America’s turning 250, and we’re here to help blow out all those birthday candles.
What’s the best way to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, Vegas-style?
With patriotic pies, hot dog eating contests in bikinis and Nic Cage, of course.
Independence Day is all about celebrating everything that defines the American experience this time of year.
And this city has its own unique take on all the Americana at the heart of the holiday.
Here’s how we do the Fourth of July:
Parades? As if you had to ask…
Sure, you can celebrate America’s independence without parades if you’re totally allergic to happiness and all.
But for those of us who enjoy smiling and liberty alike, parades are where it’s at this time of year.
And there’s some great ones around these parts, like the 32nd Annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade, an official America250 Nevada designated event, featuring 70 entries, including more than 20 giant inflatable balloons, veteran and military organizations, patriotic and pop culture-themed floats and performing groups with more than 2,500 people expected to participate.
Another perennial favorite, the 78th annual Damboree, begins at 9 a.m. with the Boulder City Veterans Flying Group performing a flyover as the parade gets underway. After the parade, there will be games, food, a beer wagon and nonprofit vendors at the Boulder City Swimming Pool, followed by live music, more games and food, a splash pad and fireworks at Veterans Memorial Park.
Speaking of the latter…
Hot dogs and more hot dogs and after that…hot dogs!
When reflecting upon the 250th anniversary of our great nation, two main questions inevitably arise: 1). What is the true meaning of freedom? And 2). How many bun-length wieners can one slam in a single sitting whilst rocking a thong?
Find out the answers — to the latter line of inquiry at least — at the “Weenies and Bikinis” hot dog eating contest at Stadium Swim at Circa Resort & Casino on Saturday, where contestants in swimwear compete for $5,000 in prizes.
It’s one of numerous frankfurter throwdowns on the holiday in question.
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at New York-New York Hotel & Casino doubles as a qualifier for the celebrated competition at New York’s Coney Island the following year.
Testing the stomach capacities of the young’uns, the 4th of July Party in the Sky at The Strat is holding a hot dog eating contest for kids, followed by one for grown-ups.
Downtown at The Silver Stamp (222 E. Imperial Ave.), gastrointestinal warriors vie for a $500 top prize that would be best used on the beer bar’s voluminous, exceptionally curated selection of brews.
And for those of us who just want to enjoy a great local dog sans the need for a Pepto Bismol I.V.-drip afterward, try “The Savage” at The Steamie Weenie (1500 N. Green Valley Pkwy. Henderson), a bacon- and bleu cheese-slathered bad boy that was voted one of the best hot dogs in…you guessed it: America!
Birthing a nation on stage
Like slamming hot dogs by the fistful, the founding of America wasn’t easy.
Our brave forefathers had to fight the fearsome Brits all while trying to look cool in powdered wigs — an even more daunting task.
Tony Award–winning musical “1776” brings the story of America’s birth to life, following John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and the Continental Congress as they work towards the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Hynes-Sight Entertainment brings the production to Super Summer Theatre at Spring Mountain State Park just in time for the America 250 festivities, with performances on Friday and Saturday, running through July 18.
Fireworks galore
For one loud, glorious year, the Fourth of July doesn’t actually have to end on the Fourth of July — at least not when it comes to the fireworks long synonymous with the holiday,
And so while there will still be a bevy of pyrotechnic displays all across the valley on Saturday, in honor of the America 250 festivities, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will continue its weekly, eight-minute synchronized fireworks show at the following dates and locations: July 11 from MGM Grand, Aria and Planet Hollywood; July 18 from Resorts World, Fontainebleau and The Strat; and July 25 from Caesars Palace, Treasure Island and The Venetian.
You think they’re going this hard in Toledo?
Take us out to the ballgame(s)
Take a hike, football; for the sake of this article, baseball remains America’s pastime.
And there’s few better places to root, root-root for the home team than at the Las Vegas Ballpark with the high-flying Aviators, who recently won the first half of the Pacific Coast League title and clinched a spot in the playoffs. They take on the Tacoma Rainiers Tuesday through Thursday.
Another sport Americans invented: basketball. And the Las Vegas Aces have come close to perfecting it of late, winning three of the last four WNBA championships. See them take on the Chicago Sky on Friday and the Indiana Fever on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.
