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Centennial Commission approves two years of funding for El Dorado Days parade
Summary
The commission approved a reimbursable grant for the El Dorado Days parade for two years after hearing a presentation from City of Las Vegas cultural affairs staff; commissioners discussed route and resort participation.
City of Las Vegas cultural affairs staff presented a request to the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial for multi-year funding of the El Dorado Days parade and the commission voted to fund the parade for two years.
Jasmine Freeman, cultural affairs manager, and Marja Bigas, special events administrator and parade organizer, described the parade’s history and logistics. Freeman said the El Dorado Days parade, established in 1935, “was revived by the Centennial Commission” in 2005 and features “bands, floats, artists, car clubs, and cash prizes for our schools and our creatives.” She told commissioners the parade route is the Fourth Street corridor from Gass to Stewart avenues with staging extending toward Las Vegas Boulevard.
Bigas said the parade produced strong marketing results this year, reporting 133 entries (the largest in the parade’s history) and attendance growth of more than 50 percent from 2023. She said the parade provided $43,000 in awards to schools this year, with $15,000 for float-building awards and $1,000 to participating school bands and performing groups.
The presenters requested $405,000 to fund the 2026 and 2027 parades (presented as $202,500 per year) as a reimbursable grant; staff said multi-year funding gives the organizers planning stability and that funds are reimbursed only for actual expenditures and do not automatically roll forward. Commissioners discussed whether funding should be two or three years; several favored two years to allow for review. Some commissioners urged the organizers to pursue greater involvement from Fremont Street resorts to increase the parade’s visibility. One commissioner moved and the commission approved two-year funding for the parade.
Outcome: Motion to fund the El Dorado Days parade for two years carried; the request was approved as a reimbursable grant. The presenters and commissioners agreed to continue outreach to downtown resorts and to explore route possibilities in future meetings.
Ending: The commission approved two years of funding to support continued planning and school awards; staff will administer a reimbursable grant agreement.
