Vol. 4, No.9, September 2008
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Autumn in Las Vegas
Seasonal celebrations bring culture to community
September 7 | East Las Vegas
Local Las Vegans will celebrate this year’s Mexican Independence Day with a variety of food, including traditional dishes, as well as live musical performances, activities for children and entertainment for adults. The festival’s fun and games will honor Mexico’s struggle to break free of Spain’s colonial forces. The Mexican Independence Day celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sunset Park. Call 702-284-6400 for more information.
September 9–14 | West Las Vegas
Twice a year, the Las Vegas Valley opens its doors to the San Gennaro Feast, a five-day festival celebrating Italian culture, music and, of course, food. A Ferris wheel’s neon glow lights up the dark and the scents of baked ziti and Italian sausages waft through the air, delighting the crowds of people who mill around the rides and vendors. On September 10, there will be a procession to celebrate the event, and a Catholic priest will bless the feast: a clear indication that the festival is a tribute to the patron saint of Naples. The San Gennaro Feast will begin at 4 p.m. on September 9. For directions and ticket information, visit www.sangennarofeast.com.
September 13 & 14 | Henderson
2008 marks the 18th year the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club will host the annual Prince Jonah Kuhio Ho‘olaule‘a Festival, which honors Hawaiian culture and also raises funds for the Civic Club. A portion of the festival’s proceeds also goes toward providing scholarships for students of Hawaiian descent. The annual celebration offers food, music and entertainment for both adults and children to enjoy. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Henderson Events Plaza. For more information, call 702-382-6939.
September 18-21 | South Las Vegas
The annual Las Vegas Greek Festival is one of the longest-running cultural celebrations in Las Vegas. Initially established as a fundraiser for St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, the festival has drawn Greeks and non-Greeks alike to share food and fun for more than 30 years. For four days this year, a plethora of traditional Greek cuisine, a variety of entertainment and countless vendors will be available to the public, all in the spirit of Greece and its people. The festival kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. For ticket information, call 702-248-3896.
October 4&5 | Boulder City
Art aficionados who love First Fridays but are seeking a large-scale art show can rejoice—the 46th Annual Art in the Park festival will showcase the work of more than 400 artists. The festival, which is a fundraiser for Boulder City Hospital, is the largest show of its kind in Southern Nevada, and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the tens of thousands of expected attendees. Food vendors will provide snacks, in addition to the paintings, jewelry and other works of art on display. Visit www.artinthepark.org for more information.
October 10–12 | East Las Vegas
The annual Renaissance Faire is quite sincerely a blast from the past. Each year, attendees and festival performers are transported to a time where jousting competitions and ruffled collars went hand in hand, and knights of shining armor frequently rescued ladies in distress. Many antiquated ideas from the Middle Ages have long since died, but they are annually revived by Renaissance festivals across the country. This year, expect to be entertained by comedic performances, live music, old-fashioned English cuisine and, of course, sword-fights. This three-day celebration of the Renaissance era will take place at Sunset Park, beginning at 10 a.m. each day. For more information, visit www.lvrenfair.com.
October 15–November 15 | Downtown Las Vegas
The 6th Annual Samuel Beckett Festival is a month-long series of theatrical performances dedicated to the absurd and often comedic aspects of life. Each play in the festival was hand-picked to reflect the spirit of Samuel Beckett, the famous author of Waiting for Godot who was known for his postmodern, often pessimistic works. Throughout the history of the festival, many of the performances have been works by Beckett. This year, Waiting for Godot is on the schedule, in addition to works by Tony Kushner (Slavs), Jean-Paul Sartre (Huis Clos) and Tennessee Williams (Chalky White Substance). All of this year’s performances will be held inside the Mission Building at 101 S. 1st St. Tickets can be purchased at www.thebeckettfestival.com.
November 6–8 | Downtown Las Vegas
Authors and the readers who love them will take part in the three-day Vegas Valley Book Festival this fall. The biggest literary festival in Las Vegas will showcase famous writers like Neil Gaiman, who is delivering the opening keynote address, and Michael Chabon, who will be closing the festival. There will also be readings by as-yet-to-be-determined authors, in addition to workshops, panel discussions, book signings and spoken word performances. A comics festival and children’s literature festival will be specialized portions of the book festival as a whole. All of the festival’s sessions will be free and open to the public, with most taking place at the Fifth Street School on Fourth Street and Lewis Avenue. Call 702-229-5431 for an updated schedule.
November 6–9 | Las Vegas Strip
The ultimate in culinary artistry is presented during the four-day Odyssey Las Vegas, a celebration of fine dining that benefits The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and The Odyssey Foundation’s Le Cordon Bleu Scholarship Program. Each evening, ticket holders will dine in some of the Strip’s most decadent restaurants, including SushiSamba at the Palazzo, RM Seafood at Mandalay Place and Simon Restaurant & Lounge at Palms Place. Celebrity chefs will dazzle guests with several courses, and some of the dinners will be accompanied by live entertainment. Tickets range from $125 to $300 per person. The festival will close with a celebrity chef golf tournament at the Las Vegas Paiute Resort. Call 877-370-9182 for ticketing information.
November 7–9 | Downtown Las Vegas
For 25 years, Cashman Center has hosted the Great Craft Festival, an event that features exhibits from more than 300 artists. Each craft worker can only sell handmade, original work; mass-produced or commercial art is banned from the show. Crafts range from jewelry and clothing to paintings and sculptures. In addition to artwork and food, live performances from Sue Palmer’s Motel Swing Band will delight audiences, and a 10-man comedy troupe will entertain the crowds as well. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and free for children who are 17 or younger. For more information, visit www.stevepowers.com.
November 8 | East Las Vegas
The annual Strut Your Mutt event is a yearly highlight for Las Vegas dog lovers. The event features performances, games and family fun for people and pets of all ages. Last year’s festival was the most successful in the event’s history, but 2008 may draw more dogs than ever before. Strut Your Mutt will give animals a chance to shine from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dog Fanciers Park on East Flamingo Road. More information is available at www.strutyourmuttlv.com.
November 8&9 | East Las Vegas
Aspiring pilots and military fans are guaranteed to be shocked and awed by the annual Aviation Nation air show hosted by the U.S. Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base. The two-day show will feature a variety of historical aircraft, as well as the newest fighters and bombers the Air Force has to offer. The Thunderbirds, a U.S. Air Force demonstration squadron, will also be performing during the free event. Visit www.aviationnation.com for more information.
