area if they want to get on the highway. Those who are parked and the Rebel gas station parking lot area cannot exit onto Basin, so they will have to find an alternate exit route.”

This year’s entertainment, Kerr noted, consists of mostly local talent with the exception of one popular entertainer from Las Vegas, who is no stranger when it comes to performing in Pahrump.

“We have a fantastic entertainment lineup this year,” she said. “Stan Rankin T from Las Vegas loves to come here and play. Our other performers are local and they are always good to us. They all love to do it because they are part of the community.”

Early Wednesday morning Kerr was at the park working with vendors now setting up shop for the holiday weekend.

The CEO said she was both surprised and pleased with the number of vendors participating in the festival this year.

She noted that though most are local, vendors from Las Vegas have also signed on, while adding she has reached capacity for the event.

Vendors are selling everything from food to arts, crafts and clothes.

“They seem local simply because they are here all of the time and come out for all of our festivals even though they live over the hill,” she said. “We have 60 vendors who have signed up which is awesome and we’re really thrilled with that. Due to such a big response there is no more room for vendors.”

Kerr also said those who are not shopping, or enjoying the free swim throughout the weekend, can take part in an Independence Day tradition, as there will be a horseshoe tournament on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

“It’s a $10 non-sanctioned tournament so anybody can come and play,” she said. “The chamber’s putting a little bit of money into that pot to entice more people to participate. I have heard we had a pretty good response to that so it should be a nice group of people over there.”

One new addition to the festival Kerr said, is the inaugural “Most Patriotic Business” contest where local business owners are judged on their ability to decorate their respective businesses with the judging for the most patriotic business contest going on Friday and we have for businesses in red, white and blue.

“The trophy is finished and it’s ready and waiting for the winner which we will announce before the firework show on Saturday,” she said. “All weekend long we will be announcing who participated in the contest. We are really trying to push that because it’s a great way for businesses who can’t come to the festival to get their name out.”

Kerr clarified a misunderstanding about the weekend’s fireworks show, which will be held at two venues on consecutive nights.

“Somebody misunderstood that the firework show at the Pahrump Nugget and at Petrack Park were the same night but that’s not the case,” she said. “There will be fireworks Friday night at the Nugget and on Saturday, the Town of Pahrump will have their fireworks show at the park.”