OK, so Americans didn’t invent the other football — known around these parts as “soccer” — but with World Cup fever gripping us all, get a local fix when the Lights FC will take on El Paso Locomotive FC at Cashman Field on July 4 during “Hometown Heroes Night” featuring $1 hot dogs, $2 craft beers and $3 fries.
A fireworks display will follow the game after all the fireworks on the field.
Do we want some apple pie? Spare us the rhetorical questions, bro
The only thing more American than apple pie is apple pie topped with an American flag crust.
Doing their country proud, the pie-slinging patriots at Pies Unlimited (2465 W. Craig Rd) offer this seasonal specialty just in time for the 4th.
Need another local go-to for primo apple pie? Hit up Pop N Pies (popnpies.com), where owner/pastry chef Andrea McLean, a veteran of Bouchon and Vegas Test Kitchen, was recently anointed a “Rising Star Baker” from restaurant industry website StarChefs.com.
If apple pie isn’t your thing, don’t fret, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your taste buds are totally un-American — kind of, though.
Just stop by Freed’s Bakery (9815 S. Eastern Ave.) where there’s a vast selection of star-spangled sweets from chocolate-covered AmeriBerries to Liberty star butter cookies to a wide array of themed cakes topped — literally — by an $185 work-of-edible-art shaped like Uncle Sam’s hat.
True sounds of liberty
What’s the most American form of music?
Like most authorities on the subject, we’d call it a four-way tie between country, jazz, hip-hop and the Smash Mouth songbook.
Where to enjoy each this weekend:
Country: “Beer Beer Truck Truck” singer George Birge plays the 3rd Street Stage at the Fremont Street Experience on Saturday.
Hip-hop: Houston trap heavyweight Don Tolliver headlines the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday.
Jazz: Stop by The Dispensary Lounge (2451 E. Tropicana Ave.), Vegas’ longest-running jazz spot, which opened right after the bicentennial in August 1976.
Smash Mouth: Get your game on with your fellow all-stars at the Sahara Pool on Saturday.
Red, white and booze
Sure, you could toast America’s b-day with a glass of milk — if you never want to be invited to another social gathering ever again.
So, how about celebrating this special occasion with some special cocktails instead?
Five excellent options:
La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway at Wynn Las Vegas is offering the “Smoke & Glory” cocktail crafted with Barrel Select Morton Group Knob Creek Bourbon, PAMA, Angostura bitters and orange bitters. Barrel-aged for 90 days and finished with a tableside smoke presentation ($26).
One Steakhouse at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas features the “American Way,” a bourbon-forward take on the Boulevardier made with Jefferson’s Bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth, served over a large ice cube and garnished with a dried orange ( $19).
Borracha Mexican Cantina at Green Valley Ranch is adding a red, white and blue specialty cocktail menu on July 4, including the “Freedom Fizz,” a blend of coconut rum, lime juice, fresh mint, cream of coconut and club soda; the “Star Spangled Sparkler,” a sparkling vodka cocktail with lemon juice, sparkling soda and a rock candy garnish; and the “Firecracker Margarita,” a spicy tequila creation made with lime juice, jalapeño grenadine and a chili pepper garnish ($12 each).
“Swim & Social” at The Strat celebrates Independence Day with the “Red, White & Blue Colada” crafted with Bacardi Superior Rum, coconut, pineapple, strawberry and blueberry ($10).
Play Playground at The Luxor is offering the “Firecracker” cocktail, which includes chile-infused vodka, fresh watermelon syrup and lemon juice, topped with a silky egg-white foam and finished with a red, white and blue salt rim ($19).
Saving the best for last
Yeah, OK, Americans didn’t pioneer the movies — we just perfected them.
And ranking high among the most perfect-iest examples of this perfection is “National Treasure,” which stars the flesh-and-bone incarnation of its title, the Nic who can be Cage-d in name only, who steals hearts and the Declaration of Independence alike in this action-adventure masterpiece marinated in tears of joy from the cinematic gods.
See it on Saturday as part of the “Dive In Movies” series at the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas where there will be fireworks afterward.
To quote Cage himself in said flick: “Not bad.”
Contact Jason Bracelin at [email protected] or 702-383-0476. Follow @jasonbracelin76 on Instagram.