February 10, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stacy Allsbrook, Las Vegas Centennial, 702.229.4733
Erica D. Johnson, R&R Partners, 702.318.4209
Lori Nelson, R&R Partners, 702.318.4209

CENTENNIAL EVENTS LIONIZE LAS VEGAS HISTORY

Brouhaha Barometer is rising, indicating "funshine" ahead

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 10, 2005 _ According to an old adage, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," but in Las Vegas all that's about to change. The city launched a year-long celebration of its Centennial year on New Year's Eve, and has no intention of putting away the party hats just yet. In fact, momentum is ramping up in anticipation of a host of upcoming citywide events that may just write an exciting new chapter in the history of a town known as much for mirth and merriment as for its nightlife and neon. Las Vegas started as a tiny railroad town, but has grown into a community that more than 1.7 million people call home and a mega-glitzy metropolis that beckons more than 45 million whose annual pilgrammage allows them the freedom to define Las Vegas on their own terms.

Here's a sampling of Centennial Events on tap for March 2005:

Through March 20 -- UNLV - THE MARJORIE BARRICK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: "Now and Then"
Location: The Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV
Contact: Joe Thompson, 702.895.3381

5 - LAS VEGAS SUMMERLIN LIONS CLUB: "Fourth Annual Chinese New Year" Charitable Dinner/Dance.
Location: Gold Coast Hotel & Casino
Contact: Esther Louie, 702.341.7882.

11-13 - NASCAR Race Jam
Location: Fremont Street Experience
www.vegasexperience.com

12 - SAM'S TOWN 300
Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
www.lvms.com

16 - WOMEN OF DIVERSITY PRODUCTIONS AND THE NEVADA WOMEN'S HISTORY PROJECT: "The Role of Women in Shaping the First Hundred Years of Las Vegas"
Location: West Sahara Library
Contact: Marlene Adrian, 702.341.9807

19 - SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF GREATER LAS VEGAS, LAS VEGAS VALLEY AND METROPOLITAN LAS VEGAS: "Soroptimism in Southern Nevada: A Retrospective."
Location: UNLV Women's Archives
Contact: Annelle Lerner, 702.396.7729.

23 - COFFEE TALK FOR SENIORS
Location: East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Contact: City of Las Vegas, Christy Beckwith, 702.229.2510

25 - NEVADA STATE GARDEN CLUBS: "Preserving the Past - Forging the Future"
Location: Garden Club Center, Lorenzi Park
Contact: Kristine Livreri, 702.386.0050

26 - EXTREME THING
Location: Desert Breeze Skate Park
Contact: Clark County, 702.455.8200

26 - DAY OF PRAYER
Location: Outside City Hall
Time: noon - 2 p.m.
Contact: Angelique Woods, 702.459.1922 or 702.459.4123

29-30 - HITTER'S CHALLENGE HALL OF FAME LEGENDS TOUR
Location: Cashman Field
Contact: Ron Jackson, 702.565.7087 or 1.888.822.6971

31 - OPENING CEREMONIES - CITY OF LAS VEGAS CORPORATE CHALLENGE
Location: Fremont Street Experience
Contact: Lonny Zimmerman, 702.229.6721.

Year long events running through December 31, 2005, include:

KCEP Power 88.1 FM: "Citizens of Destiny" Radio Series
Contact: Lee Winston, 702.648.0104

LAS VEGAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Centennial Business Notebook - "From Tents to Towers"
Contact: Las Vegas Chamber, 702.735.2451.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA: Three-panel traveling exhibit year-long display.
Contact: Roxanne Dey, 702.293.8947.

PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CLARK COUNTY: Upgrading and Expansion of Newsletter and Web site.
Contact: Corinne Escobar, 702.355.3912.

SOLDIERS OF THE OLD FORT: PERIOD RE-ENACTMENTS: Through November 2005.
Location: Las Vegas Old Mormon Fort State Historic Park.
Contact: James Hinds, 702.645.5147.

The Centennial Celebration will kick into high gear in May and June, with key events including:

MAY 1: DEALER OF THE YEAR
The first Centennial-sanctioned event, hosted by the Hard Rock Hotel, will pay tribute to the backbone of the destination, in the first-ever "Dealer of the Year" event, nominated dealers from all Las Vegas casinos will be judged on their attitude, friendliness and showing extra effort to customers. Everyone is encouraged to participate. The event will culminate in December with a party for all Las Vegas dealers at the Hard Rock Hotel. For more information, visit www.dealeroftheyear.com or call Ron Saccavino for entry and event details, 702.891.0030.

MAY 10 - 15: HELLDORADO DAYS PARADE AND WESTERN VILLAGE
The tradition that ran from 1934 to 1997 will be revived on Saturday, May 14 as the Helldorado Parade, the biggest parade held in Las Vegas, takes place on the Downtown Parade Route on Fourth and Fremont Street. The Helldorado Days Western Village, which will run from May 10 to May 15, 2005, will include daily entertainment featuring local groups, food and beverages, the Whiskerino Contest, Kangaroo Court and more. The village will be located in the south Main Street Station parking lot.

MAY 15: WORLD'S BIGGEST BIRTHDAY CAKE
A 130,000 pound Centennial birthday cake will beat a longstanding Guinness world record for the largest birthday cake ever made.

JUNE 9: ONCE UPON 100 WEDDINGS
In April, a nationwide contest will identify 99 altar-bound couples who will be flown in to join a four-day Las Vegas-style Centennial wedding celebration including bachelor/bachelorette parties and a memorable wedding ceremony under the Fremont Street Experience canopy. The 100th couple will be a hometown twosome selected in Las Vegas. The contest will be announced in March.