Cowboy Christmas to ramble into Floyd Lamb

Santa may arrive in a hot rod, but Cowboy Christmas is set to provide many of the holiday pastimes that Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross has made tradition.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday , Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road, will be host to a car show, craft fair, farmers market, live entertainment, hay rides, petting zoo, jump houses and visits with Santa.

It is the fifth year Ross has planned the free holiday festival.

"This is one of my signature events, and I think it's one of the signature events for the city," the Ward 6 councilman said. "It's such a blast."

Ross invites local vendors, businesses and talent to help kick off the holiday season. Local high school choirs are scheduled to perform.

But he doesn't do it alone, he said.

"We could not do this without volunteers," he said.

Dean and Lynn Dapkewicz have donned their cowboy hats and work gloves in the name of Cowboy Christmas for two years.

The Centennial Hills retirees, who also are active in their Neighborhood Watch, helped man the sack races and craft table at past events but said they'd help "wherever they need us."

"It's something to give back to the community," said Lynn Dapkewicz, who found out about Cowboy Christmas from Ross' monthly newsletter.

Dean Dapkewicz said the couple like to support Ross' endeavors. Ross has spoken at their Neighborhood Watch meetings, and the Dapkewiczes attend his informal community chats.

"I always joke (with him), 'When do you have time to spend time with your family?' " Dean Dapkewicz said.

The couple have ping-ponged around the country and said that although Las Vegas is the largest city in which they've resided, they were impressed by community events such as Cowboy Christmas.

"The children really like it," Dean Dapkewicz said. "It's gratifying hearing them laughing and having fun."

Ross said the Dapkewiczes "deserve medals" for their help.

"They recognize they live in a great place and take ownership of their community," he said.

Ross also draws on help from Boy and Girl Scouts, student groups and service organizations to help keep Cowboy Christmas running smoothly, he said.

"One thing we don't have a shortage of in Ward 6 is people who want to give back," he said.

Tapeni Tuisavalalo , president of the nonprofit organization Samoan Affairs of Nevada, brings about 40 volunteers of all ages to volunteer at Cowboy Christmas. The group dons the organization's signature blue T-shirt, and Tuisavalalo said members are proud to help set up, tear down and direct traffic at the event.

"We want to help not only our community but extend it to our city," he said.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots and non perishable food for the Jude 22 Senior Nutrition Center will be welcome at the event.

To volunteer for Cowboy Christmas or for more information, call
229-6154.

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.