We've received a lot of questions regarding July 4th and how Las Vegas will be celebrating it this year. Somewhat surprisingly, only two casinos are holding firework displays -- and one of those isn't even on the Fourth!
On Sunday July 3rd, the Stratosphere Tower will be hosting its annual Independence Pool Party and firework display. The fireworks will be launched from the casino's north parking garage and should be visible from anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley. The display is due to start at 9 pm, and will last approximately 10 minutes. The Tower's indoor and outdoor observation decks will be open, should you want to get a close-up view -- the cost of access had not yet been confirmed when we contacted the hotel, but count on ticket prices being even higher than the usual $9.95 or $6 for locals, seniors, hotel guests, and kids over three years old. If you'd like to attend the pool party, which takes place on the pool and recreation deck on the 8th floor, it starts at 7 pm and tickets for the night are $75, which includes a live band and unlimited BBQ-style food and drink. All guests must be 21 or older.
On July 4th at 9 p.m., the Las Vegas Hilton will host a free display, launching the fireworks from the rooftop of the main parking structure. As with the Stratosphere's show, the pyrotechnics are being supplied by world-famous Grucci Inc. of New York, the company responsible for the fireworks at the last seven presidential inaugurations, the 2002 Winter Olympics, and New Year 2004's America's Party in Las Vegas -- the biggest firework display ever to grace the Strip, in honor of the city's centennial year. Everyone is welcome to go to the Hilton's display, which you'll be able to see from any position around the hotel's grounds, though they recommend the sidewalk on the Joe W. Brown side for the best views.
The other big display taking place in town is the annual Red, White & Boom party held at Desert Breeze Park, 8275 W. Spring Mountain Rd., 4-11 pm on the Fourth. In addition to a 20-minute firework show commencing at 9 pm, the event will feature a multitude of food and craft vendors, a children's area complete with a full carnival (including a giant Ferris wheel), plus performances by Social Distortion, Better Than Ezra, Bowling for Soup, Crossfade, Fatty Koo, and Brian Evans. Tickets are $10 in advance/$12 at the gate; children 12 and under are free. For more information, call 702/455-8200 or visit the official Web site at www.redwhitenboom.com
For those without their own transport, the CAT bus operates a regular service on two routes from the Strip to Desert Breeze: #203 -- Spring Mountain westbound, departs the Strip (in front of Neiman Marcus) at 50 minutes past the hour and, on July 4th, will drop people attending the event at a temporary bus stop on Flamingo, west of Durango; eastbound departs from a temporary bus stop on Desert Inn east of Durango at approx. 31 past the hour. Last bus departs at midnight. Alternatively: #213 -- Desert Inn westbound departs the Strip (in front of Nieman Marcus) at 17 or 19 mins. past the hour; eastbound departs Desert Inn and Durango at 20 or 22 mins. after the hour, with the last bus leaving at 1:20 am. On both routes the fare is $1.25 for a one-way ticket, exact change required. For further information log on to the official Web site here.
Other firework displays, and events in and around town over the holiday weekend include:
Laughlin’s Rockets Over the River Fireworks Celebration Dusk, July 2 & 4 Free 800/452-8445
Red Hot Chili Peppers Silver Bowl Sports Complex 7:30 pm, July 2 Free concert also featuring Weezer, followed by fireworks. (Note: The 50,000 free tickets are long gone. If you don't have one and really want to go, it's worth hunting on eBay for a last-minute auction deal; otherwise your on
