Someplace Safe To Go After The Fireworks

By ELISE DALLEY

The Progress

Fourth of July festivities were extended further into the evening this year as Moapa Valley residents were invited to a “Boot Scoot” dance held in the Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building immediately after the fireworks display. Community members came out en masse to participate in this old-fashioned barn dance activity.

The dance was organized by the 4-H Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) and sponsored by support from the MV Boosters Club, UNR Cooperative Extension, Clark County Parks and Rec, and the PACT Coalition.

The large room was decorated with festive red, white, and blue colors, and was draped with fairy lights. All this elaborate decoration was set up quickly after the community dinner which had been held earlier in the evening in the same hall.

TLC member Faith Kelly was the youth leader in charge of planning the event. Kelly explained that the dance took a lot of preparation and organizing to arrange all the logistics.

“A lot of planning went into this event,” she said. “(The TLC) hadn’t done anything in a little bit and decided we wanted to do something to help with the festivities on the Fourth. It went great, and it was an awesome turnout. There were many more people than we were expecting!”

Attendance at the dance was estimated at 225 people. Free sodas and water were provided to the crowd. Teens, adults, and children were all able to enjoy this barn dance because it was provided to all of the community.

The energy in the room was palpable and the spirits of all attending were high as people gathered together to heartily celebrate America’s birthday.

The dance lasted late into the night, ending at approximately 11 pm. With the popular music, elaborate decorations, and large crowds, the dance was a hit. Kelly said that she enjoyed dancing. Most of all she enjoyed seeing other people dance.
“It was fun to watch people who were really good at swing dancing!” Kelly added.

TLC Program leader Dianna Walker said that she was also pleased with the turnout of the event. The effort and energy of the people who organized the event was both well worth it and well appreciated.
“I am so proud of the hard work that these teens displayed in organizing this event,” Walker said. “These kids worked so hard.”